Sermons on Self Improvement:

The Cost Of Discipleship

Contributed by R. David Reynolds on Sep 14, 2003

The Text is the Gospel Reading for Common Lectionary, Year B, the theme is characteristics of a Disciple as seen in this text.

THE COST OF DISCIPLESHIP—MARK 8:27-38 --by R. David Reynolds Billy Graham has said, “Salvation is free, but discipleship costs everything we have” [--Edythe Draper, Drapers Book of Quotations for the Christian World (Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 1992)]. In our text this morning ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:27-38, Mark 8:28-33, Deuteronomy 30:15-20, Deuteronomy 30:15

Denomination: Methodist

Burned: Destroyed By Desire Series

Contributed by Kyle Idleman on Sep 27, 2010

A sermon from a series on the treachery of sexual sin.

Do you have one of these in your backyard? It’s a fire pit. They’ve become pretty popular in the last number of years. We have one in our backyard … or we did have. It’s actually here now. (Laughter) My wife after the service last weekend … she was like, “I ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 13:1-22

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

They Prayed

Contributed by Bill Butsko on Oct 22, 2010

Our prayers should be that of the Publican

Text: “…everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted” (Luke 18:14). Do you know anyone who has a tendency to exalt himself or herself? Those people who are always praising themselves, applauding themselves or paying tribute to ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:9-14

Denomination: Christian Church

Black And White Redeemed Together

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Nov 7, 2010

For Black History Month: We will not be fully redeemed until both black and white understand the elements of self-hatred that are in us and see that we have a Redeemer who will remove those feelings.

Takoma Park Baptist Church, Washington, DC February 2, 1986 When you read the book of Job and read it carefully, when you really let it sink in to you what happened to this suffering man and what he had to say about it, you cannot help concluding that what is most frightening about Job is his ...read more

Scripture: Job 19:1-27

Denomination: Baptist

Living The Gospel: Speak Up!

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Nov 20, 2009

We have not found our voices yet because we have low self-esteem, but Christ declares us to be light. The world is asking for light, but we must learn to read the signs and to be who we are. March 1988

As a child I was fascinated one day by’ the fact that when you open the refrigerator, there is always a light burning. I was fascinated by it because I wanted to know whether that light was on when the door was closed as well as when it was open. And so I began to experiment. First I tried to stick ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:14-16

Denomination: Baptist

Pontius Pilate: Stuck In People-Pleasing Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Feb 21, 2009

Pilate was a classic people-pleaser, who found that his behavior produced popularity that masked contempt, pessimism, and powerlessness.

The story has it that during creation, as God was sitting up in heaven turning out all these creatures, some of the angels asked if they could help. It looked like fun, making plants and animals, birds and beasts. And so God, who had just finished fashioning something, said, "All right. Come ahead. ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Know Yourself (Short Homily)

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Feb 10, 2012

This is a very short Homily titled "Know Yourself". That was used for the opening of a Men's retreat weekend.

Let me share a reading from the Gospel of Mark with you. " They came to Bethsaida. Some people brought a blind man to him and begged him to touch him. He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village; and when he had put saliva on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:22-26

Denomination: Anglican

Have You Taken Your Spiritual Temperature Lately?

Contributed by Jerry Flury on Jun 8, 2012

2 Corinthians 13:5 tells us to examine ourselves to see if our faith is what it should be. Like Laodecia, many are unaware of their spiritual temperature. What about you? Have you taken your spiritual temperature lately?

Have You Taken Your Spiritual Temperature Lately? Revelation 3:14-20 The church at Laodicea was one of two churches in the opening chapters of Revelation that were apparently unaware of their spiritual temperature. The other was Ephesus. Laodicea is a picture of a worldly church that has all the ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:14-20

Denomination: Baptist

The Problem Of Jewish Unbelief Series

Contributed by Dennis Davidson on Mar 5, 2012

If God is sovereign and in control of man's eternal salvation why are the Jews, God's chosen people, for the most part lost, having rejected Jesus as their Messiah? The question is complicated and difficult.

ROMANS 9: 1-5 "THE PROBLEM OF JEWISH UNBELIEF" After a glorious study on the building blocks of our salvation in chapters 1-8, a new branch of the subject of eternal salvation is obviously introduced in the ninth chapter. If God is sovereign and in control of man's eternal salvation why are ...read more

Scripture: Romans 9:1-5

Denomination: Baptist

Back To School

Contributed by Tim Hinrichs on Sep 13, 2012

We are in training in God's school of Christlikeness. Having already received the diploma, we are transformed by Christ to renounce the past, live godly lives in the present, and look forward to our future with hope and not fear.

This week we sent our son back to school as he had his first taste of Junior High. Sometimes I look back to my High School years and believe it or not I wish I could do it over again and learn those lessons that I didn’t take so seriously and also not worry so much about things that ...read more

Scripture: Titus 2:11-14

Denomination: Lutheran

Marks Of A God Pleaser

Contributed by Mark Opperman on Dec 5, 2012

God has called us to please Him in all areas of our lives! And He offers to help us live a life that honors Him and does no harm to ourselves or others. God is ready and willing to forgive those who have fallen into the trap of sexual sin, giving in to si

Marks of a God Pleaser 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8 Intro: How important is it for a person to please God? The Bible really has a lot to say about this. First, we know that without faith or trust in God, it is impossible to please Him (Heb. 11:1). Most people don’t worry about pleasing God unless ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8

Denomination: Assembly Of God

The Illogical Fear Of Elijah - 1 Kings 19:3

Contributed by William R. Nabaza on Aug 4, 2011

The Illogical Fear Of Elijah - 1 Kings 19:3 What it means to serve the Lord in the ministry without fear, but full of love, power and sound mind!

The Illogical Fear Of Elijah - 1 Kings 19:3 1 Kings 19:3 Elijah was afraid and fled for his life; he took his servant and went to Beersheba in Judah. Leaving the servant there, What made fear of Elijah illogical? I. After killing 450 prophets of baal (1Kings 18:40, 1Kings 18:22 ) II. After ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 19:3

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Commitment Choice Series

Contributed by Monty Newton on Feb 22, 2010

I am strongest when I choose to commit all of my life and will to Christ's care and control.

Title: The Commitment Choice Text: “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” Matthew 5:5 Thesis: I am strongest when I choose to commit all of my life and will to Christ’s care and control. Lenten Series: Life’s Healing Choices (Saddleback Resources) ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:5

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Wounded Identity

Contributed by Larry Kettle on Sep 7, 2011

Jesus carries wounds in heaven so that we can show his healing power on earth.

“The Wounded Identity” Larry D. Kettle I have spent a lifetime grappling with a “wounded identity”. I know what it means to be victimized and I know what it means to “be the victim”. I was wounded by a sense of abandonment from my mother. I was seven when my ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 53:1-12

Denomination: Pentecostal

Temperance: A Fruit Of The Spirit Series

Contributed by Patrick Nix on Aug 13, 2010

Have you noticed that our current generation (especially of Americans) has no concept of control. We are out-of-control. The recent rise in credit card induced bankruptcies, divorce attorneys, and mini-riots are skyrocketing. Road rage, impulse spendin

Have you noticed that our current generation (especially of Americans) has no concept of control. We are out-of-control. The recent rise in credit card induced bankruptcies, divorce attorneys, and mini-riots are skyrocketing. Road rage, impulse spending, and all sorts of addictions are seen as ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23

Denomination: Baptist