Sermons on Provoked To Success:

And Then Some!

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Jul 2, 2002

James Byrnes, Sec’y of State under FDR, said that the difference between successful people & average people can be summed up in 3 words, "and then some." He said, "Average people do what is expected. Successful people do what is expected, & then some."

MELVIN M. NEWLAND, MINISTER CENTRAL CHRISTIAN CHURCH BROWNSVILLE, TX A. When we read the Bible, one of the things that has to impress us is that God is often calling upon His people to do things they normally couldn’t do by themselves, but that they can do with His help. God is always saying, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:1-30

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

5 Ways To Frustrate Failure Series

Contributed by Guy Glass on Oct 30, 2007

Paul, here in his letter to the Thessalonian Church gives us five ways to frustrate failure, to keep ourselves from being overwhelmed by it, and to give us a gauge by which we can judge our own spiritual success – ie: our success before God!

5 WAYS TO FRUSTRATE FAILURE 1 Thessalonians 2:1-6a INTRODUCTION: Failure is something we all want to avoid. No one likes to be known as a failure. No one likes to be associated with a failed anything. We all tend to look at people who have failed with a little cynicism. What’s wrong with them? ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 2:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

Jesus And His Surprising Teachings About Service Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Oct 13, 2014

We all want to feel like we matter in some way, and sometimes that can take the form of “other people do not matter.” Jesus taught that everyone matters. Success in his eyes is very different from the world’s view of success.

Jesus’ Surprising Teachings About Service (Mark 9:33-50) 1. Sometimes it DOES take a Rocket Scientist 
 Scientists at NASA have developed a gun built specifically to launch dead chickens at the windshields of airliners, military jets and the space shuttle, all traveling at maximum ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:33-50

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Holding On To Heaven, When Hell Is On Your Back!

Contributed by Jarrod Bottley on Jul 7, 2006

This sermon was written to elaborate on how when you are trying your best to be a christian and live up to the true creed of being Christ like, but Satan always attacks you and provokes you to do otherwise. But Greater is He who is in me than he that is i

Look at your neighbor and say, "Neighbor, I hope that you came to praise God. Empty your mind of worldly things and put your mind on Heavenly things and give me a high five because i am ready to be blessed!" The setting here is at the Sea of Galilee, a lake only eight miles wide. The lake is ...read more

Scripture: Mark 4:35-41

Denomination: Baptist

The Lingering Gloom Of Sleeping In The Bed We Made Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Jun 13, 2016

Our personal choices have consequences, some of them long-term. The choices groups or nations make also have consequences. Provoking God’s long-term discipline is a miserable experience, and sometimes the righteous have to experience it/w the unrighteous.

The Lingering Gloom of Sleeping in the Bed We Made (Psalm 74) 1. A blogger out west writes, “Today, I was hiking, and four miles away from my car and civilization, I tripped over a rock into a cactus. I used duct tape, which ripped all the hair off my arms and legs but ignored the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 74:1-23

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The  Danger  Of  An  Empty  House  (Christ The King Sunday 2022)

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Nov 18, 2022

Consider what provoked Jesus to teach this parable.  Jesus had healed a man who was unable to speak. His opponents in the crowd accused Jesus of working for the devil (Luke 11:15) whose works Jesus came to destroy (I John 3:8).

Luke 11:21 "When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are safe. 22 But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted and divides up his plunder. 23 "Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does ...read more

Scripture: Luke 11:21-26

Denomination: United Methodist

Leaning Against Legalism

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Jun 20, 2011

We often measure our success by how closely we stick to a set of expectations - whether on the job, at home, or in our walk with the Lord. We do good, we feel good - we do bad, we feel bad. But measuring success is really much different in a relationship

When you apply for a job you supply your resume—it’s that collection of information that tells why you are qualified for a particular position. Until not too long ago, a very important thing to have when going to a new area was a letter of recommendation. We still use them occasionally. ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 3:1-18

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

The Sixth Sense, Angels, Demons, And Ghosts Series

Contributed by Eric Ferguson on May 21, 2008

An overview of things that go bump in the night. What is it about the spiritual world that we are not aware of? Discover four keys to success in waging spiritual warfare with teens.

OPENER: Foil Face Unscramble For this game all that you need are a couple of rolls of aluminum foil and a cool prize for the winner. Before service starts recruit 5-6 people and make molds of their face using aluminum foil – pick a mix of leaders and students. If they wear glasses, a hat, ...read more

Scripture: Acts 19:13-16

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

You Can Not Fail If You Love

Contributed by Terry Jones on Nov 8, 2008

This message was delivered by Pastor Terry at the 2008 Nations Network of Ministers Conference. In this encouragement to Pastors and church leaders, Pastor Terry reminds us of the key ingredient to successful ministry - Love!

A young man called on Watchman Nee on day distressed and fearful that he was losing his salvation. “I pray and pray to be faithful to Christ” he cried, “yet I continue to do the most displeasing things”. As if not responding to the young man at all Nee said “see that dog lying at my feet? He is ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Three Reasons Why We Don’t Feel Empowered/Anointed And One Solution Series

Contributed by Dr. Madana Kumar, Phd on Nov 30, 2020

Psalm 23 is a great Psalm to read and be comforted. There are times when we get excited about Psalm 23, and say Amen. But there are other times when we read Psalm 23 and heave a sigh, thinking "I don't feel like the sheep in Psalm 23 right now. What prevents us from feeling Psalm 23?

Three reasons why we don’t feel empowered and one solution Through past several weeks Pastor has taken s through a detailed study of Psalm 23, and many of us are blessed by that. It is certainly a great Psalm and gives us the confidence to face any challenges in life. I don’t know about you, but ...read more

Scripture: John 10:7-11, 1 Kings 17:8-24, John 15:5, Matthew 28:18, 1 John 5:4-5, John 6:35, John 14:6, John 17:18, John 17:15, Matthew 5:16, John 11:25-26, 1 Peter 2:12, John 15:16, John 15:8, Matthew 5:13-14, Philippians 2:3-4, Mark 6:35-43, Numbers 11:4-21, 2 Kings 4:1-6, 2 Corinthians 8:21, Psalm 23:1-6  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Remembered By God Series

Contributed by Scott Maze on May 24, 2021

The life of Joseph intrigues us. And his life intrigues because it’s a roller coaster ride of a life. Along the way, he wears the hats of a shepherd, a slave, a prison warden, and a governor. Relationally, he’s a son, a brother, a husband, a father, and a grandfather.

The life of Joseph intrigues us. And his life intrigues because it’s a roller coaster ride of a life. Along the way, he wears the hats of a shepherd, a slave, a prison warden, and a governor. Relationally, he’s a son, a brother, a husband, a father, and a grandfather. Now the last time we saw ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 41:33-57

Denomination: Baptist

Why The Church Matters Series

Contributed by Scott Maze on Jun 4, 2021

Do you remember the story about The Three Little Pigs? The first little pig built his house out of straw. The second little pig built his house out of sticks. And the third little pig worked hard and labored diligently as he built his house out of brick.

What would things look like if Satan really took control of a city? If Satan took over a city, all the bars would be closed, pornography banished, and the city streets would be pristine with people who smiled at one another. There would be no swearing. The children would say “Yes, sir” and “No, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:9-17

Denomination: Baptist

Your Plans, God's Plan, Part 2 Series

Contributed by Scott Maze on Jun 9, 2021

The final words in the Greek text of Acts is the “unhindered.” God supernaturally orchestrates everything so that the gospel is unstoppable.

Before we really get started this morning, I feel the need to say something. In this political season, I think I need to say, “I am Scott Maze and I approve this message” -:). What if you could say one sentence that the entire world could understand? What would you say? Our study of Acts concludes ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:8-9, Acts 28:29-31

Denomination: Baptist

Good Givers And Reluctant Receivers

Contributed by Charles Holt on Apr 19, 2001

We examine a slice of Isaac’s life and find an illustration of the "not of works" principle for success in living the Christian life.

A Study by Charles W. Holt email: cholt@gt.rr.com Good Givers and Reluctant Receivers Genesis 25:5 and 24:36 Abraham is truly one of the greatest men of the entire Bible. He is not great in an all-encompassing sense. No one has ever attained to that status, except our Lord Jesus Christ. He is ...read more

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Where Does It End?

Contributed by Rick Gillespie- Mobley on May 8, 2001

This sermon indicates that neither success, pleasure or money will satisfy us in life. Godliness is the only thing which will bring contentment.

Where Does It End? GNLCC 5/6/2001 Eccesiastes 2:1-11 1 Timothy 6:6-10, 17-19 Before you decide to jump on a bus, a train, or a plane it is a good idea to know where the thing is going to stop. I had graduated from a school in a small town in upstate New York. There were no subways or ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 2:1-11, 2 Timothy 6:6-19

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed