Sermons on Starting Poorly:

It's Not Just How You Start, It's Also How You Finish Series

Contributed by Timothy Peck on Oct 15, 2001

Whether our story of starting our life with God is dramatic or ordinary, what truly counts is finishing.

[Note:  This sermon was preceded by a testimony of a person who had been an atheist and substance abuser who came to Christ through our church].   Isn’t it exciting to hear how God has changed Kevin’s life? But even as we rejoice, I know what some of you are thinking. Some of you are thinking, "I ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 1:12-20

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Part 4 - Matthew 9:15-17 - Renovate Or Demolish And Start Again! Series

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Mar 22, 2010

It seems to me that Jesus is saying He didn’t come to patch things up for me. HE ISN’T INTO PATCHING UP MY OLD WAY OF LIFE. He wants to make EVERYTHING NEW! New birth in Christ is NOT JUST A RENOVATION OF THE OLD WAY OF LIFE!

Part 4 - Matthew 9:15-17 - RENOVATE OR DEMOLISH AND START AGAIN! People in Airlie Beach in Australia are facing the task of a huge cleanup after a cyclone hit in the early hours of Sunday morning. Some are faced with the choice of renovate or start again. My son and daughter in law are also ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:15-17

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

This Could Be The Start Of Something Big: Get You Back Or Got Your Back Series

Contributed by Johnny Creasong on May 4, 2010

When you are hurt, do you live by “GET YOU BACK” or “GOT YOUR BACK”?

This Could Be the Start of Something Big: Get You Back or Got Your Back? I Peter 3:8-17 1 Peter 3:8-17 8 Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. 9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:8-17

Denomination: Church Of God

How To Jump Start Spiritual Growth - 2 Peter 1:9a Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Jun 16, 2025

Is there anything more frustrating than those stubborn character flaws that you can't change? You’ve tried everything—prayer, accountability, discipline—but the changes never last. Peter shows us the surprising path to lasting change.

2 Peter 1:8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:9

Do You Have A Green Thumb

Contributed by Millie Pisano on May 18, 2004

During my prayer time and preparation for this sermon, the Lord kept talking to my heart about gardening. You have to understand that when it comes to having a green thumb, I flunk in that area very poorly.

“DO YOU HAVE A GREEN THUMB?” During my prayer time and preparation for this sermon, the Lord kept talking to my heart about gardening. You have to understand that when it comes to having a green thumb, I flunk in that area very poorly. I have tried on several occasions to plant flower seeds only ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:17-19, Galatians 6:7

Denomination: Pentecostal

Omg Series

Contributed by Brandon Vernoy on Jul 29, 2016

As the bride of Christ we take His name, we bare His name. Are we living our lives in vanity, poorly reflecting His name? Or are we allowing our lives to glorify His name?

(Exodus 20:7 NASB) "7 "You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain." This is one of the Ten Commandments I have misunderstood more than any other in the 17 years I have known the Lord: Don't take the Lord's name in ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 20:7

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Character Study Of Solomon Series

Contributed by Rev. Samuel Arimoro on Mar 22, 2025

Solomon began well but ended poorly due to compromise. His wisdom, achievements, and failures serve as lessons for us today. We must seek wisdom, obey God wholeheartedly, and guard against spiritual decline.

CHARACTER STUDY OF SOLOMON – WISE KING, BUILT THE TEMPLE By Rev. Samuel Arimoro Main Text: 1 Kings 3:9 "So give Your servant a discerning heart to govern Your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of Yours?" Supporting Texts: 1 ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 3:9

Denomination: Assembly Of God

1 Advent C

Contributed by Roger Haugen on Sep 20, 2001

The start of Advent

23 Pentecost B Mark 13:1-8 / Hebrews 10:11-25 19 November 2000 Such a text. Wars, rumours of wars, earthquakes, famines, family discord, signs of the end of the world. Could be the nightly 11:00 news. We’ve heard it and seen it all. If we were of a ceratin theological bent, we would talk about ...read more

Scripture: Luke 21:25-36

Denomination: Lutheran

Prospering In A New Church Plant

Contributed by Darron Edwards on Apr 9, 2004

How to prosper in a new church plant, start-up, or re-start congregation

HOW TO PROSPER IN A NEW CHURCH PLANT Habakkuk 3: 17 - 19 INTRODUCTION: I have the greatest respect for anyone who can do anything from scratch. It is so easy to go out and "buy the instant formula" or purchase the product already made so that all that needs to happen is a "re-heating process". ...read more

Scripture: Habakkuk 3:17-19, Habakkuk 3:17

Denomination: Baptist

"... And A Happy New Year!"

