Sermons on Try Harder:

Going The Distance With God Series

Contributed by Mark Opperman on Dec 5, 2012

If we try to make a difference alone without teaming up with other followers of Jesus, our impact will be small. But if we learn to resolve our differences and work together, I believe we will accomplish way more than all of us could do separately. How ca

Going the Distance with God Romans 16:1-27 -Paul’s closing words give us several keys to going the distance as followers together of Jesus. There is certainly individual application, but Paul’s words were for the church at Rome as a whole, not only to the independent individual ...read more

Scripture: Romans 16:1-27

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Take Up Your Cross Series

Contributed by Mark Aarssen on Jun 7, 2016

What are we projecting to other people about our service to the Lord if we are complaining about it instead of having fun while we are doing it? We get hung up when people in the world try to trip us up and slow down our walk to a crawl.

Take Up your cross Matthew 16:24-27 Years ago I remember hearing a radio broadcast of Dr. James Dobson from Focus on the Family. He was retelling a story about his son Ryan who was about three years old at the time. Little Ryan had gotten up early one morning before his Dad and Mom. He managed ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:24-27

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

A Futile Effort Series

Contributed by Christopher Benfield on Feb 13, 2019

God spoke to Jonah, calling him to go and cry against Nineveh. Foolishly, Jonah thought he could flee the presence of God. However, God intended for Nineveh to hear a warning, and He intended Jonah to deliver that warning. It is futile to try and flee God's presence!

A Futile Effort Jonah 1: 1-10 Having considered the introduction for Jonah, I want to remind us of the major theme of the book. Most tend to focus solely on Jonah’s miraculous deliverance from the belly of the great fish, but that is just one scene from this account in Scripture. In fact, that ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 1:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

So Why Are Bad Things Happening To Good People? Series

Contributed by Alis Cerrahyan on Jul 9, 2019

Trying to get even with the enemy will turn a simple lesson in humility into a huge humiliation which is never God's plan for us. So the sooner we walk away from our oppressor without any retaliation; the sooner we give God the opportunity to right the wrong.

God created a special place for his beloved children: the garden of Eden where we were meant to have an eternal fellowship with him. He made us after his own image and decorated us with his own attributes such as the ability to think; reason; speak; create; love; increase; experience the many ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:19

Rising Above The Turkeys Series

Contributed by Vic Folkert on Mar 23, 2018

When people try to make changes, other people may hold them back. As Jacob tries to overcome his scheming nature, Laban drags him down. God intervenes, so that Jacob can rise above that old turkey, Laban, and his own nature as well.

RISING ABOVE THE TURKEYS—Genesis 30:25-31:55 “I could soar like an eagle, if I didn’t have to deal with so many turkeys.” My uncle raised turkeys. Turkeys are pretty stupid. They are always crowding each other, pecking at each other, fighting over food, so they can get big enough to be ...read more

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Burning Bush Encounter Series

Contributed by Norman Bernad on Sep 23, 2020

Imagine you’re taking a walk on a lonely hillside on a hot summer day. A furze bush catches fire, but instead of burning up it keeps on burning! That would take your attention and make you think, “What’s going on? Is someone trying to say something to me?”

The Burning Bush Encounter 1. Exodus 2.1-15 2. Exodus 3.1-5 3. Ps. 116 Illustration: A missionary to Africa many years ago told of a woman who came to every service, accompanied by her dog. She would sit on the outside, next to the aisle. At the end of the service, when the pastor gave the ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 3:1-5, Exodus 2:1-15

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Forgetting, Focusing And Fixing

Contributed by Chuck Brooks on Sep 24, 2020

Oftentimes a crisis, like COVID-19, directs a person’s thoughts, words and actions, rather than Christ. Today I will try to share what Scripture teaches about how we can order our mindset which will impact our mood and direct our movements.

Oftentimes a crisis, like COVID-19, directs a person’s thoughts, words and actions, rather than Christ. Today I will try to share what Scripture teaches about how we can order our mindset which will impact our mood and direct our movements. In your Bible, the book of Philippians is a thank-you ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Ukraine War Is It Gog/Magog & Are You Rapture Ready.

