Sermons on Strive:

Capturing Victory: Recognizing Our Enemy Series

Contributed by Dr. Jonathan Vorce on May 19, 2023

"Recognizing Our Enemy" is the first of five sermons Dr. Vorce delivered at Lakewood Family Church in May and June of 2023. This message guides listeners through the scriptures to help them identify their enemy as they strive to live a life of victory.

"And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible." (Mark 10:27) In this Series, we will discuss the following: • Identifying our Enemy • Discernment • Inner Healing (and its practices today) • A Correct View & ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:27, 1 Peter 5:8-9, James 4:7-12, Ephesians 4:25-27, James 3:8-12, 1 John 2:16, Galatians 5:19-21, Galatians 6:7-8, Romans 8:1-14, Philippians 2:12-13, Ephesians 3:16, Hebrews 4:16  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Church Of God

Courageous Prayer: Words & Meditations Acceptable

Contributed by John Gaston on Sep 22, 2021

David prayed asking God to help his words and thoughts come up to God's standard of perfection. David's ambition of striving to please God even in the most difficult areas should be our goal as well.

COURAGEOUS PRAYER: WORDS & MEDITATIONS ACCEPTABLE Ps. 19:14 INTRODUCTION A. HUMOR 1. Jeannie Gibbs was trying to have her mother’s phone disconnected, but the customer-service rep told her that since the account was in her dad’s name, he’d have to be the one to put in the request. 2. The ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 19:14

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Empty Graves And Second Chances Series

Contributed by Gordon Pike on Dec 27, 2020

Jesus can to show the way to the Father and He changed our future on the cross. Honor Christmas in our hearts. Try to keep it all year. Let the Spirt of God abide in our hearts and strive to do its work within you.

When we think of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” we automatically think of the three ghosts. What were their names, again? [Pause.] Actually, there were four ghosts, not three. The first ghost to appear was the ghost of Scrooge’s former business partner, Jacob Marley. Weighed down by ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:1-10, John 3:16-17, Proverbs 3:11-12

Denomination: United Methodist

Mirroring Jesus-2

Contributed by Byron Sherman on May 25, 2020

2 of ? Peter calls his audience to mirror/reflect/emulate Christ Jesus. God’s people will strive to intentionally mirror/reflect Christ Jesus. But What of Christ Jesus are God’s people to reflect/mirror? Mirroring Jesus reflects...

MIRRORING/Emulating JESUS-II—1Peter 3:18--4:6 Attention: Trusting Grandma: Johnny was at his first day of school. The teacher starts the day with the pledge of allegiance, & instructs them to put their right hands over their hearts & repeat after her. She looks around the room as she ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

A New Year Resolution

Contributed by Tammy Garrison on Jan 7, 2002

In his letter to the Phillipians, Paul invites us to join him as he strives for Christian perfection. This is a good New Year Resolution for us. This sermon and its invitation launches a new sermon series exploring our ’postmodern’ times & how we can st

Happy New Year! Only 4 hours and __minutes to go. I’m sure that most of us will be happy to see 2001 go and hope that 2002 will be a better year. There has been some talk about New Year resolutions around the office these last days before the new year. I guess the talk of these new ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:10-14

Denomination: Methodist

How To Be Ready Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on May 29, 2003

The key in becoming infectious in our faith is to make sure that we have set apart Christ as Lord in our lives. When we are striving to live under the control of Christ, people will notice and will then ask us to explain the reason for the hope that we h

How To Be Ready Rev. Brian Bill 2/4/01 It’s fun to compare how life today is different from life 500 years ago. Some of the expressions we use, and the things we do, are based on life in the 1500’s. For instance, did you know that…? • Most people got married in June because they took their ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 3:15, 1 John 3:1, 1 John 3:11-24

Denomination: Baptist

Fields Of The Fatherless

Contributed by Tom Davis on Oct 1, 2007

Ministry to the poor, the orphan, and the widow is about joining the work of God in his favorite field. Meaning and satisfaction in life don’t come from striving, it comes from loving. The gospel message is a message of love. Loving God means loving peop

Something is Missing God is passionate about orphans The scriptures speak of a God who cares for the alien, orphan, and widow. When you look, these passages (like Psalm 68:5 and James 1:27) come jumping off the page. God speaks about orphans and widows as a unique and special group of people. ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 2:2-4

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Jacob's Three Journeys

Contributed by Rodelio Mallari on Jan 11, 2012

Life is a journey with the Lord. How far have we gone? Where have our striving taken us? Our entire life should be one continuous seeking of God’s will, worship experience, and giving of praise to God for everything.

