Sermons on Ulterior Motive:

The Day Of His Coming! Series

Contributed by Paul Carlson on Nov 19, 2015

In this passage God will give His people a final admonition to come back to Him before 400 years of silence. He is using the second coming of Christ as their motivation. Problem: People fail to prepare for the return of Christ.

Introduction: God is admonishing the nation of Israel to come back to Him. Do you think God is admonishing America… the church… families… individuals? How presumptuous it would be of us to ignore His plea to prepare for His earthly return. The Main Point: Because Christ is the ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

A Future With Focus Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 2, 2021

The key to happiness and success in the new year is to have a dream, and a goal to pursue. Without a dream or goal to motivate us we will just drift through the new year, and whatever we achieve will be a matter of chance and not design.

Vanna White, the glamorous star who turns the letter on Wheel Of Fortune, was a leader in her church youth group at North Myrtle Beach, North Carolina. Her pastor wrote about how he asked her, when she was a senior, what she was going to do after graduation. She responded that her dream was to ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:7-14

How To Finish Well Series

Contributed by James Wallace on Feb 8, 2021

Stories abound of folks who began well in the Christian faith, and in ministry, but failed to finish well. What does the Word of God say about how we can be motivated to follow Jesus faithfully to the end?

I was listening to one of our secular news and talk radio stations one morning this past week. And there was an innocent joke, of all things, about our subject this morning. A married couple was having a debate about who should get out of bed in the mornings to brew the coffee. Finally, the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:13, Hebrews 3:14, Colossians 3:16-17

Denomination: Bible Church

Stewardship Is About The Heart, Not Causes Series

Contributed by Doug Fannon on Oct 3, 2018

But part of stewardship is motive. Yes, giving is part of stewardship, but what is needed is not a rulebook telling us what to give, how much to give, by what means we give. What is needed is a heart that is right with Jesus.

Video: The Power of Giving (1:29 min) (Available on SermonCentral.com) What Every Christian Needs to Know About Stewardship: Stewardship in church terms has always meant giving. But over the last few weeks we have looked at stewardship meaning so much more. We established that all we have is ...read more

Scripture: John 12:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

Sinful But Called

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Feb 5, 2025

The power of God’s word, spoken to Peter and the others by the very Word of God, Son of the Father, was enough to kick in the adrenaline and motivate the fishermen to fish longer in the worst time of day in the part of the lake with the worst prospects.

Fifth Sunday in Course 2025 The first thing that strikes me as I read today’s Gospel is that Peter and his fishing crew had been working all night and then had cleaned their nets. These professionals had just worked at least ten hours and were ready to go home. Jesus came along with hundreds of ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:1-11, Luke 5:1-11, Psalm 138:1-5, Psalm 138:7-8, Isaiah 6:1-8  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Catholic

Defining The Relationship (Romans 8:12-17) Series

Contributed by James Jackson on Aug 13, 2022

When we trust Jesus as our Savior, everything changes in our relationship with God. Our motivation, our status, and our expectations. In Romans 8:12-17, God defines our relationship status.

Defining the Relationship Romans 8:12-18 This week, I asked several people around me if they knew t what a DTR was. My suspicion was that if you were a college student or young adult, you knew exactly what a DTR was, but that if you were older, you didn’t. And as it turned out, I was right. When I ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:12-17

Denomination: Baptist

In Terms Of Eternity

Contributed by Donald Whitchard on Jun 11, 2023

The Bible teaches that after death (Hebrews 9:27), we will face judgment and enter eternity, either heaven or hell. Consider what that means and how it should motivate us to spread the Gospel in these last days.

The Bible teaches that from the moment we are conceived, we are destined to live forever (Psalm 61:7; Daniel 12:2; Matthew 25:46: Romans 2:7). The LORD God Almighty saw fit to create us, give us meaning, a purpose, and conscience to use for His glory and our benefit (Psalm 73:25-28; Romans ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:13-21, Mark 9:43-48, Luke 16:19-31, Hebrews 9:27, 2 Corinthians 5:10, Revelation 20:11-15, John 5:28-29, John 3:16  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Jesus And Women Series

Contributed by Rev. Dr. Andrew B Natarajan on Mar 20, 2023

Reading of the Gospel according to Mark, inspires and motivates us to know the value of women. Jesus had tender heart and compassionate eyes upon them. He healed them, and forgiven them to live a happy life.

Mark 7:24-30 Jesus and Women in Mark Jesus and Women in Mark Women are prominent in the story of Christ Jesus. They are mentioned in no less than sixteen contexts. (Fabian Ekwunife Ezenwa). He was born of a woman, had numerous interactions with women, and was seen first by women after his ...read more

Scripture: Mark 7:24-30

Denomination: Methodist

The Better Priest Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Dec 11, 2022

God appointed Jesus to be our high priest in the order of Melchizedek. How is Jesus the better priest and how should that motivate us as we serve? Consider these thoughts from our Family Minister Scott Jewell

Christmas is quickly approaching. We’ve been looking at the book of Hebrews to recognize that Jesus is better. The gifts of the wise men remind us that Jesus is the better Prophet, Priest, King, and Sacrifice. Today, I’m going to focus on what it means for Jesus to be our better Priest. Read ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 5:1-10

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

What Is The Spirit Of Christmas? (3 Ways To Stop, 4 Ways To Promote The Spirit Of Christmas).

Contributed by Howard Strickland on Dec 21, 2022

The Spirit of Christmas moves forward motive free. One purpose and one agenda, Worship the King! I want to give you 3 ways to stop the spirit of Christmas. 4 ways to promote the spirit of Christmas.

What Is The Spirit Of Christmas? Matthew 2:7-12NKJV The Spirit of Christmas moves forward motive free. One purpose and one agenda, Worship the King! From the very beginning of Matthew 2, we will read case and point, Herod had an agenda, “Find Jesus and destroy Him; Destroy a baby! (Satan ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:7-12, Luke 24:49

Denomination: Pentecostal

Don’t Be A Mule Repent Before The Rod Falls - Psalm 32:3-5, 8-10 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on May 30, 2025

If there is some sin that your heart keeps clinging to and you’re reluctant to give up, this message will motivate you to repent and will show you how to learn the easy way instead of the hard way (like a mule).

You will learn how to know when you are experiencing God’s rod and what to do when it happens. This message destroys once for all the insanity that says, “I’ve already blown it for today—might as well get it out of my system and start fresh tomorrow.” When you find yourself saying that, ask, ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 32:3-10

Hell? Yes!

Contributed by Klaus Mehrl on Aug 30, 2005

Without a understanding of the doctrine of hell and the fact that people without faith in Christ face an eternity in hell, we have no great motivation to withness our faith and be involved in mission and ministry. This fact changes our perspective and giv

One of the old time managers of the New York Yankees was Joe McCarthy, who was also a Baseball Hall of Famer. He once said that he had a dream in which he was in heaven and had assembled before him a team of all of the old time greats – Ty Cobb, Lou Gehirg, Babe Ruth, and others. He was ecstatic! ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 10:28

Denomination: Lutheran

"Purpose"

Contributed by Ken Harris on May 7, 2006

The purpose of this sermon is to motivate the hearers to affirm to others that before they were born God had formed and shaped them for a particular PURPOSE, which requires His Holy Spirit to set them apart in preparation for His Service.

Jeremiah 1:5 (MSG) *Jeremiah 1:5 (GW) 7 May 2006 U.S. Army Chaplain (MAJ) Ken Harris CP Walker Multicultural Gospel Service Taegue, South Korea BIG IDEA: The Lord who formed and shaped us knows the particular PURPOSE he intended us for, but unless He Sanctifies us by ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 1:5

Denomination: Pentecostal

"Steadfast Hope" Series

Contributed by Robert Leroe on Jul 5, 2002

A. The depths of despair (vss 1-2); B. God’s forgiveness (vss 3-4); C. The process of waiting and hoping (vss 5-6); D. Motivation to tell others (vss 7-8).

Psalm Steps> “Steadfast Hope” -Psalm 130 Pastor Bob Leroe, Cliftondale Congregational Church, Saugus, Massachusetts Introduction and Outline Psalm 130 is a literal Song of Ascents—it climbs from the abyss of depression to the high ground of steadfast hope. In this brief penitential psalm we ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 130:1-8

Denomination: Congregational

Be Empowered, Enriched And Enabled By The Spirit

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Jan 19, 2004

Why are so many people seeming to lack motivation to give of their best to the Master? Could it be that they are not that intimately acquainted with His Holy Spirit? Learn how to be empowered, enriched and enabled by the Spirit. Ask the Lord to help you t

Be Empowered, Enriched and Enabled by the Spirit 1 Chronicles 29:10-18 Illustration: Sometime back the Associated Press carried this dispatch: "Glasgow, Ky.--Leslie Puckett, after struggling to start his car, lifted the hood and discovered that someone had stolen the motor." Many Christians ...read more

Scripture: 1 Chronicles 29:10-18, 1 Chronicles 29:1-28

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational