Sermons on Without Defect:

Talk Is Cheap

Contributed by Gordon Pike on Mar 6, 2019

Actions or works may not create faith but they can reveal the substance and form of a person’s faith. To me, works is our faith made visible. “For just as a body without the spirit is dead” … a corpse … “so faith without works is also dead” … a corpse (James 2:26).

[Put up picture of me on screen.] Let me tell you a little bit about that man in the photo. He was 40 years old when that picture was taken. He was 20 months sober at the time. Well … “sober” is not the right word. He was a dry drunk” … which means that he hadn’t picked up a drink in 20 ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:18-25, Deuteronomy 15:15-17, James 2:14-26

Denomination: United Methodist

Plastic Faith

Contributed by Austin W. Duncan on Sep 26, 2025

Artificial leaves look healthy but produce nothing. In Mark 11 Jesus exposes leaf-only religion: a fig tree with no fruit, a crowded temple with no prayer, faith without forgiveness, and leaders without surrender. He clears space for real life with God—fruit, prayer, forgiveness, and obedience.

An artificial plant looks impressive. But it produces nothing. You could easily buy one at a store with thought that it will "bring life to any room." And—sure—it brings the appearance of life. The leaves stay green. They never drop. It never needs water. In fact, if I tried to water it, ...read more

Scripture: Mark 11:12-33

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Danger Of Chronic Complaining Series

Contributed by Shaila Touchton on Feb 20, 2024

Make no mistake, murmuring is sin. "Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world" (Phil. 2:14-15).

I want to write about a man who always complains and murmurs at all times. He is never satisfied with anything and always finds fault in every situation. He complains about his life, his job, his family, and even his church. He is like the Israelites in the wilderness, always grumbling and ...read more

Scripture: Jude 1:16

Maintaining The Unity Series

Contributed by John Lowe on Jul 4, 2018

The theme of this letter is "Christian Unity." Paul had established many churches, and watched them grow, so he realized that without unity, nothing else really matters.

The Book of Ephesians By: Tom Lowe Date: 8/3/17 Lesson 16: Maintaining the Unity (Ephesians 4:1-6) Ephesians 4:1-6 (KJV) 1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 2 With all ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

Balance

Contributed by Alan Perkins on Mar 30, 2001

How do we order our lives to do the things that are really important, without always feeling rushed and overwhelmed?

How many of you here this morning consider yourselves to be unbalanced? No, I don’t mean mentally unbalanced. I’m talking about feeling that your life is out of balance, that you’re spending too much time, and money, and energy on some things, and not enough on other things. I’m talking about ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:8, Luke 14:33

Denomination: Baptist

A Call To Purity

Contributed by Alan Stokes on Mar 7, 2001

This message, based on Matthew 5:8, shows how impossible it is to have a pure heart without God’s help.

Introduction: Read The Beatitudes ~ Matthew 5:3-10. Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5:8, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” I. Purity Beyond Our Reach Three of the ways we can stumble in purity is with impure words, impure emotions and impure thoughts ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:8, 1 Timothy 1:5

Denomination: Holiness

The Most Important Worship - A Sermon That Walks Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Apr 5, 2002

There are many ways to offer worship to God, but without this one form of worship, everything else we do is lip service.

OPEN: Reporters and city officials gathered at a Chicago railroad station one afternoon in 1953. The person they were meeting was the 1952 Nobel Peace Prize winner. A few minutes after the train came to a stop, a giant of a man - six feet four inches with bushy hair and a large mustache stepped ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:15-21, Matthew 7:21-25

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Excuses

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Jun 7, 2001

To lead the children to understand that following Jesus Christ involves being willing to suffer without offering excuses for negligent behavior.

Perseverance Would-Be Followers – Matt. 8:18-22; Lk 9:57-62 Preparation for the Teacher 1. Aim: To lead the people to understand that following Jesus Christ involves being willing to suffer without offering excuses for negligent behavior. 2. Explanation of the Aim: Many people aspire to follow ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 8:18-22

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

No Hope, False Hope, True Hope

Contributed by Steven Cook on Jan 5, 2003

There are those today without hope, while others have false hope. Is there a True Hope that we can depend on?

“No Hope; False Hope; True Hope” Titus 2:13 by Dr. Steven G. Cook I. Introduction A. Although Faith & Hope are closely linked together, but they should be clearly distinguished. B. Faith has work to perform today; Hope cheers faith along the way and points to rewards of service. C. Faith comes ...read more

Scripture: Titus 2:13, Titus 2:11-15

Denomination: Baptist

Blessed Assurance Series

Contributed by Ray Scott on May 14, 2003

No Christian can be effective without the assurance of their salvation. This sermon is the introduction to a series, but can stand alone as a sermon on the assurance of salvation.

“Blessed Assurance” INTRODUCTION: We begin a new series … on the assurance of salvation. We will take a look at the vital signs of a Christian from the perspective of the book of I John. Let me ask you two questions: o ARE you a Christian? o How do you KNOW you are a Christian? No ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 5:13

Denomination: Baptist

Church Aflame Series

Contributed by Robert Leroe on Feb 9, 2003

When our hearts are aflame for the Lord, we boldly proclaim without fear that Jesus saves, igniting the lives of others!

Conversions in the Book of Acts> The Day of Pentecost--Acts chapter 2 “Church Aflame” Reading> 2:1-4, 36-41 Pastor Bob Leroe, Cliftondale Congregational Church, Saugus, Massachusetts Pentecost set the church on fire! The occasion began as a Jewish festival occurring 50 days after Passover (the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:36-41, Acts 2:1-4

Denomination: Congregational

Hear The Cry

Contributed by Steve Lotze on Mar 27, 2007

Four things that God wants us to hear - The Cry from Without, from Above, from Below, and from Within

Hear the Cry Gen. 4:8-9 Gen. 4:8-9 “Now Cain said to his brother Abel, ‘Let’s go out to the field.’ And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him. Then the Lord said to Cain, ‘Where is your brother Abel?’ ‘I don’t know,’ he replied. ‘Am I my brother’s keeper?’” ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 4:8-9

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Great Day Of The Lord Series

Contributed by Keith Crouch on Mar 16, 2006

This is a message filled with direct truth on the hopeless plight of those that go into eternity without Christ from the series through Malachi.

The Great Day of the Lord Malachi 4:1-3 I. The Declaration of God’s Judgment (v. 1a) “For behold, the day is coming….” V. 1a A. Judgment Day is clearly taught in scripture (II Peter 3:10) B. It is a day that we should look for “For behold…….” – v. 1a C. It is a day that should be declared ...read more

Scripture: Malachi 4:1-3

Denomination: Baptist

Do You Pray?

Contributed by Ralph Andrus on May 28, 2007

- Life can be exhausting & disappointing - Prayer is essential for life prayer - Don’t live your life without prayer

- Ps 27:7 * Muslims pray because they are commanded to (5 times a day) and strict guidelines are laid down for this. - Fox News 12/6/06 Residents of a southern Somalia town who do not pray five times a day will be beheaded, an official said Wednesday, adding the edict will be implemented in three ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Know For Sure

Contributed by Charles Mallory on Jun 4, 2007

There can be no spiritual journey or rightful claim to Christianity without first having a personal encounter with Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

WE DETERMINE IF CHRISTIANITY BECOMES DEFINED AS EITHER RELGION OR RELATIONSHIP. THE DEFINING FACTOR OF WHAT CHRISTIANITY BECOMES IS BASED SOLELY ON WHERE WE DECIDE TO PUT JESUS IN OUR LIFE. SO, JUST HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A CHRISTIAN? WHAT CRITERIA WOULD YOU SAY NEEDS TO BE MET ...read more

Scripture: John 3:1-5

Denomination: Free Methodist