Sermons on Past Failures:

Lessons From Failure Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Dec 26, 2009

When we fail in ministry, our failure need not be fatal. Rather, if our failure teaches us to depend on Christ and care for people, we can move on from failure to impact our world like Jesus’ original disciples did.

A CEO has taken on a new job, and the outgoing CEO says to him, “Sometimes you’ll make wrong choices. You will. You’ll mess up. When that happens, I have prepared three envelopes for you. I left them in the top drawer of the desk. The first time it happens, open #1. The second time you mess ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:14-29

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Go! And Embrace The New Thing! - Isaiah 43:18-19 Series

Contributed by Dean Courtier on Feb 4, 2025

Life is filled with transitions—some welcomed, some unexpected. We can become so fixated on past experiences, whether victories or failures, that we struggle to move forward. But God calls us to embrace the new thing He is doing.

Go! And Embrace the New Thing! - Isaiah 43:18-19 Isaiah 43:18-19 (NLT)"But forget all that—it is nothing compared to what I am going to do. For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 43:18-19, Philippians 3:13-14, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Jeremiah 29:11, Exodus 14:21-22, John 4:13-14, Psalm 23:4, Proverbs 3:5-6, Joshua 3:15-17, Hebrews 11:1, Matthew 14:29, Isaiah 41:10, John 14:6  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

From Failure To Forgiveness

Contributed by Russell Brownworth on Oct 28, 2010

God chooses to forgive us

27The days are surely coming, says the LORD, when I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of humans and the seed of animals. 28And just as I have watched over them to pluck up and break down, to overthrow, destroy, and bring evil, so I will watch over them to build ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 31:27-34

Denomination: United Methodist

"How To Handle Failure"

Contributed by Ray Ellis on Aug 6, 2003

How a person handles failure can mean the difference between living a life of victory or living a life filled with bitterness, hostility and anger.

The Apostle Paul -How to Handle Failure- 2 Cor. 4:7-9 2 Cor. 11:24-30 Introduction How a person handles failure can mean the difference between living a life of victory or living a life filled with bitterness, hostility and anger. In the first church I served as pastor in Kansas City I got ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:7-9, 2 Corinthians 11:24-30

Denomination: Free Methodist

Who Disqualifies You

Contributed by Pablo Catala on Jun 2, 2019

You are worth it

Being much concerned about the rise of denominations in the church, John Wesley tells of a dream he had. In the dream, he was ushered to the gates of Hell. There he asked, "Are there any Presbyterians here?" "Yes!", came the answer. Then he asked, "Are there any Baptists? ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:15-26

Denomination: Pentecostal

Failures In Christian Life Series

Contributed by Rev. Dr. M. J. Joseph on Jun 9, 2017

There are chances of failures in our Christian life. But how to face failure and turn it to a story of success.

Failures in Christian Life (Mark 9:28-29, Luke 9:28-56, Mt.17:1-21) “After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer.” (Mark 9:28) The context: Mark has a more complete account of this story than ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:28-29

Denomination: Episcopal

Overcoming The Giant Of Failure Series

Contributed by Terry Cavanaugh on Jul 12, 2025

Today, we delve into a powerful narrative from the life of Moses, an extraordinary leader who teaches us about the art of failing forward. Despite his flaws and failures, Moses’ life serves to teach us many valuable lessons. One of them is how to handle failure.

Exodus 2:11–12 “Now it came about in those days, when Moses had grown up, that he went out to his brethren and looked on their hard labors; and he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his brethren. So he looked this way and that, and when he saw there was no one around, he struck down the ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 2:11-12, Romans 8:28, James 2:17

Denomination: United Methodist

Taking A Look At Failure

Contributed by Daren Mitchell on Dec 8, 2012

No matter how messed up or ugly you think or feel you are, you are priceless to God and nothing in all creation can separate you from His love. And what is even more awesome to consider is that through your flaws, weaknesses and failures the power of God

The phrase “Epic Fail” has gained some traction in the last couple of years especially in social media. #epicfail is a popular hashtag. Here are a couple of examples of #epicfail hashtags on twitter.  Saw a lady this morning in her workout gear walking briskly while smoking ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:1-10

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Freedom From Failure

Contributed by Jerry Thorpe on Mar 8, 2013

Everyone of you have fought the battle of failure. There are many different kinds of failure. Not all failure is sin. Nobody wants to be a failure. And nobody has to be a failure.

Luke 5:1-5 And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret, 2 And they saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets. 3 And he entered into one of the ships, which was ...read more

Scripture: Luke 5:1-5

Denomination: Church Of God

New Year, New Start

Contributed by Scott Spencer on Jan 9, 2016

So, a new year is a good time for us to put the past behind us, and set our eyes upon new things. We should never allow these mistakes, setbacks, failures to enslave us to the point that we are captive to the past

New Year 2016 Isaiah 43:18-19 (NIV) 18 “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. 19 See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?[1] Happy New Year. Some of us here this morning have made many mistakes in our lives as Christians. We have experienced ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 43:18-19

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Dealing With Faith Failure

Contributed by Nathan Johnson on Jan 15, 2009

Sometimes our faith is weak and fails, and God teaches us three wonderful truths from Moses life that will help us get back on the faith track.

Dealing with Faith Failure Griffith Baptist Church – 1/18/09 A.M. Service Text: Hebrews 11:27-29 Key verse: Exodus 14:12-13 - 12Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:27-29

Denomination: Baptist

Forgiving Our Failures Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on Sep 11, 2011

Christ cleanses when we confess.

Forgiving Our Failures 1 John 1:5-2:2 Rev. Brian Bill 9/11/11 It was a happy day when my dad built me a bedroom in the basement. I loved my paneled ‘man cave’ and especially enjoyed having a refuge from my four sisters where I could listen to my 8-tracks in peace. One result of ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

No Such Thing As A "God-Failure"

Contributed by Don Schultz on Jul 15, 2003

Sometimes it looks like God has failed. But he never fails. His compassions are new every morning.

LAMENTATIONS 3:22-33 “NO SUCH THING AS A ‘GOD-FAILURE’” Not this past week, but the week before, there were power-failures all over the area, because of all of the storms. I’m sure you know the signs of a power failure: The lights don’t work. The air conditioner doesn’t work. The ...read more

Scripture: Lamentations 3:22-33

Denomination: Lutheran

Hope In The Midst Of Failure Series

Contributed by Shawn Drake on May 19, 2025

This is the 5th Sermon in the Series, "In The Beginning".

Series: In The Beginning… [#5] HOPE IN THE MIDST OF FAILURE Genesis 3:1-24 Introduction: Tonight, we are going to talk about an important topic that many of us know well- “Hope In The Midst Of Failure.” In our passage, we see a crucial moment in history- The 1st failure of humanity in the ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 3:1-24

Denomination: Baptist

The Morning Failure Failed

Contributed by Fr Mund Cargill Thompson on May 10, 2011

Christ is risen! What the "Alleluia" might mean for my broken life....

On Maundy Thursday I cocked up. I’d made my lists for Holy Week. 14 people to readings at Tuesday’s stations of the cross, 12 people to have their feet washed on Maundy Thursday, 9 people to do the Passion Gospel drama on Good Friday, 9 people to readings at Saturday’s Easter ...read more

Scripture: John 20:1-18

Denomination: Anglican