Sermons on Self Improvement:

Christian Toolbox Basics

Contributed by Jim Twamley on Apr 2, 2003

I like to think that every Christian is born again with a spiritual toolbox. In your Christian toolbox are some basic tools. We all need to become experts in using these tools if we want to become mature Christians.

CHRISTIAN TOOLBOX BASICS Let me see the hands of everyone who has a toolbox. (interview people “What do you have in your toolbox?” - (next person) “Do you have anything different in your toolbox?” “Why do you have a toolbox?” “What would your life be like without your tools?”) I like to ...read more

Scripture: John 10:1-5, James 5:13

Denomination: Pentecostal

Less Of Me, More Of Him Intro Series

Contributed by Joseph Stapleton on Jan 12, 2011

This is a re-write of a series I wrote many years ago, about giving God room to work in our lives, the intro sermon speaks of selfishness giving way to service in God's kingdom

LESS OF ME . . . MORE OF HIM (All my sermons us illustrations found on www.sermoncentral.com and all scripture is NIV unless otherwise noted) (This series of sermons, is a complete re-write of another series I wrote years ago called, When We Move Out God Moves In) Many years ago, a good ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:7-8

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Little Things That Illustrate The Power Of The Tongue! Series

Contributed by John Wright on Feb 1, 2010

James teaches that a small briddle for a horese, a small rudder for a ship, a small tongue in comparrison to an out of control tongue warns us of the tremendous dangers of the tongue.

INTRODUCTION 1. Open your bible to James 3:3-6. 2. The title of our lesson: “Little things that illustrate the power of the tongue”! 3. James 3:3-6 is filled with visual images. 4. The three images that James uses illustrate the point that since they are small and yet control ...read more

Scripture: James 3:3-6

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Peter: The Power Of Peer Pressure

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 5, 2010

Calverton Baptist Church, Silver Spring, MD, 1983: Our denials, like Peter's, reflect our confusing loudness with loyalty and our seeing ourselves as victims rather than victors. But Christ is able to look at us, evoke repentance, and turn us around.

The fire crackled in the crisp air, casting shadows on the walls not five yards away. It looked inviting, this bonfire, for not only was the night air chilly, but also this whole episode had been so draining, so terrifying, that the body cried out for comfort, for something, anything, that would ...read more

Scripture: Luke 22:31-62

Denomination: Baptist

What Sets Christianity Apart

Contributed by Jon Mackinney on Aug 3, 2010

All of the religions of the world have works at their core; all except Christianity. Here is a great story of Jesus confronting the self-righteous works righteousness of His day, and ours!

Passage: Matthew 15:1-20 Intro: Christianity is unique among the religions of the world. 1. and we are going to see why it is in this passage. 2. it is a conversation of intense conflict, so much so that it made Jesus’ disciples nervous. 3. in an atmosphere of love and grace, Jesus ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 15:1-20

Denomination: Evangelical Free

I Dare You To Just ’turn The Other Cheek’ Series

Contributed by David Diyanni on Dec 15, 2009

This is another popular spiritual urban legend. A Christian cannot defend himself since he has to turn the other cheek.

Urban Legends Part 5 “Just turn the other cheek” Matt 5:38-39, Luke 4:28-30, John 18:12, Matt 21:12, John 2:13, Matt 26:53 Urban Legend Debunked A. Today is the last sermon in our ‘urban legend’ series. Next week we are going to start a new sermon series called ‘Character Sketches.” We are going ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:38-39

Denomination: Vineyard

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

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

"Take Them By The Hand And Lead Them"

Contributed by Clarence Eisberg on Jun 16, 2009

a Father’s day message. Stories remind fathers that they are important in leading their children to Jesus, enabling their sons and daughters to know God’s love from their example.

In Jesus Holy Name June 21, 2009 Text: Ephesians 6:2,5:16-18 (The Message) Father’s Day “Take Them by The Hand and Lead Them” Two weeks ago, the June 8th cover of Sports Illustrated placed on their cover a 16 year old Bryce Harper with this caption: “Baseball’s Chosen One”. According ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:2

Denomination: Lutheran

Giving Up Billy Mcfarland

Contributed by Bill Sullivan on Sep 1, 2010

a sermon on sacrifice

Giving Up Billy McFarland A sermon on sacrifice TCF Sermon August 8, 2010 When I was about five years old, I lived in Pittsburgh, PA, where I was born. We lived in one of those classic eastern row houses - you know, where the houses are all attached to each other kind of like a duplex, except ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:1-2

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Day Will Come Series

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on Jul 30, 2009

It begins with God, who created. Humanity, who rebelled. Jesus, who came. And us, who respond with repentance. And then we live lives of hope – hope that “our present troubles are small and won’t last very long.

The Day Will Come Zech 12-13 Nov 9, 2008 Intro: "Hope" is the thing with feathers— That perches in the soul— And sings the tune without the words— And never stops—at all— And sweetest—in the Gale—is heard— And sore must be the storm— That could abash the little Bird That kept so many warm— I’ve ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

"Funeral Arrangements For Life"

Contributed by Ken Harris on Mar 8, 2009

The purpose of this sermon is to motivate the hearers to affirm to others that Jesus spoke to Moses and Elijah about His departure and His Funeral Arrangements for Life.

8 March 2009 Second Sunday in Lent U.S. Army Chaplain (MAJ) Ken Harris Fortress Chapel Contingency Operation Site (C.O.S.) Sykes Tall-afar, Iraq BIG IDEA: The Synopsis Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) share with us Peter, James, and John’s Mountaintop Experience with Jesus, Moses and Elijah, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:28-36

Denomination: Pentecostal

Fully Known

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Oct 18, 2009

Healthy self-knowledge means that in Christ we know enough to be functional, and indeed our ignorance is the vehicle through which God conveys wisdom, for in Him we are fully known.

Charley Brown says to Lucy, still dispensing sage wisdom for the pre-inflationary price of five cents, "Nobody likes me, Lucy. Everybody hates my guts. Do you see that plane up there, Lucy? It’s a plane full of people going somewhere else. That’s what I’d like to do. I’d like to go somewhere else, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:4-31

Denomination: Baptist

Know Thyself Series

Contributed by Mark Eberly on Oct 26, 2009

This week we turn the focus on understanding ourselves and gaining emotional awareness so that we may know God. Four competancies will be shared to help us become emotionally aware so that we might be emotionally healthy spiritually.

Back to School Know Thyself Psalm 55:1-5, 16-17 October 25, 2009 This week and next week we are going to look at several emotional health competencies. These are qualities that emotionally healthy people cultivate and display. These give us plenty of things to work because none of us have all of ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 55:1-5

Denomination: Church Of God

The Scandal Of The Cross

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Sep 17, 2006

1. What does it mean for God to suffer? 2. What does it mean for us to suffer?

I was watching the ABC special “The Path to 9/11” a few years ago as it showed two Arab men talking in a restaurant in the U.S. They were planning the plot on the World Trade Center. One of the terrorists was telling the other that he had been in Germany and began talking about spiritual matters ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:27-39

Denomination: Methodist