Sermons on Self Emptying:

3 More Than Stuff Series

Contributed by Steve Pearman on Dec 11, 2025

Christmas tells us that more presents equal more joy… but is that really true? In this message, we explore the story of the shepherds in Luke 2:1–20 and see how they discovered a joy far better than anything the world could wrap. Real joy isn’t something you open — it’s Someone you meet.

INTRODUCTION It’s great to be able to share our Christmas series Beyond the Hype — looking at how God invites us into something so much deeper and longer-lasting than the pressure-filled version of Christmas the world often sells us. Today we’re looking at a theme we all know too well this time of ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-20

A Journey Towards Hope: The Emmaus Road Series

Contributed by Dennis Lee on Mar 4, 2024

On this journey, we’ll look at three secrets. We see these secrets in two of Jesus disciples that were on this road to Emmaus. What they found and what we’ll find is a renewed a hope that erases exhaustion, emptiness, and enslavement.

A Journey Towards Hope: The Emmaus Road Luke 24:13-35 Watch on YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwtJr_xu1Vw With all that is happening in our world today, there are Three Basic Secrets simmering just beneath the surface that no one wants to admit. 1. We Feel Exhausted Most of ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:13-35

Denomination: Foursquare

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

Real Leadership Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Feb 22, 2019

If you want to be a real leader that inspires people to real greatness, define the vision, delegate the work; but most important, deny yourself just like Jesus did. That’s because real leaders are real servants.

Several years ago, a 19-year-old man, desperate to get to Tokyo’s Haneda Airport, hopped a bus and demanded that the driver take him there. Some say the man was drunk, others that he was disturbed. Either way, only a few of the passengers were concerned, and everyone stayed calm. That’s because ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 18:1-10, Joshua 19:49-50, Philippians 2:3-11

Denomination: Evangelical Free

No Place For A Pity Party

Contributed by John Baggett on Nov 24, 2003

Pity is natural but is for others not ourselves. Self Pity is dangerous. (1)Everyone is subject to self pity (2ADVERSITY IS NOT MEANT TO LEAD US TO SELF PITY BUT TO STRENGHTH IN CHRIST(3)Turning to God in our self pity is our hope for deliverance from it

No Place for a Pity Party MT 16:21-24 If we think in terms of thankfulness we might say that there are many emotions that would compliment a heart that is filled with thanksgiving. For example love compliments thanksgiving, happiness compliments thanksgiving, joy and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:21-24, Matthew 4:1-4

Denomination: Baptist

Go! And Let God Search Your Heart - Psalm 139:23–24 Series

Contributed by Dean Courtier on Nov 11, 2025

When was the last time you truly asked God to search your heart? We live in a world that prizes self-examination, self-help, and self-awareness — but the Bible calls us to something higher and holier: God-examination.

Go! And Let God Search Your Heart - Psalm 139:23–24 Church, let’s begin this morning with a question that pierces deeper than any sermon outline or theological argument: When was the last time you truly asked God to search your heart? We live in a world that prizes self-examination, self-help, ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 139:1-4, Psalm 139:23-24, Jeremiah 17:9-10, 1 Peter 1:6-7, Isaiah 59:2, Romans 5:8, John 14:6, Hebrews 4:12  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

Confronting The Spirit Of Leviathan

Contributed by Melvin Maughmer, Jr. on Jan 4, 2012

The Leviathan spirit operates by attacking ministries and people associated within a ministry by stubbornness, rebellion, disobedience, lies, miscommunication, condescending attitudes, self exhaltation.

Confronting the Spirit of Leviathan By Pastor M.L. Maughmer, Jr. Matthew 11:12 says “And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force”. Luke 17:20-21 says “And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when ...read more

Denomination: Apostolic

A Cross And Christ Of No Effect

Contributed by Chuck Morley on Feb 2, 2001

When we neglect the truth of the cross we are left with empty religion and a powerless Christ.

A CROSS AND CHRIST OF NO EFFECT "Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God;" (2 Corinthians 3:2,3) This verse is pretty ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 3:2-3

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Consequences Of Denying The Resurrection

Contributed by Donald Whitchard on Jan 15, 2023

If Jesus Christ did not rise from the dead, then the past two thousand years have been the greatest tragedy and travesty of human civilization ever recorded.

There is enough credible eyewitness testimony and extra biblical evidence to verify the historical significance and fact that the event of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ as written in the Scriptures and secular history is true. The resurrection evidence can be presented in any objective court ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:12-19, Acts 10:38-41, Romans 6:9, 1 Peter 3:18, Mark 14:28  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

My Hearts Longs For Something Greater: Eternity In The Human Heart & The Emptiness Of Gorged Sensuality

Contributed by Justin Steckbauer on Apr 2, 2021

All of life is filled with parables and metaphors that point to the meta-narrative of existence. The four seasons are laced with it. Media, movies, books, and stories are filled with expressions of the longings of our hearts. We long for a place we've never been.

All of life is filled with parables and metaphors that point to the meta-narrative of existence. The four seasons are laced with it. Media, movies, books, and stories are filled with expressions of the longings of our hearts. We long for a place we've never been. We desire a home we've ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 43:19, John 6:44

Denomination: Salvation Army

Humility Is The Firm Foundation Of All Virtues Series

Contributed by Lalachan Abraham on Oct 27, 2017

"Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up."The first step in submission to God has respect to the truths of revelation.None who truly knows himself can cherish pride. The way of self-denial is the way to victory.

“So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor” (1 Peter 5:6NLT) “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor” (James 4:10NLT) We human beings are seekers. We seek truth, glory, love, wealth, security, power, ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Commandment 10 Series

Contributed by Hugh W. Davidson on Apr 3, 2009

The problem is our attitude not our actions

Thou shalt not covet Exodus 20:1-17 I heard a story about one elderly couple who were having dinner at another couple’s house, and when they finished, the wives left the table and went into the kitchen. The two men were talking and one said, "Last night we went out ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 20:1-17

Denomination: Baptist

Better Than Anything - Philippians 3:7-9 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Feb 3, 2022

Why is it so evil for a person to try to make himself righteous?

Philippians 3:7 But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them filth, that I may gain Christ 9 and be ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:7-9

The Solemnity Of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King Of The Universe, Year B., Christ The King B-- Let The Truth Finish Up

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Nov 15, 2021

"First, I preached my church empty, and then preached it full again."

David Foster Wallace said, "The truth will set you free. But not until it is finished with you,” in other words, the truth has to be assimilated in your conscience before it can set you free. Stanley Hauerwas, of Duke Divinity school, says, in effect, that, when we don’t let the truth ...read more

Scripture: John 18:33-38

Denomination: Catholic

The Characteristic Of Humbleness Series

Contributed by Melvin Maughmer, Jr. on Aug 11, 2004

Humbleness is a modest estimation of one’s self Humbleness is a self-abased attitude. To be a Christian is to be like Christ not just going to church.

Developing Christian Character The Characteristic of “Humility” The Bible says in Isaiah 55:8-9 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are high above the earth so are my ways above your ways and my thoughts above your ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 7:14

Denomination: Apostolic