Sermons on Self Improvement:

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

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

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

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

New Nature

Contributed by Kerry Dunn on Feb 26, 2011

Are you in Christ

New nature scripture;2Cor.15:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ,he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. people justify their life by saying this is how i am, this is who God made me ,i should not have to change that's ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 15:17

Denomination: Pentecostal

Gluttony

Contributed by Carl Allen on May 5, 2010

Tonight I want to preach on Gluttony and give you a Scriptural picture of what it is and how we need to make sure it is not a part of our lives, as followers of Christ.

Gluttony 1 Cor. 6:12-20 Introduction Many of you will have heard of the called ‘Dieting under Stress’ diet. It goes something like this: Breakfast: half a grapefruit, 1 slice dry whole wheat toast, 8 oz skim milk Lunch: 4 oz lean boiled chicken, 1 cup steamed spinach, 1 cup herbal ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 6:12-20

Denomination: Baptist

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

Life In Christ Series

Contributed by Steve Shepherd on Mar 8, 2010

1- Life in Christ excludes hypocrisy 2- Life in Christ excludes salvation by observance of the law 3- Life in Christ includes death to self

INTRO.- Life. What is life all about? Obviously, that depends on who you are talking to. Here are some examples. ILL.- It was said that Jimmy Johnson, when coaching football on the college level, had a wife and the appearance of a marriage because it was expected of college football coaches. ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 2:11-21

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Love Contrasted Series

Contributed by Chris Surber on Mar 18, 2010

The love of Mary for Jesus contrasted with the selfish motives of Judas.

Love Contrasted, John 12:1-8 Scripture “Six days before the Passover, Jesus arrived at Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. Here a dinner was given in Jesus' honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. Then Mary took ...read more

Scripture: John 12:1-8

Denomination: Christian Church

What’s In It For Me Series

Contributed by Dr. Jerry N. Watts on Jun 13, 2010

Taking this popular mantra and applying it to James 1:12, the message brings to light how thin and shallow this approach to life really is.

How to Do Life What’s In It for ME? James 1:12 * (Show the title on the screen.) Please read this phrase with me (read). Last week I Googled this phrase and returned 414,000,000 hits. We live in a “What’s in it for me (WIIFM)” culture. It begins with people’s approach to government which only ...read more

Scripture: James 1:12

Denomination: Baptist

Dare To Sacrifice Series

Contributed by David Dewitt on Jun 22, 2010

If we are going to recapture our spirit of adventure for God, we must be willing to sacrifice for the Kingdom of Christ

Last week I shared the story of Helen Keller and her incredible spirit and inspirational life. We are to tackle life with the same kind of spirit or tenacity. Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all. This week I want to look at the life of one of the most influential, conservative ...read more

Scripture: John 12:23-26

Denomination: Church Of God

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

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

Seeds Series

Contributed by Tim White on Mar 11, 2014

Jesus teaches of the ways people receive the truth.

A pastor once preached on this passage: A mother of 12 came forward, concerned that her life has not produced any eternal fruit. She told the pastor, “I am not sure that with my responsibilities, I have time to do anything of value to God.” The pastor tried to comfort the lady, prayed ...read more

Scripture: Mark 4:1-20

Denomination: Baptist

Who Prays In A Modern Global Society?

Contributed by Dr. Gale A. Ragan-Reid on May 16, 2014

Prayer is not for the faint of heart. It requires a well-made up mind to serve the Lord, Jesus Christ.

Who Prays In A Modern Global Society? By Dr. Gale A. Ragan-Reid (May 16, 2014) “For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil” (I Peter 3:12 King James Version, KJV ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:12-22

Denomination: Friends