Sermons on Ministry Struggles:

Following The Call

Contributed by Mary Erickson on Jan 22, 2024

A sermon for the third Sunday after Epiphany, Year B

January 21, 2024 Rev. Mary Erickson Hope Lutheran Church Jonah 3:1-5, 10; Mark 1:14-20 Following the Call Friends, may grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and Christ Jesus our Lord. Bob had been ice fishing all morning without any luck. He decided he’d had enough and ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 3:1-10, Mark 1:14-20

Denomination: Lutheran

A Great Love Story Rarely Told

Contributed by Craig Benner on Feb 14, 2024

We all know the greatest love story is found in John 3:16. There are also many others in the Bible. A few are less talked about than others. There is one that is not considered very much, and for sure, it is hardly ever imitated or emulated.

ONE OF THE GREATEST LOVE STORIES RARELY TOLD (and more rarely lived out) No butterflies in the stomach or cupids' arrows flying here. God is still looking for someone to espouse the vow of rescuing the perishing; even those who claim that they do not want to be saved. Text to read: Hosea ...read more

Scripture: Hosea 2:16, John 3:16, Hosea 3:1-5

Denomination: Pentecostal

Make It Count Series

Contributed by Shawn Drake on Sep 12, 2021

This is the 69th sermon in the series "Action". This series is from the Book of Acts and the Epistles. This series began when the COVID19 pandemic began.

Series: Action [#69] MAKE IT COUNT Acts 21:1-26 Introduction: 20 years ago yesterday, the unthinkable attack on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon happened. I remember how our Nation pulled together and how Churches pulled together. We promised that we would never forget and that the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 21:1-26

Denomination: Baptist

The Secret To A Generous Life

Contributed by Stephen E. Trail on Apr 25, 2021

Learning how to live a life of generosity.

“The Secret of a Generous Life” Introduction: Just what exactly is a generous life? Obviously we need to begin with a definition. In www.dictionary.com we find the following: “Generosity is the spirit and action of freely and frequently giving to others. Generosity can also refer to an overall ...read more

Scripture: Acts 11:19-30

Denomination: Baptist

The Spirit Of A Servant

Contributed by Gene Gregory on May 2, 2021

Next in series on John

John 13 (1) The spirit of a Servant Yesterday was a full day. We spent a good portion of the day, fixing things for Christmas in the Country. After slipping home for a late lunch, we retuned to the church and started working getting ready for last night. After we got back down here, Gladys told ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Minister On Purpose Series

Contributed by D. Dewaine Phillips on May 5, 2021

This message looks at ministry or service. “Every believer isn’t a pastor, but every believer is called into ministry. God calls all believers to minister to the world and the church. Service in the body isn’t optional for Christians” - Rick Warren

This morning we’ll be viewing the purpose of “ministry” or “service.” In The Purpose Driven Life, Rick Warren says, “Growing up, you may have thought that being ‘called’ by God was something only missionaries, pastors, nuns, and other ‘full-time’ church workers experienced, but the Bible says ...read more

Scripture: Acts 6:1-7

Denomination: Baptist

Ambassador For Christ

Contributed by Gerald Roberts on Mar 30, 2022

Paul tells us we are ambassadors or Christ.

Ambassador For Christ 2 Corinthians 5:16-21 1. Paul has a message we are ambassadors for Christ • Apostle Paul says: “So we are ambassadors for Christ, (2 Cor. 5:20). • It’s not just Paul who is an ambassador, but This applies to all Christians • William Barclay observes that, in the Roman ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:16-21

Denomination: Methodist

Hear The Call

Contributed by Rich O' Toole on Nov 10, 2022

Jesus call the Apostles and He also calls us

Hear the Call Mark 3:13-19 Good Morning, Steven Cole asked, “Have you ever marveled at how the Lord launched the worldwide movement called “the church”? I would have asked, “What were You thinking when You came up with these men to launch this movement?” They should be graduates of the most ...read more

Scripture: Mark 3:13-19

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Serving In The Church Series

Contributed by Mark Schaeufele on Nov 11, 2022

The church is at its best when we are all following our calling.

SERVING IN THE CHURCH Text: Acts 6:1-7 Introduction 1. Illustration: C. Peter Wagner states in his book Your Spiritual Gifts on page 19: "Martin Luther permanently changed Christendom when he rediscovered the priesthood of all believers. Still, Lutheranism retained much of the clericalism of ...read more

Scripture: Acts 6:1-7

Denomination: Methodist

When I’ve Done My Best

Contributed by Dr. Jwt Spies on Jun 14, 2025

Have you ever reached a point where you said to yourself: “Lord, I’ve done all I know how to do—at home, in the marriage, in the ministry, and in my life—and it still seems like nobody cares?”

“And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.” Have you ever reached a point where you said to yourself: “Lord, I’ve done all I know how to do—at home, in the marriage, in the ministry, and in my life—and it still seems like nobody ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:15

Denomination: Baptist

You Have Reached Your Destination Series

Contributed by Mark Schaeufele on Aug 5, 2025

God makes us promises, but He never tells us it’s going to be easy, just that He will be with us every step along the way.

YOU HAVE REACHED YOUR DESTINATION Text: Acts 28:11-16 Introduction 1. “God’s promises are not always fulfilled as quickly as or in the way we might hope; they come according to His timing and in His ways.”— Dieter F. Uchtdorf 2. Jesus had promised Paul that he would make it to Rome where he would ...read more

Scripture: Acts 28:11-16

Denomination: Methodist

Be Ready To Receive Help Series

Contributed by D. Dewaine Phillips on Oct 30, 2021

Jesus received people according to how they were convicted to serve Him. However, we as human beings often miss the bigger picture, and forfeit opportunities to assist people in being used by God to further the kingdom.

I want to begin by sharing something from the apostle Paul. Paul, in speaking about what a person should give to the church in the way of monetary offerings; he once stated, “For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have” ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 26:6-13

Denomination: Baptist

Be Involved In The Father’s Business Series

Contributed by D. Dewaine Phillips on Oct 30, 2021

This message looks at how Jesus personally demonstrated the primary task that is expected of all believers, which is share the clear, unembellished message of the salvation found in the Messiah, Jesus Christ.

The apostle Paul once declared, “When I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, for I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!” (1 Corinthians 9:16, NIV). For Paul, the most important thing in life, second only to worshipping Christ, was preaching the gospel. He stated that he ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:41-49

Denomination: Baptist

You Give Them Something To Eat

Contributed by Perry Hancock on Mar 10, 2022

All who are believers and followers of Jesus Christ have been called to have compassion and to serve people in need.

MARK 6:30-37 30 Then the apostles gathered to Jesus and told Him all things, both what they had done and what they had taught. 31 And He said to them, “Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat. 32 ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:30-37

Denomination: Baptist

Acts Of The Apostles 39 Of 39

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Mar 14, 2022

Even though we come to the final chapter of the book of Acts, we do not come to the end of this book.

WHY DOES THE LORD FINISH THE BOOK OF ACTS WITH NO ENDING? This books is filled with the ACTS of God’s people, and God intends for the church to continue to serve him in this manner. If you remember, in the last sermon we saw Paul on the ship, and a storm came up and every man on board almost ...read more

Scripture: Acts 28:1-31

Denomination: Baptist