Sermons on No Effort:

Prayer Isn't For Sissies Series

Contributed by Roger Thomas on Jul 20, 2006

Prayer matters. Real prayer is worth whatever effort it takes to make it the source of power in our lives. In our text, John reveals the secret of effective praying. Note the three keys that can unlock prayer’s power for you.

Prayer Isn’t for Sissies! 1 John 5:14-15 Dr. Roger W. Thomas, Preaching Minister First Christian Church, Vandalia, MO Prayer isn’t for sissies! A lot of people think otherwise, perhaps some in this room Some think it is a cop-out. They say, “praying is an attempt to find an easy way out. ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 5:14-15

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Prayer-Care-Share: Kick-Off Sunday Series

Contributed by Marty Boller on Jan 16, 2006

#1 in a series. God is pouring out a whole new level of city-wide cooperation amongst churches and church leaders. Prayer-Care-Share is a concentrated effort focusing on "Building Bridges to our Community"...loving our communities to Christ.

This is a very special day! This is a very unique day! A special day @ Father’s House. A special day here in Cedar Rapids. A special day for all of us in Christ. A special day for Jesus. So what makes this day so very special & unique? Let me answer that question by starting with God’s Word. The ...read more

Scripture: John 17:20-23

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Prayer-Care-Share: Your Circle Of Influence Series

Contributed by Marty Boller on Jan 24, 2006

#2 in a series. God is pouring out a whole new level of city-wide cooperation amongst churches and church leaders. Prayer-Care-Share is a concentrated effort focusing on "Building Bridges to our Community"...loving our communities to Christ.

Pastor Sandy Boller... Prayer. Care. Share. Building Bridges in Linn County. Loving our Community to Christ! Last week, Marty introduced the Prayer.Care.Share initiative that some 30 churches in Cedar Rapids are participating in. These churches are choosing to pull our ministries together for the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:1-8

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Prayer-Care-Share: Book Mark Sunday Series

Contributed by Marty Boller on Jan 30, 2006

#3 in a series. God is pouring out a whole new level of city-wide cooperation amongst churches and church leaders. Prayer-Care-Share is a concentrated effort focusing on "Building Bridges to our Community"...loving our communities to Christ.

Here in Cedar Rapids, 30-plus churches are uniting together under ONE CAUSE, ONE PURPOSE. Cedar Rapids has become a pilot-city with Mission America to see what might happen if a number of churches actually work together to fulfill Jesus’ GREAT COMMISSION and Jesus’ GREAT COMMANDMENT in Linn ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:14-21

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

In The Shadow Of Bulls & Goats Series

Contributed by Sean Harder on Aug 23, 2012

Before Christ gave up his life as a sacrifice for the sins of the world, there was a system that God put into place through Moses that resembled what was to come in Christ. This system of sacrificing animals and shedding blood was the people’s effort to g

Today we begin a short series on what I believe may be the best chapter of the bible in terms of explaining exactly what Christ has done, because it puts in the historical perspective of why sacrifices were necessary in the first place. You can read more about the old covenant in chapter 9. That ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 10:1-10

Compelled By Love

Contributed by John Gaston on Sep 3, 2017

The heart of God is to rescue the perishing. Paul caught the vision of God's incomparable love and was so moved that he too felt compelled to join God's efforts, regardless of the cost. The love of God should motivate us to rescue the perishing too!

COMPELLED BY LOVE 2 Cor. 5:14 INTRODUCTION A. HUMOR: school is back in session. 1. “How did school go today?” a mother asked her little boy. “Fine”, the little fellow replied. “We had a new teacher and she wanted to know if I had any brothers or sisters and I told her I was an only child”. “What ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:14-15

Denomination: Assembly Of God

You Must Be "Dreaming"

Contributed by Charlie Roberts on Jul 13, 2016

Don't get caught up in only believing the possibilities of what you have seen in the past! Because no matter where you are at in life, He wants you to dream bigger than your efforts are capable of bringing to the table.

You must be dreaming? Oral Roberts used to use a chorus that some detested, ‘Expect a miracle every day, Expect a miracle when you pray, If you expect it God will find a way, To perform a miracle for you each day.’ What are you expecting or dreaming about for God to do in your life ...read more

Scripture: Luke 23:39-43

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

But They Could Not...

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jul 13, 2018

Despite the repeated efforts of mankind to duplicate the work of the Lord, His work is unique and man is unable to do what He does. Eventually, those who imagine they can supplant God crash up against reality, and they are revealed to be frauds.

