Sermons on Self Indulgent Pleasure:

No Pain, No Gain Series

Contributed by Dr. George Calhoun on Oct 25, 2008

C.S. Lewis wrote: “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.”

Luke 8: 40-56 What motivates you to make changes in your life? Think back to a time when you made a change in your life and ask the question, “What motivated me to make that change?” I’ve always been interested in what motivates people to make changes in their lives so this past week I did a ...read more

Scripture: Luke 8:40-50

Denomination: Baptist

The Drug Addicts Fate

Contributed by Sheryln Miller on May 20, 2017

How will Jesus judge drug addicts? Will He say depart from me I never knew you because they wasted their lives pursuing empty pleasures?

There are many Christians hooked on prescription drugs. Some are hooked on pain medication, some are hooked on anti-depressants and alcohol. I know there are Christians who legitimately need pain medication and anti-depressants but there are some who don’t need them or need as much they are using. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:28

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

How To Become A Great Christian Leader Series

Contributed by Tom Shepard on Dec 27, 2007

1. A Great Christian Leader Serves JESUS. 2. A Great Christian Leader Serves FELLOW SERVANTS. 3. A Great Christian Leader Serves SELF. (Has a Godly self-image.)

How To Become A Great Christian Leader Dave Thomas, the founder of Wendy’s, became a familiar sight to millions with his company’s television commercials. Dave also appeared in a lot of training films for Wendy’s employees. In those training films he would dress as his workers ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:35

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Holiness In Every Season: God's Plan For Our Desires

Contributed by Dasol Kang on Jun 28, 2025

God calls us to live with self-control and self-giving love, honoring God’s design, so that our lives reflect Christ’s own love for His church.

INTRODUCTION I am a foodie at heart. There’s nothing quite like a perfectly cooked ribeye steak—those rich, marbled streaks of fat, seared just right, juicy and tender. What is your favorite food? Whatever your favorite food is, we know that food itself is a good gift, isn't it? It sustains ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 7:1-9

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

What Did The Lord Jesus Ask Of His Disciples

Contributed by Antonius Fu on Jun 10, 2023

The Lord Jesus wants His followers to deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, today we will reflect on a theme related to discipleship. And we will learn about the price a disciple must pay through what the Lord Jesus said in His teaching. In the passage of God's word we see that the Lord Jesus told the people who were following Him ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:31-38

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Declaration Of Independence Series

Contributed by Roger Thomas on Jun 1, 2004

The sermon examines our human tendency to rely on self rather than seek God.

The Declaration of Dependence (Why Men Don’t Ask For Directions—Part 2) James 4:1-10 Dr. Roger W. Thomas, Preaching Minister First Christian Church, Vandalia, MO Review: In our previous study we explored the normal human tendency to be independent and self-reliant. Independence and ...read more

Scripture: James 4:1-10

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Sermon On Living Like Its Heaven On Earth

Contributed by William Meakin on Nov 16, 2025

"Living like its heaven on earth" is a subjective concept that can identify with the pleasures of a personal trip to a large and comprehensive fairground of life that incorporates every conceivable ride possible.

William Watson Purkey, an American author, park ranger, Senate page boy, and a Gandy dancer once remarked: “You've gotta dance like there's nobody watching, Love like you'll never be hurt, Sing like there's nobody listening, And live like it's heaven on earth.” Philippians ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:10, Romans 12:2, 1 Peter 1:15-16, 1 John 3:2-3

Feeling Kind Of Empty?

Contributed by Michael Bates on Dec 31, 2023

Feeling unhappy and empty inside? Trying to find ways to fill those empty voids? Material possessions and wealth brings only temporary happiness. God, though, will fill your emptiness with eternal joy, love, and pleasure.

Please open your Bibles to Ecclesiastes Chapter 2 and lets all read together: The Emptiness of Pleasure 1 I said to myself, “Go ahead, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy what is good.” But it turned out to be futile. 2 I said about laughter, “It is madness,” and about pleasure, “What does ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 2:1-11, Philippians 4:19

Denomination: Independent/Bible

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

Desperate Housewives And Their Spouses

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Jan 15, 2006

Successful marriages are built on: 1. Self-giving, rather than self-fulfillment. 2. Building each other up, rather than tearing each other down. 3. Continual growth, rather than taking the relationship for granted.

Henry David Thoreau, the writer and naturalist, once said, “Most men lead quiet lives of desperation.” If you believe television, most housewives do as well. In the show, Desperate Housewives, Susan Mayer, Lynette Scavo , Bree Van De Kamp, Gabrielle Solis and Edie Britt lead us through a ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:1-12

Denomination: Methodist

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

Choices

Contributed by Charles Salmon on Dec 10, 2002

Choose between thanksgiving and ingratitude, obedience and rebellion, worship and disrespect, serving self and serving others.

Choices Isa. 1:18-20 INTRO.: The prophet Isaiah wrote about 700 years before the birth of Jesus, yet he is extremely contemporary. You might think he wrote just yesterday the way he describes things in Judah: All over the world, political conditions were unstable and violent. Power was gained by ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1-3, Isaiah 1:18-20

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Tending Your Garden Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jan 16, 2012

God created man and planted a garden for him in Eden. What lessons can I learn about what God expects of me from what God did for Adam?

Someone once wrote a poem about their garden: "Our radishes are puny things; Our peas and beans are dying; And as for the potatoes, well, those things aren't even trying And that's the way our garden grows - I tell myself, "Who needs it?" But down inside, it hurts to have it bite the hand... ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 2:4-15

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Secret Of Contentment Series

Contributed by Paul Apple on Jul 3, 2001

THE SECRET OF CONTENTMENT IS TO BALANCE REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS OF SELF WITH LOFTY HOPE IN THE LORD

BIG IDEA: THE SECRET OF CONTENTMENT IS TO BALANCE REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS OF SELF WITH LOFTY HOPE IN THE LORD I. (:1) REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS OF SELF A. Humility in Attitude 1. How I think about myself “O Lord, my heart is not proud” not being puffed up with a sense of my own importance 2. How I ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 131:1-3

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Are You Comfortable?

Contributed by Gerry Pratt on Jan 29, 2002

We may be lulled to sleep and even to spiritual death by self-satisfaction.

One of the greatest problems facing the Church, today, is that far too many of us are comfortable. A. If a person is satisfied, there is no challenge or drive to go any further or do any more. 1. This satisfaction can show itself in many areas....in almost all but one, it is ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 5:12-14

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