Sermons on Ministry Struggles:

Try This At Home Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Sep 18, 2006

Many Christians believe that ministry should only be attempted by "trained professional". "Don’t try this at home" is their mantra. But Ephesians 4 teaches something entirely different.

OPEN: (The following illustration originated from either Tom Osborn or Lynn Malone here on sermoncentral.com) I read the following description of a preacher’s job from someone who had known a number of preachers over their lifetime, and they had put together a synthesized view of a man they ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-16

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Fields Of The Fatherless

Contributed by Tom Davis on Oct 1, 2007

Ministry to the poor, the orphan, and the widow is about joining the work of God in his favorite field. Meaning and satisfaction in life don’t come from striving, it comes from loving. The gospel message is a message of love. Loving God means loving peop

Something is Missing God is passionate about orphans The scriptures speak of a God who cares for the alien, orphan, and widow. When you look, these passages (like Psalm 68:5 and James 1:27) come jumping off the page. God speaks about orphans and widows as a unique and special group of people. ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 2:2-4

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Coloring Outside The Lines Series

Contributed by Dan Thompkins on Jan 11, 2008

Sometimes God goes uses what is deemed the "unusable" (Outside the Lines) to accomplish His purposes.

Coloring Outside the Lines 11-8-06 Judges 4 (Judges Series)   Illustration: As the child looks at a drawing that they have just colored and try as they might, they have colored outside the lines…it might be embarrassing or look inferior to them. They will not be able to appreciate that drawing ...read more

Denomination: Pentecostal

Christians Effectively Minister Series

Contributed by Daniel Villa on Jun 30, 2008

Christians are called to make mature disciples in the power of the Holy Spirit and the word

CHRISTIANS EFFECTIVELY MINISTER A CHRISTIAN IS… Colossians 1:24-2:3 OBJECTIVE: Christians are called by God to minister to others and He equips them to minister effectively. Let’s begin today’s message by correcting a misunderstanding of ministry: MINISTRY BELONGS TO PASTORS AND CHRISTIAN ...read more

Denomination: Church Of God

More Than Keeping Up Appearances

Contributed by Brian Matherlee on Jul 14, 2008

Jesus’ words to the disciples in the days following the Resurrection

MORE THAN KEEPING UP APPEARANCES John 20:19-21:19 Sunday, April 6, 2008 Pastor Brian Matherlee Did you ever wonder where Jesus was when He wasn’t appearing to people after the Resurrection? My first guess is that He was in Paradise and would come and go from there. I conclude this because He ...read more

Denomination: Wesleyan

Divine Interruptions And Surprises

Contributed by Jeffery Scott on Jul 14, 2008

Jairus had faith that Jesus would heal yet that faith was tested three times.

I. The Seekers Humility A. Who was Jairus? B. Notice he came the same way the demon possessed man came. C. He came with the right heart. 1. Submissive Heart Psalms 34:18 (NKJV) 18 The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit 2. Sincere ...read more

Scripture: Mark 5:21-34, Job 1:5

Denomination: Baptist

He Speaks With Authority Series

Contributed by Shawn Rose on Jul 28, 2008

Jesus has the authority to take care of your problems with Satan, physical illness, psychological problems, and of course, spiritual problems.

HE SPEAKS WITH AUTHORITY Text: Mark 1:21 – 2:12; read 1:21, 22, 32 – 39 Introduction: •Once when I was a substitute teacher, I was given the task of making 300 students sit quietly in the gymnasium at lunch time •I was not able to do it, but the principal came in, shouted, and they all ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

The Importance Of Knowing Your Spiritual Gifts

Contributed by Richard Laraviere on Aug 5, 2008

A challenge to know ones spiritual gifting

The importance of knowing your Spiritual Gifts Introduction: 1. My message this morning is entitled: The importance of knowing your spiritual gifts 2. I had asked three folks sitting in this room about spiritual gifts and what they thought of the subject. 1st I don’t want to know, then I ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:4-11

Denomination: Mennonite

When Life Disappoints, Jesus Doesn't!

Contributed by Scott Bradford on Jul 22, 2010

A sermon on being encouraged through life's disappointments by the power of God in Jesus Christ!

Weddings! Barbara (our organist) has likely played at more weddings than I’ve ever performed, but I know she and I probably have some wedding nightmare stories to tell, if we could tell them. We might have to change the names to protect the innocent. If you know me, I like to start on time. ...read more

Scripture: John 2:1-12

Denomination: United Methodist

A Time To Be Busy Series

Contributed by Stephen Evans on Jul 29, 2010

Part one of a series encouraging believers to be about the Father's Business

With the morals, ethics, and value systems of our nation on the decline, and immorality, sensuality, perverse human behavior, and violence on the increase, yet all the while God’s mandate to the Christian church being the same; that we be a positive witness of the gospel, evangelize the ...read more

Scripture: Haggai 1:1-15

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Ezra The Man Series

Contributed by Larry Wilson on Jul 29, 2010

Sermon 12 in the series. Between the events of chapter 6 and the return of Ezra in chapter 7 is a period of fifty-seven years. The entire book of Esther fits between these chapters. We now find ourselves at a point of transition. Although the people had

The Book of Ezra Study #12 (Ezra 7:1-10) Ezra The Man Introduction: • Between the events of chapter 6 and the return of Ezra in chapter 7 is a period of fifty-seven years. • The entire book of Esther fits between these chapters. • We now find ourselves at a point of ...read more

Scripture: Ezra 7:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

The Church Of The Helping Hand!

Contributed by Jim Mccutchen on Aug 2, 2010

It’s thrilling when people are helped and blessed by the hands of Christian people. But the ultimate priority and the consummate goal of all we do is the salvation of souls. The greatest thing that can happen here is when a person gives their life to

THE CHURCH OF THE HELPING HAND Acts 9:32-41 - Peter traveled about the country, he went to visit the saints in Lydda. There he found a man named Aeneas, a paralytic who had been bedridden for eight years. "Aeneas," Peter said to him, "Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and take care of your mat." ...read more

Scripture: Acts 9:32-41

Denomination: Christian Church

Helping Hands Series

Contributed by Eric Lenhart on Aug 12, 2010

How do we relate to the needs of others?

Helping Hands (Acts 3:1-10) Introduction: “There was a pastor of a small church who had a little daughter of about 6-years-old. It was near her bedtime, and she was sent to bed with a stomachache and missed her usual romp with her daddy. A few minutes later she appeared at the top of the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 3:1-10

Denomination: Church Of God

"Loathing The Bread"

Contributed by Clark Tanner on Aug 27, 2010

Don't loath the Bread

“Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘HE GAVE THEM BREAD OUT OF HEAVEN TO EAT.’ ” 32 Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread out of heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the ...read more

Scripture: John 6:1-36

Denomination: Orthodox

"Blind From Birth"

Contributed by Clark Tanner on Aug 27, 2010

There are those who know they are blind and receive Christ's healing, and those who think they see and therefore remain blind. Of which group are you?

“As He passed by, He saw a man blind from birth. 2 And His disciples asked Him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?” 3 Jesus answered, “It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might ...read more

Scripture: John 9:1-7

Denomination: Orthodox