Sermons on Understanding Self:

Joy Versus Happiness

Contributed by Stephen Belokur on Mar 12, 2015

The world relentlessly pursues self-statisfying happiness with utter disregard for the Joy of the Lord. Even those who authored the declaration of independence thought that the "pursuit of happiness" was a God given right. So ... what does the Bible say?

Let’s take a look at a couple of Scriptures … Ecclesiastes 12:8 (NASB) “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher, “all is vanity!” Ecclesiastes 12:8 (HCSB) “Absolute futility,” says the Teacher. “Everything is futile.” Ecclesiastes ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:2

Denomination: Nazarene

Christian Toolbox Basics

Contributed by Jim Twamley on Apr 2, 2003

I like to think that every Christian is born again with a spiritual toolbox. In your Christian toolbox are some basic tools. We all need to become experts in using these tools if we want to become mature Christians.

CHRISTIAN TOOLBOX BASICS Let me see the hands of everyone who has a toolbox. (interview people “What do you have in your toolbox?” - (next person) “Do you have anything different in your toolbox?” “Why do you have a toolbox?” “What would your life be like without your tools?”) I like to ...read more

Scripture: John 10:1-5, James 5:13

Denomination: Pentecostal

Stop Feeling Guilty

Contributed by Troy Borst on Aug 17, 2011

All of that is important, but it is David’s record of Psalm 51 which is his diary of sorts on how he dealt with that guilt. David’s wrote his heart down on paper and we have it recorded in Scripture for us. All of us deal with guilt from many different

STOP FEELING GUILTY PSALM 51 & PSALM 32 INTRODUCTION The movie “Saving Private Ryan” (1998) is a movie that many of us have seen and is quite a memorable movie because of its portrayal of the D Day invasion of Normandy in World War II. The movie begins and ends with an elderly man ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 51:1-19

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Religion, Reformation, Or Relationship

Contributed by Jerry Flury on Nov 1, 2017

What matters is not what religion you are or cleaning up your act. What matters is your relationship with Christ.

Religion, Reformation, or Relationship Matthew 12:34b-50 Traditionally, on New Year’s Day, many people make resolutions. About 85% of those made are for some form of self-improvement. While most of those who make resolutions are sincere, only 8% ever achieve their goal. How many times have you ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 12:34-50

Denomination: Baptist

Felix Was Alarmed (But He Wasn't Saved)

Contributed by Steve Klein on Oct 3, 2025

The Roman Governor Felix was alarmed when he heard Paul reason of righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment. But was he alarmed enough?

In Acts 23, Paul had been taken into custody in Jerusalem. After a plot to kill him was uncovered, the Romans whisked him away to Caesarea by night for safe keeping until a hearing before the Roman Governor Felix. Felix was Marcus Antonius Felix, a Roman procurator (governor) of Judea from ...read more

Scripture: Acts 24:24-26

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Your New Name Series

Contributed by Ken Ritz on Mar 1, 2016

Part one of a series on the life of Jacob

Your New Name Dying to Self, Part One If you have your bible, turn to Genesis chapter 32. We’re starting a new series today, based on the life of Jacob. Gen 32:22 TNIV That night Jacob got up and took his two wives, By the way, we’ll deal with that in a couple weeks… his two ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What’s In It For Me Series

Contributed by Dr. Jerry N. Watts on Jun 13, 2010

Taking this popular mantra and applying it to James 1:12, the message brings to light how thin and shallow this approach to life really is.

