Sermons on Impure Motives:

What Is Our Ambition?

Contributed by Charles Mallory on Apr 25, 2005

No one wants to fail. But if our ambition to succeed becomes motivated by the fear of failure, ambition can become an idol in our lives and in our church.

IT IS SAFE TO SAY THAT NOBODY WANTS TO DELIBERATELY FAIL AT ANYTHING. THE INTERESTING THING ABOUT "FAILING" IS THE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE BASICS OF FAILURE ITSELF. THE GREATEST NEWS ABOUT FAILURE IS THAT FAILURE IN AND OF ITSELF IS NEVER FINAL. YOU CAN LEARN GREAT LESSONS FROM FAILURE IF YOU ARE ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 14:1-6

Denomination: Free Methodist

"The Wilderness Experience"

Contributed by Ken Harris on Dec 10, 2008

The purpose of this sermon is to motivate the hearers to affirm to others that God draws believers and non-believers out to the WILDERNESS in order to spiritually toughen/strengthen them.

6 December 2008 U.S. Army Chaplain (MAJ) Ken Harris Fortress Chapel F.O.B. Sykes Tall-afar, Iraq BIG IDEA: God draws both believers and non-believers, out to the WILDERNESS, in order to spiritually toughen/strengthen them. REFERENCES: Second Sunday of Advent; Isaiah 40:1-11 (ESV); Psalm 85:1-2, ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:1-8

Denomination: Pentecostal

Give To Give Series

Contributed by Phil Smith on Dec 21, 2008

“Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile.” - Albert Einstein God gives for the sake of giving. Giving, itself, is a virtue. It needs no other motive.

Php 2:5-7 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. “Only a life lived for others is a life ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:5-8

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

"Our God Reigns"

Contributed by Ken Harris on Dec 26, 2008

The purpose of this sermon is to motivate the hearers to affirm to others that the birth of Jesus is a good news story that strikes a chord, with all of us, that “Our God reigns”.

25 December 2008 U.S. Army Chaplain (MAJ) Ken Harris Fortress Chapel F.O.B. Sykes Tall-afar, Iraq BIG IDEA: The birth of Jesus is a good news story which strikes a chord, with all of us, that “Our God reigns”. REFERENCES: Christmas Sunday Morning; (JPV) Joy, Peace, and Victory; Isaiah ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 52:7-10

Denomination: Pentecostal

Living Righteously In The Midst Of An Unrighteous Generation

Contributed by Wayne Searls on Jan 12, 2009

PROPOSITION: To motivate the hearer to seek a revelation or vision from God for their lives which will cause them to abandon sin and allow God to sanctify their hearts.

I. THE SCRIPTURE EMPHASIZES THE NECESSITY OF HAVING AN ONGOING REVELATION AND VISION CONCERNING GOD v.7,10 7. So the people served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great works of the Lord which He had done for Israel. 10. ...read more

Scripture: Judges 2:7-19

Denomination: Nazarene

"God Is My Helper!"

Contributed by Ken Harris on May 28, 2005

To motivate the hearers to care for the POOR Lazaruses (the sick, hungry, and less fortunate) within their church, and community by being OBEDIENT to GOD’s WORD.

Psalms 41:1 (KJV) U.S. Army Chaplain (MAJ) Ken Harris CP Walker Multicultural Gospel Service Taegu, South Korea BIG IDEA: Caring for the sick, hungry, and the less fortunate in this life - determines where we spend eternity hereafter. REFERENCES: Lazarus and The Rich Man: Luke 16:19-31 (KJV); ...read more

Scripture: Luke 16:19-21

Denomination: Pentecostal

"How To Tell If You Have A Good Pastor"

Contributed by Ken Harris on Apr 13, 2008

The purpose of this sermon is To motivate the hearers to affirm to others that Good Pastors are rare, because they sacrifice life activities for their parishioners by trying to lead like Jesus.

U.S. Army Chaplain (MAJ) Ken Harris, Jr. Fort Ord Chapel Seaside, CA 13 April 2008 Big Idea: Good Pastors are rare because they sacrifice life activities for their parishioners, by trying to lead like Jesus. Scriptural References: EAI (Expository; Application; Illustration); Jeremiah 6:16 (CEV) ...read more

Scripture: John 10:1-12

Denomination: Pentecostal

"You Got To Live To Get It" Series

Contributed by Ken Harris on May 6, 2008

The purpose of this sermon is to motivate the bereaved family to affirm to others EVERYONE that LIVES-BELIEVING and accepting JESUS CHRIST as their Personal Savior WILL RECEIVE eternal life.

