Sermons on Self Will:

Deny Yourself

Contributed by Keith Broyles on Oct 7, 2014

Jesus said some radical things, radical things in his day and in ours. One of those things was, "Deny Yourself."

Back in my teenage years I did volunteer work with the Harris County Emergency Corps. I rode and drove ambulances and that kind of thing. Though it was a volunteer group, working with them had its perks. As part of our needed fund-raising efforts, we staffed the first aid station at various events ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:27-38

Denomination: Methodist

A God’s-Eye View Of An Unbeliever’s Mind Series

Contributed by Daniel Habben on Feb 28, 2016

Paul describes the horrible effects of sin and urges us to live according to our new self.

Have any of you seen this ad from the 80’s produced by the Partnership for a Drug-Free America? An actor held up an egg and said, “This is your brain.” He then cracked the egg into a hot frying pan where the egg sizzled, bubbled, and turned brown at the edges before the actor ...read more

Denomination: Lutheran

Alive - But Not Productive

Contributed by Bryan Beverly on Jan 29, 2019

This sermon examines why Jesus cursed the fig tree, and what that means for followers of Christ.

INTRODUCTION A while back, I visited an old family friend. This person had not seen me for a long time. Let me reenact our encounter (place and then slowly take off cap). The reason why my friend’s voice trailed off at the end is because my afro had taken an extended vacation. Oh mind you, my ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:18-19, Mark 11:12-14, Luke 13:6-8

Denomination: Baptist

Welcome To The "Post-Truth” World!

Contributed by Scott Coltrain on Mar 31, 2017

Those with discernment know that we have been living in a spiritual “Post Truth” world for a millennia. God's facts and truths have been less influential in shaping individual public opinion than have appeals to emotion, personal reason and perspectives.

Welcome to the “Post-Truth” World! You may have heard that, back in December, the Oxford Dictionary announced that "Post-Truth" is its 2016 word of the year. According to the Dictionary's website, the word is "an adjective defined as 'relating to or denoting circumstances in which objective facts ...read more

Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Do We Really Get It?

Contributed by Timothy Enns on Aug 27, 2013

God knows us, loves us and cares for us before time began, what is our response?

When the 1960s ended, and San Francisco became very expensive to live, many of the hippies moved down the coast to Santa Cruz. They had children and got married, but in no particular sequence. They didn’t name their children Melissa or Brett. People in the mountains around Santa Cruz grew ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 139:1-24

Denomination: Nazarene

The Danger Of Doing What Is Right In Your Own Sight

Contributed by Melvin Maughmer, Jr. on Aug 6, 2023

The church has had far too much in common with the children of Israel back in the days when there was no king. We must cry out against the Spiritual, Moral, and Ethical Depravity that is being allowed to happen in the churches today.

The Danger of Doing What is Right in Your Own Eyes By Bishop Melvin L. Maughmer, Jr. PRAYER: SCRIPTURES: - Judges 17 – 21 Deuteronomy 12:8 says, “You shall not do as we are doing here today, everyone doing what is right in his own eyes”. That is not a request that is a command. Judges 17:6 ...read more

Scripture: Judges 17:6

Denomination: Apostolic

Never Steal God's Credit. Series

Contributed by Shaila Touchton on May 19, 2024

As humans, we often struggle with the desire to take credit for our accomplishments and successes.

1 Corinthians 4:7, Psalm 100:5 As humans, we often struggle with the desire to take credit for our accomplishments and successes. However, as Christians, we must remember that everything we have and everything we achieve is a gift from God. When we take credit for what God has done, we risk ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 4:7, Psalm 100:5, Proverbs 25:27

9 Nature Of Man – Will – Hindrance Is Selfishness And Self-Centeredness Series

Contributed by Louis Posthauer on Jul 22, 2022

Sin (and iniquity) is the disease all men experience. The symptoms of that disease in the will are summarized as selfishness and self-centeredness.

Sin (and iniquity) is the disease all men experience. The symptoms of that disease in the will are summarized as selfishness and self-centeredness. The will of man is focused from the cradle on me, myself, and I. Everyone outside of that circle is a distant fourth! Some people are naturally ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:2, James 1:14

“diotrephes & Demetrius – A Cantankerous & A Consistent Christian” Series

Contributed by Dave Mcfadden on Mar 26, 2012

John contrasts a God centered Christian with a self centered Christian.

In the book of Third John, we read a tale of three Christians - Gaius, who John commended; Diotrephes, who John saw as cantankerous; and Demetrius, who John cited as being consistent in His walk with Christ. Last time we considered what John has to say about Gaius - a commendable Christian. Now ...read more

Scripture: 3 John 1:1-14

Denomination: Baptist

Getting Real With God

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Nov 27, 2010

Authenticity before God begins with self-examination, proceeds to self-disclosure, and involves trusted advisors.

National Baptist Memorial Church, Washington, DC March 13, 2005 The issue is not an academic discussion as to whether there is a God. Relatively few doubt or debate that. The issue is not whether God is real, but whether we know how to get real with God. Let me play out a little scene with ...read more

Scripture: Mark 14:32-42

Denomination: Baptist

Attributes Of God - Self-Existent One To The God Of All Comfort

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Jun 21, 2001

Praises for the attributes of God as the self-existent one to the God of all comfort

541. Self-Existent One – I praise you Lord that you are before and above everyone. “God said to Moses, ‘I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.” (Ex. 3:14) 542. Servant – I praise you Lord for being willing to provide assistance, work and benefits ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 3:14

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

"Self-Control": Our Pursuit For Our Growth Part 4 Series

Contributed by Eyriche Cortez on Sep 7, 2010

Let us make every effort to add self-control to knowledge.

Ever heard of the marshmallow test? Let’s watch this video.[1] [SHOW VIDEO] When Stanford University conducted this famous test in the 1960s on a group of four-year-old children, it revolutionized the emotional intelligence concept. “The researchers then followed the progress of each ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:5-7

Denomination: Baptist

Our Infinitely Great Self-Sufficient, Immutable, Incomprehensible God Series

Contributed by David Welch on May 11, 2015

This is the third in a series on the attributes of God dealing with self-sufficiency, immutability and incomprehesibility,

Knowing God Series #3 “Our Infinitely Great Self-sufficient, immutable, incomprehensible God” Introduction God created us to know Him. \Relationship between the finite and the Infinite is not only possible but it is the foundation of life. Give thanks to the LORD; call upon his ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 102:24-28

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

The Cost Of Discipleship

Contributed by Wala-Neh Labala on Aug 14, 2022

What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus Christ and what will it cost you? In this sermon we learned that denying our selves, taking up our cross, and following Jesus, means letting go of self-preservation, self-determination, and self-identity.

********************************************************* THE COST OF DISCIPLESHIP Scripture Reading: “From that time on Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and that He must be killed and on ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:21-28, Luke 9:23, Mark 8:34, Luke 14:27

Denomination: United Methodist

Mango Of Meekness Series

Contributed by James Westervelt on Mar 30, 2002

This is what Biblical meekness is all about: "Strength under control," "being unoccupied with self and genuinely concerned for God and others." It is the exact opposite of "self-assertiveness" and "self-interest."

THE MANGO OF MEEKNESS Intro: A mango is a tropical fruit which hasn’t really "caught on" like the orange, the pineapple or the banana. For those who have acquired a taste for it, it’s sweet and delicious. But for those who haven’t, it’s "different" enough to taste "funny." ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22, Matthew 11:29

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational