Sermons on Human Effort:

If You Could Have Anything You Wanted Series

Contributed by Sherm Nichols on Nov 16, 2011

1st in a series about life of Solomon. An effort to get the audience to associate Solomon's request with the choices that are placed before them and to prioritize them accordingly

I Kings 3:3-15; II Chronicles 1:1-13 Intro: Wouldn’t it be nice? Wouldn’t it be great to have 3 wishes, for whatever you want? I once asked our church family in Joplin to think that through – If you could have anything you wanted, what would you want? I’ll share some ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 3:3-15

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

If You Were Only Guilty Of One Fleeting Sinful Thought, A Lifetime Of Righteous Deeds Could Not Justify You.

Contributed by David Goering on Aug 9, 2018

Our sin has earned a wage of infinite loss and this loss cannot be undone, even if we dedicated our entire life as an effort to undo it.

SCRIPTURE: James 2:10 "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in ONE point, he is guilty of all." Romans 3:20 "Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin." PROPOSITION: To use these texts and others to ...read more

Remember To Whom You Belong Series

Contributed by Thomas Clawser on Mar 10, 2019

The strength to fight temptation is found only in Christ. Satan uses every effort to convince us to sin. We must remember to whom we belong.

World-acclaimed illusionist Roy Horn goes to work on Friday evening, October 3, 2003, amid a celebrative atmosphere. It is his 59th birthday, and more than a thousand friends have just thrown him a party. And now an audience of fifteen hundred people waits excitedly inside the Mirage Hotel for a ...read more

Scripture: Luke 4:1-13

Denomination: Other

Five Ingredients Of A Successful Christian Race Series

Contributed by Donald Mcculley on Mar 19, 2019

Living a life of victory and success is not by accident. It requires diligence and effort! Paul gives us five ingredients to achieve a successful life and win the gold (crown).

FIVE INGREDIENTS OF A SUCCESSFUL CHRISTIAN RACE I CORINTHIANS 9:18-27 INTRODUCTION: I’m indebted to my dear friend Bro. Truman Kimbrough for this outline and idea. Living a life of victory and success is not by accident. It requires diligence and effort! Paul gives us five ingredients to ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:18-27

Denomination: Baptist

Jeremiah, Jesus And Our Evangelical Call Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Dec 2, 2018

This Advent, try to spend more time and effort and even money in preparing yourself and helping others to welcome the Lord at Christmas than you spend on presents.

First Sunday of Advent 2018 Jeremiah has to be one of the saddest prophets of any age of the Hebrew people. His message could be summarized in one word–disaster. It was a disaster for the people who were delivered from Egypt by God through Moses, who were led through the desert, given the land of ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 33:14-16, Luke 21:25-36

Denomination: Catholic

Play Vs. Work? Toys Vs. Tools?

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Aug 19, 2021

Perhaps we find more joy in pleasure, fun and entertainment than we do effort, work and sweat? Playing games offer little profit?

PLAY VS WORK? TOOLS VS. TOYS? By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com Colossians 3:23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Do you know what is called the oldest toy in the world? The stick may just be the oldest toy. Sticks can be an endless source ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:23, Luke 21:16-20

Denomination: Assembly Of God

The Kingdom Is Like... PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Sep 29, 2025

God works powerfully through small, unnoticed beginnings; our efforts and prayers matter because His presence transforms the ordinary into something eternally significant.

Friends, if we had coffee together this morning and you told me you felt small, overmatched, or unnoticed, I’d nod and say, “You’re in good company.” Jesus often started with small things—a seed in the palm of a hand, a pinch of yeast tucked into dough, a field under a wide sky. He meets us in ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:30-36

Topics: Kingdom Builders, Understanding

Look And Live PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Oct 4, 2025

God’s grace offers healing and new life to discouraged, sinful hearts—not by our efforts, but by looking in faith to Christ, our only remedy.

Some of us walked in today with sand in our souls. The week felt long, the road uneven. You’ve prayed, but the words sounded thin. You’ve tried to keep a sunny outlook, but the clouds rolled in anyway. Discouragement can be a quiet snake in the grass—one nip of cynicism, a bite of bitterness, and ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 21:1-10

Topics: Redemption, Christ

I Am A Friend Of God

Contributed by Charlie Roberts on Oct 20, 2013

If you want to be a friend of God, you need to be a friend to God and get to know Him, up close and personnel. Developing an intimate relationship with God takes time and effort.

I am a friend of God Illus. When electricity became available in remote rural areas, one woman went to great trouble and expense to have electricity installed in her home. A few months after the wiring was installed and the power was turned on; the power company noticed that the home didn’t ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 33:12-19

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Standing In The Freedom Of The Gospel:

Contributed by David Taylor on Jan 23, 2014

Introduction to Galatians

Standing in the Freedom of the Gospel: Introduction and Overview Galatians 1:1-5 Introduction to Galatians Galatians is unique among Paul’s epistles. His normal greeting is abrupt, with no prayer or thanksgiving for the evidences of grace, or some other prayer (see Eph 1; Col 1; and Phil ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 1:1-5

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The God Of Increase Series

Contributed by Rev. Samuel Arimoro on May 26, 2025

God is not just a God of addition—He is the God of increase. From the very beginning, He blessed man and commanded him to “be fruitful and multiply.” Increase is the natural outflow of God’s blessing upon a life, and it is in His nature to multiply what we commit into His hands.

THE GOD OF INCREASE By Rev. Samuel Arimoro Main Text: 1 Corinthians 3:6-7 Supporting Texts: Psalm 115:14, Genesis 1:28, Deuteronomy 1:11, John 15:5, Isaiah 55:10-11 INTRODUCTION: God is not just a God of addition—He is the God of increase. From the very beginning, He blessed man and commanded ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:6-7, Psalm 115:14

Denomination: Assembly Of God

The Dark Night Of The Soul Series

Contributed by Chris Appleby on Feb 18, 2002

All people’s efforts to be right with God have failed, because people chose to exchange the truth about God for a lie. Their only hope is the Gospel of God’s grace.

You’d have to say that there’s nothing pretty about the picture of the world that we find in this passage from Romans ch1. Here we take off the rose coloured glasses and look, with a degree of reality, at the world we live in. I was talking to someone the other day about watching television and ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:16-31

Denomination: Anglican

Fresh Start

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Jan 3, 2010

1)PURSUING THE PRIZE REQUIRES A PROPER AWARENESS 2) MAXIMUM EFFORT 3) FOCUSED CONCENTRATION 4) PROPER MOTIVATION 5)PROPER RECOGNITION & 6) PROPER CONFORMITY.

The Olympics are coming soon to Vancouver British Columbia. Athletes all over the world are preparing for their various events. They of course train in such a way as to be the best of the best. Their goal; an Olympic Gold Medal, and hearing their national anthem playing while their flag is raised ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:12-16

Denomination: Other

Brought To Life; Brought Together

Contributed by David Taylor on Sep 3, 2024

Paul continues the theme of God’s work in our salvation.

We are in our series, Brought to Life; Brought Together, from the New Testament letter to the Ephesians, looking at chapter two today so if you have your bibles, turn to Ephesians 2:8-10. Paul continues the theme of God’s work in our salvation. So far in chapter two he has described the human ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8-10

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Joy To The World Series

Contributed by Ken Pell on Dec 10, 2007

Joy is evidence of the presence and applause of God.

JOY TO THE WORLD Advent 2007: “Christmas in Song and Story” Week #2 Psalm 98:4-8 Sermon Objective: Joy is evidence of the presence and applause of God. This is our second week of Advent. This year’s theme is “Christmas in Story and Song.” We will use a different Christmas Hymn/Carol each week ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 98:4-8

Denomination: Nazarene