Intro: On journeys and pilgrimages (Examples). See I Pet. 2:11; Heb. 11:13; Gen. 4:12. (Cf. believers and unbelievers). Read Gen. 47:9. Jacob lived about 147 years; Isaac 180 years; Abraham 175 years. Jacob had many journeys and struggles in his long and eventful life but none more meaningful than ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 28:10-22

Denomination: *other

Right Side Up In An Upside Down World Series

Contributed by Mark Opperman on Oct 1, 2015

Rather than giving a list of ideals to strive for, Jesus was showing the people how widely available God’s kingdom was – even for ordinary, poor, ignorant, imperfect, despised people. The beatitudes describe their struggle & grace to thrive in adversity.

Right Side Up in an Upside Down World Intro: The more I study the Sermon on the Mount, esp. the Beatitudes, the less prescriptive and the more descriptive they become to me. Here is what I mean by that. Last week as I shared them, I introduced the first one (poor in spirit) as a requirement for ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-16

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Hannah: Model Mother

Contributed by John Gaston on May 11, 2015

God allowed a little bit of human tragedy – childlessness – to plant the seeds for revival. As we study this model-mother, Hannah, we’ll see 5 things about her that every mother can & should strive for.

HANNAH: MODEL MOTHER 1 Sam. 1&2 INTRODUCTION A. HUMOR 1. It was Mother's Day. Deborah had cooked a big meal and everyone had eaten to their hearts content. 2. She went to the sink and was beginning to wash a mountain of dishes, when her teenage daughter, Jenny, came in and said, "Mom, today's ...read more

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Saved By Grace Series

Contributed by Dennis Davidson on Sep 11, 2014

In our passage we find the actions that one takes when he is striving to give himself to Christ as God requires in His Word. By the grace that is the believer¡¦s through his salvation, every man can purify & adorn himself as God requires.

TITUS 2: 11-15 SAVED BY GRACE [1 Timothy 2:4-8] Last week we learned that we adorn the Gospel by our behavior and actions (2:10). But why should the Christian pursue this respectable and dignified life? The grace of God is the reason why every member of the God's forever family can and should ...read more

Scripture: Titus 2:11-15

Denomination: Baptist

Love Keeps No Record Of Wrongs Series

Contributed by Steve Malone on Jan 24, 2020

Without a doubt the most difficult challenge that you will ever face as you strive to live out God’s kind of love… IS WHEN - somebody hurts you, when they do you wrong, when evil is done to you or to those we love.

Love Keeps No Record Of Wrongs If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:21-35

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Epaphras' Wrestling Ministry

Contributed by John Gaston on Oct 5, 2022

We usually think of prayer as peaceful, but Paul described Epaphras as “wrestling” in Col. 4:12 with the word “agonize.” The same word is translated as "STRIVE" in an Olympic event and as "FIGHT the good fight of faith!" Join the wrestling match!

EPAPHRAS' WRESTLING MINISTRY Col. 4:12 INTRODUCTION A. HUMOR: Bonehead Bandits 1. Two teenagers robbed the Grandon City, Kansas public library. They raced up to the counter with an empty pillow case. “Put it in,” they demanded of the clerk. “Put what in?” “The money. Put it in and nobody’ll ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 4:12

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Honor Your Wife - 1 Peter 3:7 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Jan 7, 2025

Strive to understand your wife, especially areas of weakness. She is more sensitive, which makes her more vulnerable to pain. LISTEN to her and understand what it is like for her. And honor her status as a fellow heir of salvation. This will result in unhindered prayer.

1 Peter 3:7 Husbands, in the same way live with your wives according to knowledge as a weaker, feminine vessel, showing honor as also coheirs of the grace of life so that nothing will hinder your prayers. Introduction There is a movie titled “What Women Want,” and the main character of that ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:7

Name Fame And Game Series

Contributed by Rev. Dr. Andrew B Natarajan on Sep 8, 2024

Life is a gift, life is a game. How do we treat it matters a lot. The given name and earn name differs at many occasions. Let’s strive for a great and good name which comes from the life lived with the fear of God and humility.

Text: Proverbs 22:1-8 Theme: Debt free Life   Text: Proverbs 22:1. “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches,    and favour is better than silver or gold. … 4. The reward for humility and fear of the Lord is riches and honour and life. … 6. Train up a ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 22:1-8

Denomination: Methodist