Sermons on Striving:

The Predecessor From God

Contributed by Dr. Jeffrey Dukeman on Dec 3, 2018

John the Baptist was a predecessor from God at Jesus' Baptism. We today should reflect on all those who have preceded us and helped us to know God, and we should also strive to be predecessors from God for others.

Historian David Barton has an interesting discussion in an article entitled “Christmas—as Celebrated by the Presidents.” Barton writes, Even though Christmas did not become a national holiday until 1870, it has a centuries old history in America. Interestingly, in colonial America, the southern ...read more

Scripture: Luke 3:1-20

Challenged In The Temple Series

Contributed by Christopher Benfield on May 23, 2018

As Jesus entered the Temple for the second time during Passion Week, He immediately met opposition. The chief priests, scribes, and elders had conspired against Him. As we strive to serve the Lord, the enemy will bring opposition against us too.

Challenged at the Temple Mark 11: 27-33 Our text today continues to follow Jesus through what is commonly referred to as Passion Week. He had triumphantly entered Jerusalem and returned the next day to cleanse the temple. Again, for the third day in a row, Jesus had returned to Jerusalem and ...read more

Scripture: Mark 11:27-33

Denomination: Baptist

The Collaboration Of Love And Faith Series

Contributed by Christopher Benfield on Jun 24, 2016

Love serves as a great motivator, and our faith is motivated by love. When our love is lacking or weak, our faith will be as well. Love and faith go hand in hand, working together as we strive to serve the Lord, consistent with His will.

The Collaboration of Love and Faith 1 John 5: 1-5 Today we enter the fifth and final chapter of John’s first epistle. Consistent with previous teaching, John continues to deal with love, a subject he has spoken of at length. We have considered much concerning our love for the Lord and our ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 5:1-5

Denomination: Baptist

Stand Strong In Spiritual Battle – Part 2 Series

Contributed by Doug Gorman on May 2, 2016

We should be progressively striving to penetrate enemy held territory. Where is the territory? Everywhere! The world, this country, this state, your town or city, your own home, your family and your own body and mind - no one is exempt from these encounters!

Navy SEAL Sr. Chief Mike Day had never been shot before, but that changed dramatically one night in April 2007. Al Qaeda terrorists shot Day more than two dozen times. "This body armor took more rounds than it was supposed to," explained Day, who is now retired. Body armor capable of handling only ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:8

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Beautiful Feet: Bringing Light To Darkness Series

Contributed by Dan Proctor on Oct 28, 2013

God says you have beautiful feet if you are carrying the good news of Christ to other people that need it. How many Christians should be proclaiming the message of Christ to others? Every believer should strive to have beautiful feet!

Beautiful Feet: Bringing Light To Darkness Romans 10 www.crbible.com/sermons Introduction: 1. How many of you in this building have beautiful feet today? Please don’t take your shoes off and show us! I do not mean this literally, in the sense of your physical feet. • Sometimes we ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:18-21

Denomination: Bible Church

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

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

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

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

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

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