Sermons on Self Effort:

The Cost Of Discipleship

Contributed by Wala-Neh Labala on Aug 14, 2022

What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus Christ and what will it cost you? In this sermon we learned that denying our selves, taking up our cross, and following Jesus, means letting go of self-preservation, self-determination, and self-identity.

********************************************************* THE COST OF DISCIPLESHIP Scripture Reading: “From that time on Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and that He must be killed and on ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:21-28, Luke 9:23, Mark 8:34, Luke 14:27

Denomination: United Methodist

Controling And Taming The Tongue ! Series

Contributed by John Wright on Feb 1, 2010

James teaches that it is extremely important to control the use of the tongue and Solomon, in the book of Proverbs has many helpful comments about controlling the tongue.

INTRODUCTION 1. Open your bibles to James 3:1&ff. 2. In our last lesson we discussed the warning that James gives to those who are teachers of God’s word. (1) James warned that teachers that misuse their tongue in the teaching of God’s word will be judged with a much stricter ...read more

Scripture: James 3:2

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

You Might Be A Pharisee

Contributed by George Durham on Dec 9, 2012

Luke 11: 37-52; Warning for those who are very religious but not truly spiritual.

You Might Be A Pharisee If...Lk11:37-52 Who Were The Pharisees ? Jewish Separatists. Only One Way Of Doing Things....And It Was There Way. Aloof And Arrogant. Believed In Traditions, And Rituals That They Created As Much As They Did The Word Of God. Believed ...read more

Scripture: Luke 11:37-52

Denomination: United Methodist

When People Say We Don’t Need God

Contributed by Paul Barreca on Nov 27, 2011

The TOWER of BABEL represents man’s effort without God. The Builders of Shinar failed in their attempt tried to reach heaven through human effort. We too will fail if we believe that spiritual enlightenment comes through human effort. The only way to k

The battle for our worship is a battle that draws our flesh and its desire to exert itself over God. The flesh demands that it be stroked, satisfied and honored. The inner part of our being cries out for independence. From our earliest days we desire to do things for ourselves. But we cannot ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 11:1-11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Living Wide Open

Contributed by Vinnie Cappetta on Mar 4, 2006

What if God multiplied your efforts by 100?

Living Wide Open (Part Two) Matthew 19:16-30 Acts 13:36 And David served the purposes of God in his generation. Participant vs. spectator Read Philippians 2:5-11 “He made himself nothing; he took the humble position of a slave and appeared in human form.” Object Lesson: serving towel 1 ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 19:16-30

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Great Commission Church

Contributed by Stephen E. Trail on Apr 15, 2012

A sermon to challenge the church to greater missions effort.

“A Great Commission Church” Acts 13:1-3 Scripture Reading “A LOCAL CHURCH THAT IS NOT MISSION MINDED IS BY DEFINITION NOT A CHURCH! It’s a religious club that makes little or no impact on the world.” James Capps Aside from the church at Jerusalem the single ...read more

Scripture: Acts 13:1-3

Denomination: Baptist

Examine Yourself!

Contributed by Christopher Arch on May 14, 2020

Paul exhorted the Corinthian Church to examine themselves to see if they were in the faith.

Title: “Taking Life’s Test” Scripture: II Cor. 13:5-6 Type: Expos. Where: GNBC 5-10-20 Intro: Life is full of tests. I don’t mean the challenges of relationships, financial shortfalls or health failings. I mean, actual, literal tests! We start taking standardized tests of basic skills in ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 13:5-6

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Deceptive Delicacies Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Aug 13, 2010

If we're going to remain vital in our churches and in our own spiritual lives, we must watch out for the false doctrine of self-help spirituality and instead feast at the table of God's Word along with exercise in the gym of good works.

Chuck Swindoll tells the story of a young lady who loved playing practical jokes. She had just graduated from a gourmet cooking class. So at an elegant student reception in a physician’s home near Miami, she decided to put her new cooking skills to the test. She took dog food and put it ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 4:1-8

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Sometimes We Think We Know Better Than The Lord

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Mar 18, 2009

A sermon on the Cross-centered life.

Mark 8:31-38 “Sometimes We Think WE Know Better Than The Lord” by: Rev. Ken Sauer, Pastor of Grace UMC, Soddy Daisy, TN www.graceumcsd.org History is filled with examples of women and men who, by throwing away their lives, gained life eternal. Late in the 4th Century there was a certain monk ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:31-38

Denomination: United Methodist

Snake In The Grass Series

Contributed by Jason Pettibone on Mar 23, 2004

a look at the Fall and the ongoing efforts of Satan to delude the world

Beginnings # 2 I invite you back to the Book of Beginnings this morning! I’ll be speaking to you from Genesis 3 today. The Snake in the Grass - Speaking the Lies We Want to Believe A friend picked up his 3 yr. old son from Christian Preschool. As they rode in the car, the Dad was talking about ...read more

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Where's Waldo? Series

Contributed by Mark Eberly on Aug 27, 2007

Seeking means intentional effort to find. Finding Waldo is not always easy. Neither is finding his kingdom and his righteousness. Yet it is worth the effort.

When I think of seeking or searching, “Where’s Waldo?” The busy pictures where you search for Waldo and other objects that often blend into the rest of the picture. You have to search and search to find him. Sometimes it is easy and it jumps right out at you but usually it is not. The ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:31-34

Denomination: Church Of God

The Spirit Filled Life Part Three

Contributed by Martin Wiles on Sep 8, 2010

This sermon examines the fruit of faithfulness, gentleness and self control.

THE SPIRIT-FILLED LIFE PART III GALATIANS 5:22,23 INTRODUCTION By now we know that physical and spiritual fruit is very important to our well-being. Doctors are discovering more and more that fruit should be part of our diet if the diet is to be a healthy one. The Food Guide Pyramid bears out the ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23

Denomination: Baptist

What Does It Mean To Count The Cost Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Jun 30, 2013

A look at what it means to "count the cost" and why that's so essential. This message calls down the cheap gospel presentations that we so often make that have no mention in them of what it actually means to follow Jesus.

CHEAP FAITH: Too often we offer salvation that’s straight from the discount bin. - Luke 14:28-32. - Our approach to evangelism is too often to present salvation as a low-cost, no-commitment offer. All you need to do is say you believe in Jesus! That’s it! There’s no mention of the need for ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:28-33

Denomination: Baptist

The Two Ways

Contributed by William D. Brown on Jul 31, 2008

The same crossroads that mankind had to choose from in Paul’s day are still with us today. The world is standing at the crossroads today, Will people choose the path of human justification and self-righteousness or will they take the path of God’s mercy

The Way of The World/The Way of The Cross Galatians 6:11-18 11Ye see how large a letter I have written unto you with mine own hand. 12As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:11-18

Denomination: Baptist

Warning! Straddling Can Be Hazardous To Your Health

Contributed by Jerry Flury on May 7, 2002

Keeping one foot in the world and one foot in heaven just does not work. There is a danger in being uncommitted to Christ.

WARNING! STRADDLING CAN BE HAZARDOUS TO YOUR HEALTH! I KINGS 18:17-21 INTRODUCTION: A woman getting onto a sky lift was given instructions that the moment the lift’s chair touched her backside she was to sit down and lift her feet from off the ground. Instead when the chair came against her she ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 18:17-21

Denomination: Baptist