How to Do Life What’s In It for ME? James 1:12 * (Show the title on the screen.) Please read this phrase with me (read). Last week I Googled this phrase and returned 414,000,000 hits. We live in a “What’s in it for me (WIIFM)” culture. It begins with people’s approach to government which only ...read more

Scripture: James 1:12

Denomination: Baptist

Taking The Focus Off Of Ourselves Series

Contributed by Larry Wilson on Aug 25, 2011

In sermon four of the series, What am I Missing Here?, we continue to answer the question, "Why have I lost my joy?" This message deals with the importance of "looking unto Jesus" instead of constantly focusing on self. Peace is promised to those whose mi

What am I Missing Here? Steps to Recovering Your Joy October 24, 2010 Calvary Baptist Church Hebrews 12:2 SERMON 4: Taking the Focus Off of Ourselves What am I missing here? What is wrong with me? Why am I not finding joy in the Lord? • First, may I say to you, that it is good that you have ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:2

Denomination: Baptist

Where Am I And Where Am I Going

Contributed by Henry Shellman on Sep 4, 2011

This sermon encourages one to consider where they are in their spititual life and where they are going,

Joh_14:4-6 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. Where Am I? I have here four different ...read more

Scripture: John 14:4-6

Denomination: *other

Give Your Life Away Series

Contributed by Isaac Butterworth on Apr 5, 2022

There are at least four core commitments for Christian living: (1) abide in the Word, (2) pray your heart out, (3) be killing sin, and (4) give your life away.

Our lives tell a story—a story about who we are and what we value, where we’ve come from and where we’re going, what we want and what we’ll do to get it. And what most of us do is, we make “the story” of our lives about us. But God makes “the story” of our lives about Christ. Someone has said, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:18-27

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Twelve Inches From Heaven - Presenting The Gospel ( My Story ) Series

Contributed by Bob Marcaurelle on Feb 8, 2019

This message shows that believing in Jesus must be accompanied with repentance, which is not giving up a list of sins others tell us to do but being willing to do what God tells us to do.

Twelve Inches from Heaven (Presenting the Gospel - My Story) Matthew 7:15-23 “Call his name, Jesus (The Lord saves), because He will save His people from their sins.” -Matt. 1:21 “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” – Acts 2:4 DEFINING SALVATION FORGIVENESS The word “save” ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:16-28, Matthew 25:31-44, Luke 18:9-14

Denomination: Baptist

Little Things That Illustrate The Power Of The Tongue! Series

Contributed by John Wright on Feb 1, 2010

James teaches that a small briddle for a horese, a small rudder for a ship, a small tongue in comparrison to an out of control tongue warns us of the tremendous dangers of the tongue.

INTRODUCTION 1. Open your bible to James 3:3-6. 2. The title of our lesson: “Little things that illustrate the power of the tongue”! 3. James 3:3-6 is filled with visual images. 4. The three images that James uses illustrate the point that since they are small and yet control ...read more

Scripture: James 3:3-6

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Picture Of Selfishness- The Younger Son Series

Contributed by Jeffery Anselmi on Jun 4, 2010

From the younger son we will see the issues that follow those who chose to live a selfish life.

INTRODUCTION • SLIDE #1 • Over the next three weeks we are going to examine the interesting interactions of a family. This is a story of a father and his two sons. We have a father who owns what is likely a vast amount of property. His sons worked the land with him. • The younger of the two sons ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-32

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Guilt, Grief And Grudges Series

Contributed by Tom Shepard on Feb 8, 2007

This is the third in a series on how to deal with stress in our lives. God’s antidote for wounded emotions. All the sermons in this series are taken from the 23rd Psalm.

Guilt, Grief and Grudges How to Deal With Damaged Emotions Today we are continuing our series Stressbusters. We are going through the 23rd Psalm and looking at seven ways we can relieve stress in our lives. We have already looked at how to deal worry and how to deal with busyness. Today we are ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 23:3

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Jonah Is Us Series

Contributed by Ken Mckinley on Jul 11, 2013

This is the conclusion of our series in the Book of Jonah. This was a hard sermon that challenged our congregation to examine how we are like Jonah, and what we should do about it.

Jonah Concluded Text: Jonah 4:5 – 11 So we’re finishing up in Jonah today… I thought after last week I’d be done with it, but as I was re-reading it… just going over it one last time to see if the Lord would have me say any more on this book. I realized that I ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 4:1-11

Denomination: Independent/Bible