Sermons on Self Desiring:

The Sin That Wants God

Contributed by David Dunn on Nov 10, 2025

Cain sought God’s favor without surrender, but Christ’s blood still speaks—calling every heart from self-made worship to obedient, Spirit-filled revival.

The Conflict at the Altar Every human being builds an altar. Some offer obedience; some offer opinion. Every life lifts something before God—work, worship, wealth, reputation—and waits for fire to fall. That is where the story of Cain and Abel begins: two brothers, two altars, two hearts, one ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:24, Genesis 4:6-7, Romans 12:1, 1 John 1:7, Psalm 51:17  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

If I’ve Received Salvation, Why Do I Still Struggle? Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Dec 18, 2023

Romans 7 delves into the struggles we as Christians experience in this world: wanting to follow God yet often caught up in our sin nature. What does Paul teach us about how we are to look at that reality?

DEAD MAN WALKING: Dying with Christ is important because it means we’ve been freed. - Romans 7:1-4a. - Chapter 7 obviously flows from chapter 6. Last week in chapter 6 the big ideas we talked about were the (a) we are dead to sin and alive to Christ and (b) that we have to choose if we are going ...read more

Scripture: Romans 7:1-25

Denomination: Baptist

Teary Eyes, Stumbling Feet, Hands Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Nov 19, 2000

Deepseated shame and objective guilt arise from a self-serving spirit, but the Cross delivers us from both and frees us to live out of gratitude.

Mark it down. Memorize this. Engrave it somewhere. It is an ironclad rule. This will always happen: when it is the least convenient for you to respond, someone will want you to respond. When it is nearly impossible for you to get up and do what someone wants you to do, that is the very moment ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 116:1-19

Denomination: Baptist

Sick Religion And Healed Hearts

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 29, 2003

Religion is sick when it is system-only, salvation-only, or self-only. Christ gives us instead a relationship with Himself, a model of life, and an embracing compassion.

Religion is either one of life’s greatest blessings, or it is one of the sickest things we do. Religion can be wonderful. I assume that because you are in church today you agree with that. Religion can be fulfilling, it can be instructive, it can be inspiring. Religion has driven so much of ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 31:31-34, Jeremiah 7:1-23

Denomination: Baptist

Thanksgiving

Contributed by W Pittendreigh on Nov 28, 2003

Being thankful is more than simple a self-centered "Thank God for what he has done for ME." It is gratitude to God for his character and faithfulness.

The story is told of two men were walking through a field one day when they spotted an enraged bull. Instantly they darted toward the nearest fence. The storming bull followed in hot pursuit, and it was soon apparent they wouldn’t make it. Terrified, the one shouted to the other, "Put up a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:25-34

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

O Come Let Us Adore Ourselves?

Contributed by W Pittendreigh on Dec 15, 2004

Christmas has become a very self centered time. Let’s focus back on Christ! Here is a sermon addressing the call to adore and praise Christ.

Psalm 111:1-10 Praise the LORD. I will extol the LORD with all my heart in the council of the upright and in the assembly. Great are the works of the LORD; they are pondered by all who delight in them. Glorious and majestic are his deeds, and his righteousness endures forever. He has caused his ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 111:1-10

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

How To Overcome Depression

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Oct 18, 2000

HOW TO OVERCOME DEPRESSION OR DISCOURAGEMENT IN YOUR DEALINGS WITH DIFFICULT PEOPLE Ornery people tend to attract people who are prone to have low self-esteem.

HOW TO OVERCOME DEPRESSION OR DISCOURAGEMENT IN YOUR DEALINGS WITH DIFFICULT PEOPLE Ornery people tend to attract people who are prone to have low self-esteem. The reasons for this are many and varied, but some people feel secure around a strong leader who gives them a sense of strength, courage ...read more

Scripture: Luke 5:1-11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Knowing God Through Obedience

Contributed by Marty Roark on Aug 22, 2008

In a society where independence, self-determination and equality are so important in our daily lives, how can something like obedience even still exist!

KNOWING GOD THROUGH OBEDIENCE 1 John 2:3-6 3 We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. 4 The man who says, "I know him," but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love is truly made complete in him. This ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 2:3-6

Denomination: Baptist

What To Pack In Your Travel Bag

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jan 7, 2009

Service recognizing students as they leave for school: Pack in your travel bags warmth for others, but no destructive attitudes; and pack gifts to share but no self-destructive feelings.

Everyone say with me the key verse, "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." Getting ready is the biggest part of taking a trip. It takes almost as long to get ready to leave home as it does to take the trip itself. Around our house, when we’re getting ready to go away, we have ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:9-21

Denomination: Baptist

Dazzling Mountain, Dying Mountain

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Aug 5, 2009

For Transfiguration Sunday. God gives us defining, dazzling moments, perhaps only a few; but they empower us for the self-giving times and never need to be renewed.

For many people, life peaks early, and then they seem to run downhill all the way thereafter. There are many people who do well early in life -- they have a happy childhood, they do well in school, they launch their careers, all in their early years. But then something goes wrong. Something goes a ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:2-12

Denomination: Baptist

The War On Marriage

Contributed by Jason Duhon on May 2, 2009

Scripture gives us a clear picture of the Godly marriage. Yet this world, and the self-centered god of it, is trying to destroy marriage as we know it.

Scripture gives us a clear picture of the Godly marriage. Yet this world, and the self-centered god of it, is trying to destroy marriage as we know it. 1. Disavowed its Authority a. God is the Author of marriage, not man. b. The World has presumed authority of one of God’s sacred ordinances, yet ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 2:18-25

Denomination: Baptist

People Around The Crib Series

Contributed by Dr. Madana Kumar, Phd on Dec 28, 2007

This sermon looks at the charecters around the nativity play and how each of them responded to the Good News. It encourages us to self evaluate our responses to Christ

People Around the Crib This is the Christmas Season and the most familiar scene in any Christian gathering or Christian celebrations is the Nativity Scene. Those of us who have seen many Christmas seasons will well remember the nativity players very well. Today, let us take a look at some of the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:5-37

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

He Paid The Fare

Contributed by Ron Hicks on Aug 31, 2007

In this setting, we have a runner. What caused this man to run? Was it the lack of self-confidence? Was it was sin? Its difficult to obey God when practicing sin.

HE PAID THE FARE 1 Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, 2 Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me. 3 But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of ...read more

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Dead, Buried And Free

Contributed by Rick Pendleton on Nov 7, 2012

Paul teaches that we can not continue in sin because we are dead to it, we have buried the old self and are free from the power of sin.

DEAD, BURIED, AND FREE Romans 5:20-6:14 INTRODUCTION: Mother and baby skunk walking close to paper mill. Baby asks, “Mom, what it that smell?” Mother takes deep smell and says, “I don’t know but we’ve got to get some of that.” That could be an example of ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

The Love Of The Trinity Shown In The Compassion Of Christ Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jan 4, 2020

In our lives, love takes form as self-giving. In this, we imitate Our Lord, who humbled Himself and gave Himself for our salvation.

Tuesday after the Epiphany 2020 In these four short verses penned two thousand years ago by St. John, there are nine repetitions of some form of the noun or verb “to love.” What is love? St. Thomas Aquinas tells us that Love is the proper name of the Holy Spirit. Just as the Logos, the Son who is ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 4:7-10, Mark 6:34-44, Matthew 9:36-38

Denomination: Catholic