Sermons on Try Harder:

Encouragement

Contributed by Bruce Lee on Jun 6, 2025

Your teenage son doesn’t complain about coming to church. He is not rebellious.

Encouragement “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But, I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” Luke 22:31 Intro: Your teenage son doesn’t complain about coming to church. He is not rebellious. You ...read more

Scripture: Luke 22:31

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Survival Of The Fittest? Or The Faithful?

Contributed by Steve Shepherd on Oct 29, 2001

Survival in this life is not a matter of being fit, but a matter of being faithful to God.

SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST? OR THE FAITHFUL? INTRO.- ILL.- The backwoods preacher found a small boy all alone, playing in the dirt. "Where’s your father?" the preacher asked. The boy said, "He was hanged last week." "Where’s your mother?" "She run off." "Where’s your sister?" "She’s in ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 10:3-4

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

You Foolish Baptists

Contributed by Guy Mcgraw on Nov 7, 2011

Sometimes we need to be shaken up, woken up from our mistaken take on what the Christian life is really all about.

There are some people in our society who believe in something called ‘channeling’ the spirits of departed people. I would be afraid to do that with the spirit of the Apostle Paul, especially on a passage like this one. One of the lost skills in modern America(cooking of food, ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 3:1-5

The Most Foolish Thing I Can Do Series

Contributed by Pat Damiani on Aug 15, 2022

I’m never more foolish than when I think I’m wise

NOTE: This is a manuscript, and not a transcript of this message. The actual presentation of the message differed from the manuscript through the leading of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, it is possible, and even likely that there is material in this manuscript that was not included in the live ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 3:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

From Warrior To Sorrier Then Back Again Series

Contributed by Derrick Tuper on Oct 23, 2017

There was an alter sacrifice and the prophets of Baal keep chanting "oh, Baal, answer us!" for many hours, but nothing happened. Then, Elijah offered up a short prayer and God consumed the sacrifice. But soon after things took a turn for the worst.

FROM A WARRIOR PRAYER TO A SORRIER PRAYER (THEN BACK AGAIN) INTRODUCTION: When I went through the Lord's Prayer a couple of weeks ago in regards to Jesus telling us to not pray as the pagans do I mentioned the account of Elijah and the prophets of Baal. There was an alter sacrifice and the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 18:36-40, 1 Kings 19:1-18

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

04 Atonement Accomplished Series

Contributed by Seth Lawson on Mar 24, 2025

Jesus the the perfect atonement, forever reconciling us to God.

Open your Bibles and find the book of Leviticus, chapter 16. Once you have that, turn to the New Testament book of Hebrews, chapter 9—Leviticus 16 and Hebrews 9. As we begin, I want to read a few verses from both Leviticus and Hebrews to lay the groundwork for our focus this morning. Follow along ...read more

Scripture: Leviticus 16:1-34, Hebrews 9:1-7, Hebrews 9:11-12, Hebrews 10:19-22, Hebrews 13:11-12  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

A Handful Of Cash And Great Relationships: Finding God's Sweet Spot For Life - Ecclesiastes 4:4-16 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Mar 18, 2025

The more your affections reflect the relative value of things, the more you will make the right call on hard decisions. This message will help you find the relative importance of money, relationships, and comfort.

For free audio or video download of this message, visit https://www.treasuringgod.com/sermons-by-scripture or my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@DarrellFerguson. Ecclesiastes 4:4 I saw that all labor and all skillful work is due to a man’s jealousy of his friend. This too is futile and ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 4:4-16

A Broken Man Before The Boundless Gospel

Contributed by Austin W. Duncan on Sep 26, 2025

Locked doors and crowded rooms can stop most people, but real faith finds a way. In Mark 2:1–12 four friends tear through a roof to place a paralytic before Jesus—He forgives first, then heals—showing His authority and calling us to carry others to Him.

A little while ago I was installing a keypad lock on the door to my upstairs studio—just trying to add an extra layer of security for my equipment, cameras, computers, all that production stuff. So I set the keypad lock up, got the old handle out of the door, got the batteries in, set the code, all ...read more

Scripture: Mark 2:1-12

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Teach Your Children Well

Contributed by Alan Perkins on May 20, 2001

The responsibility for training up children belongs with parents.

I’d like to begin this morning with a story about my lawn. In the two years we’ve lived in Westlake, we’ve noticed that most of the lawns look very nice. And of course, that’s the suburban ideal, isn’t it? Getting away from the city, with all of its concrete, and asphalt, and buildings stacked one ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 11:18-21

Denomination: Baptist

What Are You Blind Or Something?

Contributed by David Petticrew on Apr 30, 2003

A look at the implications of Jesus healing of a blind man for him then and for us now.

One day at a busy airport, the passengers on a commercial airliner are seated, waiting for the cockpit crew to show up so they can get under way. The pilot and co-pilot finally appear in the rear of the plane, and begin walking up to the cockpit through the center aisle. Both appear to ...read more

Scripture: John 9:1-41

Denomination: Holiness

Follow The Leader Series

Contributed by Paul Decker on Mar 2, 2004

We follow the servant-leaders God has given us.

FOLLOW THE LEADER I Corinthians 4:14-21 S: Leadership Th: Live the Difference Pr: WE FOLLOW THE SERVANT-LEADERS GOD HAS GIVEN US. ?: Why? KW: Needs TS: We will find in our study of I Corinthians 4:14-21 five needs that servant-leaders provide. The _____ need we have is… I. DIRECTION (14) II. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 4:14-21

Denomination: Baptist

Justification By Faith Alone! Series

Contributed by Freddy Fritz on Apr 1, 2005

The question before Paul, Peter, and indeed us is, "How can a condemned sinner be justified?" Paul’s answer to this crucial question is before us in this sermon.

Scripture Charlie Chaplin was a huge movie star in the silent-picture era. One of the by-products of his popularity was the look-alike contests that sprung up around the country. Contestants attempted to imitate Chaplin dressed as the “tramp” character he made popular in his films. Even the ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 2:15-21

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Going For The Gold

Contributed by Steve Malone on Jan 26, 2005

Paul in this text talks about four fundamental truths that we must understand AND apply to our lives if we are going to be successful in our pursuit of Gold.

GOING FOR THE GOLD TEXT: I CORINTHIANS 9:22-10:13 INTRODUCTION Paul in The 7th chapter of I Corinthians begins to address the specific questions that the church in Corinth had asked him, via the letter that was sent to him while he was in Ephesus, This section opens up with the phrase, "Now for ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Character And Commitment Series

Contributed by Kent Lenard on Jun 6, 2003

This is an adaptation of a book by John Maxwell on Leadership.

I. Two weeks ago I talked about the need for leaders, and the need for us all to get involved doing what it is that God has gifted us to do, to see that this church becomes what God wants it to be, and has the impact on this community that God intends it to have. A. It would be unfair to ask you ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:62, Matthew 20:25-28

Denomination: Baptist

Distractions

Contributed by Rick Gillespie- Mobley on Jun 11, 2002

This sermon was written to be preached by our young people in the church on youth day 2002. It deals with distractions which hinder our progress in life and if God.

Distractions Youth Day 6/8/2002 Proverbs 3:5-12 Hebrews 12:1-3 1 Samuel 13:1-6 Aaron Our theme for Youth Day is Distractions. LaDawn and I will share this sermon together. I’ll start it and she will finish it. What is a distraction. A distraction is anything that takes our ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:1-3, Proverbs 3:5-12

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed