Sermons on Self Willed Efforts:

Calling All Losers

Contributed by Antonio Torrence on Sep 12, 2003

Discipleship is about our willingness to lose ourselves in God’s will.

"Calling All Losers" Mark 8:34-38, John 12:23-28 By Rev. A. LaMar Torrence, Pastor of Cross of Life Lutheran Church The great statesman, Winston Churchill, once said, “We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.” That proverbial statement best captures the meaning of this ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:34-38, John 12:23-28

Denomination: Lutheran

Prayer Keys - Introduction Series

Contributed by Mark Stepherson on Oct 4, 2011

Introducing a 30 part series on prayer keys. These are not incantations manipulating God to submit to our will, but guides leading us to submit to God’s will. "Lord teach us to pray."

A 30 part study of prayer keys during our Wednesday night prayer meetings? You may think it will become boringly repetitive. No, No, NOOOO! During this study, we will hear how Mary, Queen of Scots, feared the prayers of John Knox more than the combined armies of Europe. We will hear Jonathan ...read more

Scripture: Luke 11:1

Denomination: Baptist

Kissing Convenient Christianity Goodbye

Contributed by Don Jaques on Aug 26, 2004

Following Jesus means being willing to serve and be inconvenienced for the sake of the Gospel.

Kissing Convenient Christianity Goodbye August 21/22, 2004 Don Jaques PROBLEM: We have many ministry needs unmet and the needs of a 3rd service coming up. Christians think that serving others is optional. Christians think that laying down your life is just something “figurative” and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:24-27

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Blindness

Contributed by Bill Butsko on Oct 22, 2009

Physical blindness will not keep one out of heaven, but spiritual blindness will.

Text: “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked Him. The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.” (Mark 10:51) There is no question that we have many people in the world who are physically blind. Sometimes we know the reason they have lost their sight and other times it is unknown. ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:46-52

Denomination: Christian Church

Jesus Knew His Identity Yet Served With Humility Series

Contributed by Richard Pfeil on May 17, 2005

Part 4 of the Lenten series on Jesus with this one focusing on Jesus’ humility and sense of self.

Jesus Knew His Identity, Yet Served with Humility TEXT: John 13: 1-9, 12-17 Sunday, March 10, 2002 We do serve an awesome, wonderful and great God. However, when I experience me, Richard Pfeil, I find that I am not all that great. I know that might be surprising, but.......Unlike God, I have ...read more

Scripture: John 13:1-17

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Problem Of Jewish Unbelief Series

Contributed by Dennis Davidson on Mar 5, 2012

If God is sovereign and in control of man's eternal salvation why are the Jews, God's chosen people, for the most part lost, having rejected Jesus as their Messiah? The question is complicated and difficult.

ROMANS 9: 1-5 "THE PROBLEM OF JEWISH UNBELIEF" After a glorious study on the building blocks of our salvation in chapters 1-8, a new branch of the subject of eternal salvation is obviously introduced in the ninth chapter. If God is sovereign and in control of man's eternal salvation why are ...read more

Scripture: Romans 9:1-5

Denomination: Baptist

"Steadfastness": Our Pursuit For Our Growth Part 5 Series

Contributed by Eyriche Cortez on Sep 7, 2010

Let us conquer life’s challenges through the right commitments, adding steadfastness to self-control.

Have you ever expressed your belief in a loving way but to your dismay your friends still accused you of being biased or opinionated? Or, you made a stand about an issue in your company and yet you end up being ridiculed for what you stood for even if your stance was actually right? Or, you tried ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:5-7

Denomination: Baptist

Where Is Your Comfort Zone?

Contributed by The Rev Deniray Mueller on Aug 30, 2022

Are we stuff in our 'comfort zone' or willing to step out of it to follow Jesus?

There is a popular term that I would like us to consider: “comfort zone.” A person’s comfort zone refers to any place where the person feels comfortable, safe, free from threat or even challenge. Life there is marked by ease and familiarity. It’s natural to like one’s comfort zone, but most of us ...read more

Scripture: Romans 7:24, Luke 14:7-14, Luke 14:1

Denomination: Episcopal

Are You Sure You Want To Be Healed?

Contributed by Ronald Wofford on Feb 8, 2003

Needing a miracle and being willing to pay the price to get one are two different things. If you are to be healed you must be willing to give up your sickness.

“ARE YOU SURE YOU WANT TO BE HEALED?” Genesis 42:1-4,16 ; 43:8-14 I. There Ain’t No Free Lunch A. Everything costs something B. “Will work for food 1. Have to give up your street corner C. Crippled preacher 1. “I know a good thing when I see it! D. Some blessings ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 42:1-4, Genesis 48:8-14

Micaiah-Speaking God's Truth Without Spin Series

Contributed by Peter Amerman on Jul 7, 2005

Micaiah was a prophet who was willing to take his stand for God’s truth, even when 400 prophets were willing to "SPIN" the truth to agree with the king.

Micaiah- Speaking God’s Truth Without Spin Pastor Pete Amerman- Hillside Lutheran Brethren Church Succasunna, NJ July 3, 2005 Ephesians 4:25- “Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor...” Continuing our series on Unknown Faces from the Bible, remember that ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 22:1-38

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Sacrificing Our Rights

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Apr 27, 2021

What rights do we have? What rights was Paul willing to give up for the gospel? What freedoms are we willing to sacrifice in love of God and neighbor?

What rights do we have? What rights was Paul willing to give up for the gospel? What freedoms are we willing to sacrifice in love of God and neighbor? 1 Corinthians 9:1-18 Rights 1 Corinthians 9:1 Am I am not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

The Church At Philadelphia Series

Contributed by Leighton (Lee) Vary on Nov 17, 2016

The door of evangelism was wide open to them and they did God's will. They obeyed His will. There was no condemnation uttered for this church. There was only an admonition to hold fast what they had.

I. Introduction A. Quick review of the 5 previous churches 1. The church at Ephesus a. The church at Ephesus was commended for (1) Hard work and perseverance (2) For its stand against heresy (3) For enduring hardships for Christ's name (4) And for hating the practices ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:7-13, Revelation 3:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

They Know Not What They Do Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Mar 16, 2013

The horror of living a life of willful ignorance leads to enslavement to passions and sin.

Monday of 5th Week in Lent 2013 Gaudium et Spes “Vos autem nescitis.” “But you do not know.” These words of Jesus in today’s Gospel reverberate through the Gospel of St. John. Over and over again Jesus tells the Jews–and, by extension, us–that we do not ...read more

Scripture: John 8:12-20

Denomination: Catholic

Dare To Ask God For The Power To Take Up Your Cross Series

Contributed by Dean Courtier on Mar 2, 2020

There is more to the Cross than the crucifixion of Jesus - there is also the crucifixion of self in our lives as Christians.

COMMUNION SERVICE: Power to take up YOUR Cross We continue in our series Powerful People. For our Communion Service this evening I want to encourage you to ask God for the power to take up your cross. It is at the Cross where Salvation and Forgiveness of Sin are guaranteed to all who accept ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:34, Galatians 2:20-21, Romans 6:6-14, Luke 14:25-33, Luke 22:20, Mark 8:34-38  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

Love Triangle PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Sep 27, 2023

Guide us in shifting from a self-centered life to one that prioritizes God and others.

Good morning, Church family. It's a joy to be with you today. We're going to be delving into the book of James, specifically chapter 4, verses 1 to 6. Oscar Wilde once said, "Selfishness is not living as one wishes to live, it is asking others to live as one wishes to live." I believe this quote ...read more

Scripture: James 4:1-6

Topics: Selfishness, Godliness