Sermons on Vain Help:

A Church Without Undercurrents (James 4:11-12) Series

Contributed by Garrett Tyson on Jul 9, 2022

A challenge to stop speaking evil of one another.

Today, we are going to work through just two verses from James 4, verses 11-12. These verses have their own little introduction and conclusion, and sort of stand alone. Let's start by reading just the first sentence in verse 11: (11) Don't speak evil of one another, brothers. In my ...read more

Scripture: James 4:11-12

When God Forces Himself To Not Help (Isaiah 42:10-17) Series

Contributed by Garrett Tyson on Apr 17, 2024

We can choose to live in a way where God will restrain himself, and resist the urge to help his people. God describes himself as a woman in labor, who has been fighting the urge to push.

Imagine today that the prophet of Isaiah 40-55 stands up in the midst of God's exiled people in Babylon, and he gives them a new word from God. He speaks out in a loud, clear voice. And this is what he says, verses 12-13: (10) Sing to Yahweh a new song; his praise from the end of the earth, ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 42:10-17, Isaiah 59:14-21, Luke 15:11-32

"good Friends"

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Feb 2, 2022

What does it mean to carry people to Jesus?

“Good Friends” Mark 2:1-12 At the church I served in East Ridge, we had a member named Tootsie Watson. Tootsie and her parents lived in a deteriorating part of town. And that is where Tootsie lived for her entire life—all 89 years of her life-- in the same house where she was born, in the ...read more

Scripture: Mark 2:1-12

Denomination: United Methodist

One Message Series

Contributed by Mark Schaeufele on Jan 13, 2025

If we have believed in the Lord Jesus, it will show by the way we live.

ONE MESSAGE Text: Acts 20:13-21 Introduction 1. Illustration: Brennan Manning wrote: “If Jesus would appear at your dining table tonight with knowledge of everything you are and are not, total comprehension of your life story and every skeleton hidden in your closet; if he laid out the real state ...read more

Scripture: Acts 20:13-21

Denomination: Methodist

My Soul Fainteth Series

Contributed by Ian Humphrey on Mar 19, 2024

My soul fainteth

Psalm 119:81-88 ? Caph - The Eleventh Part. It's Always Darkest before the Dawn - Paul & Silas in Prison. 1. The Troubling Stagnation - 81-83 - Soul Fainting - 81 My soul fainteth for thy salvation: but I hope in thy word. Here Is Dearth, Desire, Design, and Dependence. Sight Failing - ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 119:81-88

Denomination: Holiness

Lord, Please Move Me Out Of This Waiting Line John 5:1–9 (Esp. Vv. 6 & 8); Hebrews 6:10–12

Contributed by Christabel N. Onuoha on Jul 26, 2025

When you consider our topic, it is a prayer and not an instruction or a commandment. it reveals the critical need element in all of us and the desperate state of human depravity without the Savior and without divine help because we all need help.

I first preached this message in 2006, five unique variations in five different services. And with each one, I was profoundly blessed by the inexhaustible dimensions through which the same Scripture revealed Christ. One text. One Christ. Multiple perspectives. This particular message is the ...read more

Scripture: John 5:1-9, Hebrews 6:10-12

Denomination: Pentecostal

How The Holy Spirit Helps You Pay The Price To Be A Great Leader

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Oct 18, 2000

The Holy Spirit guides you to Godly leaders who will serve as great examples for you. David wrote, "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you." (Psa. 32:8)

How The Holy Spirit Helps You Pay the Price to be a Great Leader (Psa. 32:8) Illustration;Matthew Henry went to London, met a young lady of the nobility, who was also wealthy, and they fell in love. She went to ask her father if she could marry him and he said, "He’s got no background, you don’t ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 32:8

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Hoax, Hallucination, Or Historical Fact

Contributed by Mike Richardson on May 15, 2001

The very crux of Christianity rests in the fact of the resurrection of Jesus. Without that truth our hope, preaching and lives are in vain.

I Cor. 15:12-21 “Hoax, Hallucination, or Historical Fact?” Intro: The Key to our Hope is found in the Resurrection of Christ…PREACH! Without it our faith, hope and lives are empty…. I. WAS IT A HOAX? Some claim that it was a Hoax! A. They stole the body….EXPAND! 1. Somehow got past ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:12-21

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Spirit Of The Lord Is Upon Me

Contributed by Ian Johnson on Jun 5, 2003

The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; This is the key to all work in God! If the Lord is not there, then we labour in vain.

61:1 The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; 2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 61:1-3

Denomination: Pentecostal

Absalom

Contributed by Bala Samson on Jan 12, 2020

Muscle power, charm, money power, beauty, fame and popularity would be vain without wisdom from the Holy Spirit.

Absalom 2 Sameul 14:25”…Now in all Israel was no one as handsome as Absalom, so highly praised…” When something is too good to be true then be careful! When the offer is too spectacular, opulent and enormous then be cautious, for instance, I got an email stating that I was selected as the ‘best ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 14:25

Denomination: Pentecostal

How The Holy Spirit Helps Lifts Us Out Of Depression

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Oct 18, 2000

1. The Holy Spirit amplifies His nearness and comforting powers to us, when we are feeling depressed.

1. The Holy Spirit amplifies His nearness and comforting powers to us, when we are feeling depressed. David wrote, "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." (Psa. 34:18) Ask the Lord to help you feel His uplifting power as He rescues you from all kinds of ...read more

Scripture: John 15:26-27

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

How The Holy Spirit Helps Leaders Utilize Self-Control

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Oct 18, 2000

1. The Holy Spirit motivates us to serve with love from a pure heart, a good conscience and a sincere faith by helping us to control our thoughts, emotions, and choices.

1. The Holy Spirit motivates us to serve with love from a pure heart, a good conscience and a sincere faith by helping us to control our thoughts, emotions, and choices. Paul wrote, "The object and purpose of our instruction and charge is love, which springs from a pure heart and a good (clear) ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:6

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

How The Holy Spirit Helps Us Love Our Enemies

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Oct 18, 2000

1. The Holy Spirit helps us love our enemies by giving us a supernatural compassion for them despite their opposition to us.

1. The Holy Spirit helps us love our enemies by giving us a supernatural compassion for them despite their opposition to us. Jesus said, "Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you." (Luke 6:27,28) Ask the Lord to fill you up with an ...read more

Scripture: Luke 6:27-30

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

How The Holy Spirit Helps Us Improve Our Preaching

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Oct 18, 2000

Let the Spirit empower, enable and enlighten your mind so you can be a more effective communicator of His truth

Illustration;In a seminary missions class, Herbert Jackson told how, as a new missionary, he was assigned a car that would not start without a push. After pondering his problem, he devised a plan. He went to the school near his home, got permission to take some children out of class, and had them ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:23-24

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

How Can The Lord Help One Overcome Personal Lusts?

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Oct 18, 2000

Love not the world or the things in the world, for all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh... is not of the Father but is of the world.

How Can the Lord Help One Overcome Personal Lusts? How can I control my physical desires? ILlustration:While my wife and I were shopping at a mall kiosk, a shapely young woman in a short, form-fitting dress strolled by. My eyes followed her. Without looking up from the item she was examining, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 6:18-20

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational