Sermons on Self Willed Efforts:

Christians Find Glory In Unlikely Places

Contributed by Daniel Habben on Mar 22, 2015

Christians Find Glory In Unlikely Places 1) Glory in death; 2) Glory in service

If you had to buy milk and eggs, would you go to a sports store? If you wanted to eat a big juicy hamburger, would you stop by a sushi restaurant? No. A sports store is an unlikely place to find groceries, and a sushi restaurant is an unlikely place to sink your teeth into a meaty hamburger. What ...read more

Scripture: John 12:20-33

Denomination: Lutheran

Can I Do More?

Contributed by Jerry Cosper on Nov 5, 2015

No matter how much we feel that we do for Christ, the question is, "Can I Do More?"

The film Schindler's List chronicled the heroic efforts of a German industrialist named Oskar Schindler. Through his unselfish activities, over a thousand Jews on the trains to Auschwitz were saved. After Schindler found out what was happening at Auschwitz, he began a systematic effort to save as ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Denomination: Baptist

Loving God’s Will: Lessons From Saul’s Rejection - 1 Samuel 13 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Aug 10, 2025

Why did Saul lose his kingdom while David found favor despite greater sins? Uncover the secret of a heart after God’s own heart in this study of 1 Samuel 13.

1 Samuel 13:5-14 The Philistines assembled to fight Israel, with three thousand chariots, six thousand charioteers, and soldiers as numerous as the sand on the seashore. They went up and camped at Micmash, east of Beth Aven. 6 When the men of Israel saw that their situation was critical and that ...read more

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

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

God Is Not Unjust!

Contributed by Bala Samson on Apr 10, 2014

Your efforts are not only noted by God but would be rewarded!

God is not unjust! Hebrews 6:10”God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.”(Memorize) During these 40 days of fasting, I am feasting on the Word of God! I am thoroughly enjoying! Every day ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 6:10

Denomination: Pentecostal

Sermon On The Rewards Of Life

Contributed by William Meakin on May 12, 2022

A reward is defined as a thing given in recognition, effort or achievement.

John Burroughs, an American naturalist and nature essayist once remarked: “To find the universal elements enough; to find the air and the water exhilarating; to be refreshed by a morning walk or an evening saunter... to be thrilled by the stars at night; to be elated over a bird's nest or a ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:33-34, Hebrews 11:6

Sermon On Goals & Dreams

Contributed by William Meakin on Oct 11, 2022

Goals are defined as the object of a person’s ambition or effort.

Robert Edward Turner III, otherwise known as Ted Turner, an American entrepreneur, television producer, media proprietor, and philanthropist once remarked: “You should set goals beyond your reach so you always have something to live for.” Philippians 3:13-14 reminds us: “Brothers, I do not consider ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 10:23-25, Jeremiah 29:11, Acts 2:17, Ecclesiastes 5:7

Make A Difference

Contributed by The Rev Deniray Mueller on Apr 27, 2017

have the right attitude about work - share the effort

Now we command you, beloved, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from believers who are living in idleness and not according to the tradition that they received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us; we were not idle when we were with you, and we did not eat ...read more

Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13

Denomination: Episcopal

Abraham: A Journey Of Faith - A Journey That Begins With God Series

Contributed by Daniel Habben on Sep 11, 2016

Our journey of faith begins with God, not our efforts.

Can you finish this well-known saying? “A journey of a thousand miles begins with…a single step.” That’s what the Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu observed 2600 years ago and the point of the saying is to encourage action when facing a daunting task which threatens to paralyze ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 12:1-8

Denomination: Lutheran

This Is Our Story Series

Contributed by Brad Bailey on Nov 11, 2019

This is Our Story Series: Encountering Jesus (through the Gospel of Luke) Brad Bailey – November 9, 2019

This is Our Story Series: Encountering Jesus (through the Gospel of Luke) Brad Bailey – November 9, 2019 Series #46 / Luke 15:11-32 Intro As we continue in our extended season of Encountering Jesus through the Gospel of Luke…we are challenged to face that we haven’t understood the actual story ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-32

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Help! I Don’t Want To Be Humble Series

Contributed by Glenn Durham on Jun 29, 2010

God strengthens us with everything we need for God-glorifying and self-satisfying humility.

Scripture Introduction Our church in Chicago participated in a prison ministry. One week the director of the work sent out an email with this last line: “And remember (as we say in Texas) don’t squat with your spurs on.” That is “practical” knowledge—a fact which quickly pays a dividend. God ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:5-11

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Unholy Trinity: Me, Myself And I

Contributed by Derrick Tuper on Apr 5, 2011

Someone once said, “All the trouble in the world is due to selfishness”. At first I considered that to be too extreme of a statement but the more I thought about it the more I subscribed to it. Gladstone said, “Selfishness is the greatest curse of the hum

THE UNHOLY TRINITY: ME, MYSELF AND I INTRODUCTION: Someone once said, “All the trouble in the world is due to selfishness”. At first I considered that to be too extreme of a statement but the more I thought about it the more I subscribed to it. Gladstone said, “Selfishness is the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:13-34

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Understanding Works Series

Contributed by Eddie Snipes on Jan 4, 2003

In this sermon we explore the difference between works by human effort and godly works.

Good deeds or works fall primarily into two categories: man driven works and God produced works. Man-centered religion always works to improve self in the hope that we will reach the level of salvation. Even Christians fall into this trap. Man driven works is either the attempt to become a god or ...read more

Scripture: Luke 17:8-10, 1 Corinthians 3:11-15

Denomination: Baptist

Is The Righteous Life Worth Living?

Contributed by Robert Bravo on Jul 1, 2007

Living righteous in an unrighteous world is hard. Well is it worth the effort?

Is the righteous life worth living? Malachi 3:13 - 18 (NIV) 13“You have said harsh things against me,” says the LORD. “Yet you ask, ‘What have we said against you?’ 14“You have said, ‘It is futile to serve God. What did we gain by carrying out his requirements and going about like mourners before ...read more

Denomination: Nazarene