Sermons on Human Effort:

Number One Draft Choice

Contributed by John Beehler on Jan 1, 2003

Through no effort or work on our part, we have been chosen and blessed.

Number One Draft Choice Well, here we are in the New Year. New Year’s resolutions, the end of our breaks from school and work, and the end of the College Football Bowl games marathon. How many here watched any of the bowl games offered this year? Did anyone get burnt out watching ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:3-14

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Pharisee And Tax Collector Series

Contributed by Robert Leroe on Mar 22, 2010

The true “righteous” person is not someone who flawlessly observes all the “rules”, but someone who begs for mercy and is accepted by God--despite having plenty of human imperfections. To illustrate this, Jesus tells a story of two people who are polar o

In preparation for this sermon, I did my taxes last week…so I have lots to say about that tax collector! How do we get to Heaven? By human effort? By keeping the rules? That works only if we could obey perfectly, which excludes all of us. Occasionally someone comes along who thinks ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:9-14, Luke 18:9, Luke 18:1-14

Denomination: Congregational

Fullness And Limitation, Time And Space Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Feb 18, 2017

we must focus on the efforts we need to make to improve our imaging of Jesus and Mary.

Thursday of Seventh Week in Course Joy of the Gospel We continue in the season which the Extraordinary Form calendar still calls Septuagesima, or the seventy days before Easter. The penitential season of Lent begins on March 1, and we must focus on the efforts we need to make to improve our ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:41-50

Denomination: Catholic

Live A Life Of Holiness In A Tainted World Series

Contributed by Lalachan Abraham on Jun 13, 2013

Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.

What holiness means; the word holiness is a noun that means "state or character of being holy." Holy is an adjective that means "belonging to, derived from or associated with a divine power” and also "set apart to the service of God. Holiness must be the goal of every person who is serious ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:14

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

An Enemy Has Done This!

Contributed by Johnny Carver on Jul 15, 2006

This message dipicts the nature of Satan as he intertwines his efforts into the Church to hinder its growth.

Scripture: Matthew 13:24 – 30 Title: “An Enemy Has Done This” Introduction: We find Jesus comparing the “Kingdom of Heaven” to a farmer who had sowed good seed in his field only to find that when the plants came up someone had sowed “Tares” among the wheat. The ‘bad deed’ occurred while ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:24-30

Denomination: Pentecostal

Saved By Grace, Changed By Grace - Repentance, Faith, And The Life That Follows Series

Contributed by Dean Courtier on Dec 13, 2025

“How can a sinful person be made right with a holy God?” That question sits at the very heart of the Christian faith. It is not theoretical. It is personal. It is eternal.

Saved by Grace, Changed by Grace - Repentance, Faith, and the Life that Follows Introduction – The Most Important Question You Will Ever Answer There are many important questions in life. What career will I choose? Who will I marry? Where will I live? But none compare to this one: “How can a ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:23-24, Acts 20:21, Ephesians 2:8-9, John 3:16, Romans 5:1, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Galatians 5:22-23, Romans 15:13  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

Transformed For Mission Series

Contributed by Gregory Thomas on Mar 25, 2010

Jesus going from Humanity - Revealed in Diety Transformed back to Humanity.

6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid. 7 But Jesus came and touched them and said, "Arise, and do not be afraid." 8 When they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only. 9 Now as they came down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 17:6-13

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Word Was God Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Dec 22, 2019

Why was it important for God to become human? And why become a human baby?

WE OPENED WITH VIDEO “O, What A Gift” (https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=562729207881472) “I read the story of a woman who saw her friend at church and then, without thinking, said: “Happy Christmas!” The problem was… it was Easter. So, she quickly corrected herself and said, “I’m sorry. I meant ...read more

Scripture: John 1:1-5

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Discernment Camp Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Apr 27, 2012

Solomon is training us to develop discernment, the ability to distinguish between truth and lies, integrity and dishonesty, foolishness and wisdom. From his words, we can draw four important principles.

Discernment Camp (Proverbs 20:5-8) 1. Once when Red Skelton was being interviewed he was asked if he ever was at a loss for words. He hesitated a minute then said, "I dreamed I died and went to heaven. Just as I was taken before God, he sneezed...and I just didn’t know what to say to Him!" 2. We ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 20:5-8

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Bridging The Gap!

Contributed by Johnny Carver on Sep 5, 2008

This message challenges us to take a serious look at the attitude of the Church and its efforts in reaching the lost.

Scripture: Ezekiel 22:30 Title: “Bridging The Gap” Introduction: The situation of Jerusalem is not a pretty one! · Sinning is the order of the day. · The sinning business is growing at an alarming rate unchecked. · Those with the responsibility of addressing the problem have also been ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 22:26-31

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Power Of Teamwork Among Church Workers Series

Contributed by Rev. Samuel Arimoro on Jun 8, 2025

The church is not built by one person but through the united efforts of many who faithfully serve together.

THE POWER OF TEAMWORK AMONG CHURCH WORKERS By Rev. Samuel Arimoro Main Text: Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 Supporting Texts: 1 Corinthians 12:12-27, Romans 12:4-8, Ephesians 4:11-16, Nehemiah 4:6 INTRODUCTION: The church is not built by one person but through the united efforts of many who faithfully ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Denomination: Assembly Of God

16 Pentecost C

Contributed by Roger Haugen on Sep 20, 2001

Jesus invites us to be shrewd in our efforts to spread the gospel, and extravagant in our praise of God.

16 Pentecost C Luke 16:1-13 23 September 2001 Have you ever been suckered by someone shrewd? So shrewd that you can only admire his shrewdness? I once attended a trade fair and entered a whole lot of the draws that are always there. The next week there was a knock at the door with a man ...read more

Scripture: Luke 16:1-13

Denomination: Lutheran

Origins (1) Series

Contributed by Dennis Munn on Nov 25, 2012

Jesus in the Gospel of Luke

Introduction: Every hero needs a good origins story. I grew up with comic books and the idea of superheroes, and the coolest superheroes also have the coolest origins stories. Origins stories are the tales told of how a hero got his powers, where he came from, and why he came from there. ...read more

Denomination: Apostolic

Choices (2) Series

Contributed by Dennis Munn on Nov 26, 2012

Jesus in the Gospel of Luke

Introduction: This series is drawn from the story of Jesus as told by Luke, and in it we're looking at the man Christ Jesus. We kicked the series off by studying Jesus' origin story, and we learned that Luke didn't try to hide the shameful circumstances that surrounded Jesus' birth. We learned ...read more

Scripture: Luke 4:1-13

Denomination: Apostolic

Identity (3) Series

Contributed by Dennis Munn on Nov 26, 2012

Jesus in the Gospel of Luke

Introduction: In each of these messages we're taking a look at a different aspect of the humanity of Jesus as revealed in the Gospel of Luke. So far we've learned that Jesus understands shame because he came from shameful circumstances...and that no matter how often you've failed, how untrue ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:18-26

Denomination: Apostolic