Sermons on Not By Works:

Worship That Works

Contributed by J Bernard Taylor on Feb 11, 2020

What makes our worship work in keeping with God's will? The Hebrew word for worship can also mean work. Is God satisfied with our worship? How can we make our worship work?

WORSHIP THAT WORKS Introduction: Is God satisfied with our worship? What makes our worship work in keeping with God's will? We should note that the Hebrew word for worship can also mean work. What makes our worship work in God's sight? I WORSHIP WORKS WHEN WE HAVE A HUMBLE ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 58:1-9

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Works Or Not?

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jun 13, 2022

Doing good works is a very controversial topic among Christians, because they are either overemphasized or underemphasized. It’s hard to find the balance, but the scriptures are the best help.

Doing good works is a very controversial topic among Christians, because they are either overemphasized or underemphasized. It’s hard to find the balance, but the scriptures are the best help, if we’ll listen to them instead of blindly accepting the prejudices of men. There are several factors to ...read more

Scripture: John 6:29, James 2:14-26, Matthew 16:27

Denomination: Baptist

Watering And Working Series

Contributed by Peter Kelly on Aug 25, 2021

Series #9. The danger of placing a man on a pedestal is the focus of this passage.

This morning we continue to look at Paul’s admonition to the church at Corinth. He tells them that they ought to have matured in their Christian faith during the five years the church in this city has been in existence. Instead they are carnal. By using this term Paul is telling the readers that ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:3-9

The Blessing Of Work Series

Contributed by D. Dewaine Phillips on Aug 30, 2021

Labor Day: Work was ordained by God in the beginning and was intended to give us a level of satisfaction and purpose. This topical message looks at some prominent Bible passages on work to see how work is a blessing.

I wish to begin with an illustration: “On one occasion, Thomas Edison came home very exhausted from an extended season of work. His wife insisted that he needed some rest, so she suggested a vacation. Edison mulled it over but wasn’t sure where he should go. His wife said, ‘Just decide where you ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 2:1-3, Ecclesiastes 9:9-10, 2 Thessalonians 3:10-13

Denomination: Baptist

Called To Work

Contributed by Michael Deutsch on Sep 4, 2021

A Labor Day message about working!

Called to Work 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15 September 5, 2021 There was a really popular television show called The Office. The Office was about employees of Dunder-Mifflin, a fictional paper company in Scranton, Pennsylvania. The show was called a mocumentary. There were unique times in the program ...read more

Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15

Denomination: Baptist

A Faith That Works Series

Contributed by Lanny Smith on Sep 6, 2021

Do we have as much loyalty to Jesus Christ as we do our favorite sports team?

Faith That Works Walk in Wisdom / James 2:1–10; James 2:11–13; James 2:14–17   • Loyalty to your team. • Go to games, wear their jersey, paint your house in team colors, talk about it, schedule your wedding around games (true story). • Won’t wear the rival’s colors, etc. (A certain FSU fan ...read more

Scripture: James 2:1-18, Romans 2:11

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Work And Wages Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 29, 2021

Jesus not only dignified labor by His life but by His choice of disciples, for He picked them, not from idleness, but from the labor force. He called them from their jobs. He wanted men who were prepared to work.

It is probably a fictitious story, but a wife who had her husband cremated was asked if she wanted his ashes in an urn. She said, “No. I want them put in an hour glass to set on the mantel. That lazy rascal never did a day’s work in his life, but I’m going to keep him busy from now on.” George ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:58

Good Works

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Feb 21, 2023

Can Christians ignore good works? Are good works a fruit of faith?

Should a Christian do good works? What about lazy Christians who only believe, but are not interested in good works? What did Jesus teach? In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 5:16 ...read more

Scripture: James 2:18-26

Denomination: Baptist

Meaningful Work Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Mar 3, 2023

If you want to find meaning in your work, don’t work for posterity or profit. Instead, work for the Lord.

Kung Fu Panda is a movie about a panda named Po who desperately wants to learn kung fu. His father, though, wants him to take over the family business someday. In one scene, Po is late coming down the stairs from his room, where he was working on his kung fu moves, to work in his father’s ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 2:18-26, John 11:18-30, 1 Corinthians 15:58

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Peace Work Series

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Nov 24, 2022

God’s peace is not the same as the world’s peace - even though people filled with God’s peace DO bring peace to the world.

We human beings are not naturally peacemakers. On the contrary: we’re naturally trouble-makers. A few years ago a group of people tried walking across America on a mission of peace. They couldn't get along and divided into two groups by the time they were half way across. According to the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:9

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Work Of Waiting Series

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Nov 28, 2022

We are to wait neither so eagerly that we lose our patience, not so patiently that we lose our expectation, but eagerly and patiently together.

Some of you know that Steve and Susan Forrester are expecting a baby. On the other hand, some of you might not even know who Steve and Susan Forrester are. Steve’s the pastor of the Methodist church up the street, and Susan is one of the counselors at their counseling center. Anyway they’re ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:15-25

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

A Mind To Work

Contributed by Chris Swanson on Dec 12, 2022

Disapproval and discouragement can result from ridicule. We should choose not to respond in the same manner or to become discouraged when we are ridiculed for our faith or criticized for doing what we know is right.

Many years prior to Nehemiah’s time, the Northern Kingdom had been conquered and many were taken captive to other lands. The conquering nation introduced prisoners from other lands, which led to intermarriage with the few Israelites. This blending of the races produced the people known as the ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 4:1-6

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Work For God Series

Contributed by Michael Monica on Dec 25, 2022

Understanding Sanctification

Work – for - God) | John 9:1-9 [Introduction] (1) We have been discussing sanctification (God’s continued work in our lives), Christ’s imperatives/commandments and his call to discipleship. (2) Discipleship is an identity. It is who we are as followers of Christ and it is our mission (to make ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Finishing The Work Series

Contributed by Mark Schaeufele on Jan 13, 2025

As Christians, we all have a job to do, which includes telling people about Jesus, and showing them Jesus by the way we treat each other.

FINISHING THE WORK Text: Acts 20:22-38 Introduction 1. The 1992 Summer Olympics featured two tremendously poignant moments. American sprinter Gail Devers, the clear leader in the 100-meter hurdles, tripped over the last barrier. She agonizingly pulled herself to her knees and crawled the last five ...read more

Scripture: Acts 20:22-38

Denomination: Methodist

Submission: Work Series

Contributed by John Bright on Feb 16, 2025

Working through 1 Peter using consecutive expository preaching. No teaching sheet for this sermon.

"Submission: Work" 1 Peter 2:18-25 Pastor John Bright 1 Peter 2 “18 Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh. 19 For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. 20 ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:18-25, 1 Peter 2:11-12, Romans 5:3-5, Matthew 7:13-20, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Ephesians 4:22-24  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Methodist