Sermons on useless pursuits: showing 481-495 of 16,894

Watching The Steps We Take Series

Contributed by Darren Ethier on May 7, 2002

2 of 4 of the series In Pursuit: The Jesus Walk. Those pursuing Jesus and wanting to walk the Jesus walk will watch where they are stepping. In doing so they ask the question, "Am I in the way or am I in the way?"

WATCHING THE STEPS WE TAKE Luke 5:27-28 Read at beginning of service: Matthew 16:23-25 (NIV) 23 Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men." 24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:23-25, Luke 5:27-28

Denomination: Pentecostal

Pray, Plan, Position Series

Contributed by Chip Monck on Oct 31, 2005

Second sermon in a series through the book of Nehemiah exploring the pursuit of God’s vision for our lives. Sermon addresses the need to pray, plan, and position yourself for the fulfillment of God’s vision in your life.

Have you ever felt like you were in the wrong place, at the wrong time? Hopefully not in the next few minutes, but four teenagers were arrested in the parking lot of a large mall in Lakeland, Florida, just before Christmas when, attempting to steal an automobile at random, they tried to break into ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 2:1-8

Denomination: Wesleyan

The Bottom Line: The Way I See It Series

Contributed by Scott Chambers on Apr 8, 2013

This is the final message in a series from the book of Ecclesiastes that examines Solomon's wisdom in regard to the mistakes that he had made in his life. This message examines the conclusion Solomon reaches after all of his different pursuits.

Dear Diary, “My life resembles a train wreck, I wish I could get some advice on how to get everything back on track before it’s too late.” There is some great wisdom in nursery rhymes. Consider the words of this timeless classic. “Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall. Humpty Dumpty ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 12:9-14

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Unity Series

Contributed by Dan Cormie on Sep 4, 2011

The Triune God in three sentences: There is one God. God is three persons. Each Person is fully God. Truth matters all the time and in every circumstance but never more than in our pursuit of the knowledge of God.

Dakota Community Church September 4, 2011 Unity Jeremiah 9:23-24 This is what the LORD says: “Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 6:4

Denomination: Mennonite

Jesus Is Real

Contributed by Scott Maze on Jun 24, 2021

Whether it is two young Mormons who knock on your door or you decide to read the Qur’an for yourself, searching for the real answers in life is very different than most of our life’s pursuits.

When the crowds were increasing, he began to say, “This generation is an evil generation. It seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah. For as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. The queen of the South will ...read more

Scripture: Luke 11:29-36

Denomination: Baptist

Peace On Earth

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Apr 24, 2024

Do you know God’s peace in the midst of situations that the world gets anxious about? If not, examine yourself: Is your faith in Him and your focus on His kingdom, rather than on selfish pursuits?

Opening illustration: Review my life: 1970-71 was the Indo-Pak war and my family and I were in the war-zone living most of the nights in blackouts and bunkers when the war planes would come. 1980’s (for a decade) national unrest and civil war. 1990-91 we were just married and thrust into region of ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:8-14

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Power Encounter

Contributed by Joe Dan Vendelin on Sep 28, 2024

Saul lived a life in pursuit of persecuting followers of Christ until he had a power encounter with Christ. Then, Saul became Paul and brought the power of God in full persuasion to all who would hear.

POWER ENCOUNTER The Apostle Paul said, “And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 2:4-5i PERSUADED BY POWER Paul was ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:9, 1 Corinthians 2:4-5, Acts 18:4, Acts 19:8, Acts 9:1-9, John 1:4, Matthew 5:13-16, Numbers 20:1-13, Exodus 17:1-7  (view more)  (view less)

Hey, I Thought I Planted A Fig Tree

Contributed by Ervin Kimrey on Jun 4, 2005

What would happen if unfruitfull christians were treated like other things that are useless? God did’nt save you to warm the pew. Jesus got angry with the fig tree that did’nt bare fruit and cursed it so that it died. Maybe if we faced death we would b

HEY, I THOUGHT I PLANTED A FIG TREE Matthew 21:18-20 Intro: What do we do when something doesn’t work ? 1. Put it to the side 2. Get mad and… 3. Get rid of it 4. Try to fix it I. THE TREE’S PURPOSE A. To bear fruit B. To feed the hungry C. To multiply II. THE TREE’S PROBLEM ? A. It ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:18-20

Denomination: Baptist

Christmas According To Mary Series

Contributed by Jonathan Mcleod on Dec 4, 2006

No matter who you are, the Lord can use you. You are not useless. No matter what problems you face, the Lord is with you. Your situation is not hopeless. No mater what He has promised, the Lord can do it. Your God’s power is limitless. What does God

Two young boys were spending the night at their grandparents’ house the week before Christmas. At bedtime, the two boys knelt beside their beds to say their prayers. The younger one began praying at the top of his lungs: “I PRAY FOR A NEW BIKE…” “I PRAY FOR A NEW NINTENDO…” His older brother ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:26-38

Denomination: Baptist

Hope For An Alienated World Series

Contributed by Daniel Devilder on Dec 1, 2006

This sermon is part of a 4 sermon series on the Promise of God leading up to Christmas. Today’s sermon shows God’s pursuit of us, even amidst our rebellion: His hope is given to those not deserving.

[This sermon is part of a 4 sermon series on the Promise of God leading up to Christmas. One of my earlier sermons, it is not a full manuscript. It is hoped that the introductory notes on the Promise in Genesis, and the sermon out line that follows, will aid in developing your own sermon series ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 12:1-3

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Why Does Pleasure Never Seem To Last? Series

Contributed by Scott Chambers on Apr 8, 2013

This is the first message in a series from the book of Ecclesiastes that examines Solomon's wisdom in regard to the mistakes that he had made in his life. This message examines the pursuit of pleasure and how it can squeeze God out of our lives..

Dear Diary, “Why does pleasure never seem to last?” That question is at the heart of America’s relentless pursuit of pleasure. Americans are constantly moving from one thing to another in hope of finding something that will provide pleasure that doesn’t fade away. As I was ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 2:1-11

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Jesus' Glorious Prayer For Our Unity Series

Contributed by Sterling Franklin on Dec 12, 2010

Jesus prayed for those who would follow Him in generations down the road. He prays for us to be unified, and it should be our pursuit to promote Christian unity and to point to Him and His Glory through our lives.

Originally given at Glorious King Jesus Christian Church, 12/12/10 Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:10-13 1 Corinthians 1:10-13 (NKJV) 10 Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that ...read more

Scripture: John 17:20-26

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Love Of Money

Contributed by Craig Condon on Sep 24, 2016

The pursuit of money or all the things it can buy is a problem. It shows that we are putting our faith, our sense of security and our hope for the future in material goods. Instead, we need to put our hope in God.

How many of you have heard of the American Dream? It’s not a dream that is limited to the United States. In fact, it’s a worldwide phenomenon. It is the desire to pursue prosperity, success and upward social mobility. While it is not wrong to be successful in life, the pursuit of the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:6-19

Denomination: Anglican

Nothing Withheld

Contributed by Isaac Butterworth on Jan 12, 2015

In our relentless pursuit of what is expedient for us, we have run the other way from God, but in Christ God has run to us and for us, and he has provided the Lamb for the sacrifice that will reclaim us for God.

Have you ever felt that God was asking you do the impossible, that what he was asking of you might be more than you could give? more than you could bear to give? Someone at work gets the promotion you were applying for – hoping for – and you know you are better qualified for the job. ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:17-19

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

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