Sermons on Try Harder:

Annas And Caiaphas: Stuck In Responsibility Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jan 20, 2010

We feel stuck in responsibilities, trying to maintain something just because we’ve inherited it, and are tempted to think of leadership as image. In a relationship to Christ, responsibility is transformed into freedom.

He was tired to the bone, but rose to go trim the wicks and boost the light again. How many times had he been to these lamps tonight? How many times had he wanted just to give it up and go to bed? How many times had he hoped that some magic answer would swoop in his open window and land on his ...read more

Scripture: John 18:12-32

Denomination: Baptist

The Case For Spiritual Formation Series

Contributed by David Flowers on Dec 31, 2009

Part 4 in series The Company We Keep, this message makes the case for why spiritual formation is critical and discusses the difference between training to obey Jesus and trying to obey Jesus.

The Case for Spiritual Formation The Company We Keep, prt. 4 Wildwind Community Church David Flowers May 23, 2009 John Ortberg asks us to consider what it would be like to be doing what we do every night – sitting on the couch eating Twinkies and potato chips – when suddenly the phone rings. You ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

Denomination: Free Methodist

The Resolution We've Already Broken

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Mar 18, 2009

We try to be perfect, in the "spotless" sense. But perfection means completion, and is tied to meeting others’ needs rather than achieving our goals. Jesus’ sacrifice was his "finished" accomplishment.

It happens every January. Just as sure as snow and the Super Bowl, with or without your favorite team, it always happens in January. Broken resolutions. Broken resolutions are the order of the day in the first month of the year. Those noble impulses we all have to do better and to be better – we ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:38-48

Denomination: Baptist

Our Commander In Chief Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Sep 27, 2009

God always makes powerful statements on top of mountains like this, but what was He trying to tell us at the Mount of Transfiguration and what should we do about it?

ILLUS: A crowded airliner was just about to take off when a five-year-old boy began to throw a temper tantrum. His embarrassed mother does to tried to calm him down, but the boy continued to kick and scream. Suddenly, from the rear of the plane, an Air Force General slowly walked up the aisle. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:28-36

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Spiritual Fathers Of The Home

Contributed by Vernon L Caruthers on May 27, 2006

SOCIETY TODAY IS TRYING TO DO AWAY WITH THE FATHER IN THE HOME, BUT REPORTS SHOW THAT WHEN THE FATHER IS MISSING FROM THE HOME, CHILDREN’S LIVES ARE GREATLY AFFECTED IN A VERY NEGATIVE WAY.

GOD’S GREAT PLAN FOR FATHERS: SCRIPTURAL REFERENCE: LUKE 1:1-11 ------------------------------------------------------ INTRODUCTION: NOT VERY LONG AGO, A SCHOOL IN NEW YORK SENT HOME A LETTER TO THE PARENTS OF THEIR STUDENTS EXPLAINING THEIR OUTLAWING OF FAMILY HOLIDAYS. IN THEIR LETTER THEY ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:1-11

God Bless Our Children

Contributed by Melvin Shelton on Jan 16, 2006

We have the disturbance of the same-sex marriages that is going on in San Francisco and some other states trying to get it legalized. That alone would tell us that the institution of marriage is in trouble.

God bless our children Ephesians 6:1-4 01/15/06 I was reading the other day that the American marriages are in trouble. I tend to agree with the statement. I will tell you why I believe that. We have the disturbance of the same-sex marriages that is going on in San Francisco and some other states ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:1-4

Denomination: Baptist

A Priceless Gift

Contributed by Nathan Johnson on Dec 11, 2008

God gave a priceless gift in His Son, Jesus Christ, and whatever we give back will pale in comparison to that. It doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try.

A Priceless Gift Griffith Baptist Church – 12/14/08 A.M. Service Text: Matthew 2:1-12 Key verse: Matthew 2:11 - And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

It's Better To Be Good Than Fair Series

Contributed by Phil Smith on Dec 21, 2008

We spend WAY too much energy trying to balance the books of our relationships. Jesus did not teach us to be fair, but to be good. His birth beautifully illustrates the lesson.

