Sermons on No More Excuses:

Why Don’t I Sense God’s Closeness More Often?

Contributed by Jim Butcher on May 3, 2018

Jesus said the kingdom is near, yet often we don't sense God's closeness. This sermon looks at five places where we're likely to meet God.

A GOOD QUESTION: Why don’t I sense God’s closeness more often? - Most of us can tell you about moments in our lives when we sensed God’s closeness. - One such moment for me was when the Holy Spirit spoke to me at 4 a.m. in Guangzhou, China. The presence of the Holy Spirit was so palpable and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 10:5-7

Denomination: Baptist

More Than A Prayer (9) - "deliver Us From Evil"

Contributed by Wilson Oshorakpor on May 31, 2021

The Lord's prayer is much more than a prayer guide. It points us to who the father is.

TEXT: Matthew 6:13 "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen." GOD IS ABLE TO DELIVER FROM ALL EVILS AND BONDAGE The Lord's prayer is much more than a prayer guide, it points us to who God is. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:13, Job 5:19, Psalm 18:2

Denomination: Pentecostal

What Are You Doing More Than Others? - Matthew 5:43-45 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Aug 24, 2024

Matthew 5:47 …what are you doing more than others? That question speaks volumes about what the Lord expects from the Christian life. Jesus requires that citizens of His kingdom have a kind of love that is fundamentally different from the world’s kind of love.

Matthew 5:43-48 You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44 But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:43-45

Nothing You Can Do To Make God Love You More Or Less

Contributed by Stephen Belokur on Sep 25, 2024

Recently I have been hearing quite a few pastors using a quote from Henri Nouwen a Dutch Catholic priest that states, “There is nothing we can do to make God love us more and nothing we can do to make God love us less.” Is that true? Let's see what God's Word has to say about it.

Do you have a Bible? I was once told that in a simple Bible with no maps, no apocrypha and no commentary you would find the Psalms in the center of the Bible. So, I thought maybe it would be Psalm 119 since it has 174 verses and is the longest chapter in the Bible. However, in my Bible it turns out ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:13, John 15:13, John 1:29, 1 Timothy 2:5-6, Romans 5:8, Isaiah 53:1-6, John 3:16-19, John 16:27, John 14:23, Revelation 3:15-16, Romans 13:10, Luke 15:20, Proverbs 6:16-19, Matthew 11:28, 1 John 2:2  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Nazarene

The God Who Blesses Your Latter End More Than Your Beginning Series

Contributed by Rev. Samuel Arimoro on Oct 17, 2025

God specialises in restoring and multiplying blessings, turning pain into purpose and sorrow into songs of joy.

THE GOD WHO BLESSES YOUR LATTER END MORE THAN YOUR BEGINNING By Rev. Samuel Arimoro Main Text: Job 42:10-12 Key Verse: “So the Lord blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she ...read more

Scripture: Job 42:10-12

Denomination: Assembly Of God

I Would Help, But. . .

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Dec 21, 2004

This message examines 10 excuses seen in the parable of the Good Samaritan that we need to overcome in order to serve as God desires us to.

THE LAWYER’S FOCUS (AND OUR’S TOO): - “Sure, I’m willing to help. . . when it’s convenient for me.” - v. 29. - helping within the family/helping with a friend/helping in a tear-jerking situation/helping at Christmas. - his question presumes that “some are my neighbors and some aren’t.” - ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:25-37

Denomination: Baptist

It's Just Beginning

Contributed by Gaither Bailey on Dec 19, 2007

We like to excuse ourselves while we accuse others. John, the Baptizer called everyone to turn from their ways and turn to God.

Matthew 3: 1 – 12 / It’s Just Beginning Intro: As I spoke with our son, Richard, I could hear our granddaughters crying in the background. I asked him what was happening and he said they were both hungry and they were getting ready to feed them. He said, “I had not idea being a parent was going ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 3:1-12

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Immorality Within

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Mar 25, 2021

Excusing iniquity within the church is nothing new. Here is a case study in how churches should handle immorality within. What was the situation?

Excusing iniquity within the church is nothing new. Here is a case study in how churches should handle immorality within. What was the situation? 1 Cor 5:1-8 Immorality Within 1 Corinthians 5:1 It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Victory Is Where We Live

Contributed by Barry O Johnson on Nov 25, 2017

When it comes to the things of this world, God is not interested in how successful we are. Success can be measured. When it comes to the things of this world, God wants nothing less than complete, total and unquestioned victory for us.

I don’t have any notes tonight because I’m going to read a little bit. There are many in the Body of Christ who, when they pray and nothing happens, they say to themselves “I just want to see a little success. I want to see something positive happen.” That is not what God is after. God is not ...read more

Scripture: John 11:1-22

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Grow

Contributed by Clement Swarnappa on Jul 22, 2023

Grow more to accomplish more

Proverbs 1:5 A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels: Proverbs 9:9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning. Psalm 119:98-100 Thou through thy ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 1:5

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Come; For All Things Are Now Ready

Contributed by Carl Allen on Jul 22, 2008

The parable of the great supper, teaches us of the invitation of God to everyone to join Him in the feast, the excuses of man not to come and finally the results of not accepting the invitation.

Come; for All Things Are Now Ready Luke 14:16-24 Intro In the parable of the great supper, our Lord presents a picture of the blessings of Christianity under the figure of a wonderful banquet in which everything has been provided by God who is the generous Host. The world promises much to those ...read more

Scripture: John 14:16-24

Denomination: Baptist

The Search For But Pickers

Contributed by Nathan Cooper on Feb 26, 2008

How many times do we use the word "but" in our everyday conversations? The children of Israel found many excuses not to trust God.

The Search For But-Pickers Numbers 13 & 14 Numbers 13:17-33 Have you ever met those people that no matter what the proposition or statement, the first word out of their mouth is “but”? I believe that we have a but-load of those people sitting in our churches today. Those without vision; those ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Lost And Ashamed Series

Contributed by Scott Carmer on Jun 27, 2006

Adam and Eve felt shame when they sinned and discovered their nakedness. God never excuses our sin, but does not define us by our shame.

Lost and Ashamed Genesis 3:1-7 Romans 7:23-25 June 25, 2006 I don’t know if you have ever heard of Mental Floss Magazine or not. Mental Floss is a bi-monthly magazine and is described on its web site as “…your cheat sheet to a complete education. Let’s face it; we all want to feel smart. We all ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 3:1-7

Denomination: Methodist

Those Feet Jesus Washed

Contributed by Bradley Berglund on Apr 6, 2013

In spite of knowing what these disciples would do within hours, Jesus washed their feet and commanded them to follow His example: no excuse is acceptable.

This story is significant because of its timing – Jesus was preparing for Calvary * Hours before His betrayal – * He was leaving those whom He loved dearly * Critical messages – often last minute orders WHAT IS FOOT WASHING? A Cultural Necessity: * Necessary because of the foot ...read more

Scripture: John 13:1-17

Denomination: Baptist

It Is Me O' Lord

Contributed by Jon Miller on Aug 22, 2005

This sermon teaches us how we are accountable to God for our Sin. It explores some of the different ways that we try to excuse our sin.

It is me O’ Lord In this passage of scripture the young man had to come to himself and say, “I have sinned.” It is me O’ Lord, standing in the need of prayer. In the 1950s a psychologist, Stanton Samenow, and a psychiatrist, Samuel Yochelson, sharing the conventional wisdom that crime is ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-32