Sermons on Sordid Gain:

Enjoyability - Ecclesiastes 1:4-2:26 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Mar 12, 2025

Why is it that sometimes you are capable of enjoying God’s gifts, and other times you just can’t seem to get any enjoyment out of those very same gifts? And if we are to find our joy in the Lord, what role do the pleasures of this world play?

Ecclesiastes 1:1 The words of the Preacher, son of David, king in Jerusalem. 2 "Absolute futility," says the Preacher. "Absolute futility. Everything is futile." 3 What does a man gain for all his efforts that he labors at under the sun? 4 A generation goes and a generation ...read more

Victory!

Contributed by Chris Talton on Oct 27, 2003

Tragedy can be turned into triumph.

Sept. 21, 2003 Esther 9 “Victory!” INTRODUCTION A little town in Alabama turned a tragedy into a triumph. “The major livelihood of the town was raising cotton. One year, just as it appeared that there would be a bumper crop, the boll weevil invaded, devastated the crop, and ...read more

Scripture: Esther 9:1-32

Denomination: Baptist

Hanging On?

Contributed by Geoff Bruschi on Nov 9, 2006

Tired of just "hanging on" to life - ready to live life to the extreme? This is for you!

Title: Hanging on to Life Objective: Every person must follow Christ to live a life of purpose. Intro: I recently saw an old 1980s bumper sticker you may remember; it said, “He who dies with the most toys wins.” I am convinced that so many people in our performance driven culture live their ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:34-38

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Sobering Standards Of Spiritual Success

Contributed by Joseph Stapleton on Aug 20, 2010

Success is so many things to so many people, but the Bible tells us what Success really is.

SOBERING STANDARDS FOR SPIRITUAL SUCCESS (ALL my sermons use illustrations from sermoncentral.com and all scripture is NIV unless otherwise noted) All of us want to be successful, but first one must understand what success is. Webster’s defines success 1. Favorable or desired outcome, 2. The ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 1:7-8

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Responding To The Seasons Of Life Series

Contributed by Pat Damiani on Feb 16, 2009

7th in a series from Ecclesiastes. We can’t change the seasons of life - we can only choose how we respond to them.

It has been said that there are four seasons to a man’s life: • There is the time when he believes in Santa Claus. • There is the time when he no longer believes in Santa Claus. • There is the time when he is Santa Claus. • There is the time when he looks like Santa Claus. I also found a couple of ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:1-15

Denomination: Baptist

A Time For Everything Series

Contributed by Freddy Fritz on Sep 12, 2010

In today's lesson we learn that the sovereign God set the times forever so that people will stand in awe before him.

Scripture The writer of Ecclesiastes, also known as “Qoheleth” and “the Preacher,” wanted to know how to live a meaningful life. He tried all kinds of ways to live a meaningful life. In today’s text he talks about how there is a time for everything. Listen to how ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:1-15

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Know Your Profits And Losses Series

Contributed by Curry Pikkaart on Jul 23, 2015

We either believe that Jesus Christ alone is sufficient for a life of faith or He is not.

“Living a Joy-Full Life: Know Your Profits and Losses” Phil. 3:1-11 I recall a conversation that took place during a Consistory meeting of another church I served. It was about requirements for who should serve on Consistory. Some wanted to add guidelines to what the Scriptures have ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:1-11

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Jesus Is More Series

Contributed by Stephen Weatherby on Aug 16, 2021

Jesus is More

A few years ago, the Barna group took a survey of a large pool of Christians and discovered that 48% of the people surveyed believe that “if people are generally good, or do enough good things for others, and follow the 10 commandments...they will earn a place in heaven.” The president of the Barna ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:1-14

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Question Of Eternal Life

Contributed by Terry Hovey on Feb 19, 2025

He had a dream of obtaining his life goal of eternal life. He had the desire to attain it. He had every opportunity to receive it placed right in his lap...but he ended up with nothing.

The Question of Eternal Life Matthew 19:16-30 America has been called the land of opportunity. Many people have come here over the years in the hope of building a better life than what they had in the country of their origin. My ancestors came from England on my mom's side and Sweden or ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 19:16-30

Denomination: Methodist

What Time Is It? Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Mar 10, 2023

If you want to enjoy a meaningful life, appreciate God’s timing in everything. Then cooperate with God. Cooperate with God and find beauty, pleasure, and permanence.

City Slickers is an old movie (1991) that tells the story of three friends having mid-life crises. They escape the city and head west for a two-week cattle run to discover what's important in life. Before they leave, Mitch (played by Billy Crystal) shares what he does for a living on ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:1-15, Ephesians 1:11, Romans 8:28

Denomination: Evangelical Free

The Beginning Of Wisdom Series

Contributed by Gordon Pike on Oct 2, 2022

This is the opening sermon for a series based on The Book of Proverbs. I thought it would be a good idea to start a series based on the preeminent book of wisdom literature by discussing and defining what the book means by "wisdom" starting with the first chapter of The Book of Proverbs.

[Hold up Bible.] I love this book. You’ve heard me refer to it as “The Owner’s Manual.” It contains stories, history, poetry, adventure, drama. It contains hymns. It contains theology, philosophy, and it contains wisdom. Every book in the Bible is there for a reason. Believe it or not, not ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 4:32-34, Psalm 1:1-6, Deuteronomy 10:12-13, Proverbs 1:1-33, Proverbs 4:5-6, Proverbs 3:1-8  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: United Methodist

Little Maid With A Great Influence

Contributed by Jose Cabajar on Jun 14, 2004

Little maid with a giant voice whose faith inluenced big people.

The story of the little maid has a great lesson to present to every believer today. If rightly understood, it will bring encouragement even to those believers who think they are of no importance in our society. Believers should not underestimate their value and their presence in this present ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 5:1-4

Denomination: Baptist

Live The Life

Contributed by David Dewitt on Oct 21, 2001

We are called to live in the life giving power of Jesus because we have been justified by faith.

Live the Life Romans 5:1-11 June 1998 Introduction Some 70 percent of Americans believe that "most churches and synagogues today are not effective in helping people find meaning in life, "George H. Gallup Jr., America’s leading pollster and a committed Christian, reports in the recently published ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:1-11

Denomination: Church Of God

Questions About Eternal Life Series

Contributed by Rodney Fry on Nov 9, 2005

A. Are You Sure That You Have Eternal Life? B. Make Sure by Coming in Faith to Christ Today

Questions about Eternal Life Series on 1 John 1 John 5:11-13 Introduction A. Life Is Short at Its Longest 1. The psalmist’s conclusion: 70-80 years (Ps. 90:10) 2. Our average life span is still in that range B. Jesus Came to Offer Something Better 1. "Everlasting life" (John ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 5:11-13

Denomination: Baptist

Philippians 3 -The Importance Of Deeper Relationships

Contributed by Elmer Towns on Jan 20, 2006

Through this passage, Paul is impressing on all believers the importance of building a deeper, more meaningful relationship with God.

Things That Keep Us From The Deeper Relationships 1. We are self-centered 2. We don’t spend time with each other 3. We don’t talk to each other READ PHILIPPIANS 3 (NKJV) A. Our Relationship with God. What is Paul telling us to do? • To seek a deeper relationship with God Christ as the ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:1-21, Philippians 3:12-18

Denomination: Baptist