Sermons on Self Control:

Avarice Series

Contributed by Aneel Aranha on Jan 20, 2021

Avarice is the self-serving and inordinate love of and desire for money, wealth, power, food, or other possessions. Are we an avaricious people?

Leo Tolstoy once wrote a story about a successful peasant farmer who was not satisfied with his lot. He wanted more of everything. One day he received a novel offer. For 1000 rubles, he could buy all the land he could walk around in a day. The only catch in the deal was that he had to be back at ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 19:16-29

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Zeal And Jealousy And Envy--O My!

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on May 13, 2022

We learn from this story a lot about jealousy. It can be confused with righteous behavior, as in this story. It is essentially self-centered.

Saturday 4th Week of Easter Jealousy. Envy. These are two attitudes that literally can tear a community apart–a church, a political body, a family. We can learn a great deal about these sins from the Scripture. Here we see two results of the preaching and healing done by Paul and Barnabas on their ...read more

Scripture: John 14:7-14, Acts 13:44-52

Denomination: Catholic

Negative To Positive Series

Contributed by Troy Walliser on Feb 23, 2023

Turning a negative situation into a positive profession means releasing the impulse of SELF-PRESERVATION and being motivated by the attitude of SELFLESS LOVE.

Turning A Negative Into A Positive Acts 21:27-22:29 All of us deal with negative situations from time to time; it's a part of being human, right? We face them at work, at school, at home, in our neighborhoods and even sometimes at church. Sometimes there are those people who it seems just ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

The Hidden Life (Risen In Christ)

Contributed by Anthony Zibolski on Jun 19, 2023

When you come to Christ there is a change and you become more Christlike and desire to please God rather than self.

The Hidden Life (Risen in Christ) Colossians 3:1-8 Good Morning everyone, Glad that you have chosen to join us in the study of God’s Word- Please turn to Colossians 3 and as you are turning, please bow your head for prayer. Prayer- Apostle Paul writing to the church in Colossae- (Modern ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:1-10

Denomination: Nazarene

How Can Everybody Get A "win"?

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Nov 3, 2025

As if to confirm our duty of self-reflection, St. Luke’s Gospel focuses on Christ’s parable of the wasteful steward.

Friday of the Thirty-first Week Integral Our Introit today begins with a plea of someone afraid of being abandoned. “Forsake me not, O Lord, my God; be not far from me! Make haste and come to my help, O Lord, my strong salvation.” Psalm 38 is attributed to King David, perhaps because it is the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 98:1-4, Luke 16:1-8, Romans 15:14-21

Denomination: Catholic

Life Is A Beach

Contributed by David Dunn on Sep 23, 2025

Jesus calls every disciple to daily self-denial and Spirit-empowered cross-bearing that ends not in loss but in resurrection life.

(Losing to Gain) Part 1 – The Comfortable Illusion It sounds so inviting: Life is a beach. The phrase promises calm tides, soft sand, a life where the hardest choice is whether to nap or swim. We crave that ease. Sometimes we even remake God in that image—faith as a sunny getaway where problems ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:18-27, Philippians 3:10-11, Mark 8:34-36, 1 Peter 2:21-24, John 12:24  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Your Truth, My Truth, The Truth

Contributed by David Dunn on Dec 2, 2025

Truth is not a viewpoint or a feeling but a Person—Jesus—calling us from self-made versions to surrender, freedom, and transforming grace.

ITRODUCTION — TRUTH IN A WORLD OF VERSIONS We live in a strange generation—one that has replaced reality with versions of reality. If you’ve noticed, we no longer speak about truth the way Scripture does. We speak in smaller, softer, more flexible categories: “Your truth.” “My truth.” “Live your ...read more

Scripture: John 14:6, John 8:32, John 18:37, Luke 23:40-43, Psalm 119:160  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

A Living Sacrifice (Romans 12:1-2) Series

Contributed by Jm Raja Lawrence on Mar 3, 2026

The altar awaits. God calls us to become living sacrifices, daily dying to self while fully alive in Christ.

A Living Sacrifice Romans 12:1-2 "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship." -- Romans 12:1, ESV INTRODUCTION We give things up. We fast. We kneel. We confess. ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1-2, Luke 9:23, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, Romans 6:12-13, 1 John 2:15-16, James 4:4, Colossians 3:2, Ephesians 4:23-24, Galatians 2:20, Proverbs 4:23  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Overcoming Worldly Wisdom With Godly Living

Contributed by Jeffrey Sims on Aug 20, 2025

This sermon shows us how to seek Godly wisdom life in a world that is self centered and focused on looking out for ourselves.

In today’s fast-paced, self-focused culture, we are constantly bombarded with messages that push us toward self-promotion, that push us toward material success, and personal achievement. We are living in a time ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

There Are Two Sides To Every Story PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Nov 15, 2023

Explores the transformative power of a relationship with Christ, emphasizing that true change comes not from self-effort, but from looking to Jesus.

Good morning, beloved family of Christ. It's a joy to see each and every one of your smiling faces here today, ready to share in the Word of God. Before we get started, let's just take a moment to read the Scripture we're going to be talking about today. It's from 2 Corinthians 5:17, and it says, ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:17

Topics: New Story

The Way Of The Cross PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Feb 19, 2024

This sermon explores Jesus' foretelling of His suffering, Peter's misunderstanding, and the call to embrace self-denial and the cross for the Kingdom of God.

Good morning, beloved family of God. It's such a joy to come together in this sacred sanctuary, where the echoes of our collective praises rise to the heavens and the whispers of God's Word soften our hearts. We're gathered here today, not by chance or circumstance, but by the divine appointment of ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:31-38

Topics: Putting On Christ

God Would Not Have Listened PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Mar 5, 2024

This sermon encourages self-examination of our hearts for hidden sin, emphasizing the importance of purity and honesty in our relationship with God.

Beloved congregation, as we gather together in the unity of our faith, our hearts beat with a shared rhythm, a rhythm that echoes the love and grace of our Savior. We are bound by a sacred tapestry of faith, woven together by the threads of God's Word. It is this Word that we turn to today, as we ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 66:18

Topics: Heart Examination

The Four Dimensions Of Christianity

Contributed by Larry Moore on Dec 31, 2004

A Lesson about the four steps a believer must take to mature in Christ.

The Four Dimensions of Christianity Text: James 1:22-24 22 But be ye doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 24 for he behold himself, and goeth his way, ...read more

Scripture: James 1:22-24

Denomination: Independent/Bible

A Vibrant Church Series

Contributed by John Mann on Feb 12, 2009

The type of lives we live dictate the impact we have on the unchurched.

FOCAL POINT: A VIBRANT CHURCH ME: So, I am really not a fan of bland food. When I eat food, I want it to taste good. I want it to wake up my senses, I want to be like, yeah this is awesome. And there are just some foods that need to be seasoned so that they wake up your senses. You know, like ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:13

Denomination: Free Methodist

Wrestling With God For A Change Series

Contributed by Rev. Samuel Arimoro on Feb 14, 2026

True transformation often comes through intense spiritual struggle, where faith wrestles with circumstance, fear, and self to receive God’s blessing.

WRESTLING WITH GOD FOR A CHANGE By Rev. Samuel Arimoro Main Text: Genesis 32:22-32 Key Verse: “And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.” (Genesis 32:28) Supporting Texts: Genesis 25:19-34; Romans ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 32:22-32

Denomination: Assembly Of God