Sermons on Worthless Pleasures:

"The Prodigal Son" Series

Contributed by Allan Kircher on Jan 31, 2011

Anyone would be crazy to give up a relationship with God for the pleasures of this world. We would be foolish to give what we cannot LOSE to gain what we cannot KEEP!

“The Prodigal Son” Luke 15:11:32 Pastor Allan Kircher Shell Point Baptist Church 23 Jan 2011 “God’s Joy and Sorrow” The term “Blood is thicker than water” is an old proverb referring to the strong ties which bind families together. Persons who have ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:1-33

Denomination: Baptist

The Stewardship Of Joy

Contributed by Davon Huss on Sep 17, 2016

Let's talk about the pleasures of joy and then the stewardship of joy (Material adapted from Robert C. Roberts' book, Spiritual Emotions, chapter 8 Joy, pgs. 114-129)

HoHum: From Max Lucado- “I have everything I need for joy!” Robert Reed said. His hands are twisted and his feet are useless. He can’t bathe himself. He can’t feed himself. He can’t brush his teeth, comb his hair, or put on his underwear. Strips of Velcro hold his ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:16

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Dividends Of Life Series

Contributed by Christopher Benfield on Mar 21, 2018

Following His encounter with the rich, young ruler, Jesus discussed the difficulty of salvation for those distracted by pleasures. We are making an investment in something that eventually will pay dividends. Invest wisely!

The Dividends of Life Mark 10: 23-31 Our text today reveals the benefit of expositional Bible study – considering the Scriptures verse by verse, line by line. While it would be possible to grasp the truth of this text without such an approach, it bears more weight when considered in the context of ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:23-31

Denomination: Baptist

How To Have A "mary" Christmas

Contributed by Gary Martin on Dec 19, 2020

Martha had the very unique pleasure of having the Almighty God physically in her home. And we have the very unique opportunity to have the Almighty God living inside of us.

How To Have A “Mary” Christmas Text: Luke 10:38-42 38 Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:38-42

Denomination: Apostolic

Stop Chasing The World You Will Be Left Empty And Broken. Series

Contributed by Shaila Touchton on Mar 9, 2024

The world we live in often entices us to chase after its fleeting pleasures and riches but let us be reminded that these things are temporal and will ultimately leave us empty and broken.

We live in a world that is consumed by chaos and darkness. Every day, we are bombarded with news of conflict, suffering, and despair. It can be easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of worldly pursuits and seek to impress those around us with our accomplishments and possessions. As Jesus taught ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:19-20, Psalm 34:19, Luke 12:15, Colossians 3:2

Strong Societies, Strong Churches, Built On Strong Families

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Dec 26, 2024

Evil works for his own devious pleasure by separating family, dividing man and woman from each other and parents from their children. Jesus pulls us together into a family,

Feast of the Holy Family 2024 Simeon and Anna knew just as the little family walked into the Temple with their pair of pigeons that something wonderful was going to happen. The human family torn apart by sin was being reconstituted in faith and love. There’s a critical moment in Milton’s Paradise ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 128:1-5, Colossians 3:12-21, Luke 2:22-40

Denomination: Catholic

Sermon: God’s Promise Of A Turnaround

Contributed by Otis Mcmillan on Mar 4, 2025

Haggai calls God’s people to consider their priorities. Secondly, consider the Lord's Pleasure and finnaly, the leadership must consider Our Lord's Purpose.

Sermon: God’s Promise of a Turnaround Scripture Lesson: Haggai 2:18-23 “Think about this eighteenth day of December, the day when the foundation of the Lord’s Temple was laid. Think carefully. I am giving you a promise now while the seed is still in the barn. You have not yet harvested your grain, ...read more

Scripture: Haggai 2:18-23, Zechariah 4:6-10, Zephaniah 3:9, Psalm 30:11

Denomination: Methodist

The Illusion Of Success

Contributed by Justin Dietel on Jul 24, 2024

Good morning, everyone. Today, I want to talk about something that I believe touches all of us at some point in our lives: the pursuit of worldly pleasures and success

Ephesians 2:11-22 Common English Bible The reconciliation of God’s people 11 So remember that once you were Gentiles by physical descent, who were called “uncircumcised” by Jews who are ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:11-22

08 - James 4:1-10 Series

Contributed by Michael Collins on Aug 29, 2021

This is the 8th of 11 Studies in the Book of James. In this study we'll be looking at the root of conflict, friendship with the world, pride, humility, submitting to God, resisting the devil, repentance and more.

James 4:1-6 Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? 2 You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:5, Proverbs 3:34, Matthew 19:16-30, Exodus 20:5-6, Matthew 24:25-34, Matthew 6:24, James 1:8, James 4:1-10  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Our Faith Potential

Contributed by Barry O Johnson on Sep 2, 2025

Why does God need us to walk in ALL of the faith that He has deposited into us?

So much of what we hear about faith today is designed to motivate us to pursue faith for ourselves and the things we desire. And because of a “me first” attitude, many in the Church are not walking in their faith potential. They don’t understand the purpose of faith and what they can do to help ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:17, Hebrews 11:6, Romans 12:3, Colossians 2:10, Galatians 3:23-24, Galatians 4:1-2, Romans 8:13, Luke 6:12, John 5:30, John 7:16, Jude 1:20, Matthew 17:20-21  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Autumn Trees Without Fruit – Doubly Dead And Uprooted Jude 1:12 Series

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Aug 16, 2022

Autumn fruits that are withered from worthless trees. - this is the next description Jude gives of these wicked false teachers who savage the truth of the gospel. These men cause havoc but they are described as "doubly dead and uprooted". God hates His truth being destroyed.

AUTUMN TREES WITHOUT FRUIT – DOUBLY DEAD AND UPROOTED Jude 1:12 What was the title of the last message? And how did Jude describe the false teachers in the one before that? Remember, what the false teachers represent, but then the Christians must be the opposite. (This is part of ...read more

Scripture: Jude 1:12, 1 Kings 13:1-5, Mark 11:20, Hosea 9:16, Deuteronomy 29:28, 2 Chronicles 7:17-22, Psalm 1:3, Romans 8:10-11, John 10:27-28, Romans 16:25, 2 Corinthians 1:21-22, Colossians 2:7, Job 19:10  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Four Paths To Happiness--Two Are Dead-Ends

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Feb 9, 2014

Of the four roads supposed to lead to happiness, two are dead-ends--the pursuit of pleasure and the pursuit of honor and power--but the paths of service and union with God actually get us there.

Seventh Sunday in Course 2014 Our family has for several years tried each February 2, or thereabouts, to watch the Bill Murray film, “Groundhog Day.” For those of you who are unfamiliar with it, the movie follows Bill Murray as Phil Connors, a weather forecaster for a 2nd rank TV ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:38-48

Denomination: Catholic

Moses - God's Fellow Worker Series

Contributed by Greg Nance on Mar 11, 2012

Moses was a worker for God. Hebrews 11 shows how he gave up pleasures and the palaces of Egypt for the pain and pressure of leadership. He was looking for a reward. Can we do that in Christ?

Last week we started a study on what the Bible says about work. We noticed that the very first two chapters of the Bible introduces God as a worker. God worked six days creating everything, then God rested on the seventh day setting up a divine pattern for a work week for us. When God made man ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:24-27

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Transfiguration, A Mountain Top Experience For Us All.

Contributed by Gordon Mcculloch on Feb 11, 2018

Mountain top experiences are there for a reason. They are not just moments of Epiphany or pleasure; they can be needed prior to a painful time. Also notice how many coincidences in this short passage and what that means for us.

This sermon was delivered to Holy Trinity in Ayr, Ayrshire, Scotland on the 11th February 2018 (a Scottish Episcopal Church in the Dioceses of Glasgow and Dumfries). 2 Kings 2:1-12 Psalm 50:1-6 2 Corinthians 4:3-6 Mark 9:2-9 Psalm 19:14: Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of our ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:2-9, 2 Corinthians 4:3-6

Denomination: Episcopal

Your Date With Destiny Series

Contributed by Perry Fowler on Sep 28, 2023

God designed a destiny for us, and how pleasurable to it to the heart of God when we embrace His ultimate and eternal plan for us. What is that destiny? The writer of Hebrews unfolds it before us.

What do you think about when you hear the word “destiny?” For Bob Cartwright, the word was a morbid word. On October 11th, 2006, Bob Cartwright was invited to join a pilot friend and New York Yankees pitcher Cory Lidle to see a playoff game between the Yankees and Detroit Tigers. Cartwright ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 2:5-10

Denomination: Baptist