Sermons on Try Harder:

Surrender Series

Contributed by Betty Johnson on Jan 12, 2011

This is the second in the holiness series of messages speaking of the importance of surrender in the life of the believer, as opposed to trying to be holy in our own efforts.

Holiness Unto the Lord Surrender Scripture: 1 Thess. 4:1-8 Text: 1 Thess. 4:3 Last week I introduced a series called, “Holiness unto the Lord” and I suggested to you that most denominations have a doctrine of holiness. And we were reminded last week that God calls us - God’s ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8

Denomination: Wesleyan

In The Image Of Man Series

Contributed by Aneel Aranha on Feb 14, 2021

When we can’t reflect the image and likeness of God, we try to make him in our image and likeness.

Scripture Reading: Mark 8:11-13 The Pharisees came and began to question Jesus. To test him, they asked him for a sign from heaven. He sighed deeply and said, “Why does this generation ask for a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to it.” Then he left them, got back into the boat and ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:11-13

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Heart Of Happiness Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 12, 2021

No one claims to be adequate for the task of even explaining this beatitude. Preachers apologize for their audacity in even presuming to try and preach on this text.

Two soldiers were on a transport going overseas. Standing on the deck they gazed out across the vast expanse of water. One who had never been near the ocean said, "That's the most water I've ever seen in all my life. Did you ever see so much water?" His companion responded, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:8

The Gift Of Marriage Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 17, 2021

Paul is trying to help Christians to be moral people in a very immoral world, and to do that he has to focus on the sex drive.

The most famous twins in history were Chang and Eng, born in Siam in 1811. They toured Europe and America repeatedly. They became so well known that all twins whose bodies are physically connected have ever since been called Siamese twins. By their early thirty's they had traveled the world, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 7:1-7

Corona Vs Christ Series

Contributed by James Greer on Mar 18, 2020

Stress is often a result of us thinking and trying to be in control. Corona teaches how little control we really have!

Corona Vs. Christ 2 Timothy 1:7, NKJV Stress and fear are really nothing more than the false perception we are in control; the more we try to be in control the more things get out of control. Simply action steps to take during this unprecedented challenge. Fear in most cases is fake, but in ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:7

Fruitfulness (Part 3) Series

Contributed by Jefferson Williams on Jul 24, 2020

This fruit is the product of the Spirit’s work inside of us and not an outcome of trying, straining, groaning, or behavior modification on our part.

Dance Lessons: The Fruit of the Spirit (Part 3) Galatians 5:22-26 Pastor Jefferson M. Williams Chenoa Baptist Church 6-07-2020 SHHHHHHH! In the backyard at our house in Pontiac used to be an apple tree. All the neighbors hated it. It was bad enough during the day, but at night several ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-26

Denomination: Baptist

Made Right Series

Contributed by Dr. Lewis W. Gregory on Nov 14, 2020

Many people are trying to do the right thing, yet they fail miserably. Why? Before you can do right . . .

“For He has made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.” 2 Corinthians 5:21 The Crisis - Many people are trying to do the right thing, yet they fail miserably. Why? Before you can do right, you must first be made right. But even after that ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:21, 1 Corinthians 1:30

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Job - First Do No Harm

Contributed by Peter Pilt on Apr 29, 2019

How do we treat those who are suffering? This sermon is trying to answer that question from the life and experience of Job.

Love does no harm The three thematics that run through Job 1) Retributional Theology 2) Suffering is Divine Chastening – Job, God is going to teach you something important through this 3) Suffering is only temporary – Job you have lost perspective – in the end – everything will be ok. A. ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 18:1, Romans 12:15, Job 19:2, Job 4:7-8, Job 8:3-4, Job 22:5-11, Job 5:17-18, Job 8:11-19  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Assembly Of God

"An Attitude Of Gratitude"

Contributed by David Henderson on Nov 28, 2017

There are certain things that parents try to teach their children as they are growing up. And we usually focus on two things. Their actions and their words.

“An Attitude of Gratitude” Luke 17:11-19 There are certain things that parents try to teach their children as they are growing up. And we usually focus on two things. Their actions and their words. Their manners. We taught our children to say “yes sir” and “no sir,” “yes ma’am no ma’am.” Please ...read more

Scripture: Luke 17:11-19

Denomination: Baptist

Why Are John’s Disciples So Worried About Jesus’ Disciples Fasting?

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Nov 2, 2021

The question from John's disciples about fasting reveals a serious disconnect to what Jesus is trying to accomplish.

WHY DON'T THEY FAST? The question from John’s disciples shows that they missed the point that Jesus just made. - Matthew 9:13-14. - In v. 14, John’s disciples come and ask about why Jesus’ disciples aren’t fasting. In other gospels, it gives us more information that the Pharisees were in the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:14

Denomination: Baptist

Delegating: Can You Let Go? Series

Contributed by Jeffery Anselmi on Oct 16, 2015

When leaders try to do it all, they will fail and they will burn out. Jethro offers a solution for Mr. and Mrs. Do It All!

INTRODUCTION • SLIDE #1 • We are in the 3rd message in our series of messages entitled, LEARNING TO LEAD. • We are all or at some point we will all be leaders of some sort. • When we are faced with being in situations that call us to lead, it would behoove us to know what we ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 18:13-24

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Divine Health Beats Divine Healing

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Dec 4, 2014

There are 12 good health rules for us to follow. It is better to not break a dish than to try and glue the dish back together.

DIVINE HEALTH TRUMPS DIVINE HEALING... By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com Let us make a covenant to KEEP THE DIVINE LAWS AS BEST WE CAN... I. UNDER HIS FEET... UNDER CONTROL... A BETTER PLAN... 2 Samuel 22:39 And I have consumed them, and wounded them, that they could not arise: yea, ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 15:26

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Joy Of The Lord!

Contributed by Bala Samson on Apr 27, 2015

Move away from people who are taking away the joy in the Lord and trying to replace it with joy from wrong sources.

Joy in the Lord! Deuteronomy 28:47:”Because you did not serve the LORD your God with joyfulness and gladness of heart, because of the abundance of all things..” There are unusual stuff that would yank at our heartstrings at times and distract us from deriving joy in the Lord. ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 28:47-49

Denomination: Pentecostal

Grace From Galatians! (13 Of 19)

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Mar 8, 2022

This is the FIFTH APPEAL that Paul used to try and bring these Galatians to their spiritual senses. He is hoping they will reach a sensible solution to their problems.

But anytime you work with people and try to get them to arrive at the right conclusion, you find it is a difficult task to say the least. Some folks will go years and years making the same mistakes and getting the same results. It never seems to dawn on them that perhaps they are doing something ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:7-12

Denomination: Baptist

Doesn't Everyone Go To Heaven?

Contributed by Jerry Cosper on Jan 16, 2024

Our world today will try to convince people that ultimately everyone goes to heaven. God makes it very clear that is not the truth.

I mentioned last Sunday that the world tries to convince people that there is more than one way to get to heaven. God showed us in Scripture that His Son Jesus told us very plainly that He is the way, the truth, and the life, and that no one gets to the father unless they go through Jesus. But ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:13-23, Luke 13:22-27

Denomination: Baptist