Sermons on Try Harder:

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

Jesus The Better Way: He Ensures A Better Peace Series

Contributed by Ken Pell on Jan 5, 2013

Temporal things will try and rob your peace but there is something deep and stabilizing about knowing Jesus as savior that can help you weather storms and serve as a deterrent to unrest and bewilderment.

JESUS THE BETTER WAY: JESUS ENSURES A BETTER PEACE HEBREWS 9 &10 Big Idea: Temporal things will try and rob your peace but there is something deep and stabilizing about knowing Jesus that can help you with panic, unrest, and bewilderment. Supporting Scripture: • Reading from the Old ...read more

Denomination: Nazarene

What Is The Mistake That Leads Toward The Unforgiveable Sin?

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Mar 5, 2014

A look at the unforgiveable sin. I think the distinction that I share about why criticism of Jesus is acceptable but of the Holy Spirit is not will be helpful in getting to the heart of what Jesus is trying to convey.

WHAT IS THE "UNFORGIVEABLE SIN" EXACTLY? It seems to be seeing consistently clear evidence of the Spirit’s movement and attributing it to Satan. - Luke 12:10. - The passage in Luke presents the shortest version of this saying in the gospels. The versions in Matthew 12:22-32 and Mark ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:10

Denomination: Baptist

Prayer In A Desperate Place Series

Contributed by Dean Courtier on Mar 5, 2014

What stops you from praying? Are you too proud to pray? Are you trying to find your own solution? Don't wait to pray - God is listening now.

I always start my sermons with a question: My question for you this evening is When do you pray? In the Bible in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 we are told to pray without ceasing or as the NLT translates it Never stop praying I wonder how many of us do that? If we take that verse in context we are to ...read more

Denomination: Pentecostal

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

The Validity Of Jesus

Contributed by Derrick Tuper on Mar 4, 2013

The Jews had a problem with Jesus healing the cripple by the pool on the Sabbath. Jesus used the opportunity to try to show them that he was the real deal; and quite frankly-they were not.

THE VALIDITY OF JESUS John 5:16-47 1) Like Father, like Son (vs. 16-30). • Jesus is equal to the Father (vs. 16-18). Vs. 16-17-God created in six days and rested on the seventh. However, he didn’t rest from preserving and maintaining his creation. He governs the affairs of his people ...read more

Scripture: John 5:16-47

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Fruit Inspectors (Hix)

Contributed by Jimmy Haile on Oct 26, 2014

By their fruit you will recognize them-It may take some time, but we will eventually see whether the preacher is trying to benefit himself, or whether he is truly serving others.

Matthew 7:15-20-“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:15-20

Denomination: Baptist

How Long Must I Keep Preaching

Contributed by Bob Phillips on May 13, 2014

When age, activities, physical conditions hinder, or it seems we are just spinning our wheels so to speak, we ask "How long must I keep trying"?

Text: Isaiah 6: 1-11 Isaiah was awed at the majesty and power in the presence of God. He saw the need to minister around him and heard God's command to do so. The same as in our time, The Prophet saw wickedness on every hand or every side. The need for God's ministry was so great yet the people ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 6:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

The Cure For The Common Church Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Aug 8, 2012

Don't try to hide the fact you have quarrels and fights. Deal with the fact that there is divisions and disagreement. Divisions distract us. Learn the principles that can be the cure for the common church.

Intro: What is it that causes fights and quarrels or division? We see division in families, marriages, teams, governments, and of course churches? Why? Listen to what James the brother of Jesus has to say. James 4.1-3 “What causes fights and quarrels among you? Aren’t they caused ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:10-17

Denomination: Baptist

Belonging To Another Series

Contributed by Mark Opperman on Aug 29, 2011

We can try to live by a code of rules or we can live by a relationship. We could put it this way: True release comes from a relationship with Jesus, not from rules.

Belonging to Another Romans 7:1-6 1 Do you not know, brothers-- for I am speaking to men who know the law-- that the law has authority over a man only as long as he lives? 2 For example, by law a married woman is bound to her husband as long as he is alive, but if her husband dies, she is ...read more

Scripture: Romans 7:1-13

Denomination: Assembly Of God

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

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

God’s Deliverance

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Feb 24, 2022

Often when we face the difficulties of life, we try to make sense out of what we are facing. But what frustrates us at times like this is that IT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE!

For example, when the terrorists struck the Trade Towers in New York City, and the Pentagon, on Sept. 11, 2001, the pundits put their heads together and tried to make sense of why anyone would want to kill thousands of innocent people. They could only reach the conclusion that Osama Bin Laden and ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Abomination And Secret Sins

Contributed by Gary Martin on Jul 6, 2024

People secretly sin (in other words they hide their sin) and still come to church and play a game with God trying to make everyone believe that they are still living right in their life.

Abominations Before God 2 Corinthians 6:1-2; 14-17 KJV 1 We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. 2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 6:1-2

Denomination: Apostolic