Sermons on Synthetic Self:

Take Up Your Cross

Contributed by Stephan Brown on Mar 24, 2004

Inspired by "The Passion of the Christ" demonstrates how because of Christ’s suffering our life is not our own--and we must die to self, sin, and this world.

Take Up Your Cross Having recently seen the movie the Passion of the Christ several times, I’ve been reflecting on the meaning of the Passion. Of course, I know that the purpose of Christ’s death was to bring forgiveness of sin. But at the same time, I wondered what the purpose could be in ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:15

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Teaching Our Children Respect For God - Part One Series

Contributed by Russell Brownworth on Apr 8, 2002

Lack of respect for God is epidemic. How can we change that? Part One of a three-part series focusing on teaching respect for God, others, self and leaders.

April 7, 2002 Recently the leaders of our children and youth programs met to brainstorm ways of helping the young people of our church become better examples of “salt and light” in our community. We talked about many things, and there was some exciting and very promising dialogue. One of those ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 17:7

Denomination: United Methodist

Disciples With Discipline Series

Contributed by Richard Tow on Apr 9, 2006

Self-denial and spiritual discipline are not popular topics in today’s culture. But a Christianity without a cross is not Christianity at all. This sermon launches a fifty day focus on spiritual disciplines.

Disciples with Discipline (Fifty Days of Consecration #1) 1 Corinthians 9:24-27[1] 3-20-05 Introduction This morning we want to prepare for the Fifty Days of Consecration that begins next Sunday. The fifty days begins on Easter (March 27th) and will conclude on the Day of Pentecost (May 15th). ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

Denomination: Charismatic

Make A U-Turn In The Road Of Life

Contributed by James May on May 6, 2007

If we want God’s blessings we must make a U-Turn in life. Turn from serving self and living for the devil to serve God and live for Him.

Make a U-Turn in the Road of Life By Pastor Jim May Making your life into what it should be can be compared to building a house in many ways. Each day is another building block; each hour another board; and everything we do becomes another nail in the life we build. Has the life you’ve been ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Matters Of The Heart Series

Contributed by Christian Cheong on Jun 24, 2009

Seek to please God more than man. Seek to bless others more than self. Seek to do everything out of love more than anything else.

THE MOST PROUD THING The President of Moody Bible Institute tells this story: A young man from school took the bus to class. It was crowded. Before the conductor came around to take the fare, he had gotten off at the school without paying. Later on, he remembered it. And he thought, "That ...read more

Scripture: Acts 5:1-11

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Struggling Even When The Good Times Roll Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Sep 21, 2009

July 1989: When we are prospering, we are tempted into the idolatry of me-ism and self-congratulation. This is an opportunity to do more for others and for the Kingdom, for God is the source of our bounty.

About a year ago, toward the end of July, I placed one of these up here on the pulpit as the visible sermon for the day. Remember? Do you recall what we called that Sunday? Right: we called it "catch-up Sunday" …catch-up Sunday … and the idea was that if we were behind in our giving, if we as a ...read more

Scripture: Hosea 14:4-8

Denomination: Baptist

Live Until You Die, Die Until You Live

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Mar 23, 2009

We admire those who pursue life goals as long as they can; but our calling is to die to self. It will mean a change of values and of attitudes, but it will give us true life.

I’m pretty sure that we can make a case for living until we die. It would not take a lot of effort to convince one another that we can approach life with gusto, squeezing every ounce of juice out. There’s a strong compulsion in us to extract all the value and the vitality we can get out from ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

The Eucharist And The Mother Of God Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Apr 4, 2009

The self-gift of Mary of Bethany echoes the lifelong gift of Mary of Nazareth, who was associated with Jesus, her Son, in all His mysteries, especially His sacrificial death.

April 6, 2009 Sacramentum Caritatis Eucharist and the Mother of God The Blessed Virgin Mary, too, is the servant of the Lord. In fact, her assent to the angelic messenger and her only hymn in Luke proclaim her self-identity: handmaid of the Lord. The contrast between Mary of Bethany, the one ...read more

Scripture: John 12:1-11

Denomination: Catholic

Taking Risks For Homeland Security

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jan 29, 2005

For Men’s Day at Emmaus Baptist Church, Quinton, VA. Aquila is an example of taking risks to secure his self-knowledge, his relationships, and his contribution to the church.

Anything worth doing involves risk, doesn’t it? Nothing great has ever been accomplished by people afraid to take risks. I have seen a poster that showed a small fish, closing in on a worm and a fishhook, but unaware that he was about to be gobbled up by a large fish, which was itself about to be ...read more

Scripture: Acts 18:1-28

Denomination: Baptist

How Can The Lord Help One Overcome Personal Lusts?

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Sep 16, 2006

Radio personality Paul Harvey tells the story of how an Eskimo kills a wolf. The account is grisly, yet it offers fresh insight into the consuming, self-destructive nature of sin.

How Can the Lord Help One Overcome Personal Lusts? by Paul Fritz 1 Corinthians 6:18-6:20 How Can the Lord Help One Overcome Personal Lusts? How can I control my physical desires? ILlustration:While my wife and I were shopping at a mall kiosk, a shapely young woman in a short, form-fitting ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 6:18-20

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Prayer Of Hezekiah

Contributed by Anthony Zibolski on Jul 5, 2017

Putting your trust in Him instead of self will reap benefits. What would you do if God sent an angel to tell you to get your house in order?

The prayer of Hezekiah Isaiah 38:1-5 Introduction- Good morning, last week I challenged you with a simple two letter word if. What if and if only. What if you believe God in His word for these Scriptures? How many remember them? If my people who are called by my name will humbly pray and seek ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 38:1-5

Denomination: Nazarene

A Journey To A New Beginning

Contributed by Raymond Lu on Aug 8, 2010

To reform is to become a better person. That is what reformatories intend to do. But to transform means death to our self and to be spiritually born into Christlikeness. That is what the Holy Spirit can do.

Charles Colson said, and I quote, “Psychiatry, properly administered, can turn a schizophrenic bank robber into a mentally healthy bank robber. A good teacher can turn illiterate criminal into an educated criminal. But they are still bank robbers and criminals.” D.L. Moody said, ...read more

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Hard Work

Contributed by Bala Samson on Nov 12, 2013

I am talking today of working hard for the Lord! We live in a madcap world that work the whole night and sleep the whole day – with no time for self or family.

Hard work! Day 5 of 40 days of fasting! Romans 16:12”…….Greet the beloved Persis, who has worked hard in the Lord.” I am talking today of working hard for the Lord! We live in a madcap world that work the whole night and sleep the whole day – with no time for self ...read more

Scripture: Romans 16:12

Denomination: Pentecostal

Inadequacy Encountering Sufficiency Series

Contributed by Scott Spencer on Jan 31, 2016

There is an idea in our culture that recognizing our inability or insufficiency is somehow contrary to the principles of success. Self-confidence and high-powered, aggressive personalities seem to be what takes the day.

A Tour Through Acts ~ part 2 Inadequacy Encountering Sufficiency Acts 2:1-4, 14 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:1-4

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Saul Disobeys God (1 Samuel 13)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Apr 8, 2025

What is the difference between a man after God's own heart and a man after self-glorification? Let's begin in 1 Samuel 13.

Did Saul act foolishly, disobeying God? What kind of heart was God looking for in a national leader? What kind of heart do we have? Let’s begin in 1 Samuel 13. How old was Saul when he began to rule and how long was he king? Saul was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned for ...read more

Denomination: Baptist