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

Looking At Your Own Faith Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Sep 25, 2020

Paul encouraged the Corinthians to examine their own faith. What does that look like?

WHO'S IN? There are a lot of questionable boundary markers for the Christian faith. - If you read the obituary page, you will discover some marvelous realities. Among them: a. Upwards of 90% of people are going to heaven. b. People are members of church despite the fact that they haven’t ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 13:5-6

Denomination: Baptist

The Kingdom Is The Lord’s

Contributed by Dennis Lee on Jun 13, 2021

To our cry, “How long O Lord?” comes the message of Obadiah, that God is in control and that He is working out His will and purpose through it all, or what He says through Obadiah at the very end of this letter, “The kingdom shall be the Lord's.” (Obadiah 1:21)

The Kingdom is the Lord’s Book of Obadiah Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScnGFMIzeVY As Christians we’ll have enemies, and our spiritual maturity can be measured by the kind of enemies we have. What we need to make sure of, however, is that our enemies are the same as God’s enemies, and ...read more

Scripture: Obadiah 1:21

Denomination: Foursquare

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

Fourteenth Sunday In Ordinary Time , Year A; 14th Sunday, Cycle A-- Different Yokes For Different Folks

Contributed by Paul Andrew on May 13, 2020

It is an act not of juggling balls on a stage, but of carrying eggs from a barn.

A yoke is a wooden frame fitted on working animals to evenly balance the load on each individual animal and allow them to work as a team. Jesus wears the yoke and we are yoked to him. A teacher read to her class the text, “My yoke is easy.” “Who can tell me what a yoke is?” she asked. A boy ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:25-30

Denomination: Catholic

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

Open Doors Of Opportunity (2) Series

Contributed by Perry Greene on Aug 25, 2014

Are we open or closed as a congregation? Is the work and worship about us only or do we include others?

1. St Catherine's Monastery One of the oldest monasteries in the world is Saint Catherine's. Built by Emperor Justinian to protect the monks in the region, St. Catherine's sits at the foot of Mount Sinai in Egypt. The walls are made of granite and are between 8 and 35 meters tall. Up until last ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:15-17

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Assurance Of Salvation

Contributed by Maurice Mccarthy on Sep 4, 2014

Like David, we at times need God to say, "I AM thy salvation."

Assurance of Salvation PPT 1 Title PPT 2 Text Ps 35:1 ([A Psalm] of David.) Contend, O LORD, with those who contend with me; Fight against those who fight against me. Ps 35:2 Take hold of buckler and shield, And rise up for my help. Ps 35:3 Draw also the spear and the battle-axe to meet those who ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 35:1-3

Denomination: Pentecostal

Jonah's Pity Party

Contributed by Keith Broyles on Oct 7, 2014

Jonah as both an unwilling and angry prophet, filled with self-pity.

Over the edge. That is where so many employers seem to be pushing their workers these days. Perhaps you have felt it yourself. You work hard, sometimes too hard in what seems like 24/7 and even then the work just never stops. Your job drains you, mentally, physically and even spiritually. You put ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 4:1-11

Denomination: Methodist

Let Go Of Fear Series

Contributed by Denn Guptill on Oct 19, 2014

Fear will steal your joy and keep you from doing all that God wants you to do. So, what are we supposed to do with our fear? Let it Go!

Fear will be your enemy. And that statement seems to set the tone very early in the movie. If there seems to be one overriding emotion in the movie “Frozen” it is fear. The King and Queen are fearful for their daughters and so the girls are separated and grow up alone. Elsa is ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:3-9

Denomination: Wesleyan

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

From Selfishness To Service Series

Contributed by Thomas Cash on Aug 15, 2011

Third in a series on the book of Acts. In the middle of the church’s peace, grace, and generosity, there was one dark spot. But the way the church dealt with its problems allowed it to shine.

From Selfishness to Service Acts 5 & 6 (Third in the series What’s Next? The Adventures of Growing in Christ) “Who do you think you’re going to kid? Did you really think you could lie to the Holy Spirit?” (Acts 5:3). “And the Word of God increased; and the number of disciples multiplied” (Acts ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Stop Feeling Guilty

Contributed by Troy Borst on Aug 17, 2011

All of that is important, but it is David’s record of Psalm 51 which is his diary of sorts on how he dealt with that guilt. David’s wrote his heart down on paper and we have it recorded in Scripture for us. All of us deal with guilt from many different

STOP FEELING GUILTY PSALM 51 & PSALM 32 INTRODUCTION The movie “Saving Private Ryan” (1998) is a movie that many of us have seen and is quite a memorable movie because of its portrayal of the D Day invasion of Normandy in World War II. The movie begins and ends with an elderly man ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 51:1-19

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Cave Of Doubt And The Call Of Duty.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jun 20, 2023

None of us are as alone as we might imagine. We can draw strength from the fact that the LORD has not deserted us. We are never alone.

THE CAVE OF DOUBT AND THE CALL OF DUTY. 1 Kings 19:9-18. While Obadiah was hiding others in a cave (cf. 1 Kings 18:3-4), Elijah hid himself in a cave. I. THE CAVE OF DOUBT (1 Kings 19:9-14). Why are YOU here? Indignant self-righteousness. Wind, earthquake, and fire - and a thin, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 19:9-18

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational