Sermons on Try Harder:

Start At Mizpah, End At Ebenezer

Contributed by David Dunn on Dec 10, 2025

New Years Sermon. Start at Mizpah with surrender and you will end at Ebenezer with testimony — the God who meets your return will become your help.

A new year always greets us like a doorway — one side opening toward the unknown, the other side framed by everything we’ve lived through to get here. We step into January with a mixture of hope and hesitation, expectation and reflection. It’s human nature to look forward and backward at the same ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 121:2

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Love Is Better Than Miracles Series

Contributed by Scott Maze on Jun 4, 2021

You’ll be like the Christmas tree that you remove from your house after the holidays. It is planted in a metal tree holder, the needles will fall off the moment you try to pick it up. The person who hasn’t experienced the love of Christ is nicely decorated but falls apart when handled.

Ron and Patti had been married for twelve years and have two children. Patti had grown up with believing parents as they attended church where she grew up in the area. Ron was born in Ada, Oklahoma to hard working parents. His father had served in the Vietnam War and neither parent felt church was ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Denomination: Baptist

The Heart Of Christmas

Contributed by Matthew Stoll on Jan 17, 2008

A simple message to help us understand the incredible depth of the love of God in the birth of Jesus and his purpose in sending him so we might have a real and personal relationship with him (rather than knowing about him).

As I was praying and preparing for this message, I knew what God had placed on my heart to share, but I couldn’t come up with any clever, cute, funny stories like I’ve had in the past. Tonight, I’m just going to shoot straight with you if I may. It’s like on those rare occasions when I do drink ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 4:9-10

Denomination: Methodist

Strong Arm Faith Series

Contributed by Steven Chapman on Jun 22, 2015

This message was for a long standing leader of the church. He was sometimes misunderstood, but always admired for his passion for the church. It was based on his wife's favorite verse about God's sustaining power in the midst of difficult circumstances.

Message The most important thing that I can say personally about Max **** is that he has made me a better minister and a better man. Let me share two reasons for that assessment: There was more to Max than first impressions. When I visited FCC for an interview weekend, nearly 19 years ago, I ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 41:10

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Story Of The Moral Series

Contributed by Mark Haines on Dec 28, 2004

Jesus’ "parables" brought EVERYDAY experiences along side ETERNAL truths and this is the first sermon in a series that brings NASCAR next to Christian life.

Selected Exposition #108 Series: NASCAR Comes to Church Title: The Story of the Moral Topic: Christian Living Theme: Living according to God’s Pattern Purpose: to be the Holy Spirit’s second witness calling God’s people in my care to consider his pattern for life in his ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

Denomination: Wesleyan

I Am The Vine Series

Contributed by Kevin Ruffcorn on Mar 9, 2006

Seeing Jesus as the vine of our lives, emphasizes that Jesus is the source of life, and who empowers us to be fruitful.

John 15:1-8 “I am the Vine” INTRODUCTION We are a culture obsessed with staying connected. We have cell phones, streaming, text messaging, and GPS tracking. We all need to stay in touch. Today’s text deals with being connected. Jesus describes the divine connection between his followers ...read more

Scripture: John 15:1-8

Denomination: Lutheran

Commitments For A New Year Series

Contributed by Guy Mcgraw on Jan 3, 2012

The NEW YEAR is a time when many of us are motivated to take a harder look at ourselves. We often take an inventory of ourselves and consider what needs to be changed for the next 12 months.

The NEW YEAR is a time when many of us are motivated to take a harder look at ourselves. We often take an inventory of ourselves and consider what needs to be changed for the next 12 months. For some reason during the month of January we have the strongest resolve to makes changes than we will ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:7-11

Neighbor, What's Up?

Contributed by David Dunn on Dec 20, 2025

The Good Samaritan exposes self-justification, lets the law speak fully, and leads us to salvation received through mercy, not performance.

Everyone seems to know the story of the Good Samaritan. It is one of those rare biblical stories that has escaped the walls of the church and entered everyday language. Hospitals are named after him. Laws are named after him. Charities bear his name. Even people who have never opened a Bible still ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:25-37, Romans 7:10, Matthew 10:8, John 15:13, 1 John 4:19  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Play Nice With Others

Contributed by Wayne Lawson on Jul 7, 2014

As Christians, we fully understand that it is important to Play Nice With Others. Can I tell you that’s a concept that is much harder from some than it is for others!

TITLE: PLACE NICE WITH OTHERS SCRIPTURE: ACTS 15:36-41 I am not sure what has been going on with me the past few weeks, but it seems like I have been getting irritated rather easily. Lately, things seem to bother me all the time. Usually that is an indicator for me to spend more time in the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 15:36-41

Denomination: Baptist

The Final Four

Contributed by Sheila Crowe on Sep 27, 2002

Jesus is trying to reach you

Introduction A. Mean Nothing, Impact Zero 1. Final Four Season – Basketball season that is a) Oklahoma Sooners won 1st bid b) Last night Indiana Hoosiers sercured their spot (1) 1st final four berth since 92 c) Today will decide whether it will be (1) Maryland or Connecticut (2) Kansas or ...read more

Scripture: Mark 20:17-19, Luke 19:28-41

Denomination: United Methodist

Why The Law Series

Contributed by Donald Mcculley on Aug 7, 2019

It is amazing how many of “us” have a performance-based religion! There are many who believe that a right relationship with God can be attained through the performance of the law.

INTRODUCTION: It is amazing how many of “us” have a performance-based religion! There are many who believe that a right relationship with God can be attained through the performance of the law. Read Ex. 20:3-17; Deut. 5:6-21; Matt. 22:35-40. God did not give the law so that people could become ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 2:16

Denomination: Baptist

Who You Gonna Trust? Series

Contributed by Alan Kraft on Jan 8, 2009

The sixth of a series of six messages from Jeremiah on sexual sin. This final sermon focuses on trusting God when you fear backsliding into old sinful habits.

A. For several weeks now, we have been spending some time in the early chapters of Jeremiah talking about the issue of sexual sin. 1. Even though these words were written centuries ago, they speak very directly to us about the true impact of sexual sin in our lives in terms of the shame, the ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 17:5-8

Denomination: Evangelical Free

You Can Fool Some Of The People Some Of The Time

Contributed by Robbie Parsons on Feb 2, 2003

Are we really and truly trying to please God with our communication, customs and conduct, or are we trying to please man?

COMMUNICATION - Our words will be kind and not foolish KINDNESS IN SPEECH V. 1 Matthew Henry said that “if wrath rises like a threatening storm, then a soft answer will turn it away like the winds.” The Speech Research Unit of Kenyon College has proved that when a person is shouted at, ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 15:1-10

Denomination: United Methodist

People Can't God Can

Contributed by Jeff Pearce on Oct 20, 2007

what we can do through jesus

PEOPLE CAN’T, GOD CAN INTRO: PHILLIPPIANS 4:13 1: I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHICH STRENGTHENS ME. A) IS THIS A TRUE STATEMENT TO YOU B) DO YOU BELIEVE THAT ALL THINGS CAN BE DONE C) MOST PEOPLE DON’T POINT: PEOPLE TELL US WHAT WE CAN DO WHAT WE CAN’T DO, THAT’S TOO BIG FOR YOU SON, OR ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:13

Denomination: Other

Ephesians 1: 5-8 Series

Contributed by Marvin Penner on Mar 20, 2001

Objective: To understand that thanksgiving should have it’s foundation in what God has done in salvation in order to survive the hard times and to begin to build that foundation.

Thanksgiving Sunday Oct. 8/00 Meeting Creek Objective: To understand that thanksgiving should have it’s foundation in what God has done in salvation in order to survive the hard times and to begin to build that foundation. Scripture Reading: Ephesians 1: 3 - 10 Tell the Story of the Roman slave ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:5-10, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational