Sermons on Self Willed Efforts:

Transformed By Truth: Living With Prepared Minds, Self-Control, And Hope Series

Contributed by Dean Courtier on Apr 29, 2024

1 Peter 1:13 invites us to prepare our minds, exercise self-control, and fix our hope completely on the salvation that is to come through Jesus Christ. As we explore this passage, we will discover how embracing God's truth leads to profound transformation in our lives.

Transformed by Truth: Living with Prepared Minds, Self-Control, and Hope 1 Peter 1:13 (NLT): "So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world." Introduction: Today, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:13, Romans 12:2, 2 Timothy 1:7, Galatians 5:22-23, Titus 2:11-12, Hebrews 6:19, Titus 1:2  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

Marks Of A God Pleaser

Contributed by Mark Opperman on Dec 5, 2012

God has called us to please Him in all areas of our lives! And He offers to help us live a life that honors Him and does no harm to ourselves or others. God is ready and willing to forgive those who have fallen into the trap of sexual sin, giving in to si

Marks of a God Pleaser 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8 Intro: How important is it for a person to please God? The Bible really has a lot to say about this. First, we know that without faith or trust in God, it is impossible to please Him (Heb. 11:1). Most people don’t worry about pleasing God unless ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Me-Firstology

Contributed by Daniel Austin on Dec 23, 2009

When we truly put the kingdom of God and others before ourselves, then the Lord will see to it that we have the things that we need.

Me-firstology: The “Me First” Mentality 04/30/06 AM Reading: Luke 9:57-62 Introduction [Note: This lesson is adapted from an article entitled “The Me First Syndrome” by Wayne Jackson Christian Courier: Penpoints 11/14/05.] As Jesus went about His earthly ministry, people either wanted to follow ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:57-62

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

"Come Away With God"

Contributed by Candace Adams on Oct 22, 2002

God desires to meet with us. But, God will never force God’s self upon us. We must be willing to make meeting with God a priority.

“Come Away with God” Exodus 33:7-12 There’s a story about a proud young man who came to Socrates asking for knowledge. He walked up to the muscular philosopher and said, “O great Socrates, I come to you for knowledge.” Socrates recognized a pompous numbskull ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 33:7-11

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Pathway To A Greater Anointing Of God’s Power Is Death To Self

Contributed by Dr. Craig Nelson on Oct 29, 2020

The path to supernatural power goes through the Cross

Death is inevitable for all life on earth. The Bible speaks of death as both physical and spiritual. The first recorded physical death of a human was Abel, who was murdered by his brother Cain (Genesis 4:8). However, death itself, in both the physical and spiritual sense, is first mentioned ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 55:8-9, Romans 8:28, Luke 22:42, Matthew 10:38, Matthew 16:24-26, Colossians 3:3-4, Galatians 2:20, Matthew 10:37-39, 1 John 2:15-17, James 4:4, Romans 6:4, James 4:6-10, Hebrews 4:12  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Disease Of “me”

Contributed by Scott Carroll on May 9, 2011

dying to self

The Disease of “Me”: TEXT; Ps. 131:1-3 Intro: A problem I. There’s a disease on the loose! a. It is serious, life threatening. b. It is devastating. Have you heard about it? 1. A wife is crying, 2. A husband is drinking, 3. A young man is running away, 4. A young lady is giving ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 131:1-3

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

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

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

Answer Eight: Stop Kidding Yourself - Renounce Self-Deception Series

Contributed by Jerry Cosper on Jul 21, 2015

This passage is Paul’s 8th answer to them about a specific problem. Paul gives them the root cause for the trouble they were having. It was pride—pride in who they were and what they knew.

The Corinthian church was having problems. They have asked Paul to help. This passage is Paul’s 8th answer to them about a specific problem. Paul gives them the root cause for the trouble they were having. It was pride—pride in who they were and what they knew. Remember that ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:18-23

Denomination: Baptist

Spiritual High Gear Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Jun 3, 2004

We become useful to God when we are broken of our stubborn self-will and learn to submit to His will. The beatitudes describe what it means to be broken before God¡Kwe can summarize these first 4 beatitudes with one word each.

Spiritual High Gear (Matt. 5:1-6) INTRO 1. Right now, Freddie Aldridge is in boot camp. 2. I’ve never been in the military, but I understand it does a good job of teaching people respect for authority. 3. I knew a student at Moody, Bruce¡Kflunked out¡KNavy¡Kpastor/professor 4. "The Navy has a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-6

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Fighting The Self-Centered Tendencies Of Facebook, Twitter, And Youtube Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Aug 12, 2013

A look at the self-centeredness that is encouraged by Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. The message then details what the Biblical idea of servanthood and how that leads to a life of impact.

THE MOST COMMON "PRODUCT" OF FACEBOOK, TWITTER, AND YOUTUBE: We are self-centered, endlessly focusing attention on ourselves. - Philippians 2:3-4. - Let me acknowledge first that I am not saying that Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube are intrinsically evil. They’re not. I use each and there ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:3-4

Denomination: Baptist

"Yes He Is, Yes He Does, And Yes He Will"

Contributed by Michael Walker on Feb 25, 2003

As this new year is blasting off, friend, I’ll just get to the point of the message that the Lord has laid on my heart for you this go around, right away. I must ask: What do you think about God??? What do you think he can do for you??? Do you think peopl

"Yes He Is, Yes He Does, and Yes He Will" - Romans 4:21 - "And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform." Before we get going to far I want to give you a little word study session. For readers who don’t know it, the New ...read more

Scripture: Romans 4:21

Denomination: Pentecostal

Genesis 22: When God Asks The Unthinkable - Which He Will.

Contributed by Tom Dixon on Sep 23, 2007

This amazing chapter brings insight into why God tests us and how God’s faithfulness always prevails.

Genesis 22: Sacrifice of Isaac When God Asks the Unthinkable – Which He Does! Review: • Abraham - 75 yrs old when he left Haran (Gen 12:4); • 11 years later: Still no son. Abe figures he has to take up the matter himself; fathers Ishmael at 86 yrs old (Gen 16:16); God says Ishmael is not the ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 22:1-19

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Lutheran/Biblical Mind Seeks God's Revealed Will, Not His Hidden Will Series

Contributed by Daniel Habben on Jul 23, 2017

Where should I live? Whom should I marry? How can I find out God's will in the matter? You can't. His will in those matters is hidden from us. However when we seek his revealed will, we can make decisions about our lives in faith rather than fear.

Kids, have you ever passed notes to your friends during class? I never did that of course because I was a very serious student, but my friends would do that and every now and then one of those notes would be intercepted by the teacher. How do you suppose the author of the note felt about that? Well ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 45:9-19

Denomination: Lutheran

"the Mystery Of Finding God's Will" Series

Contributed by David Henderson on Jul 20, 2020

As believers in Jesus Christ, one thing we all struggle with from time to time is knowing God’s will. In fact, as a pastor, it is probably one of the primary questions people ask. “How can I know God’s will in this matter?

“The Mystery of Finding God’s Will” Ephesians 3:1-20 As believers in Jesus Christ, one thing we all struggle with from time to time is knowing God’s will. In fact, as a pastor, it is probably one of the primary questions people ask. “How can I know God’s will in this matter? How do I know for ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:1-20

Denomination: Baptist