Sermons on Strive:

The Tree Of Goodness Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Mar 12, 2006

The Bible tells us that we should strive for goodness in our lives... but Jesus said no one was good except God. How can we be asked to do something that only God can accomplish?

Open with audience reciting the following verse: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control...” Galatians 5:22-23a OPEN: A preacher once spoke of the fact that some of the people in his congregation had gotten in the ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

How To Endure Hardship

Contributed by Shawn Miller on Jul 10, 2014

The apostle Paul charges Timothy to endure hardship like a 1) Good Soldier 2) Striving Athlete & 3) Hard-working Farmer. And at the end of it all there will be a crown and a harvest if we do not give up.

How to Endure Hardship 2 Timothy 2:3-6 Introduction: Ill. The story is told of a king in Africa who had a close friend with whom he grew up. The friend had a habit of looking at every situation that ever occurred in his life (positive or negative) and remarking, "This is good!" One day the king ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:3-6

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Is Jesus Really The Only Way To Heaven? Series

Contributed by Scott Kircher on May 27, 2012

There are at least several dozen different religions in the world if not hundreds. There are many people in remote areas of the world. There are millions of people who are striving to live a good life, and there are many millions who do not believe in J

GodQuest - Is Jesus Really the ONLY way to Heaven? If Jesus is the only way… What about People who are Moral? What about people who are Other Religions? What about people who are Unreached? Slide Intro Good morning. This week we are finishing up our GodQuest series. We have been looking at some ...read more

Scripture: John 14:1-6

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Provision & Presence Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on May 20, 2013

Our age and our culture teach us that we can never be satisfied, but must continually strive towards satisfaction by the things we amass. The Psalms have a different approach. In them we l

Psalm 67 is a little short psalm of just 7 verses, but they burst forth with praise just as we should knowing what God has done for us! 1 – 2 Notice that the psalmist wants the favor of God, not so he can be blessed primarily, but so that others will know God’s way of salvation. ...read more

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Lost Our First Love

Contributed by Mark Engler on Sep 28, 2017

The application to this is if we put Jesus first in our lives and if we continue to strive for Him, continue to draw ourselves close to Him, He will improve us and make us more like Him everyday.

Lost Our First Love ME I love Jesus and I love being a minister of Christ. I honestly believe being a minister is the most important thing I could do on the face of the earth. I love to preach and teach God’s word and I’m glad He led me here to MVC. Honestly though, He chose a tremendously ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:1-5

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

You Gotta Serve Somebody

Contributed by David Owens on Sep 9, 2019

When we become Christians, we are set free from our bondage to sin, but we must then strive to be slaves of righteousness. Everyone either serves sin or God. You gotta serve somebody!

Introduction: A. I always liked the Far Side cartoons, and so I begin with this cartoon because of the irony of it. 1. Here’s a man who is a slave on a Viking ship, and he thinks the slave driver will care that he is getting a blister. He was in for a rude awakening! 2. Slavery is an ugly subject ...read more

Scripture: Romans 6:15-23

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Unity Starts In The Heart Series

Contributed by David Owens on Jan 15, 2024

God desires unity in the body of Christ, but unity is not easy or automatic. God creates the unity, but it is something that we must strive to keep. Humility, gentleness, patience and forbearance help us to do just that.

A. I’m excited to begin a new sermon series this morning – a series that I am calling “7 Ones Equal Unity” and will be based on Ephesians 4:4-6. 1. Over the years, I have preached many sermons using verses from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, including a sermon series on the entire letter back in ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-6

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Abc - The Building Blocks Of Faith - Awareness #3 Series

Contributed by Robert Butler on Apr 8, 2024

We must strive to stay connected to His power in our lives because the world will pull us away. This awareness is our motivation to continually practice the Spiritual disciplines that draw us into His presence.

