Sermons on Self Improvement:

Going The Distance (On What Matters)

Contributed by Joshua Blackmon on Feb 3, 2021

This sermon is about running the Christian race.

Going the Distance (on what matters) Opening Illustration: "He didn't win a medal. In fact, he came nowhere near. But, in defeat and in pain, he came to represent something much more profound and enduring than many sportsmen achieve in illustrious careers. Akhwari was never likely to win ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

Denomination: Pentecostal

Take Up Your Cross

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Feb 24, 2021

As people run headlong into a world going nowhere, escaping reality in their hedonistic lifestyles, are we ashamed of Jesus and His words? Are we ashamed of suffering as Christians? Let’s look at Jesus’ countercultural instructions in Mark 8:31-38.

Prelude As people run headlong into a world going nowhere, escaping reality in their hedonistic lifestyles, are we ashamed of Jesus and His words? Are we ashamed of suffering as Christians? Purpose Let’s see the value of taking up our cross and denying ourselves. Plan Let’s look at Jesus’ ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:31-38

Denomination: Baptist

Even In A Catastrophe, We Should Glorify The Lord By Our Lives Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Aug 8, 2020

In heaven, then, when we succeed in becoming like Christ as His servants and siblings, the Father will give us honors beyond anything we could hope for.

Monday of the 19th Week in Course: St. Lawrence One of the directions we deacons can give at the end of Holy Mass says “Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life.” The idea is to go out from the Eucharistic celebration and bear fruit, bringing the Gospel to your friends and colleagues. That ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 9:6-10, John 12:24-26

Denomination: Catholic

True Greatness

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Sep 19, 2018

Who are the true greats? You may be surprised that you know many personally.

Who are the true greats? You may be surprised who they are because you know many of them by name. They live in your neighborhood. Let’s find out what the basic ingredient of true greatness is. Let’s look at Mark 9:30-37, what Jesus has to say. Jesus Mark 9:31 “The Son of Man is to be delivered ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:30-37, Isaiah 53:6, Isaiah 53:12, Philippians 2:5-8

Denomination: Baptist

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

Some Storms In Your Life Are Sent By God!

Contributed by Beverly Holstein on Sep 19, 2017

Sometimes God allows storms in our lives because He is trying to get our attention! We need to recognize these storms, and then we need to recognize what we need to throw overboard!!

VS 2 – ALL WICKEDNESS WILL EVENTUALLY COME BEFORE THE LORD FOR JUDGEMENT!!! Acts 17:30 - And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: 2 Corinthians 5:10 - For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 1:1-12

Denomination: Pentecostal

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

3. The Breastplate Of Righteousness Series

Contributed by Stephen Aram on Dec 1, 2019

Our modern culture is desperate to feel good about itself. But God has provided a true way to feel good about ourselves, to feel good because we are doing good, and to find God's forgiveness when our own efforts fall short.

We are continuing to look at what the Apostle Paul called the whole armor of God. In his letter to the Ephesian Church, chapter 6, he talked about our world as a battle field. And he wasn't picturing the kind of battle like that occurred when we began our attack on Iraq, where our forces ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-17

Increased All The More In Strength!

Contributed by Bala Samson on Jul 6, 2015

Self-pity has sabotaged growth in many lives, many have acted so stupidly in the past that they have failed to manifest their potential to do something useful and wonderful with their lives .

Increased all the more in strength! Acts 9:22 ”Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ.” When Apostle Paul was running from pillar to post and persecuted on all sides, the Bible says he increased all ...read more

Scripture: Acts 9:22

Denomination: Pentecostal

God Is The Center Series

Contributed by Michael Deutsch on Jul 25, 2015

We place ourselves at the center, when it should be God.

God is the Center Ecclesiastes 3:9-15 July 26, 2015 Back in the 1960s the mayor of the city of Chicago was Richard J. Daley. He was famous for being the last of the big time bosses of the city. Daley was sharp, powerful, and had an enormous ego. One fall a speechwriter who worked for Daley ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:9-15

Denomination: Baptist

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

"Knowledge Of God" Series

Contributed by Lonnie Erwin on May 30, 2015

The Book of 2 Peter opens up with a statement to indentify to the reader who is the author of the book. Peter uses the term "bond servant" thus implying that he, Peter is a slave to no man but by his own choice he has chosen to serve and summit to Jesus.

"Knowledge of God" Introduction : The Book of 2 Peter opens up with a statement to indentify to the reader who is the author of the book. Peter uses the term "bond-servant" thus implying that he, Peter is a slave to no man but by his own choice he has chosen to serve and summit to Jesus Christ. ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

Can I Do More?

Contributed by Jerry Cosper on Nov 5, 2015

No matter how much we feel that we do for Christ, the question is, "Can I Do More?"

The film Schindler's List chronicled the heroic efforts of a German industrialist named Oskar Schindler. Through his unselfish activities, over a thousand Jews on the trains to Auschwitz were saved. After Schindler found out what was happening at Auschwitz, he began a systematic effort to save as ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Denomination: Baptist

You Are Very Expensive

Contributed by Oliver O. Suarez on Mar 8, 2015

Your value in the eyes of God is priceless...

“Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve And to give His life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:28 You are very Expensive The word expensive was first used in 1630s, "given to profuse expenditure,” meaning "costly”. This word is exactly one of the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:28

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Joy Versus Happiness

Contributed by Stephen Belokur on Mar 12, 2015

The world relentlessly pursues self-statisfying happiness with utter disregard for the Joy of the Lord. Even those who authored the declaration of independence thought that the "pursuit of happiness" was a God given right. So ... what does the Bible say?

Let’s take a look at a couple of Scriptures … Ecclesiastes 12:8 (NASB) “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher, “all is vanity!” Ecclesiastes 12:8 (HCSB) “Absolute futility,” says the Teacher. “Everything is futile.” Ecclesiastes ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:2

Denomination: Nazarene