Sermons on Self Effort:

#15 Understanding Love: Sweat And Dirty Hands?

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Apr 1, 2016

To understand love we must go beyond human logic and realize the lesson that sometimes all we can do is DIG THE WELL AGAIN. We also consider all the tears and sweat that Nehemiah invested to rebuild God's church and walls.

#16 LOVE UNDERSTANDS: SWEAT AND DIRTY HANDS By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com What a strange text about understanding love? Proverbs 14:4 Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox. Proverbs 14:4 (NLT) Without oxen a stable stays clean, ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 14:4

Denomination: Assembly Of God

The Best Laid Plans Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Feb 19, 2019

Robert Burns wrote a poetic apology to a mouse for having destroyed its home. How often are we like that mouse when we try to leave God out? What does the Psalmist have to say about finding balance between faith and effort? Check out these thoughts from our Family Minister, Scott Jewell

There’s a popular saying that goes, “The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry.” Where does this saying come from? Many attribute this to John Steinbeck’s book- Of Mice and Men, written in 1937. He actually got the title from a poem by Robert Burns- To a Mouse, written in 1786. ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

"Therefore, Bear Fruits Worthy Of Repentance"

Contributed by Howard Gunter on Sep 16, 2018

understanding what repentance really is

Weekend Message/Devotion Matthew 3:8 September 16, 2018 Therefore, bear fruits worthy of repentance How often do we pray for forgiveness and repentance? It is within our daily prayers at the Gunter house. In Matthew’s account of John the Baptist in Chapter 3, we come across a very interesting ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 3:8

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Going Beyond What Is Expected?

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Sep 23, 2016

This is a two part lesson as we consider are we going along que sera, sera? Or will we apply extra effort and go beyond our duty?

THE CALL? GOING BEYOND THE DUTY CALL AND WHAT IS EXPECTED! By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (Two part) I. INTRODUCTION: Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 24:15-20

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Blunders Of Self-Indulgent Gain-1

Contributed by Byron Sherman on Mar 23, 2011

1 of 2. James warned of the danger in self-indulgent gain. Accumulation of wealth is spiritually questionable. But How so? The blunders of self-indulgent gain are in their Accumulated...

Blunders of Self-indulgent Gain-I—James 5:1-8 Attention: My kindergarten-aged daughter suddenly announced just before school that she needed to take a clean tee shirt to class. She told us the teacher was going to iron an anti-drug message on it. My wife frantically swept through my ...read more

Scripture: James 5:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

The Fruit Of The Spirit Is...self-Control Series

Contributed by Pat Damiani on May 29, 2011

We exercise self-control in the body by yielding our rights for the benefit of others.

One of the reasons that I really look forward to the summer is the availability of fresh fruit. There is just something about a juicy peach or a cold, crisp apple or some ripe strawberries that is so refreshing in the midst of the summer heat. For nine weeks now, we have been looking at a different ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23

Denomination: Baptist

Paul's Self-Defense Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 30, 2021

For Paul conscience is the self-awareness that you are right or wrong in your attitudes and actions. If you are deceiving people and doing what you know is not the will of God, you will feel guilty.

Jonathan Edwards was born in 1703, and he became one of the greatest preachers in history. He lived in a day when pastors went to a church out of seminary and stayed there for the rest of their lives. His father was the pastor of The Congregational Church in the little village of East Windsor, ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:12-17

Blessed Are The Poor In Spirit

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on Mar 15, 2011

We have as much of the Spirit of God within us as we clear out room of ourselves.

Blessed Are The Poor In Spirit Lent #1, March 13, 2011 Matt. 5:3 Intro: Welcome to the first Sunday in Lent, the season of preparation for Easter. While many of us like the idea of spontaneity, with its surprise and playfulness, we also recognize that the things in life that really are ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:3-12

Denomination: Baptist

Me, Myself And I

Contributed by Bill Sullivan on Sep 6, 2008

Often unable to distinguish between our wants and our needs, our selfishness rules the day and leads to conflicts and quarrels.

Me, Myself and I TCF Sermon July 20, 2008 Think for a moment about some of those things that really annoy you. You’re in a line of cars where the road narrows down to a lane. You’ve been inching forward, but there are others, perhaps several others, who zip by you in the outside lane and move ...read more

Scripture: James 4:1-4

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Heart Of The Matter

Contributed by Thomas Bowen on Oct 18, 2008

Disagreements are normally centered around power and control. Getting our own way with little regard to what is actually best for a majority or a right thing to do.

The Heart of the matter James 4:1-10 For the past couple of months we have had a sort of strange schedule. We have been in and out of the book of James. While we have been moving through James it is still a topical kind of study. There is an over all flow that I call teaching on “faith that ...read more

Scripture: James 4:1-10

Denomination: Congregational

Self-Esteem Or God-Esteem? - Lesson 2 - What Constitutes A Good Self-Image? Series

Contributed by Dr. Craig Nelson on Dec 10, 2020

Are People Basically Good or Basically Bad?

WEEK 1 LESSON I. WHAT CONSTITUTES A GOOD SELF-IMAGE? QUESTION: Are People Basically Good or Basically Bad? (Gen 1:26-27) ________________________________________________________________________ QUESTION: Can People Improve ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:17

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

How The Holy Spirit Uses Our Feeble Efforts In Powerful Ways

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Oct 18, 2000

1. The Holy Spirit uses our feeble efforts to share the gospel in order to break down the barriers of opposition that stand in the way of people coming to saving faith in Jesus Christ.

1. The Holy Spirit uses our feeble efforts to share the gospel in order to break down the barriers of opposition that stand in the way of people coming to saving faith in Jesus Christ. Peter addressed the crowd on the day of Pentecost and said, "Therefore, let all Israel be assured of this: God has ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:36-38

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

3. The Breastplate Of Righteousness Series

Contributed by Stephen Aram on Dec 1, 2019

Our modern culture is desperate to feel good about itself. But God has provided a true way to feel good about ourselves, to feel good because we are doing good, and to find God's forgiveness when our own efforts fall short.

We are continuing to look at what the Apostle Paul called the whole armor of God. In his letter to the Ephesian Church, chapter 6, he talked about our world as a battle field. And he wasn't picturing the kind of battle like that occurred when we began our attack on Iraq, where our forces ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-17

How Jesus Ministered To The Self-Righteous

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Oct 18, 2000

Have you ever wondered why it is so hard to relate to people who project a sense of moral superiority? Self righteous people focus more on their goodness than the holiness of God.

Have you ever wondered why it is so hard to relate to people who project a sense of moral superiority? Self righteous people focus more on their goodness than the holiness of God. One night, such a self-righteous man named Nicodemus, a ruler in the Pharisee's council, came to Jesus wondering how he ...read more

Scripture: Luke 16:15

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Virtue Of Self-Control (10 Of 10) Series

Contributed by Jeff Armbrester on Mar 29, 2003

Self-control is not when I control my "self". It when my "self" is controlled by the Holy Spirit.

The Virtue of Self-Control Part 10 The Core Virtues of the Christian Life Galatians 5:22-23 Jeff Armbrester (I appreciate the sermon "Strawberry of Self-Control" by James Westervelt, which is on this site. His outline inspired me as I prepared this message. I encourage you read his sermon as ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23, 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

Denomination: Methodist