Sermons on Self Defense:

"The Barrier Breaker"

Contributed by Clark Tanner on Aug 27, 2010

Jesus tears down barriers of all kinds

“Therefore when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John 2 (although Jesus Himself was not baptizing, but His disciples were), 3 He left Judea and went away again into Galilee. 4 And He had to pass through Samaria. 5 So He ...read more

Scripture: John 4:1-26

Denomination: Orthodox

Free To Live The Life Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Jul 1, 2004

Education, self-help books, and personal improvement efforts can make life richer and better. But nothing can do what God does when a person turns his or her life over to Jesus Christ. IN Jesus Christ, we can have victory in the fullest sense.

Free to Live the Life (Romans 8:1-4) 1. Once in a while you read a news story that makes you feel good: MONTERREY, Mexico (Reuters) - A Mexican boxing champion beat up and hospitalized a gunman who shot at him outside a gym in a crime-plagued city on the U.S. border. Prosecutors in Ciudad ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:1-4

Denomination: Independent/Bible

How Change Happens Series

Contributed by Rick Duncan on Sep 2, 2005

You can try to change God’s way or you can change the world’s way. You can change with the help of God or you can try to change with the help of self. You can try an inside-out kind of change or an outside-in kind of change.

I grew up in the church. My dad was a pastor. I can remember people in those churches he pastored who attended services every Sunday morning, Sunday night, and Wednesday night, who knew their Bible, who taught classes, who gave money, who led committees, but who were also mean as snakes. ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 3:18

Denomination: Baptist

Jesus Feeds The Five Thousand Series

Contributed by Dennis Davidson on Jun 24, 2008

Christ always has been the provider of His people’s needs. He will always be. The question is will we see our true needs & look to Him to provide them. Jesus is the hope of the 2nd Exodus, which will lead to freedom from slavery to sin, self & satan.

JOHN 6: 1-15 JESUS FEEDS THE FIVE THOUSAND [Isaiah 55:1-4] The feeding of the five thousand is the one miracle along with the resurrection that is included in all four Gospels (Mt.14:13-21; Mk. 6:30-44; Lk. 9:10-17; Jn. 6:1-13). It ...read more

Scripture: John 6:1-15

Denomination: Baptist

How Big Is Your But?

Contributed by Frank Jackson on May 13, 2006

It’s the IF’S, AND’s and BUTS in life that get us. It almost got Naaman! The story of Naaman is a story of pride, self-centeredness, obedience, confession and conversion. It has caused all those who have heard the story to reflect deeply about their own l

Biblical Text: 2 Kings 5: 1-14 Psalm 30: 11 1 Now Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master, and honorable, because by him the LORD had given deliverance unto Syria: he was also a mighty man in valor, but he was a leper. 2 And the Syrians had gone out by ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 5:1-14

Denomination: Disciples Of Christ

Our Mighty God Series

Contributed by Mark Haines on Dec 9, 2008

We all are very independent individuals. Some of our first words – perhaps even our first sentence – expressed that self-reliance. "I can do it myself." This is healthy when we’re dressing and cleaning up. It becomes unhealthy when we try to control o

Introduction: The names in this story have been changed out of respect for their privacy. Julie W told her family’s story in a magazine article. [My daughter], Allison, came home for the weekend. She opened the door, didn’t speak, and dropped her duffel bag. Smudges of mascara circled her eyes. ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 9:6

Denomination: Wesleyan

The Cure Series

Contributed by Sean Harder on Sep 27, 2012

Last week we talked about the trap of offence and some of the main problems associated with being offended - false assumptions, our expectations, pride, disobedience, self-preservation, and revenge. Today I want us to look at the cure so we don’t allow o

“Nobody will ever want you for anything but making babies” her drunken father said when he found out that his 15 year daughter was pregnant. I got to counsel this women at age 42, an alcoholic for 15 years, 6 babies with four different men, two of them aborted. Now on welfare with all ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:14-21

Walking In God’s Love

Contributed by Laren Whaley on Feb 15, 2012

Because God has loved us and received us as one of His own we must move and live in that love. The world ‘s definition of love is not love at all. The world around us always asks what’s in it for me and always centers on self-first, then maybe others.

