Sermons on Ulterior Motive:

It's A Love Hate Relationship Series

Contributed by Scott Maze on Jun 21, 2022

Would that your lips never question God’s love for you! Would that your mind never doubt God’s love for you! Would that your heart never cease to wonder at God’s love for you!

We are majoring in the minor Prophets this summer. Summer means baseball and the major leagues as well! Most of you know the name Jackie Robinson. Robinson was the first African American to break into Major League Baseball. Robinson broke baseball’s color barrier on April 15, 1947, when he donned ...read more

Scripture: Malachi 1:1-5, John 10:31-32, Luke 13:34

Denomination: Baptist

The Secret Place (Matthew 6:1-6) Series

Contributed by Jm Raja Lawrence on Feb 23, 2026

God is not impressed by your performance. He is drawn to your privacy. This Lenten season, He is calling you away from the crowd and into the secret place where only He sees.

THE SECRET PLACE Morning Lent Prayer, Day 4 INTRODUCTION There is a place God keeps calling you toward. Not a stage. Not a platform. A room with a closed door, where no audience exists except the Father. Jesus did not say, "If you pray." He said, "When you pray." Prayer is ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:6, Matthew 6:1, 1 Samuel 16:7, Galatians 1:10, Proverbs 21:2, Psalm 131:2, 1 Kings 19:12, Luke 5:16, James 4:8, Mark 14:36, Philippians 4:19  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

"When Someone Has Done You Wrong"

Contributed by Dennis Deese on Aug 17, 2002

When you are in the position of leadership, you will be provoked. David had 4 motivating thoughts to help keep him on track (to make the right decision) when most would have been easily diverted from God’s will. What were the four thoughts that led to h

Dr. Dennis Deese “WHEN SOMEONE HAS DONE YOU WRONG” (The Leader’s Self-Control) I SAMUEL 24:1-22 When you are in the position of leadership, you will be provoked. David had 4 motivating thoughts to help keep him on track (to make the right decision) when most would have been easily diverted ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 24:1-22

The Grace Of God Has Appeared Series

Contributed by Chris Appleby on Feb 3, 2004

It’s not the beginning of a new year that will motivate us to change our way of life. Rather it’s the awareness that God has revealed the depths of his grace to us in the person of Jesus Christ, who came to purify us and to show us how to live in God’s pr

Christmas is almost upon us. Only 4 more sleeps left. But what does Christmas mean to you? For some it just means more work. For some it involves the trauma of family reunions. For others it’s a time of joy as families get together to catch up, while for others it means loneliness. It’s a time for ...read more

Scripture: Titus 2:1-15

Denomination: Anglican

Thanksgiving

Contributed by Nathan Johnson on Nov 20, 2007

What motivates you to be truly thankful to God? Even our normal thanks to God becomes academic and anemic at times. We need to keep our praise to Him fresh and alive so our passion for Him remains fresh and alive. Psalm 100 gives us that boost to help

Thanksgiving Griffith Baptist Church – 11/18/07 A.M. Service Text: Psalm 100 Key Verse: Psalm 100:4 Purpose: To communicate the true motivation for thankfulness to God. The Introduction Two men were walking through a field one day when they spotted an enraged bull. Instantly they darted ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 100:1-5

Denomination: Baptist

Taking A Look At Family

Contributed by Daren Mitchell on Dec 8, 2012

There’s that thread again, “in the same way.” In what way are husbands to give honor to their wives? In the same way that gives God the glory and makes His name more famous in the community. The motive matters. If our homes look like God arranged them

1 Peter 3 is just one of many Scriptures that deal with our human families and the church family in the same context. One reason why the definition of marriage in our modern environment is so important is because God uses the analogy of human marriage to explain His divine relationship with his ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:1-10

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Shepherd & The Sheep 2 Of 6

Contributed by Charles La Porte on Jun 5, 2017

Too many times we approach God as though He is some kind of cosmic Santa Clause. We are distant and removed, and our only motive is to get something from Him. With God, we only want to receive blessing, or direction or instruction from Him. Yet God wants

The Shepherd & The Sheep 2 Friends With The King Announce the LIFE DISCIPLESHIP classes John 15:15 Too many times we approach God as though He is some kind of cosmic Santa Clause. We are distant and removed, and our only motive is to get something from Him. With God, we only want to receive ...read more

Scripture: John 15:15

Denomination: Pentecostal

Pseudo-Science Vs. Sanctification

Contributed by Dr. Craig Nelson on Feb 23, 2019

The Bible implores every Christian to “live by the Spirit” (Gal 5:16 NIV). This is no easy task and requires full submission to God of every minute detail of one’s life. Through the centuries church leaders have used numerous ways to motivate and encourage people to live and walk in the Spirit.

Some of the most recent human-made ideas to help bring about “spiritual” living, and help Christians better understand themselves - as well as others - to live in unity and purpose together, is the use of personality tests and gift assessments. Psychological job placement and career tests are used ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:16, Romans 8:5, Galatians 5:22, Ephesians 5:25-27, Titus 2:14, Hebrews 9:13, 1 Thessalonians 5:23, John 17:17-19, Ephesians 1:4  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Gifted (Part Ten) Series

Contributed by Derrick Tuper on Jul 30, 2018

First we looked at the motivational gifts in Rom. 12:6-8. Then the manifestation gifts in 1 Cor. 12:7-11. Now we'll go to Eph. 4:11, "It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists and some to be pastors and teachers."

GIFTED (part ten) We've looked at the motivational gifts in Rom. 12:6-8. Then we went to 1st Cor. 12:7-11 and looked at the manifestation gifts. Now we see another set of gifts in Eph. 4:11, "It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists and some to be pastors ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 10:2-4

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Uriah’s Be Careful

Contributed by Samuel M on Jun 24, 2024

Uriah blindly trusted David because of his reputation and position, without discerning his intentions and motives. Uriah worked hard and had a good reputation at work, yet he died as a result of David's grave sin. Uriah’s only mistake was blindly believing David.

And David wrote in the letter, saying, “Set Uriah in the forefront of the [c]hottest battle, and retreat from him, that he may be struck down and die.” 2 Samuel 11:15 When a man of God is living in sin, he is more dangerous than Satan. Run away from a man of God who is living in sin; he is ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 11:15

A Teacher's Heart Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Sep 21, 2015

How does the gift of teaching help the church? And does that mean that if we don't have this gift that we don't have to teach?

Little Johnny wasn't getting good marks in school. One day he came up to the teacher’s desk and looked like he wanted to say something. “Yes Johnny” the teacher said. “Is there something you want?” Very quietly he said, "I don't want to scare you, but my daddy says ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1-8

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Entire Bible In Miniature Form Series

Contributed by Mike Cleveland on Mar 11, 2008

This message examines five points that come directly from John 3:16. Four of these points have to do with God, and one has to do with us. 1. God’s initiation of salvation 2. God’s motivation in salvation 3. God’s inclusion in salvation 4. God’s

Let’s open our Bibles this morning to John chapter 3. We’ve been studying in John 3 for several weeks now; we’ve seen from verses 3-7 that the requirement of salvation is to be born again, we’ve seen from verses 15-16 that the method of salvation is Jesus’ death and our faith in Him, and we’ve seen ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Favor, Don't Leave Home Without It Series

Contributed by Caleb Anderson on Nov 7, 2016

Conviction can be cultivated. And the more passion you develop… the more clarity you get that this could be a mission from God that motivates me and matters to someone else. (It doesn’t have to be the last project I do… it probably won’t be…)

Last time: Conviction can be cultivated Stories so far… life group jumping in and coming back for 6pm tear-down 33-year-old mom who didn’t realize they’re doing a dream already friend: “We came to this church because it’s real and not weird… And I didn’t ...read more

Scripture: Romans 13:1-2

Denomination: *other

Woman Of Tyre A Mother’s Faithand Dog Food Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 19, 2021

Jesus never complimented anyone in a higher way than her, and yet she was a nobody. She was not the wife of a great man, or the mother of outstanding children. We don't even know her name. Her only claim to fame was her faith, for it was great, and it was motivated by her love as a mother.

Lucy Webb Hayes was one of the greatest mothers to ever live in the White House. She was the wife of the 19th President of the United States, Rutherford B. Hayes, who was elected in 1877. She was the first college educated first lady of the United States, but more important, she brought to the ...read more

Scripture: Mark 7:24-30

Sermon # 35 - The Heart Of A Christian Leader Series

Contributed by Andrew Dixon on Dec 18, 2024

Jonah was a prophet of God, but he did not understand the loving heart of God towards a repentant people. The heart of Moses as a leader of the Israelites and the forgiving heart of Jesus are the best examples of how a Christian leader should love and care for the people under his or her care.

We read in Jonah 4:1, “Jonah was very unhappy about this and became angry.” (GNB) There are two kinds of emotions that Jonah expressed as mentioned in the verse above, one was sadness, and the other was anger. As we meditate on this portion of scripture, we will try to understand the reasons for ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 4:1, Jonah 3:10, Philippians 1:15-16, Exodus 32:1, Exodus 32:4, Exodus 32:6, Exodus 32:7-8, Exodus 32:31-32, Luke 23:34  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Other