Sermons on Self Effort:

Obstacles To Grace

Contributed by Lynn Malone on Jun 14, 2012

We all face obstacles that block the flow of God's grace in our lives. This message is a message given during a Walk to Emmaus weekend.

Obstacles to Grace Rev. Lynn Malone Toby Keith has a popular song right now that I have heard several people walk around either singing or humming the words. The song is entitled I Want to Talk About Me. Have you heard it? The words to the chorus go like this: I wanna talk about me Wanna ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 1:8-9

Denomination: Methodist

There Is A Lion Out There? (Fear) Series

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Jul 18, 2008

This two part lesson studies LIONS in the Bible. The lion represents FEAR! Fear is opposed to faith. Will the lion hinder us? Will the lion launch us? It is up to you!

THERE ARE LIONS OUT THERE? HOW DID I GET HERE? By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com I do this lesson in two parts. ILLUSTRATION: A. I use a pint jar. I fill it up with ping pong balls. ( You can substitute: English walnuts, or something cheap, etc.) enough to fill the small jar. (A large ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 22:13

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Whom Can I Blame?

Contributed by Mike Rickman on Jan 4, 2003

Self-pity has become a lifestyle for many. We can break down the walls of self-pity through the word of God.

January 5, 2003 Morning Service Text: John 5:1:15; Acts 8:1-8 Subject: Overcoming the Victim Mentality Title: Whom Can I Blame? I want to begin todays sermon with a story from Max Lucados "The Applause of Heaven". "I have everything I need for joy!" Robert Reed said. "Amazing!" I thought. His ...read more

Scripture: John 5:1-15

Denomination: Assembly Of God

You Ain't All That

Contributed by Larry Turner on Nov 20, 2016

Pride can make someone think more highly of themselves than they should. Naaman almost missed a miracle because of pride.

Everyone knows that the lion is the king of the jungle. And they are very prideful. In fact a group of lions are called a pride. One day the lion being filled with pride decided to make sure all the others knew it. He was so confident that he by-passed the smaller animals and went straight to the ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:3

Denomination: Foursquare

Can A Christian Use Marijuana?

Contributed by Scott Coltrain on Aug 28, 2015

With the legalization of the recreational use of marijuana, the Christian must evaluate if using pot is an acceptable practice or a sin.

In those States where the use and sell of Marijuana is illegal, the answer is straightforward. The Christian must abide by the laws of secular government (Romans 13:1-2, 5) which means that the use and sell of Marijuana is clearly prohibited. As our Nation moves closer to the legalization of ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:1

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

An Identity Crisis

Contributed by Otis Mcmillan on Apr 26, 2022

Identity answers the question “Who am I?” My identity is based on how I view myself, the foundation I build my life upon, and where I find my sense of worth, acceptance, and well-being. Everything changes when we find the King!

Sermon: An Identity Crisis Scripture: 2 Samuel 9:1-13 “One day David asked, “Is anyone in Saul’s family still alive—anyone to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” 2 He summoned a man named Ziba, who had been one of Saul’s servants. “Are you Ziba?” the king asked. “Yes sir, I am,” Ziba ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 9:1-13, Matthew 11:28-30

Denomination: Methodist

Ignorance Is Bliss -- Not!

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jun 14, 2009

First Baptist Church of Gaithersburg, MD: We avoid too much information because we know we will have to respond. Some escape into private piety; some escape from knowing themselves. But true bliss comes from knowing how to invest in Kingdom concerns.

You can buy it anywhere in Pennsylvania Dutch country – a banner, an apron, a towel, anything really – and it proclaims, in pidgin German, “Ve get too soon oldt und too late schmart”. Your preacher this morning is a walking example of that ancient truth. Too soon oldt und too late schmart. The ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 92:1-15

Denomination: Baptist

God Operates Value Village, Not The Landfill

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jun 6, 2009

For Senior Adult Sunday: There are legitimate concerns about aging; but there are also those who would prey on the elderly. God is our ultimate refuge and the protector of those who are to be valued, not thrown away.

If it’s old, it has to go. That used to be the message. In the years after World War II, once we got our economy back on a peacetime basis, we all wanted only new things. Bright, shiny, new. And so, if it’s old, it has to go. Do you remember? Do you remember, if you go back that far, how, during ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 71:4-12

Denomination: Baptist

Cut It Out

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Jul 21, 2023

We are always trying to blame our sin on something else - on someone else, on society, on circumstances. But Jesus says that what makes us sin is part of ourselves.

I stopped watching TV news three or four years ago. But you have to know what's going on, somehow, so there are a few sources I've come to trust. But guess what? They're just as depressing as TV news. Because what is actually happening is worse than what you might imagine if you stayed ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:38-50

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Taming The Tongue Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Jul 28, 2017

The tongue is powerful; control it. The tongue is pernicious; contain it. The tongue is polluted; clean it up.

A couple of hunters were out in the woods of New Jersey when one of them fell to the ground. He didn’t seem to be breathing, and his eyes were rolled back in his head. Terrified, his friend whipped out his cell phone and dialed 911. “My friend is dead! What can I do?” he cried over the phone. In ...read more

Scripture: James 3:1-12

Denomination: Evangelical Free

In Pursuit Of Peace Series

Contributed by Mitchell Skelton on Apr 25, 2006

I am firmly convinced that more than a timeless letter about the gospel of Christ, Paul wrote Romans as an effort to unify a church on its way toward division. Romans 14 is the climax of that effort.

Proclaiming His Majesty Series 2006 In Pursuit of Peace Romans 14:1-23 The other night at worship, my son, John Austin, asked Sheryl, "Mom, why does everybody call daddy, Brother Mitchell?" As Sheryl did her best to explain to him how we are all brothers and sisters in Christ and that we ...read more

Scripture: Romans 14:1-23

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

(New Years Resolution Or New Years Revelation)

Contributed by Derrick White Sr on May 11, 2017

RESOLUTIONS ARE SELF IMPOSED –SELF WILLED AND SELF PROPELLED IDEAS THAT DO NOT INCLUDE THE POWER OF GOD BUT WHAT YOU REALLY NEED IS NOT ANOTHER NEW YEAR RESOLUTION BUT A NEW YEAR REVELATION

Psalm 1:1-3 (KJV) 1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3 And he shall be like a tree planted ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 1:1-3

Denomination: Baptist

Stop Feeling Guilty

Contributed by Troy Borst on Aug 17, 2011

All of that is important, but it is David’s record of Psalm 51 which is his diary of sorts on how he dealt with that guilt. David’s wrote his heart down on paper and we have it recorded in Scripture for us. All of us deal with guilt from many different

STOP FEELING GUILTY PSALM 51 & PSALM 32 INTRODUCTION The movie “Saving Private Ryan” (1998) is a movie that many of us have seen and is quite a memorable movie because of its portrayal of the D Day invasion of Normandy in World War II. The movie begins and ends with an elderly man ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 51:1-19

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Influence Of A Godly Mother

Contributed by Brian Spence on Oct 18, 2000

Introduction: A drill sergeant was frustrated in his efforts to make a soldier out of a certain recruit.

Introduction: A drill sergeant was frustrated in his efforts to make a soldier out of a certain recruit. The trainee lagged behind on marches, used any excuse to go on sick call, grumbled constantly about the food, and never made his cot up properly. But one day, a noticeable change took place in ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:5

Take Up Your Cross

Contributed by Alan Perkins on Apr 7, 2019

Following Christ means following him to the cross.

There are basically two kinds of sermons on the Christian life. The first type of sermon views the Christian life as a kind of puzzle to be solved, with the message going something like this: Life is full of hardships, and frustrations, and obstacles. But if you do this one thing; if you ...read more

Scripture: John 12:23-33, Matthew 10:38-39, Luke 17:32-33, Mark 8:34-37

Denomination: Baptist