Contributed by Spencer Homan on Jan 19, 2009

This is a sermon that uses the fresh start of the new year as an analogy for a fresh start in Christ.

“… and a happy new year!” [Begin with a powerpoint slide titled “I Promise To…” and have it display all the things we promise to change for the new year: work out every day, eat healthier, loose 10 pounds, spend more time with the kids, be a better spouse, finally finish that “to do” list, go to ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 1:15-16

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Whose Vine Is It Anyway? Series

Contributed by Steven Dow on Jul 10, 2004

Part 2 of 3 in the series "A Declaration of Dependence." We must (1) stop denying and start depending; (2) stop trying and start trusting; (3) stop resisting and start persisting; (4) stop pouting and start praying; and (5) stop delaying and start obeyin

WHOSE VINE IS IT ANYWAY? A Declaration of Dependence John 15:1-8 July 11, 2004 Introduction: This week we will be continuing our series titled “A Declaration of Dependence.” During this month in which we celebrate our independence as a nation I want us to turn our attention to our dependence ...read more

Scripture: John 15:1-10

God Wants To Do A New Thing In Your Life

Contributed by Wayne Searls on Aug 24, 2003

To motivate the hearer to seek a new vision and a new in-terest in the things of God.

GOD WANTS TO DO A NEW THING IN YOUR LIFE Isaiah 43:18,19 TEXT: Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland. PROPOSITION: To motivate the hearer to seek a ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 43:18-19, Isaiah 43:1-19, Isaiah 43:18-21

Denomination: Nazarene

Better Beginnings

Contributed by Bill Bowdle on Feb 1, 2018

BETTER BEGINNINGS for New Year help build our lives on better foundations, resulting in better endings. 1:RECOGNIZE GOD AS CREATOR (In beginning God..); 2: RESPECT GOD W. REVERENCE (Fear of God=beginning of wisdom) ; 3: RECEIVE CHRIST FOR NEW BEGINNINGS.

“BETTER BEGINNINGS” by REV. BILL BOWDLE ====================================== Retired United Methodist Pastor - Liberty Township, Ohio, Delivered this message at a nearby UMC during it's pastor's vacation on 01/07/2018 Genesis 1:1, Proverbs 9:10; John 1:1-4,12 ============= INTRODUCTION ...read more

Denomination: United Methodist

Steps To Activate Restoration In Your Life

Contributed by Rev. Samuel Arimoro on Sep 30, 2025

Restoration does not just happen automatically; there are deliberate steps of faith, obedience, and alignment with God’s promises that trigger divine restoration.

STEPS TO ACTIVATE RESTORATION IN YOUR LIFE By Rev. Samuel Arimoro Main Text: Joel 2:25-26 Key Verse: “And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.” (Joel 2:25) Supporting Texts: ...read more

Scripture: Joel 2:25-26

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Rehoboam Series

Contributed by Mark Eberly on Feb 19, 2009

Rehoboam was almost a hero. He stood at the threshold of greatness but chose poorly and destroyed everything his father and grandfather had built. Through his example we can perhaps learn to better follow the ways of Jesus.

Heroes Rehoboam 1 Kings 12:1-14 February 15, 2009 In 1997, Reeve Lindbergh, daughter of aviator Charles Lindbergh, was invited to give the annual Lindbergh Address at the Smithsonian Institution’s Air and Space Museum to commemorate the 70th anniversary of her father’s historic solo flight across ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 12:1-14

Denomination: Church Of God