Walking In God’s Love 1 Corinthians 13:1 - 13 (NKJV) 1Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Denomination: Church Of God

The Ultimate Christian Attainment: Union With God Series

Contributed by Justin Steckbauer on Jun 19, 2024

We do not easily submit to all this burning up of dross within us. We do not want to be buried with Christ in his cross and alive with Christ in His resurrection. We naturally resist the death of self. Yet God helps us submit to the refiner's fire.

Many great saints I’ve known, even in the Salvation army, many are retiring now, and they say that when they retire, they are grateful that God did not show them the entire path all the ups and downs because they would not have been able to handle the thought of it. But step by step, along the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:7, John 6:63, 1 Peter 1:7

Denomination: Salvation Army

Faith And The Iron Chariots

Contributed by Anitha Jabastion on Jun 4, 2021

We often believe that God can help us, but only up to a certain point. This belief conceals a measure of self-trust. If Judah had demonstrated the same faith about the chariots of iron as about the mountaineers, the chariots of iron would have been no better than chariots of straw.

Judges 1:19 - So the LORD was with Judah. And they drove out the mountaineers, but they could not drive out the inhabitants of the lowland, because they had chariots of iron. Background: Joshua had divided the inheritance among the children of Israel. However, there were still lands to be ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:7, Matthew 14:29, Matthew 9:29, Deuteronomy 20:4, Deuteronomy 20:1, Exodus 33:2, Jeremiah 32:17, Job 37:23, Matthew 28:20, Judges 1:19  (view more)  (view less)

Released From Fear

Contributed by Martin Ellgar on Jun 7, 2015

Jesus did not use violence to tie up the strongman in our house, in our self. Jesus knew that the only way to release us from fear, from the strongman in our live is love. Love conquers all. He works love in us to release us from fear.

Mark 3: 20-35 RELEASED FROM FEAR Jesus had just started his ministry on earth. He had gathered to him twelve disciples and was touring the countryside bringing healing into people’s lives. His reputation preceded him and wherever he went there was a crowd gathered around him and ...read more

Scripture: Mark 3:20-35

Denomination: Lutheran

Listen

Contributed by Melvin Maughmer, Jr. on Dec 28, 2021

The medical professional will tell us to listen to our bodies because it will let us know if something isn’t right that’s the reason, we do self-examinations. The auto mechanic will tell you to listen to your automobile because certain sounds will indicate something is wrong.

Listen By Bishop Melvin L. Maughmer, Jr. OPENING: - As we come towards the end of 2021 and looking forward, to 2022 people are looking for things to be better in the coming year. We long to be able to have what we call normal back. We pray that the Covid pandemic will finally end, that there ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 85:8, Revelation 2:11, Revelation 2:17, Revelation 2:29, Revelation 3:6, Revelation 3:13, Revelation 3:22  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Apostolic

Love Does Not But Does, All Things, Never, Is Not.. Series

Contributed by Steve Malone on Jan 29, 2020

In this message we wrap up our series, 'Love Is,' by looking at several facets of God's kind of love... love does not delight in evil, love rejoices with truth, love bears all things... , Love never fails and love is not self seeking.

Love Does Not But Does, All Things, Never, Is Not.. If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:6-8, Proverbs 8:13, Deuteronomy 7:7

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Daniel 4: Overcoming Pride Series

Contributed by Vic Folkert on Sep 3, 2020

Self-focused pride 1) causes anxiety, 2) leads to a fall, 3) can be redeemed through God-focused humility. We can humble ourselves by 1) recognizing God as sovereign, 2) crediting God for our abilities, and 3) directing our gifts to the good of others.

PUTTING PRIDE IN ITS PLACE—Daniel 4 PRIDE. One of the “Seven Deadly Sins,” along with greed, wrath, envy, lust, gluttony, and sloth. But is it always bad? There is a kind of healthy pride, which values one’s abilities, celebrates achievement, and motivates positive behavior. Paul refers to ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 4:1-37, Deuteronomy 8:17-18, 1 Peter 1:5-6, 1 Corinthians 4:7

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Lessons From Failure Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Feb 21, 2024

When you have failed, appreciate the past, stay faithful in the present, and trust God for the future.

Several years ago, Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Bob Patterson described one of his pitches, which the Cincinnati Reds' Barry Larkin hit for a game-winning home run: “It was a cross between a screwball and a change-up. It was a screw-up” (Wall Street Journal, 7/9/96; Leadership, Vol. 17, no.3; ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 2:1-25, Hebrews 11:23, Acts 7:22, Isaiah 40:31

Denomination: Evangelical Free