Sermons on Self Willed Efforts:

Why Works Won't Work Series

Contributed by Guy Mcgraw on Jan 24, 2008

Paul stresses the foolishness of trying to get into heaven by our own efforts

WHY WORKS WON”T WORK Romans 4:1-15 Old story of frog that jumped in a bucket of milk. Instead of just giving up the frog began to swim and swim and swim. The frog swam so much that the milk turned to butter and the frog hopped out of the bucket. Great story about working so had that you ...read more

Scripture: Romans 4:1-15

The Harvest Of The Broken Seed: The Paradox Of A Fruitful Life

Contributed by Paul Dayao on Sep 11, 2025

This sermon unpacks the powerful paradox of John 12:24-25, teaching that like a seed that must die to bear fruit, we must surrender our lives to find true fruitfulness and life eternal.

Introduction: The Unexpected King Let us transport ourselves to a moment thick with expectation. The city of Jerusalem is trembling with energy. Dust fills the air, mingling with the shouts of a jubilant crowd. The scent of crushed palm leaves is underfoot. It is the week of the Passover, and ...read more

Scripture: John 12:24-25

Denomination: Baptist

Value Engineering

Contributed by Jon Lipka on Mar 4, 2012

No servant is above his master, and the disciples of Christ are called to follow Him to the Calvary, however costly this may be.

Who’s coming off of a great week? Me too. But my brother made me homesick with a photo of the beach where we grew up. Living in Hawaii, I was never much of a surfer, but I did enjoy boogie boarding. There’s nothing quite like catching a wave, sliding along the waters’ azure arch. ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:31-38

Denomination: Anglican

Christian Identity And Personality

Contributed by Dr. Madana Kumar, Phd on Jan 31, 2009

God has given each one of us a new identity through Jesus Christ and a unique personality.

Christian Identity & Personality In a previous sermon we have seen that we are called to produce results. We have also seen the influencing factors that impact our ability to bear fruits for the Kingdom. So if we have to produce excellent results, bear fruits for the Kingdom, we need to start at ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 4:7

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Your Spiritual Inventory

Contributed by David Parks on Aug 6, 2013

The Bible commands us to test ourselves:

YOUR SPIRITUAL INVENTORY TEXT: 2 Corinthians 13:5 INTRODUCTION: 1. Warren Wiersbe tells about the time the late William Randolph Hearst sent out his agent to secure particular art pieces. After months of searching, the agent reported that he had finally found the treasures. They were in Mr. ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 13:5

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

It’s All About Image

Contributed by Curry Pikkaart on Dec 24, 2009

We find our image in the servanthood of Jesus.

“It’s All About Image” John 12:23-26 Be honest. What others think about you is important to you, isn’t it? Most of us will admit that we spend an inordinate amount of our time on building and maintaining our image. That’s why we spend so much time and money on cleansers, make-up, combing and ...read more

Scripture: John 12:23-26

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Gps

Contributed by Richard Stevens on Jun 19, 2015

An update of JOY (Jesus first; Others second; Yourself last). This is a true GPS (God first; People second and Self last). Can be used as a true GPS to see where we are on our path to Heaven as Christians.

Read Romans 12:1-3 (Prayer) “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” “And be not conformed to this world; but be ye transformed by the renewing of your ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1-3

Denomination: Baptist

3 Who Won't & 1 Who Will Series

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Nov 1, 2007

“God has no grandchildren, only children” - “To be 99% sure is 100% unacceptable” - “The only thing longer than life is eternity” - Whatever keeps you from getting saved...CUT IT OFF! Link inc. to formatted text, audio & video, PowerPoint Presentation

3 Who Won’t & 1 Who Will Matthew 18:8-9 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/3Wont1Will.html Three out of four people here won’t be in heaven. And when I say ‘here’ I mean in our text, not here in this room. But wait a minute, the people in our text represent all people everywhere, so I suppose ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:8-9

Denomination: Baptist

"can Anything Good Come From Me?"

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Jan 11, 2021

A sermon for those of us who have self doubt, self hatred.

“Can Anything Good Come from Me?” John 1:43-51 Jesus finds Philip and then says to him: “Follow me.” After this, Phillip runs to tell his friend Nathanael, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” At ...read more

Scripture: John 1:43-51

Denomination: United Methodist

Drawing Near To God Series

Contributed by Lonnie Erwin on Nov 17, 2015

James primary reason for writing his book was to bring Christians closer to God. He has illustrated the pitfalls and blessings for the Christian who desire to develop a closer relationship to getting closer to God by avoiding the pitfalls.

James primary reason for writing his book was to bring Christians closer to God. He has illustrated the pitfalls and blessings for the Christian who desire to develop a closer relationship to getting closer to God by avoiding the pitfalls and our Christian character. Bookstore shelves are full of ...read more

Scripture: James 4:8-17

Denomination: Baptist

Take Up Your Cross And Follow Jesus Series

Contributed by Freddy Fritz on May 3, 2014

Jesus' teaching on discipleship in Luke 9:23-27 shows us what is involved in being a disciple of Jesus.

Scripture We have come to what one commentator called “a turning point in Luke’s Gospel.” In the first part of his Gospel, Luke demonstrated the identity of Jesus. Then Peter, on behalf of the twelve disciples, confessed Jesus as the Christ (9:18-20). From this point on now Luke ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:23-27

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Unless...

Contributed by Jarrod Jones on Jun 19, 2013

Unless you “die” there will be no new life in you, or through you.

Intro “Who ever said following Jesus was boring? (“Themes” of John 12): Jesus basically said, “Unless you die, there will be no new life in you, or through you.” Unless you die to self, then _____________.” Who will miss out, who will suffer, who will ...read more

Scripture: John 12:23-28

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Move With God Beyond Your Comfort Zone Series

Contributed by Marilyn Murphree on Mar 18, 2003

Sometimes it takes effort to move out of our comfort zone.

Iliff and Saltillo UM Churches January 26, 2003 Move with God Beyond Your Comfort Zone How to: Go for the Gulp Matthew 14:22-33 INTRODUCTION: Picture yourself at 4:00 a.m. out in a rowboat on a choppy lake with the wind blowing like crazy and the waves slapping up around the side of the boat. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 14:22-33

Denomination: Methodist

Men Of Honor Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Mar 9, 2016

Real respect comes not in the palace, but in the place of selfless, sacrificial service.

A man was talking to his friends about their last child leaving home and coping with the empty-nest syndrome. He said, “The worst part about it is, that since the children left, my wife started treating me like a child. He complained, “When we go to the grocery store and I reach for ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:19-30

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Investing In Treasures Or Trinkets?

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Mar 30, 2002

We need to invest time and effort in other people.

2 Peter 1 :7 And to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. I am pondering and my mind ponders the goodness of God. Today, I took two older ladies for a ride, just to get them out of the house for a few hours. We were so far in the country, there was no bridge to cross the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:7, Jude 1:22

Denomination: Assembly Of God