Sermons on Try Harder:

Loving Each Other Sincerely

Contributed by Vinnie Cappetta on Mar 4, 2006

We know we are supposed to love. We want to love, but it doesn’t always come naturally, so we often try to manufacture it.

Loving Each Other Sincerely 1 Peter 1:21-2:3 Love is a commandment from the beginning. We know we are supposed to love. We want to love, but it doesn’t always come naturally. So we often try to manufacture love. How is it possible to love our brothers and sisters sincerely? v.22 ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Unstrained Mercy Series

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Jun 27, 2006

Unstrained mercy needs to be constrained by the same constraints that God himself recognizes: by wisdom, by justice, by the long-term, eternal good of the person you are trying to help.

Every week it seems like there’s another new disaster. Wasn’t Hurricane Katrina enough, without adding Hurricane Rita to it? We were all so overwhelmed by the magnitude of those twin crises that many of us probably didn’t even pay much attention to the fires in California. After all, they ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:7

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Just One Touch Of Jesus

Contributed by Bramwell Hayes on Oct 20, 2006

Two people who were changed by one contact with Jesus, after trying to avoid meeting him tell their stories. Zacceus and the woman who bled.

Mark 5:25-34 Unclean! Unclean! Unclean! That was me It was not really a life, more an existence, and a miserable existence at that. I was tired all the time and I was getting weaker, and weaker, and weaker. I had no energy, no joy or zest for life. Some days I could only lie on my bed all day. ...read more

Scripture: Mark 5:25-34

Denomination: Salvation Army

Changing Our "Why's" Into "How's"

Contributed by John Petty on Jan 11, 2008

Much of our time and energy is spent on trying to figure out "why" things happen, when we need to focus on "how" to make it through it.

2 Chronicles 20:1 (NKJV) 1 It happened after this that the people of Moab with the people of Ammon, and others with them besides the Ammonites, came to battle against Jehoshaphat. 2 Then some came and told Jehoshaphat, saying, "A great multitude is coming against you from beyond the sea, from ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 20:1-12

Denomination: Church Of God

Trick Questions - Probing Answers Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Nov 26, 2006

Jesus’ opponents try to trip him up, but his answers back reveal much about the human character and how many of us "play" church.

In a way this chapter is a direct attack against Jesus’ authority as the King and Messiah He has just claimed to be. They were not engaging in a verbal dialogue to discern the truth, they were engaged in verbal warfare in a public relations game to discredit Jesus and eventually kill him. Verses ...read more

Scripture: Luke 20:1-47

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Back To Life, Back To Reality Series

Contributed by David Owens on Jan 26, 2009

In the aftermath of defeating Goliath, David experienced a number of significant relationships. I this lesson we try to apply a number of things that David learned from these relationships.

Introduction: A. The story is told of three men who began talking one day about their wives. 1. The first man said, “When we got married, I told my wife in no uncertain terms that from now on she would have to do all the cooking. Well, the first day after I told her, I saw nothing. The second day ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 18:1-9

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Irreversible Decisions Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Jul 12, 2010

Many decisions are truly crossroads: you cannot reverse them or their consequences, try as you might. Therefore, we need to take decision making seriously.

Irreversible Decisions (Numbers 14:26-45) 1. The most important thing about you is your God and your relationship to him. This is more important than: education, health, vocation, family, intelligence, talent, riches… 2. Near the top of the list, perhaps second, is who you are. The sum ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 14:26-45

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Painting God's Masterpiece Part 1 Series

Contributed by Rodney V Johnson on May 23, 2009

This series will focus on the image that God has of us and how we can spend a lifetime trying to make His image of us a reality in our life.

Painting God’s Masterpiece Scriptures: Genesis 2:7; Ephesians 2:10; Proverbs 23:7; 29:18 Introduction: I have titled this series “Painting God’s Masterpiece.” My older brother Barry preached a sermon titled “Re-painting Your Canvas” and the idea for this sermon series is based on his ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 2:7

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Decisions - Decisions - Decisions - And How To Make Them Series

Contributed by Tom Shepard on Jun 3, 2009

This sermon looks at three aspects of Decison making; 1. Trust in the LORD 2. Stop trying to be in CONTROL 3. Acknowledge God in all our WAYS

Decisions – Decisions – Decisions – And How To Make Them I heard a story this week of a young lady who had been invited to the senior prom. Well of course – a young lady needs a new dress for the prom and it just happened that the young lady’s grandmother was a great ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 3:5-6

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Wait On The Lord - Isaiah 40:27-31

Contributed by Gary Snider on Oct 26, 2010

Everyday we lift prayers unto the Lord. We get impatient many times and try to make things happen on our own schedule and terms.

1 - PRAY STEADILY - "fainteth not....neither is weary..." - Daily 2 - PRAY SELFLESSLY 3 - PRAY FOR SOUNDNESS - Wisdom "....there is no searching of his understanding..." REALIZE THAT... 1 - GOD IS SOVEREIGN - "...the everlasting...the Creator..." 2 - GOD DEMANDS SUBMISSION - "...wait upon the ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 40:27-31

Denomination: Baptist

Don't Get Even

Contributed by William R. Nabaza on Aug 10, 2014

To show that if we have prayed for something, then move on by trying not to get even, and trust the LORD expectantly that He will do what He has promised to do.

I. EXORDIUM: Do you trust the LORD enough to help you? II. AUDIENCE PROFILE: Believers III. OBJECTIVES: To show that if we have prayed for something, then move on by trying not to get even, and trust the LORD expectantly that He will do what He has promised to do. IV. TEXT: Proverbs 20:22 ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 20:22

Denomination: Pentecostal

Auto Correcting God

Contributed by Rodney V Johnson on Apr 21, 2013

This message focuses on the auto-correct functions of smart phone and how we are sometimes like the smart phones in how we try to auto correct God.

Auto-Correcting God Scripture: Genesis 3:1-6; Genesis 5:1-3; Proverbs 14:12 Introduction: Although it was “my” goal to continue with my present series “Be Encouraged” I felt led to hold it until I return in a few weeks. This morning I want to share a brief warning with ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 3:1-6

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Unstrained Mercy

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Jun 9, 2011

Unstrained mercy needs to be constrained by the same constraints that God himself recognizes: by wisdom, by justice, by the long-term, eternal good of the person you are trying to help.

We’ve seen a lot about pardons in the news lately, haven’t we. Why did former President Clinton pardon Marc Rich? The “fugitive financier” is the nicely alliterative phrase that all the commentators use - I bet the journalist who coined the phrase is wishing he - or she - ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:7

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Facing Jezebel Series

Contributed by Ben Thomas on Nov 19, 2008

There are three battles and devil knows that he can not win first two, so he will try to win the third one- that is the battle between you and Devil...

Facing Jezebel 1 King 19:1 1 AHAB TOLD Jezebel all that Elijah had done and how he had slain all the prophets [of Baal] with the sword. 1.Elijah’s personal battle began at the gate of Jezreel A. He came to Jezreel and did not want to enter the city B. Pride affected his life. 1 Kings 19:10 ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 19:1-21

Denomination: Church Of God

The Question Of Love And Devotion Series

Contributed by Jerry Cosper on Jun 28, 2012

If you’re trying to DO ministry without the love of Christ in your heart, you’re wasting everyone’s time.

If you’re trying to DO ministry without the love of Christ in your heart, you’re wasting everyone’s time. Tonight’s passage is one that is specifically for the church and its ministers. It has one great lesson: love is the one basic essential for ministry. Without love, ...read more

Scripture: John 21:15-17

Denomination: Baptist