Sermons on Self Willed Efforts:

Mary's Little Lamb Becomes The Lamb Of God Series

Contributed by Rick Burdette on Dec 17, 2015

God's Will, Obedience, Trust

THEN AND NOW – Mary’s Little Lamb Becomes the Lamb of God Luke 2:41-52 (pg. 716) December 20, 2015 Introduction: One of the very first verses I remember learning went like this... “Mary had a little Lamb His fleece was white as snow And everywhere that Mary went The Lamb ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:41-52

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Why Do We Ask Less From God Than He’s Willing To Give?

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Jun 12, 2013

This message looks at the healing of the paralytic and asks why we settle for less than God's best when we ask from God. It then looks at four examples of how we do similar things today.

- We want to begin with something that stands out early in the story: the fact that they obviously come for physical healing, but Jesus responds to the man by saying that his sins are forgiven. - Why would Jesus do that? Was He unaware of what they’d come for? (Obviously not.) Was He ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

If I'm Trying To Do God's Will, Why Am I Running Into So Many Problems?

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Jun 10, 2009

A look at the repetition of "overcome" in the letters to the seven churches.

A FRUSTRATION: If I’m trying to do God’s will, why am I running into so many problems? - Ever felt like giving up? Ever gotten tired? Ever wondered if it’s all worth it? Ever wondered why your attempts at faithfulness to Christ so often create more problems in your life and not less? A ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:7

Denomination: Baptist

Ican - God Can Use Me, Iwill - Obey Him And Commit My Life

Contributed by Jonathan Falwell on Oct 29, 2007

Just as any good employer would not send you off to a job site without the necessary tools, God through the teaching of this series has equipped us with both rationale & the Biblical tools needed to love, serve, & share the people of this generation.

iCan – God Can Use Me iWill – Obey Him & Commit my life to His Will “iCan…iWill” God CAN use me & I WILL commit my life to His Will!” Just as any good employer would not send you off to a job site without the necessary tools, God through the teaching of this series has equipped us with both ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:3-4

Denomination: Baptist

Preparing For The Year Ahead. Part 3: "Aligning With God’s Will” Proverbs 3:5-6 Series

Contributed by David Cramer on Dec 14, 2025

The third part of the series Preparing for the Year ahead. A message to align with what God has for us.

“Aligning with God’s Will” Stand with me now and raise up your Bible and repeat after me. This is my This is my Bible. I am what it says I am. I have what it says I have. I can do what it says I can do. Today I will be taught more of the Word of God. I boldly confess: My mind is alert. My ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 3:5-6

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Good Samaritan

Contributed by Guy Williams on Mar 17, 2019

Am I really willing to serve others?

Today’s message comes to us from the gospel of Luke Chapter 10. It is the (BIBLE) story of the good Samaritan. It begins with a wrong perspective regarding the effectiveness of our own efforts to get us into heaven, and ends with a commandment regarding the intention of our actions here on ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:25-37

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Dealing With The Madness In The Middle

Contributed by Gregory Thomas on Nov 13, 2011

In the center of everyone’s life there is a source of madness some 1) Self Inflicted 2) Self Propelled 3) Self Induced msot of which God ordered for you life to get you to enbody the promise.

Dealing With the Madness In The Middle Genesis 25: 21-28 Genesis 27:1 - 27:41 21And Isaac intreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren: and the LORD was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived. 22And ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 25:21-28

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Most Religious Person I Know

Contributed by Brian Buriff on Jun 3, 2008

The problem and solution to Legalism & Self-Imposed Religion

I. PROBLEM OF JEWISH LEADERS IMPOSING RULES OF CONFORMITY ON COLOSIANS A. New Gentile Christians – struggling to wrap their brains around new-found faith B. Warning About Jewish Leaders 1. “Let no one judge you…” “Let no one cheat you…” (v. 16,18) 2. They are intrusive into things they have not ...read more

Denomination: Church Of God

Answering The Call

Contributed by Luther Monroe on Jan 13, 2008

willing following the Lord

1: Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: 2: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: 3: And I will bless them ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 12:1-4

Denomination: Baptist

Wrestling With God Series

Contributed by Paul Barreca on Mar 2, 2013

Here, God empties Jacob of his NATURAL effort and teaches Jacob to trust Him completely.

What images come to mind when I mention the word wrestling? For some, it is an image of a High school wrestling match. Others happily envision Dad wrestling with his son. And a few of us think of the theater of “professional wrestling” with Iron Rings of death and tag team death ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 32:1-32

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The God Who Exalts God Series

Contributed by Rick Burdette on Apr 9, 2012

We are selfless followers of a self-centered God

The God Who Exalts God “We are selfless followers of a self-centered God.” Ezekiel 36:22-23 (p. 614) March 18, 2012 Introduction: “Therefore say to the House of Israel, this is what the sovereign Lord says, “It is not for your sake O house of Israel, that I am going ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 36:22-23

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Do You Love Him? Series

Contributed by Tim White on Apr 2, 2012

Jesus teaches His disciples that they must 1) be willing to suffer loss to follow His will, 2) be willing to suffer from the others to accomplish soul-care and 3) be willing to be a servant in order to achieve lasting results in His kingdom.

Do You Love Him? Mark 10:32-45 • We live in a society that values ambition. • Those who are most respected in our society are driven by ambition to reach higher goals than those who fail to achieve notoriety. • This past week, citizens of 42 states and the District of Columbia ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:32-45

Denomination: Baptist

The Futility Of Religion

Contributed by Michael Stark on May 14, 2022

Religious exercise can become a snare if in our efforts we fail to seek the Lord. Religion for the sake of religion is a dreadful snare.

“Like a pregnant woman who writhes and cries out in her pangs when she is near to giving birth, so were we because of you, O LORD; we were pregnant, we writhed, but we have given birth to wind. We have accomplished no deliverance in the earth, and the inhabitants of the world have not ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 26:17-19

Denomination: Baptist

What Is Revival

Contributed by Lee Black on Aug 16, 2002

Renewing one’s self with the Word.

II Chro. 34:1-33 What Is Revival Intro:1. Webster says revival is “to bring back to life.” 2. The Hebrew word means “to live”-Ps 85:6 I. Revival is not just doing the RIGHT things.[1-13] A. Notice Religious concern can come from the desire to do good-[1-3] ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 34:1-33

Denomination: Baptist

Help! I Can't Love Others Because I Don't Love Myself Series

Contributed by Brian Atwood on May 7, 2007

Energizing biblical approaches to self-worth.

Help! I Can’t Love Others Because I Don’t Love Myself Part 4 of 6 in the series, "When Relationships Disappoint You, How to Find God’s Peace in the Pain" Does Anybody Feel Small? You’re Not Alone! Have you ever felt inadequate? Have you ever sensed that this feeling of inadequacy has hindered ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:1-8

Denomination: Baptist