Sermons on Resisting Temptation:

Why Is The Pursuit Of Success So Empty? Series

Contributed by Scott Chambers on Apr 8, 2013

This is the second message in a series from the book of Ecclesiastes that examines Solomon's wisdom in regard to the mistakes that he had made in his life. This message examines the pursuit of success how it is always elusive and leaves one feeling empty.

Dear Diary, “I want to be a success but the harder I pursue success the more empty I feel.” As we begin I really feel that we must answer three extremely difficult questions. What drives you? What causes you to work the way you do? What happens to all you have worked for when you exit ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 2:17-23

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Allure Of "All These Things"

Contributed by Dr. Jerry N. Watts on Sep 26, 2012

"All these Things" as taught by Jesus - represent the things of this world.

The Allure of “All These Things” Matthew 6:24-34 * Over the last 38 years, as we have attempted to serve the Lord, we have lived in many different cities. In every location we had to learn the new home, new city, new roads, and new community. Learning a new community has always been ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:24-34

Denomination: Baptist

Is Porn Really All That Bad? Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Jul 18, 2018

This sermon looks at five opening questions about pornography.

FIVE STARTING QUESTIONS: 1. HOW SUBSTANTIAL A PROBLEM IS PORN IN AMERICA TODAY? Three numbers: a. Porn is about a $100 billion industry in America, which is 100 times higher than revenues 20 years ago. - Note that these numbers are just “the porn industry.” That is, the legal, W-2 filing ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:27-28

Denomination: Baptist

Doing Battle In Charity Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jun 12, 2021

Scripture reminds us to contend with others, Christian or not, with charity as our rule of engagement.

Homily for Monday of 11th week in Course 2 Cor 6: 1-10; Mt 5:38-42 There’s an old story that after the battle of Waterloo, someone was speaking to Lord Wellington about the superior courage of his soldiers. He is supposed to have said “our men were not braver than the enemy. They were brave five ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 6:1-10, Matthew 5:38-41, Psalm 98:1-4

Denomination: Catholic

On Being An Overcomer Series

Contributed by Dr. Bradford Reaves on Jan 21, 2021

Jesus was tempted in every way. His battle in the wilderness underscores his authority and victory over temptation and sin

Grace Community Church Winchester, VA www.GraceCommunity.com Pastor Bradford Reaves Watch this message online: https://youtu.be/Km22OhiY8ng Introduction A few guys were on a men’s retreat together and one night they decided to share with each other their struggles and temptations. The first said, ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 91:11-12, Isaiah 14:12, Daniel 4:17, Acts 17:26, 2 Corinthians 4:4, John 16:11, John 12:31, Philippians 4:19, Matthew 6:33, Matthew 6:31, Psalm 107:4-6, Hebrews 4:15, Deuteronomy 6:13, Luke 4:1-13  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Brethren

The Day Of The Living Dead Series

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Nov 28, 2022

What does being dead to sin actually mean?

Have you ever seen a zombie movie? I haven’t; I’m not into horror movies, I’ve never thought that fear was fun. But zombies are the monster du jour. Space invaders, werewolves and vampires are all old hat. What’s the fascination with graves opening and corpses in various stages of decomposition ...read more

Scripture: Romans 6:1-11

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

You Have To Get In The Ring To Win Part 3: Me Vs The World

Contributed by Rick Gillespie- Mobley on Jul 21, 2021

This sermon involves dealing with our constant fight with the world. We will face the same 3 temptations that Jesus faced. Love not the world.

You Have To Get In The Ring To Win Me vs The World Proverbs 1:8-19 Luke 4:1-13 7/18/2021 We are continuing our boxing match line-up that we started two weeks ago. The first match was Me vs. Me. The second match was Me Vs. You. Today’s match is Me vs. The World, and next week it will be Me ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 1:8-19, Luke 4:1-13, 1 John 2:13-18

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Our Rest In Distress

Contributed by Dennis Lee on Nov 6, 2022

Today’s message centers upon Psalm 61:1-4 and King David’s cry for God to hear him in the midst of His troubles. To find the rest we need in times of distress, we need to go to Jesus, the rock that is higher than anything we might face. Jesus is the true rest in times of our distress.

Our Rest In Distress Psalm 61:1-4 Watch on YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mRq1IJqMao There is a quote by Corrie ten Boom, whose family helped escaping Jews from the Holocaust, where she and her family were caught and sent to the prison camps. She wrote a best-selling biography ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 61:1-4

Denomination: Foursquare

My Beloved Son - Sermon On Mark 1:10-20

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on May 6, 2023

We should appreciate the Father’s love for the Son because that’s the love we get if we repent and believe enough forsake everything and follow him.

Mark 1:9 At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:10-20

Triple Threat

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Aug 22, 2023

We have exactly the same weapons against temptation that Jesus used against Satan in the wilderness.

How many of you remember your first day at school, or your first day at a new job? You usually get some kind of orientation, don’t you. At that new job, maybe you spent the morning in the human resources signing benefits papers and getting company policies explained to you, maybe you get led ...read more

Scripture: Luke 4:1-14

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

First Sunday In Lent (B C P). Series

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Mar 5, 2025

Sermons upon the Bible readings of the Book of Common Prayer.

Psalm 91:1-12, Genesis 3:1-6, 2 Corinthians 6:1-10, Matthew 4:1-11. A). OUR REFUGE IS THE LORD. Psalm 91:1-12. The opening verse of this Psalm seems to state the obvious: “those who take their shelter under the Most High are sheltered by the shadow of the Almighty” (PSALM 91:1). Yet there is a ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 91:1-12, Genesis 3:1-6, 2 Corinthians 6:1-10, Matthew 4:1-11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

When We Need Rebuking

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jan 23, 2024

God can successfully get our attention and turn us around, if we are open to His guidance.

Saturday of the Third Week in Course 2023 Today we have heard the tale of two rebukes, rebukes of power and harm against human beings. All this week the liturgy has shared with us the story of David as King of Israel. Earlier this month he and his trusted followers were running from Saul, but ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 51:12-17, Mark 4:35-41, 2 Samuel 12:1-17

Denomination: Catholic

Two Paths, Two Destinies Series

Contributed by Paul Dayao on Aug 25, 2025

The Christian life demands that we endure God's tests to receive the crown of life, while simultaneously taking full responsibility for the internal temptations that, if unchecked, arise from our own desires and lead to spiritual death.

Introduction: The Finish Line Many of us know the feeling of a great test. Perhaps it was a final exam in university that determined your grade for the entire semester. Maybe it was a major project or presentation at work, with your career on the line. Or maybe it was a physical challenge, like ...read more

Scripture: James 1:12-16

Denomination: Baptist

Rewiring The Heart: When Purity Becomes Pleasure Again

Contributed by Charles Payne on Oct 22, 2025

his sermon explores how God does more than forgive sexual sin—He retrains desire itself. It shows how repeated sin creates reflexive pathways in the heart and mind, and how grace restores intimacy by building a new spiritual “trail” toward purity.

Rewiring the Heart: When Purity Becomes Pleasure Again Text: Matthew 5:8 Tagline: A sermon about how God retrains desire, not just forgives failure. ________________________________________ PROLOGUE Some sins wound the conscience — but others rewire the heart. Some sins break fellowship — but ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:8, Romans 12:2, Titus 2:11-12, 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5, Psalm 16:11, 2 Corinthians 10:5  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Showdown In The Desert (Matthew 4:1-11)

Contributed by Donald Whitchard on Nov 6, 2024

After being baptized in the Jordan river, Jesus was driven into the Judean wilderness by the Holy Spirit to face forty days of hunger, thirst, and a supernatural battle with His archenemy and ours, the devil.

The Holy Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness of Judea, a barren, dry, and desolate area. It would be a place of severe testing where He would encounter the works and wiles of the devil, a real being whose aim was to try and tempt Jesus to abuse HIs power, lose His faith, or submit to the ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 28:11-15, Matthew 4:1-11, 1 Peter 5:8, Isaiah 14:7-12, Revelation 20:10  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist