Sermons on Self Effort:

Compelled By Love

Contributed by John Gaston on Sep 3, 2017

The heart of God is to rescue the perishing. Paul caught the vision of God's incomparable love and was so moved that he too felt compelled to join God's efforts, regardless of the cost. The love of God should motivate us to rescue the perishing too!

COMPELLED BY LOVE 2 Cor. 5:14 INTRODUCTION A. HUMOR: school is back in session. 1. “How did school go today?” a mother asked her little boy. “Fine”, the little fellow replied. “We had a new teacher and she wanted to know if I had any brothers or sisters and I told her I was an only child”. “What ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:14-15

Denomination: Assembly Of God

But They Could Not...

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jul 13, 2018

Despite the repeated efforts of mankind to duplicate the work of the Lord, His work is unique and man is unable to do what He does. Eventually, those who imagine they can supplant God crash up against reality, and they are revealed to be frauds.

“Then the LORD said to Moses, ‘Say to Aaron, “Stretch out your staff and strike the dust of the earth, so that it may become gnats in all the land of Egypt.”’ And they did so. Aaron stretched out his hand with his staff and struck the dust of the earth, and there were gnats on man and beast. All ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 8:16-19

Denomination: Baptist

Bumpin Into Jesus Series

Contributed by Jeffrey Sims on Nov 27, 2018

This sermon is about making an effort to encounter Jesus in an intentional way instead of just bumping into him on occasion. It should cause us to look at our relationship with Christ and evaluate whether we are in a relationship with Jesus or if he is just a casual acquaintance.

In our scripture today we find Jesus surrounded by a large crowd on His way to the home of a synagogue official named Jarius’ whose daughter is dying. Now in the whole of the scripture today we learn of two separate miracles but I want to focus on just one today. I want to focus not on the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 8:43-48

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Make It Make Sense

Contributed by Dr. Jwt Spies on Oct 16, 2025

Pause and reflect on the hand of God in your life. When God allows something to bend a certain way, no human effort can straighten it out, unless He wills it. It may not make sense to us, but it may sense to God.

Ecclesiastes 7:13 (NIV) Consider what God has done: Who can straighten what He has made crooked? Look at somebody and tell them, Neighbor, I’m trying to make it make sense. Look down your row at somebody else and say, but sometimes it just doesn’t make sense. Because if we’re honest today, ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 7:13

Denomination: Baptist

Strike Until The Battle Is Won Series

Contributed by Rev. Samuel Arimoro on Jul 17, 2025

This account reveals that partial obedience, half-hearted efforts, and spiritual laziness can limit the fullness of God’s intended victories. Many believers fail to receive all God has for them because they stop striking too soon.

STRIKE UNTIL THE BATTLE IS WON By Rev. Samuel Arimoro Main Text: 2 Kings 13:14-19 Supporting Texts: 1 Corinthians 15:57; Hebrews 10:35-36; Galatians 6:9; Isaiah 54:17; Romans 8:37 INTRODUCTION: There are moments in life when the outcome of a battle is not just determined by the enemy's ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 13:14-19

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Character Study Of Ishmael Series

Contributed by Rev. Samuel Arimoro on Mar 21, 2025

Ishmael's story teaches us the importance of trusting God’s timing and avoiding decisions based on impatience. While human efforts can bring temporary success, only God’s promises bring true fulfilment.

CHARACTER STUDY OF ISHMAEL – SON OF ABRAHAM AND HAGAR By Rev. Samuel Arimoro Main Text: Genesis 16:10-12 "The angel of the Lord also said to her, 'I will surely multiply your offspring so that they cannot be numbered for multitude.' And the angel of the Lord said to her, 'Behold, ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 16:10-12, Genesis 17:18-21, Genesis 21:8-21, Galatians 4:22-26

Denomination: Assembly Of God

I’ve Got A Feeling, Everything’s Gonna Be Alright!

Contributed by Charlie Roberts on Oct 9, 2012

Worry ties God’s hands in our lives, Faith sets Him free to do as He pleases, And bible history tells us, that God likes to do amazing things in our lives, when we untie His hands with our faith?

I’ve Got a Feeling, everything’s gonna be alright! To trust or not to trust, that is the question, the decision that is made between those two choices, is what either gives you sweet peace of mind, or makes you worry, from worry to worry your whole life through! TBS.(the Bible says) ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Spirit God Gave Us

Contributed by Michael Stark on Aug 21, 2020

The Spirit of God lives in each twice-born follower of Christ. Because He lives in us, we are enabled to walk in power, to love as God loves, and to act with divine wisdom. God calls us to be controlled by the Spirit He placed in each of us.

“God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” [1] She was a recent convert to Christ, and she was in tears when she phoned me. The lady was suffering from disquieting events that were occurring each night. Each evening after retiring to her bed, a malevolent presence ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:7

Denomination: Baptist

How Free Are You? Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Apr 25, 2005

As Christians we consider ourselves to be free - but in fact we fall into slavery very easily - slavery to legalism. What is legalism and its corallary labelism?

Do you feel free? Free in Christ? Did you know that you although you may feel free you may have enslaved yourself - to what you ask? To legalism. Not possible. Yes - it’s a lot easier than you think. Winning freedom over legalism is what Galatians is all about. We’re going to learn what ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 1:1-24

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

If I Were The Devil

Contributed by Kenneth Tankersley on May 4, 2009

HE IS OFTEN CONCEALED AS AN ANGEL OF LIGHT. HE COMES DISGUISED AS A FRIEND OR MESSENGER, BUT IN REALITY IS A DECEPTIVE DEMON WHO WANTS TO RUIN AND CONTROL YOUR LIFE, AND DISRUPT THE WORK OF GOD.

08 IF I WERE THE DEVIL CBC 2 COR 4 VS. 3,4 (adapted from a story by Paul Harvey) INTRODUCTION: PAUL TELLS US PLAINLY THAT SATAN HAS BLINDED THE EYES OF THE UNBELIEVER. I HAVE OFTEN NOTICED DURING THE HALLOWEEN SEASON, A LOT OF SCENERY ABOUT DEMONS AND THE DEVIL. ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:3-4

Denomination: Baptist

When Sin Entered In-1

Contributed by Byron Sherman on Dec 7, 2010

1 of 7. Genesis chapter 3 precisely documents the original appearance of sin. What is significant about the entrance of sin? 21 considerations regarding the entrance of sin. Sin entered in with ...

WHEN SIN ENTERED IN-I—Genesis 3:1-24 Attention: “Sin is any personal lack of conformity to the moral character of God, or the law of God. Then sin is a disposition of the heart, it is a bent.”....“It is...any violation of the character or law of God, the moral character or the law of God.”.... ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 3:1-24

Denomination: Baptist

Glorify God In Your Body! Series

Contributed by Bobby Stults on Jun 2, 2014

Paul challenged believers in Corinth to bring glory to God thru living spiritually disciplined lives and we are also challenged to glorify God thru living spiritually disciplined lives.

Sermon Brief Date Written: May 28, 2014 Date Preached: June 01, 2014 Where Preached: OPBC (AM) Sermon Details: Series Title: A Series in 1 Corinthians Sermon Title: Glorify God in Your Body! Sermon Text: 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 [ESV] TEXT: Essence of the Text: Paul challenged believers in ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 6:12-20

Denomination: Baptist

The Road To Victory

Contributed by Martin Ellgar on Nov 7, 2014

A perspective on Mark 8: 31-38. St. Mark points out in his Gospel that there is another way to glory and that is the way of Christ. Therefore, what does the ‘way of Christ’ mean, and what does being a disciple mean ?

Mark 8: 31-38 The Road To Victory Nobody enjoys the pain of losing. We long for glory and the freedom from being a plain person living a plain life. As a result we all strive to align ourselves with winners or at least potential winners. We are willing to give praise and support to winners. In ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:31-38

Denomination: Lutheran

Putting Jesus First

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Aug 16, 2013

Prioritising commitments, bearing the Cross, and counting the cost of discipleship.

PUTTING JESUS FIRST. Luke 14:25-33. I. Prioritising commitments. Jesus, it has to be admitted, is a great orator. Seeing the crowds following Him, He turned (Luke 14:25), and spoke words that were designed to shock, and even offend His hearers. In a masterstroke of hyperbole, He took their ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:25-33

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Power Of Confessing Sins

Contributed by Susan Mende on Jul 9, 2018

We don’t take responsibility for the mistakes that we make, but we learn to justify our mistakes by blaming something or someone else. But there is power in confessing our sins!

Icebreaker: A teacher asks a little boy as to why he was late to school. He replies that his mother served the breakfast late. When his mother was asked, she replied that the milkman delivered the milk late. The milkman, in turn, replied that the cow didn’t give milk on time. But the cow blamed the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 32:1-5

Denomination: Assembly Of God