Today we continue a 12 week series entitled, The ABC’s of faith. The larger idea is based on the idea that we learn over time through an exploration process of success and failure. Everything we come to know and understand is built over time on the foundation of trial and error. We learned last ...read more

Scripture: Luke 21:1-4, Luke 20:47

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Ending Well PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Oct 19, 2023

To inspire us to live our lives with a single passion for displaying God's excellence, as we strive to fight the good fight, finish our race, and keep the faith, just like Apostle Paul did.

Good morning, Church family! Today, we're going to delve into a powerful passage from 2 Timothy 4:7-8 where the Apostle Paul, nearing the end of his earthly journey, gives us some profound insights. Opening Scripture Reading – He says, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:7-8

Topics: Ending The Year

Forgetting What's Behind. Straining For What's Ahead.

Contributed by Quintin Marrow on Apr 3, 2001

Forsaking all past achievements and human advantages, St. Paul strains ahead to be found in Christ; this striving is by faith, and results in an imputed righteousness from God, a sharing in the sufferings of Christ, Christlikeness and participation in the resurrection of the dead.

“Forgetting what’s behind. Straining for what’s ahead.” April 1, 2001 The Rev’d Quintin Marrow St. Anne’s Episcopal Church Oceanside, California The Text: Phil. 3:8-14 In sixteenth-century France, the start of the new year was observed on April first. It was celebrated ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:8-14, Romans 6:1-14

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Getting Out Of Your Comfort Zone

Contributed by Jonathan Lucas on Jun 26, 2001

This Sermon Challenges both the Believer and Seeker to evaluate their life. To look and see if there are things that are keeping them from truly living for God. It strives to get them to cast of some of their comforts and place their faith in the purpose and will of God.

Text: Philippians 4:11-13 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:11-13

Denomination: Pentecostal

In God We Trust

Contributed by Douglas Bryan on Oct 11, 2004

This message takes a look at the Christian and his money. The very thing that strives to pull our attention away from God, our money, contains a gentle reminder that it is "In God We Trust" and not our stuff.

THE NEXT STEPS: IN GOD WE TRUST A Biblical Look at You and Your Money 1 Timothy 6:17-19 INTRODUCTION: A. Today marks the beginning a new series of messages that I’m calling "The Next Steps" 1. We have made some changes over the past year, and are in the process of improving some other areas of ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:17-19

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Overcoming Divisive Attitudes

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Oct 18, 2000

Many great congregations have suffered from people with divisive attitudes. The Lord has placed each of us in His body to be lovingly united in spirit, intent on one purpose, striving together for the faith of the gospel.

Overcoming Divisive Attitudes Illustration:A monk joined a monastery and took a vow of silence. After the first 10 years his superior called him in and asked, "Do you have anything to say?" The monk replied, "Food bad." After another 10 years the monk again had opportunity to voice his thoughts. ...read more

Scripture: Judges 8:1-16

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Moving From Survival Through Success To Significance

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Aug 18, 2006

Rick Warren recently told Charlie Rose in an interview on Public Broadcasting Television. "Most of the world struggles to survive. The majority of Americans are striving for success. Yet, few people ever achieve a deep sense of significance.

Moving From Survival Through Success to Significance (Acts 1:8-18) Rick Warren recently told Charlie Rose in an interview on Public Broadcasting Television. "Most of the world struggles to survive. The majority of Americans are striving for success. Yet, few people ever achieve a deep sense of ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:8-18

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Shield Of Faith

Contributed by Ian Johnson on Jul 6, 2005

Our Shield of faith is not something we have to speak into existence, or strive in our own strength to hold up, because our shield of faith is, Faith in a mighty God. Not faith in our own strength.

THE SHEILD OF FAITH. Our Shield of faith is not something we have to speak into existence, or strive in our own strength to hold up, because our shield of faith is, Faith in a mighty God. Not faith in our own strength. We have an enemy, who wants to stop us entering into all God has for us, No ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 20:17-26

Denomination: Pentecostal