U.S. Army Chaplain (MAJ) Ken Harris San Joaquin National Cemetery Gustine, CA 5 May 2008 Memorial Service for SFC (Retired) Lester Corley BIG IDEA: Everyone that LIVES-BELIEVING and accepting Jesus Christ as their Personal Savior WILL RECEIVE Eternal Life. REFERENCES: John 11:17-27 (I Am the ...read more

Scripture: John 11:24-26

Denomination: Pentecostal

How The Grinch Stole Christmas - Christmas At The Movies Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Dec 13, 2004

Why did Herod want to kill the Christ child? His motivation has much in common with those today who want to kill Christmas.

OPEN: (I sat on a stool on stage, reading the following from “How The Grinch Stole Christmas.” I taped my sermon into the pages of the book and used the book as both prop and way to hide my sermon notes). Every Who down in Who-ville liked a Christmas a lot… But the Grinch, who lived just north of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-20

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

An Introduction To Worship Series

Contributed by Christopher Benfield on Sep 15, 2019

What is worship? Is it prayer, praise, or preaching? These are elements of worship, but they do not necessarily constitute worship in and of themselves. Worship is an attitude that motivates action, not a mere activity.

An Introduction to Worship John 4:22-24 Today, I want to lay the groundwork for a series regarding biblical worship. The verses I read are likely familiar to each of us. (Illus. context.) Just as the woman at the well, many today have no concept of biblical worship. I want to spend the next ...read more

Scripture: John 4:22-24

Denomination: Baptist

Our Eternal Reward Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 31, 2021

It is the reward of heaven, however, that motivates us to add these values to life, and to apply them so that we bare fruit, and become profitable servants of Christ.

Among the Kamba people of East Africa there persists an ancient legend. The story goes that the people of that region long ago were very embittered by death's merciless destruction. They sent messengers to all countries of the world to seek a place where death did not reign so they could all ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:11

An Abundant Gift Series

Contributed by Christopher Benfield on Jul 18, 2018

Things are not always as they appear. Little can be much, and much can be little. The Lord knows the desires of our hearts and the motivation behind our gifts.

An Abundant Gift Mark 12: 41-44 This had been an eventful day for Jesus and the disciples. Having returned to the Temple in Jerusalem for the third time, Jesus had dealt with several confrontations. He was challenged regarding His authority; the Pharisees and Herodians sough to trap Him with a ...read more

Scripture: Mark 12:41-44

Denomination: Baptist

The Book Of Acts, Part 12- Counterfeit Faith; Simon The Sorcerer Series

Contributed by Mark Strauss on May 4, 2006

In Acts 8 we meet just such a leader. •A man with a following; a man who is viewed by those around him as powerful and dynamic and charismatic. •Yet whose spirituality is just as phony as David Koresh or Marshall Applewhite.

Counterfeit Faith Simon the Sorcerer; 8:9-25 It was Nov. 18, 1978. Congressman Leo Ryan from San Francisco had decided to fly a fact-finding mission to a place called Jonestown Guyana, South America. His mission is to investigate alleged human rights abuses at a religious cult known as the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 8:9-25

Denomination: Baptist

Ministry, The Right Way: Free From All For The Sake Of All Series

Contributed by Scott Maze on Jun 4, 2021

Christians should be obsessed with evangelism. It should be a constant thought throughout our day. The interest in winning others should consume you.

Yesterday marked the anniversary of the infamous Roe vs. Wade decision that opened the floodgates for abortion in America. It was on January 22, 1973 that the US Supreme Court handed down its decision that women had the constitutional right to an abortion. Nearly four decades later, the argument ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 1:27, 1 Corinthians 9:19-27

Denomination: Baptist

The World’s Predictable Deception Of Humanity Series

Contributed by T.j. Conwell on Nov 21, 2023

Why does God feel so much anger towards the city of Babylon? Because of the pride of great men, their spiritual corruption, because it has led people (God’s creation) astray, and because of the persecution and death of believers.

Alpha and Omega, Part 45, Revelation Part 22 The World’s Predictable Deception of Humanity Revelation 17:1-18 and 18:1-24 Introduction - Been studying Revelation together, to understand God’s plan for creation -- REM: Redemption of sin is granted through Jesus; and yes, we have a choice - ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 17:1-18, Revelation 18:1-24, John 14:6, Isaiah 53:10-11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational