Sermons on Try Harder:

The Voice Of The Lord Series

Contributed by Nathan Johnson on Jan 11, 2008

People nowadays talk better than they listen. We have tuned out God when He is trying to lead us. This message endeavors to get us thinking about listening to God once again.

The Voice of the Lord Griffith Baptist Church – 1/13/08 P.M. Service Text: Psalm 29 Introduction A former park ranger at Yellowstone National Park tells the story of a ranger leading a group of hikers to a fire lookout. The ranger was so intent on telling the hikers about the flowers and ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 29:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

Forcing Ourselves On God Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Oct 14, 2007

There’s only one way to get to heaven... but people always seem to be trying to force God to do things their way. What types of things do people do to force their will on God’s Word?

OPEN: A school teacher injured his back and had to wear a plaster cast around the upper part of his body. It fit under his shirt and was not noticeable at all. On the first day of the term, still with the cast under his shirt, he found himself assigned to the toughest students in school. Walking ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 19:16-25

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Gates Of Hell Series

Contributed by Andrew Drummond on Apr 17, 2007

A familiar phrase in the church, but what was Jesus trying to say when he said this to Peter? The enemy of our souls is real and he seeks to destroy, but the church has a promise that should bring peace, joy and action...

One of the first things that any foreigner, like myself, should buy when they come to this country is a collection of Aussie terms and phrases. In our first few months of living here I heard things that left me scratching my head wondering, “What on earth does that mean?” Unforgettable phrases ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:18

Are You An Enemy Of God?

Contributed by Joe Rowland on Aug 10, 2009

The world will try to kiss us with the kiss of death; we have to stay focused on Jesus as believers. We have to tell the world “NO WE ARE MARRIED”, we are married in a sense to Jesus! Are you an enemy of God?

Are You An Enemy Of God? James 4:1-10 1 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? 2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. 3 Ye ask, and ...read more

Scripture: James 4:1-10

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Matthew 6 – Part 2 - Why Pray If God Already Knows My Needs? Series

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Jan 31, 2010

God chooses to answer me not because I have needs, but because I bring those needs to Him rather than try to meet them in my own strength. And He is not all that keen on repetition.

Matthew 6 – Part 3 - WHY PRAY IF GOD ALREADY KNOWS MY NEEDS? So what is the use of praying if God already knows what I need? Matthew 6:7 and 8 says “When you pray, don’t babble on and on as people of other religions do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:5-8

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

False Faith/Counterfeit Christianity

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Oct 15, 2005

Simon the sorcerer is an illustration of Counterfeit Christianity or false faith. It begins with a false self perception, and foolish pride. Trying to show folks that the rituals we use in the church do not save, instead it is the life changing presence

Intro: Online Encyclopedia, Wikipedia this to say about Counterfits “Today the finest counterfeit banknotes are claimed to be U.S. dollar bills produced in North Korea, which are used to finance the North Korean government, among other uses. The fake North Korean copies are called Superdollars ...read more

Scripture: Acts 8:9-25

Denomination: Baptist

Broken At The Beginning

Contributed by Pervis Hall on Jan 16, 2006

Many people face various types of trials everytime a new chapter begins in their live. This sermon will give some hope to those who always seem to get pushed back everytime they try to go forward.

Rita Bass Coors purchased a porcelain mask that had been hand painted by John Denver. You know John Denver, the singer, the humanitarian John Denver. This mask set Rita Bass Coors back $7000.00. Rita purchased this $7000.00 hand painted porcelain mask from a celebrity auction that was to benefit ...read more

Scripture: John 9:1-11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Is Jesus God?

Contributed by Anthony Smith on Feb 1, 2006

Many are asking this question, trying to find an answer. Some say yes, some say no, and some are not sure. So then how can we find out who this Great Messiah is, God or Christ?

John 1:15-17 Is Jesus God? Many are asking this question, trying to find an answer. Some say yes, some say no, and some are not sure. So then how can we find out who this Great Messiah is, God or Christ? ...read more

Scripture: John 1:15-17

Denomination: Pentecostal

Easter

Contributed by William D. Brown on Nov 8, 2008

I want to try and show us today that the word “Easter” has nothing at all to do with the resurrection of Jesus, in fact Easter is another word for the pagan goddess [ASHTEROTH] that we read about in the O.T.

ACTS. 12:1-4 EASTER 3-22-08 Well as we all know tomorrow is the Sunday that we recognize the “resurrection” of our wonderful Lord and Savoir Jesus Christ, let me say that most people the world over refer to this day as “Easter”. I want ...read more

Scripture: Acts 12:1-4

Denomination: Baptist

"Life" Time!

Contributed by Dale Pilgrim on Nov 24, 2007

Philip Yancey wrote about trying to explain a life of spiritual ecstasy to a person who spends all day taking care of a cranky, bedwetting Alzheimer’s parent. There’s gotta’ be more to life.

Play a clip of Stacie Orrico’s music video, "More to Life" – fade after second line LIFE. The word conjures up a flood of ideas. Marilyn Meberb pushes the buttons of our first reaction to the word LIFE. “Cornered. Boxed in. On our last leg. In a pickle. Between a rock and a hard place. Sitting on ...read more

Scripture: John 3:13-17

Denomination: Salvation Army

You Foolish People! Series

Contributed by Steve Shepherd on Mar 18, 2010

In our text, the apostle Paul is trying to straighten out the thinking of the Galatians. There are some matters in their thinking and faith that need to be cleared up. 1- The matter of receiving God's Spirit 2- The matter of faith and righteousness 3-

INTRO.- People often do dumb things or foolish things. ILL.- June 16, 2009, BRUSSELS - A Belgian teenager told police how she came from a tattoo parlor with 56 stars over one side of her face, rather than the three she had asked for. "I said this part, the top, is ok, but not the rest," Kimberley ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 3:1-14

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Blessed Life - Pt. 2 - The Shared Life Series

Contributed by Steve Ely on Feb 17, 2011

Fortune cookies, horseshoes, 4 leaf clovers, rabbit's foot . . . Luck. Athletes would often rather be lucky than good.However, living a blessed life is even better than trying to live lucky.

The Blessed Life Part 2 – The Shared Life I. Introduction You can choose to live your live based on luck. However, if you do that you must also be prepared to experience a hit or miss type of life. Luck is fleeting. Luck can’t be counted on. Luck gives you no guarantees. That is why I ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:38-47

Denomination: Pentecostal

Satisfaction: Manna Forever

Contributed by Peter Loughman on Nov 11, 2006

Are we not trying to address the most urgent problems in our life today, and then the next one, and the next one and the next one, forever, so we don’t have time for what is really important - Jesus.

Back East, there was this diner which had the fine reputation of always pleasing the customer – the owner drilled this philosophy into his employees, he would remind them at the start of each shift, “If you do not work at pleasing the customer, you will find yourself working at finding another ...read more

Scripture: John 6:26-59

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Building When Discouraged Series

Contributed by Allan Quak on Feb 15, 2013

Some days we look at our efforts for the kingdom and we get discouraged because we do not see the fruit happening. We try hard but get little. In those situations God encourages us.

You can listen to the full sermon here:- http://www.nec.org.au/listen-to-a-sermon-series/haggai/ Message Have you ever done one of those projects where, at first, you are really excited and enthusiastic but, as you see what you are actually achieving, you realise that your handiwork is really ...read more

Scripture: Haggai 2:1-9

Denomination: Baptist

Ganging Up On Jesus Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Jun 11, 2012

In this portion of Mark we get a clearer picture of what it means to rely on God for things, and what it means to rely on the government. Here the religious leaders try to trip Jesus up, but they fall right into His trap.

After the episode in the Temple on the previous day, I guess Jesus should have expected the religious leaders of Israel to react. In fact, the Lord is trying to get them to react and eventually figure out a way to arrest and condemn Him. In the end of Chapter 11 and into Chapter 12 we see a series ...read more

Denomination: Calvary Chapel