Sermons on Trying:

Poverty, Yes, But Not Under Compulsion

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Aug 11, 2022

Those who try to force others to be good are playing God without acting like God.

Thursday of the 19th Week in Course If you did a survey among Americans to ask them to name their favorite saint, I would guess with some confidence that it is St. Francis of Assisi. And for a female saint, we could choose his close associate, St. Clare of Assisi, whom we celebrate today. As our ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 8:20, John 15:4-10, Hosea 2:16-22

Denomination: Catholic

Clever Sharing Of The Good News

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Nov 5, 2024

Looking at the story of the wasteful servant without trying to be too specific can be helpful to us today.

Friday of the 31st Week in Course 2024 Parables from Jesus struck the listeners as stories that might help them understand God’s kingdom. Often the real challenge is to look at the story as a whole, and ask what general lesson Jesus is trying to help us learn. The parable we just heard is one of ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 122:1-5, Luke 16:1-8, Philippians 3:17-21

Denomination: Catholic

Growing In Grace

Contributed by Joe Dan Vendelin on Jun 29, 2024

There are so many ways that we can try to strengthen ourselves. The writer of Hebrews charges us to allow our hearts to be strengthened by grace. Growing in grace is learning to turn to the Lord in trying times over any other external source of strength.

Growing in Grace Hebrews 13:9 says, “Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart be established by grace, not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied with them.” (NKJV) Growing in grace is about allowing our hearts to be ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 13:9, Ephesians 2:9, Hebrews 10:22, Hebrews 4:16, 1 Peter 5:10, John 16:33, Isaiah 36:6  (view more)  (view less)

If I'm Trying To Do God's Will, Why Am I Running Into So Many Problems?

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Jun 10, 2009

A look at the repetition of "overcome" in the letters to the seven churches.

A FRUSTRATION: If I’m trying to do God’s will, why am I running into so many problems? - Ever felt like giving up? Ever gotten tired? Ever wondered if it’s all worth it? Ever wondered why your attempts at faithfulness to Christ so often create more problems in your life and not less? A ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:7

Denomination: Baptist

Comforting Kingdom

Contributed by Ryan Sato on Jan 13, 2005

Have you ever heard of “Happy Hour?” This is a time where we try to distract ourselves from all the problems of the world and try to cope with the reality of real life…..I think one of the reasons that “Happy Hour” was created was in an effort to cope wi

Opener: Have you ever heard of “Happy Hour?” This is a time where we try to distract ourselves from all the problems of the world and try to cope with the reality of real life…..I think one of the reasons that “Happy Hour” was created was in an effort to cope with our sorrows. This topic of ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 40:1-31

Denomination: Baptist

Graveyard Dead

Contributed by Dennis Cocks on Mar 27, 2006

There are many people who try to deny that Jesus did indeed die on the cross. We hear of people all the time who try to dispute the resurrection of Jesus Christ. We have heard of the “swoon theory,” the “Passover plot,” and the Christian Science (neither

EASTER GRAVEYARD DEAD TEXT: John 19:16-30 INTRODUCTION: There is a seal of utter finality in the language of children. I remember hearing the term a “bazillion” the ultimate in numbers. There was none greater. Another term used was “graveyard dead.” It left no room for argument. Graveyard ...read more

Scripture: John 19:16-30

Denomination: Baptist

The Grace Of God

Contributed by Jeff Taylor on Mar 15, 2023

Grace will set you free from the tyranny of other people. Some of you are prisoners to other people's foolish opinions, their unreasonable demands, their domination and manipulation of your life. Quit trying to please the tyrants who are trying to control you.

Grace will set you free from the tyranny of other people. Some of you are prisoners to other people's foolish opinions, their unreasonable demands, their domination and manipulation of your life. I want you to hear this. Quit trying to please the tyrants who are trying to control you. Take ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 1:10, Romans 5:20

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Misery Of Futility Series

Contributed by Stephan Brown on Jan 5, 2002

Shows the different ways that men try to find fulfillment and how all of these ways leave the person miserable.

From the beginning when Adam and Eve first sinned by eating from the tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, mankind has been separated from God. But the problem is that man was created for the distinct purpose of having an intimate relationship with God. But God is holy and cannot have ...read more

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Revelation – The Purpose Of The Book Series

Contributed by Eddie Snipes on Oct 18, 2000

Many people try to use the book of Revelation as a prediction tool and in doing so, they miss the purpose of this book.

Revelation – The Purpose of the Book In this study from the book of Revelation, I am not going to take the normal approach of looking at the prophetic predictions of this book. Instead, I am going to look at the deep spiritual applications that fill this book. Because most people look only at the ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 1:3, Revelation 1:5-7

Denomination: Baptist

The Supremacy Of Christ Is Demonstrated In Our Personal Purity

Contributed by A. Todd Coget on Oct 26, 2001

This sermon demonstrates the uselessness of trying to purify ourselves because only Christ can truly prify us.

The Supremacy of Christ is Demonstrated in Our Personal Purity Colossians 3:1-11 October 28, 2001 Intro: A. [Catch-22 of Incompetence, Citation: Hank Simon, Belleville, Illinois; source: New York Times News Service, Belleville [Illinois] News-Democrat (1-18-00)] Most incompetent people don’t know ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:1-11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Kingdom Of Pointers Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on May 17, 2002

What is the difference between a guilt-ridden person who is frantically trying to reform society and the serious Christian?

A Kingdom of Pointers (John 1:19-51) Question: What is the difference between a guilt-ridden person who is frantically trying to reform society and the serious Christian? I. John the Baptist Was a Sort-of Reformer, but Not Frantic…. 1. Day one: while Jesus, returned from the dessert, is ...read more

Scripture: John 1:19-51

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Indescribable

Contributed by Joel W. Lohr on Mar 2, 2002

Trying to re-capture the wonder of our first love of Christ and to understand his indescribable love for us.

Have you ever been speechless? Have you ever been so overcome with emotion that words failed you? I can think of times in my life when I have been hard pressed to put words to my emotions and those times are more than memorable. Sometimes those moments that defy description are moments of ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:4-7

Denomination: Baptist

Ways To Ruin Your Witness

Contributed by Dan Borchert on Aug 30, 2002

The things we do in life can cause us to loose what we are trying to gain, a witness

Ways To Ruin Your Witness I Timothy 1:3-7 Introduction Wilkensburgh CC team Purpose/direction: To pursuit the commands and teachings of God and not to stray from them. Background: 1. Ephesus was the chief city in Asia Minor 2. Center of trade 3. Magic was a common practice in Ephesus Where I am ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 1:3-7

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

The Homecoming

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Sep 1, 2002

It is interesting to try and identify with the three characters in the story: 1. The prodigal. 2. The older son. 3. The father.

I realize that I have recently preached on this passage of scripture, but I feel compelled to speak on it again. The reason is that while on vacation I picked up Henri Nouwen’s excellent book entitled: The Return of the Prodigal Son: A Story of Homecoming. It is one of those books that pulls you ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-32

Denomination: Methodist

Born Free Series

Contributed by Guy Caley on Jun 16, 2002

The story of Hagar and Sarah illustrutes the shortcomings trying to do God’s Work man’s way.

Introduction Radio personality Paul Harvey tells the story of how an Eskimo kills a wolf: "First, the Eskimo coats his knife blade with animal blood and allows it to freeze. Then he adds another layer of blood, and another, until the blade is completely concealed by frozen blood. "Next, the hunter ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 4:21-31, Genesis 21:1-12

Denomination: Assembly Of God