Php 2:5-11 – ...Christ Jesus: ...being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:5-8

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Meeting With The Messiah

Contributed by Dan Stires on Mar 17, 2010

Sometimes we have to face certain barriers that will try to keep us from quenching our spiritual thirst. This sermon deals with conquering those barriers and coming to the "Living Water."

Pataskala Church of the Nazarene March 14, 2010 A Meeting with the Messiah Scripture Reading: John 4:6-7 Introduction: One of the most significant encounters recorded of Jesus' ministry was his meeting with the Samaritan Woman at the Well. She was known as a sinful woman who was headed to ...read more

Scripture: John 4:4-26

Denomination: Nazarene

Despicable Me - Part 2 - Confession Series

Contributed by Steve Ely on Mar 18, 2010

What if we aren’t what we seem? What if we try to be perfect and can’t pull it off? What is God’s prescription to deal with “Despicable Me”?

“Despicable Me” Pt. 2 – Confession A. Introduction Last week I read to you a passage of Scripture in which Paul reveals his inward struggle and the inner turmoil that exists in him between good and evil, holiness and sin. It is an intriguing description and one that I believe that most of us ...read more

Scripture: Romans 7:15-20

Denomination: Pentecostal

Return Of Jesus: It's The End Of The World As We Know It

Contributed by Peter Loughman on Mar 21, 2007

The Apostle Peter is clear - The return of Jesus is very real. Though nuts try to name the day, though the world mocks us, Jesus is returning - so live like it.

Cecil B. DeMille was making one of his great epic movies. He had 6 cameras at various points to pick up the overall action and 5 other cameras set up to film plot developments involving major characters. The large cast had begun rehearsing the scene at 6am and they went through it four times. ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 3:1-18

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Abraham And Isaac Series

Contributed by Jeff Wickert on Jun 18, 2007

From a sermon series that helps us understand what God was trying to get us to understand in all those well known stories from the Bible. This one is on Spiritual Sacrafice.

Everything You Need To Know You Learned from Your Childhood Bible Stories “Abraham and Isaac” Genesis 22:1-19 Introduction: A. series recap, greatness.. 1. Naoh/Sacrific, Daniel/Survival, David/Success, Abraham/Sacrifice. 2. Sacrifice is something that our modern country knows little ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 22:1-19

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

What Is In Your Spiritual Kitchen Series

Contributed by Bobby Stults on Jun 19, 2007

Did you know that many believers try to live their Christian life on nothing but spiritual ’junk’ food? We are called to subsist on the Word of God and anything else is NOT nutritious for the believer.

Sermon Brief Date Written: May 25, 2007 Date Preached: May 27, 2007 Where Preached: OZHBC (AM) Sermon Details: Sermon Series: A Spiritual Clean Sweep Sermon Title: What do you have in your spiritual kitchen? Sermon Text: 2 Tim 2:15 and 2 Tim 3:15-17 Introduction: Junk food is the rage ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

A Study Of Psalm 7 Series

Contributed by T.j. Conwell on Oct 12, 2017

How we respond to adversity demonstrates a great testimony for the world to see. Do we run to our God for shelter and comfort … or do we try to wage war ourselves?

A Study of Psalm 7 Psalm 7 Introduction - Psalms broken into 5 books, covered an extensive time period - Gathered together as songs of praise & words of encouragement/warning - We are studying book 1, Psalm 1-41 … then will move to something else - There are psalms of wisdom, royal psalms, ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 7:1-17

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Wizard Of Oz

Contributed by John Gaston on Apr 25, 2016

This movie is parallel to the life of the Christian, who is trying to get to the Celestial City, New Jerusalem. Christians, like Dorothy, are given 4 aids to help them reach the Heavenly City.

THE WIZARD OF OZ Heb. 11:10 INTRODUCTION A. HUMOR “Why Men Are Happier People” 1. NICKNAMES. If Laura, Kate and Sarah go out for lunch, they will call each other Laura, Kate and Sarah. If Mike, Dave & John go out, they will affectionately refer to each other as Fat Boy, Bubba & ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:8-10

Denomination: Assembly Of God