Contributed by Melvin Maughmer, Jr. on Mar 13, 2022

I don’t try to manipulate scripture to fit a certain scenario, I believe in letting scripture speak for itself. For centuries, end times preachers and prophecy prognosticators have tried to cram every current event into proof that we are living in the last days and Jesus’ imminent return.

“The Ukraine War is this Gog/Magog” “Are You Rapture Ready” By Bishop Melvin L. Maughmer, Jr. OPENING: - In light of the events that are taking place in Ukraine and how Russia is putting an all-out assault on them under the direction of in my opinion a Crazy, Delusional, Possessed, Irrational, ...read more

Denomination: Apostolic

9.. Lord’s Prayer: One Day At A Time Series

Contributed by Geoffrey Foot on Oct 7, 2024

We all have problems, worries and anxieties that we have to deal with everyday. The Lord's Prayer teaches us to take each day as it comes, step by step, to cross the bridge when we get there rather than try and solve problems that might never happen.

9.. Lord’s Prayer: ONE DAY AT A TIME Give us this day our daily bread – Did you know that in ancient Israel, bread was made for consumption the following day, so everyone had food in the house overnight. This helps us to understand the parable of the neighbour who asked for food at midnight. The ...read more

Scripture: Luke 11:5-8, Matthew 6:25-34

Unnderstanding Who You Are Part #2 You Identity In God

Contributed by Melvin Maughmer, Jr. on Jul 11, 2025

When your lineage has been erased and rewritten, rehappened, reformed, and restructured in such a way that you don’t know who you are and when you don’t understand who you then you will try to assimilate to what others think you ought to believe you to do.

Understanding Who You Are Your Identity in God By Bishop Melvin Maughmer, Jr. Part 2 Prayer: - Last week I laid the foundation of this lesson establishing the fact that Black People, especially the so-called Arican Americans have very little to no understanding or a total misunderstanding of who ...read more

Scripture: Hosea 4:6

Denomination: Apostolic

What I Know For Sure Series

Contributed by Michael L. Brown on Aug 2, 2022

In times like these, we try to navigate the many things we feel. The enemy would love to make this a time where we blame God or we get stuck in a place of depression. While there are still many unanswered questions, there are some things we can be sure of.

In 1873, Horatio Spafford, a successful attorney had lost a fortune in the great Chicago fire of 1871. Around the same time, his four-year-old son died of scarlet fever. Thinking a vacation would do his family some good, he sent his wife and four daughters on a ship to England, planning to join ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 23:1-6, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, Matthew 19:14

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Your Superpower - 2 Peter 1:3 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Nov 10, 2024

It’s always a fun question to ask, “If you could have one superpower, what would you want it to be?” But the far more important question is this: “What would you do with it?” If God gave you unlimited access to divine power for the next 30 days, how would you use it?

Look at the first three words of 2 Peter 1:3 "His divine power …." That’s an awesome set of words—His divine power. They’re awesome words and their intriguing words, because so much of the frustration of life comes from not having the power we need. Wherever there’s failure in your ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:3

Fatal Attraction Series

Contributed by Alan Kraft on Jan 8, 2009

The third of six messages from Jeremiah on the wages of sexual sin. This sermon focuses on the temptation, shame, guilt and addictive nature of sexual sin.

A. If you have your Bible, please turn to Jeremiah 2. We are spending some time looking together at the book of Jeremiah in the OT and we are discovering that this book is incredibly relevant to our lives today. 1. One of the first topics God addresses in the first few chapters is sexuality. Talk ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 2:19-28

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Opening The Door To God's Mercy Series

Contributed by Alan Kraft on Jan 8, 2009

The fifth of a series of six sermons from Jeremiah on sexual sin. This message focuses on God’s mercy for those suffering in the grip of sexual sin and how to gain it for yourself.

For free MP3 downloads of sermons by Alan Kraft, visit www.cccgreeley.org. For Alan’s blog, visit www.stoptryingharder.com A. If you have your Bible, please turn to Jeremiah 3. We are in the midst of a series of messages entitled Behind Closed Doors. In this series we are looking at the issue of ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 3:12-25

Denomination: Evangelical Free

The Full Course Of Repentacillin - James 4:8-10 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Apr 30, 2022

What happens when repentance is not thorough? The same thing that happens when you take only a half course of penicillin

James 4:5 Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he caused to live in us? 6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will ...read more

Scripture: James 4:8-10