Sermons on Run In Vain:

How Much Is The Fare To Tarshish? Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jun 6, 2003

Jonah refused to go to Tarshish because emotionally he felt unwelcome and theologically he thought he could escape God’s oversight. He paid hidden costs, in vain: the loss of a vessel, the loss of joy, human wreckage, reckoning with eternity.

When I travel, I don’t want to spend too much money on the travel itself. I’d rather spend my money on whatever there is to buy where I’m going. I don’t want to hand much over to the airline or the railroad. I want to travel cheap. But I sometimes miss an important fact – that when I try to ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 1:1-16

Denomination: Baptist

The 10:30 Whistle Series

Contributed by W Pittendreigh on Jun 24, 2005

If prayer is meaningless, then we are taking the name of the Lord in vain everytime we say, "Our Father, who art in heaven." Thus the first petition of the Lord’s Prayer is a request that we keep his name holy.

I have been told by a socologist that Ware Shoals, SC, has the distinction of being one of the last true old fashioned mill towns in the South. The term mill-town, as used by this sociologist, doesn’t mean that you have a mill and a town; but rather that you have a mill and a town that ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:9-13

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

#8 -- Work Series

Contributed by Derek Melanson on Nov 17, 2006

Work is given to us by God, is done in vain apart from Him, and can be a means of worship--because God calls us to trust Him so that we do not find ourselves eating the bread of "anxious toil."

The reality of work Just imagine—it’s the end of a morning or afternoon or evening of hard work, and you’re very, very tired. But you look around your house, and the floors are swept and clean, the dishes are done, the laundry folded and put away, and even the bathroom fixtures are sparkling; and ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 127:1-5

Denomination: Baptist

Imitating Christ Series

Contributed by Steve Smith on Jul 16, 2007

Seeing selfish ambition, vain conceit, discord, from persecution, Paul called on the church to “conduct themselves in a manner worthy” of their calling and not "of" the world. Just as Christ sacrificed Himself for the sake of others, we also are to offer

INTRODUCTION A. LIFE TODAY IS NOT WHAT CHRIST INTENDED 1. We live in a “dog eat dog” world. 2. “SELF” rules We may view ourselves as did the Pharisee depicted by Jesus who prayed, “God, I thank Thee that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax-gatherer. I ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:5-11

Denomination: Baptist

Satisfaction

Contributed by Chuck Sligh on Oct 1, 2017

The Rolling Stones sang a song titled, “I Can’t Get No Satisfaction.” Mick Jagger’s song perfectly describes the theme of the book of Ecclesiastes. Life without God at its center is vain, meaningless and unfulfilling.

Satisfaction Chuck Sligh October 1, 2017 BIBLE READING: Psalm 63:1-8 TEXT: Please turn in your Bibles to Ecclesiastes 1. INTRODUCTION Illus. – I remember one time as a teenager waiting in the car while my mother was talking with someone. I turned the key and flipped on the radio and heard a ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 1:1-2

Denomination: Baptist

Solomon's Succinct Summary

Contributed by Robert Austin on Aug 23, 2022

As we conclude our study of this book, I want us to think back. Consider the journey that Solomon has taken us on in this book. He started off in 1:1 by saying, “Everything is futile. Everything is Vain.”

And then he walks us through all the experiences, all the pursuits, all the different ways he tried to find meaning in life. And now, after all these lessons, we come to Solomon’s Succinct Summary. His conclusion can be remembered by dividing it into 4 “R’s”, Rejoice, Remember, Reflect and ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

God Will Reward Everyone According To Their Work

Contributed by Rev. Samuel Arimoro on Aug 6, 2025

The work of the Lord is not in vain. Every act of service, no matter how little, is recorded before the throne of God. Our God is a righteous Judge who does not forget the labour of love we show toward His name.

