Sermons on Self Indulgent Pleasure:

Making The Jail House Rock

Contributed by Mark A. Barber on May 25, 2022

God needs to shake things up in the church and free us from our self-imprisonment.

Making the Jail House Rock Acts 16:16-34 The text we read this morning has been a popular one for Vacation Bible Schools for many years. The cardboard props of the wall of the jail house and the barred windows has “imprisoned” many a child or saint in the skit. someone pulls the string, and the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:16-34

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Being Different: Different Fruit 2 Series

Contributed by Robbie Parsons on Mar 12, 2025

If we are going to be different, it needs to be backed up with gentleness, goodness, faith, humility and self control.

GENTLENESS Benevolence, kindness Gentleness can be defined as tender concern for others, reflected in a desire to treat others gently, just as the Lord treats all believers. Jesus commended gentleness in the Beatitudes. In the first three, he blesses the poor in spirit, those who mourn, and the ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23

Denomination: United Methodist

The Pharisee And The Publican Lesson 5 Series

Contributed by Elmer Towns on Oct 16, 2025

Christ reproves two sins, (1) pride in one self, and (2) despising other people.

A. INTRODUCTION: LUKE 18:9-14 Christ reproves two sins, (1) pride in one self, and (2) despising other people. He uses a negative illustration of the Pharisee who is guilty of both. He uses the Publican as a positive illustration of humility and meekness. B. SIMILARITIES OF THE PHARISEE AND ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:9-14

Denomination: Baptist

Sermon On A Voyage Of Discovery

Contributed by William Meakin on Jun 13, 2025

A voyage of discovery in metaphorical terminology may describe a journey of individual growth, learning, or self-awareness.

Marcel Proust, a French novelist and literary critic once remarked: "The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes". 1 Corinthians 13:10-12 reminds us: “But when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. When I was a child, I spoke like a ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 3:5-6, James 1:5, Jeremiah 29:11, Proverbs 16:9

I’m About To Encourage Myself

Contributed by Kraig Pullam on Feb 17, 2014

David gives us an example of one who fortifies his own self in the midst of life's crushing places.

At the very beginning of this message I should point out very quickly and immediately that the message today is not necessarily for the faint of heart—that I need to warn/inform/caution some of you before I go any further that if you only came today for the purpose and expressed intent of ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 30:1

Denomination: Baptist

Preventing A Spiritual Tragedy Series

Contributed by James Wallace on Nov 30, 2024

Ever wished you could have prevented a great tragedy? Just as there are great physical tragedies with lasting consequence, so there are great spiritual tragedies with eternal consequence. The Apostle Paul seeks to prevent a great spiritual tragedy in the fledgling church at Corinth, Greece.

How many of you here have been associated with a preventable tragedy? What I'm talking about here are bad things that happened to people you knew or know which could have been prevented. These bad things would not have happened if someone hadn't been ignorant or naïve, or ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 11:13-33, 2 Corinthians 11:2-5, Matthew 7:15-16

Denomination: Bible Church

A Tale Of Two Prayers

Contributed by Rev Ken Shedenhelm on Apr 16, 2013

Knowing ourselves to be a sinner opens the door to salvation, whereas self-righteousness separates us from our God and our neighbor.

"A TALE OF TWO PRAYERS" It was just another day, like all the days that came before, and two men entered the temple to pray, as men had done for centuries. One of the men was a Pharisee. He was a man, to use Mark Twain's phrase, "who was good in the worst sense of the word." The other man was a ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:9-14

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Numbered, Weighed, And Given Away Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jan 27, 2002

Sermon for Deacon Ordination service; we obsess on things that do not matter and ignore things that do make a difference. Our sin is using holy things for our own pleasure, compounded with a failure to read the signs of the times.

We give too much of ourselves to things that do not last. We give too little of ourselves to things that will endure. It is easy to obsess on things that don’t matter. It is tempting to ignore things that really count. If something does not change that pattern, at the end of the day, we are ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 5:1-31

Denomination: Baptist

Mushrooms Or Maple Trees - Sermon #5 Series

Contributed by Ken Pell on Jul 29, 2007

We can be released from our “addiction to self” by submitting to the grace of the Gospel; the 12 steps are especially illustrative here.

Mushrooms or Maple Trees: Spiritual Growth as God Intended Sermon #5 Sermon Objective: We can be released from our “addiction to self” by submitting to the grace of the Gospel; the 12 steps are especially illustrative here. PRE-SERVICE INTRODUCTION We are in a sermon series called Mushrooms and ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:30-35

Denomination: Nazarene

The Burdens Are Heavy

Contributed by Bruce Ball on Apr 10, 2007

"Self" is who we rely on in most storms, but "self" has no ability to help. It is "God" who must be depended on for He alone has the ability to help us in our valleys of despair. (Audio will be placed at www.sermonlist.com/2007.html)

A man was in the hospital for tests, and the doctor came in to see him. The doctor said he had some bad news and some really bad news for the man, and wanted to know which one he wanted to hear first. The patience said to tell him the bad news first. The doctor said the bad news was he only ...read more

Scripture: James 1:2-3

Denomination: *other

Week One Series

Contributed by Robert Butler on Mar 15, 2021

“Lent is one of the oldest observations on the Christian calendar. Like all Christian holy days and holidays, it has changed over the years, but its purpose has always been the same: self-examination and penitence, demonstrated by self-denial, in preparation for Easter.

“Lent is one of the oldest observations on the Christian calendar. Like all Christian holy days and holidays, it has changed over the years, but its purpose has always been the same: self-examination and penitence, demonstrated by self-denial, in preparation for Easter. Early church father ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:1-2, 1 Peter 3:18-22

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

In The Spin Cycle

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Apr 13, 2009

Addictive behaviors are sins that we simply ought not to start; and they are sicknesses that stem from low self-esteem. Christ is able to deliver from both sin and sickness.

When washday comes at our house, I go on alert. I go on alert for a certain noise. If we are washing something heavy, like bathroom mats or a bedspread, I can predict that during the washing process, I will hear great clunks and thunks arising from the basement. It will sound as though somebody is ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 23:29-35

Denomination: Baptist

The Product Of A Truly Repentant Heart Series

Contributed by Dr. Bradford Reaves on Dec 18, 2020

What does it look like for someone who truly repents versus someone who is religious and self-righteous? Let's take a look

Grace Community Church Winchester, VA Pastor Bradford Reaves Watch this message at: https://youtu.be/XeBqmU3cLVI Introduction I want you to think back to the time of your salvation when you truly repented for your sins before God. Some of you know the moment and for some of you, I shared that ...read more

Scripture: Luke 3:7-14

Denomination: Brethren

Unbridled Passion PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Mar 11, 2024

This sermon explores the dangers of uncontrolled passion and lust, emphasizing the importance of self-control, discipline, and discernment in living a Christ-centered life.

Good morning, dear church family. It's a joy to be here with you today, in this sacred space where we come together to fellowship, to seek wisdom, and to grow in our understanding of God's Word. As we gather here, we are reminded of our shared commitment to living in accordance with God's ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 6:26, Proverbs 11:6, Romans 1:24-27

Topics: Lust

Fifth Sunday Of Lent, Year B--I Tried But It Died: Grain Of Wheat

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Feb 15, 2024

A Christian is obliged to let go, to put himself into hands that are not his own of letting oneself go into the hands of God.

Wheat is associated with being sewn in the ground, buried, geminating and then springing up for bread to feed multitudes. These are all symbols of Christ’s passion, death, resurrection, and communion with his Body, the Church with Jesus, saved in his Sacrifice at Calvary. The seed has to be buried ...read more

Scripture: John 12:20-33

Denomination: Catholic