Sermons on Strive To Grow:

God's Gifts Have Thorns

Contributed by Arthur Miller on Dec 18, 2017

When we look at Mary and the birth of Jesus we see a struggle of being pregnant and no one believing her. Why did the angel only tell her? Wouldn't a family meeting with all the parties be more appropriate? We will see that God's gifts have thorns!

God’s Gifts Have Thorns Matthew1:18-25 and Luke1:26-56 & 2:1-39 Today is Sunday, December 24, 2017. A day known around the world in many different languages as Christmas Eve. This is an exciting time of the year! There are those that love the holiday but hate what this day represents. There are ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25, Luke 1:26-56

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Eternity Is Now In Session - Union Series

Contributed by Brian Harrell on Dec 19, 2019

Jesus invites to experience his presence and union with him. Jesus calls it "abiding." What is it and how does it happen?

Eternity is now in session. We are wrapping up a five-week series in which we have tried to understand that eternity doesn’t start way out there after we die, eternity and eternal life and the abundant life starts now, we can have it now. Following Jesus is not about getting us into heaven later, ...read more

Scripture: John 14:18-20, John 15:1-11

Denomination: Church Of God

When You Serve

Contributed by David Nolte on Aug 29, 2021

Some people serve for show and others serve from the heart.

Jesus said to His disciples, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:25-28

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Never Give Up!

Contributed by Davon Huss on Aug 24, 2002

A sermon on striving for excellence from Philippians 3:12-16

Final Sermon for Vinton on 7/21/2002 Philippians 3:12-16 Never give up! Introduction: I read that it took Winston Churchill three years to get through the eighth grade because he had trouble learning English. In kind of an ironic twist, years later in the midst of World War II Oxford University ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:7-8, Philippians 3:12-16

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Hope Of Glory Series

Contributed by Dennis Davidson on Jan 9, 2012

For many Christianity is just not working for them. That may be the reason so many Christians have so little real impact on others, on their world. They live without a clear purpose. God designed and created you for a purpose; His purpose.

COLOSSIANS 1: 24-29 THE HOPE OF GLORY [2 Corinthians 11:23-29] By the Cross of Christ Christians have been made acceptable to God. Someone said that the idea of redemption in a world of sin and tragedy constitutes the noblest concept ever to enter the mind of God or the awareness of a human ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 1:24-29

Denomination: Baptist

Seeking God With A Passionate Heart

Contributed by Rev. Samuel Arimoro on Mar 30, 2025

God desires to be found by those who seek Him with a passionate heart. He is not far from us, but we must make a conscious effort to pursue Him with undivided devotion.

SEEKING GOD WITH A PASSIONATE HEART By Rev. Samuel Arimoro Main Text: Jeremiah 29:13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart." Supporting Texts: Deuteronomy 4:29, Psalm 42:1-2, Matthew 6:33, Hebrews 11:6, James 4:8 INTRODUCTION: The pursuit of God ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 29:13

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Seeking God With All Your Heart

Contributed by Rev. Samuel Arimoro on Jun 19, 2025

To seek God with all your heart means to long for Him above everything else — more than riches, fame, success, or pleasure.

SEEKING GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART By Rev. Samuel Arimoro Main Text: Jeremiah 29:12-13 Supporting Texts: Deuteronomy 4:29, Psalm 119:2, Matthew 6:33, Hebrews 11:6, Isaiah 55:6-7 INTRODUCTION: The pursuit of God is the noblest and most rewarding endeavour any believer can undertake. To seek God ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 29:12-13

Denomination: Assembly Of God

If You Want To Grow, Examine What You Think You Know

Contributed by Nettie J Pennington on Jun 22, 2023

Give God the glory for all you are and all you will be. Let us look inside ourselves and find the person God created us to be. If you know yourself, more power to you, but we still need to examine ourselves, if for no other reason than that is what God told us to do. Examine Yourself!

When you know who you are in Christ, you can easily follow the Lord’s Way and Truth. Some of you think, “That’s too hard.” However, I ask the Holy Spirit to bring to your remembrance that Jesus, Himself, said: “My yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matt. 11:30, NIV). If things are hard for some ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 13:5, Lamentations 3:40, Galatians 6:3-5, 1 Corinthians 11:28-32

Denomination: Other

Dwelling In Christ

Contributed by Chris Horne on May 26, 2008

Being in Christ is more than being saved. It is consistanly walking, living and dwelling in the light of Christ.

I want to talk about what it is to be "In Christ" tonight... What does the Bible means when they use the term “In Christ”? The Bible uses this term over 50 times in the New Testament. And if you actually study the phrase out you will find that “In Christ” is an actual place. The Bible talks about ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 1:1-7

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Somewhere Between Quack And Quisling Series

Contributed by Joel Smith on May 25, 2015

Somewhere between quack and quisling is the remnant. Strive to be among that number.

Somewhere Between Quack and Quisling Ezra 9 and 10 Before we read Ezra 9 and 10 let's back up and get a broad overview of what happened to the Jews up to this point. I'm going to back up and then go slightly ahead because it will matter when we consider Ezra's response to God: 605 BC - ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Pressing On Toward The Goal. Philippians 3:13-14

Contributed by David Cramer on Nov 29, 2024

A message about striving toward the goals of life in the New Year.

Stand with me and lift up your Bible and repeat after me. This is my Bible I am what it says I am. I can do what it says I can do. I am going to learn how to be what it says I can be. Today I will learn more of the word of God. The indestructible, never ending, living word Of God. I will ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:13-14

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Sloth & Diligence Series

Contributed by Robert Leroe on Dec 13, 2012

We can be complacent or strive toward quality work, for excellence.

Sloths are mammals who move only when necessary and even then very slowly. They’re known to dig their curved claws into a tree branch and hang without effort for hours-on-end; they are as unmotivated as they look! Sloth Sloth is something we make jokes about, but few think of it as sin. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12

Denomination: Congregational

Be Committed To Holy Living Series

Contributed by David Dewitt on Apr 15, 2008

Part of being a disciple of Jesus is striving to live a holy life

Be Committed to Holy Living 1 Peter 1:13-16 Spring Life Series April 13, 2008 Morning Service Introduction A businessman was in the process of selling an old warehouse. The building had sat vacant for several months and had fallen prey to vandalism. Doors were damaged, windows were smashed, trash ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:13-16

Denomination: Church Of God

"Thyatira-Spiritual Purity And Adultery" Series

Contributed by Robert Leroe on Jul 6, 2002

Avoid the pollution of the world--strive for a Christian worldview and lifestyle

"Thyatira-spiritual purity and adultery" Rev 2:18-29 The Letters to the 7 Churches Pastor Bob Leroe, Cliftondale Congregational Church, Saugus, Massachusetts Located 40 miles southeast of Pergamum, Thyatira started out as a Greek outpost, founded by a General of Alexander the Great, in order to ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:18-29

Denomination: Congregational

Heritage Of Faith

Contributed by Dan Santiago on Feb 4, 2006

Believers should strive to achieve continuity of faith in the family.

INTRODUCTION A survey released by the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago revealed that the U.S. will likely no longer be a majority Protestant nation in years to come, due to a decline in affiliation with many Protestant churches. Between 1993 and 2002, the share of ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 6:1-9

Denomination: Baptist