“Then the LORD said to Moses, ‘Say to Aaron, “Stretch out your staff and strike the dust of the earth, so that it may become gnats in all the land of Egypt.”’ And they did so. Aaron stretched out his hand with his staff and struck the dust of the earth, and there were gnats on man and beast. All ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 8:16-19

Denomination: Baptist

Bumpin Into Jesus Series

Contributed by Jeffrey Sims on Nov 27, 2018

This sermon is about making an effort to encounter Jesus in an intentional way instead of just bumping into him on occasion. It should cause us to look at our relationship with Christ and evaluate whether we are in a relationship with Jesus or if he is just a casual acquaintance.

In our scripture today we find Jesus surrounded by a large crowd on His way to the home of a synagogue official named Jarius’ whose daughter is dying. Now in the whole of the scripture today we learn of two separate miracles but I want to focus on just one today. I want to focus not on the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 8:43-48

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Character Study Of Ishmael Series

Contributed by Rev. Samuel Arimoro on Mar 21, 2025

Ishmael's story teaches us the importance of trusting God’s timing and avoiding decisions based on impatience. While human efforts can bring temporary success, only God’s promises bring true fulfilment.

CHARACTER STUDY OF ISHMAEL – SON OF ABRAHAM AND HAGAR By Rev. Samuel Arimoro Main Text: Genesis 16:10-12 "The angel of the Lord also said to her, 'I will surely multiply your offspring so that they cannot be numbered for multitude.' And the angel of the Lord said to her, 'Behold, ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 16:10-12, Genesis 17:18-21, Genesis 21:8-21, Galatians 4:22-26

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Sermon On The Challenges Of Life

Contributed by William Meakin on Nov 22, 2021

Amongst the many interpretations, the challenges of life have been defined as "The situation of being faced with something that needs great mental or physical effort in order to be done successfully and therefore tests a person's ability."

Roy T. Bennett, the author of “The Light in the Heart” once remarked: “Every challenge you face today makes you stronger tomorrow. The challenge of life is intended to make you better, not bitter.” James 1:2-4 reminds us: “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:10, Isaiah 41:13, Philippians 4:13

The Story Of An Absentee King Series

Contributed by Scott Maze on Jun 9, 2021

Every believer will give an account of their efforts You will give an account of your whole life. Some of you have taken the gospel and stuck in a sock drawer. Some of you have taken the story of Jesus and stuffed in under your mattress.

I wish I could say I was shocked when I saw the story… A Libyan branch of ISIS claims to have beheaded 21 men. A caption across the bottom of the video screen read, “The people of the cross, followers of the hostile Egyptian church” As many as thirteen of the men were from one small farming ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:11-27

Denomination: Baptist

Enter Through The Narrow Door!

Contributed by Michael Otterstatter on Aug 26, 2025

In this Gospel Lesson we hear our Savior speak words of warning and encouragement. Jesus said that there is only one way to enter heaven. He said that we should make every effort to: “ENTER THROUGH THE NARROW DOOR”

“How do you get into heaven?” A Sunday school teacher asked that question of her 2nd grade class. It seemed like a simple question for a group of little Lutherans. But no hands went up. Silence. Crickets. The teacher was confident that the students knew the answer, so she waited patiently. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 13:22-30

Denomination: Lutheran

Strike Until The Battle Is Won Series

Contributed by Rev. Samuel Arimoro on Jul 17, 2025

This account reveals that partial obedience, half-hearted efforts, and spiritual laziness can limit the fullness of God’s intended victories. Many believers fail to receive all God has for them because they stop striking too soon.

STRIKE UNTIL THE BATTLE IS WON By Rev. Samuel Arimoro Main Text: 2 Kings 13:14-19 Supporting Texts: 1 Corinthians 15:57; Hebrews 10:35-36; Galatians 6:9; Isaiah 54:17; Romans 8:37 INTRODUCTION: There are moments in life when the outcome of a battle is not just determined by the enemy's ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 13:14-19

Denomination: Assembly Of God

The Cost Of Holy Living Series

Contributed by Rev. Samuel Arimoro on Jan 28, 2025

Holy living demands self-denial, perseverance, and complete devotion to God. Though it comes with sacrifices, the eternal rewards far outweigh the temporary costs. As believers, let us embrace the call to holiness, knowing that God’s grace will sustain us.

Title: THE COST OF HOLY LIVING By Rev. Samuel Arimoro Main Text: Luke 9:23 Supporting Texts: 1 Peter 1:15-16, Romans 12:1-2, Matthew 5:10-12, Galatians 2:20 INTRODUCTION: Holy living is a command and an essential aspect of the Christian journey. However, it comes with a cost—self-denial, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:23, 1 Peter 1:15-16, Romans 12:1-2, Matthew 5:10-12, Galatians 2:20  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Assembly Of God