GOD WILL REWARD EVERYONE ACCORDING TO THEIR WORK By Rev. Samuel Arimoro Main Text: Revelation 22:12 “And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.” Supporting Texts: 1 Corinthians 3:8-15, Galatians 6:7-9, Hebrews 6:10, Matthew ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 22:12

Denomination: Assembly Of God

The Gospel: Good News Revealed By God

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Apr 1, 2019

The Gospel - Good News Revealed by God - Galatians chapter 2 verses 1-21 – sermon by Gordon Curley PowerPoint slides to accompany this talk are available on request – email: gcurley@gcurley.info

SERMON OUTLINE (1). The Runner (vs 1-5) (2). The Steward (vs 6-10) (3). The Watchman (vs 11-13) (4). The Destroyer (vs 14-21) SERMON BODY: Ill • George Whitefield, also spelled Whitfield, • May have been the most well-known religious figure; • Of the eighteenth-century English-speaking ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 2:1-21

Denomination: Brethren

The Conduct Of A Follower Of Christ -- Real Christian Life Series

Contributed by Guy Glass on Jun 26, 2015

dealing with the thought of working out our salvation.

THE CONDUCT OF A FOLLOWER OF CHRIST REAL CHRISTIAN LIFE PHILIPPIANS 2:12-16 SO THEN, MY BELOVED, JUST AS YOU HAVE ALWAYS OBEYED, NOT AS IN MY PRESENCE ONLY, BUT NOW MUCH MORE IN MY ABSENCE, WORK OUT YOUR SALVATION WITH FEAR AND TREMBLING; 13  FOR IT IS GOD WHO IS AT WORK IN YOU, BOTH TO WILL AND TO ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:12-16

Denomination: Baptist

The Tabernacle Part 6 The Board And Bars Series

Contributed by Dr. Steve Newton on Oct 3, 2017

Forty- eight boards standing in sockets of Silver covered by five coverings!!! What golden nuggets await us here!

THE BOARDS AND BARS Ex. 26:15-29; Ex. 36:24-34 We now come to the study of the tabernacle proper. This building was forty-five feet long, fifteen feet wide, and divided into two rooms. It was made of forty-eight boards which stood in sockets of silver. There were twenty boards on each side and ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 36:24-34, Exodus 26:15-29

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

How Far Is Too Far? Series

Contributed by Paul Green on Aug 7, 2009

What do you do when you don’t want to do what God wants you to do? What do you do when you know what’s right, but that’s just not the path you want to travel? What do you do when you and God just don’t want the same things for your life?

Introduction I read a story recently about a 5-year old who decided to run away. The lady who lived next door saw him go, as she was outside cutting her grass. She said that she watched him walk up and down the pavement, in front of her house, hauling his little suitcase behind him. He would ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 1:1-17

Denomination: Baptist

Heroes Of The Bible: Elijah Series

Contributed by Scott Bayles on Mar 4, 2022

The Bible is full of heroes! They don't wear spandex or fly around in capes and cowls, but God empowered these heroes and heroines to accomplish some pretty amazing feats that can inspire us to become heroes of God ourselves. Our next hero is Elijah. (Alliterated Outline, PowerPoint Available)

Heroes of the Bible: Elijah Scott Bayles, pastor Blooming Grove Christian Church: 8/29/2021 NOTE: This sermon was adapted from my book, Holy Heroes of the Bible. If it's a blessing to you, please consider buying the book which includes chapters/sermons on 17 additional Bible heroes: ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 18:1-39, 1 Kings 18:46, 1 Corinthians 9:24-26, 2 Timothy 2:2, 1 Kings 19:1-21, 2 Kings 2:11  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian Church

Memorial Stones

Contributed by Jerry Flury on May 28, 2002

The need for establishing memorial or testimonial stones in our lives.

MEMORIAL STONES JOSHUA 4:1-9, 19-24 Introduction: In April 1863, in Columbus, Mississippi after decorating graves of her two sons who served during the Civil War as Confederate soldiers, an elderly woman also decorated two mounds at the corner of the cemetery. An observer asked, "What are you ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 4:1-9

Denomination: Baptist

The Trap Of Another Gospel

Contributed by Eric Wright on Jul 3, 2022

To surrender to the Judaizers was to negate the glory of the cross of Christ and to make the death of Christ on Calvary of no effect

The Trap of another gospel Galatians 1:6-10 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 1:6-10, Matthew 13:5-6

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Why Does Jonah Run From God, And Choose Death Over Life? (Jonah 1:1-16) Series

Contributed by Garrett Tyson on Aug 25, 2022

A reading of Jonah, that lets the book tell the story at its own pace.

Part of being a pastor or teacher in any church, is having this desire deep inside of you to teach through the book of Jonah. You can't help yourself. It preaches too well; it's too good of a story to ignore. Plus, every pastor knows the OT is hard and scary, but they also know they are ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 1:1-16