Sermons on Worthless Pursuits:

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

Why Is There So Much Arguing Among Christians? Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Jan 29, 2014

There is a lot of arguing among Christians. This sermon looks at why that's largely worthless and where God would have to focus instead.

ARGUING AND CONTROVERSIES: Sometimes we act like the symbol of our faith is a bullhorn. - 1 Timothy 1:4 (“promote controversies”), 6 (“meaningless talk”), 7. - Sometimes we act like a bullhorn is the symbol of our faith – we speak loudly to drown out the other ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 1:3-7

Denomination: Baptist

My Role In My Spiritual Growth Series

Contributed by Tom Shepard on Aug 8, 2007

This is the first in a series of sermons based on "The Pursuit Of Holiness" by Jerry Bridges.

My Role In My Spiritual Growth – Cleaning Up A farmer goes out and plows his field. He sows the seed. He cultivates the plants and fertilizes them. All the while he knows that the plants grow because of forces outside of himself. The farmer is utterly dependent on forces he can not control. He can ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 3:18

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Memorial Day: The Search For Peace Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on May 25, 2013

Peace is more than the mere absence of war; it involves the pursuit of love

Memorial Day 2013 Monday of 8th Week in Course Gaudium et Spes The rich young man, we read here, responded to the challenge of Jesus by walking away. It says his “face fell.” That doesn’t capture the full emotional meaning of the Greek text. It uses the word stygnasas. The ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:17-27

Denomination: Catholic

Rally Sunday

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on Sep 15, 2011

I dream of us recapturing that deep desire to worship and the pursuit of excellence.

Rally Sunday Sept 11, 2011 Intro: What’s your dream? Do you have one?? I don’t mean the Oh, I’d love to visit Australia kind of dream. Nor the I wish I were beautiful and popular and skinny like celebrity so-and-so kind of dream. Those are either not really that ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 84:10

Denomination: Baptist

Divine Intimacy Series

Contributed by Bruce Rzengota on Mar 3, 2017

RECOGNIZING JESUS DESIRE, THE PURSUIT OF DIVINE INTIMACY SHOULD DEFINE US.

Divine Intimacy 1/15/17 John 17:1-3 INTRODUCTION What's on your wish list? Buzzfeed regularly makes some suggestions for items to add to your wish list on Amazon. Here is some of their recent top suggestions. Rainbow projector A Peanut butter cake mix for your dog's next birthday A gift basket ...read more

Scripture: John 17:1-3

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Jehovah-Rapha “the Eternally Self-Existent One Who Heals” Series

Contributed by David Scudder on Jul 3, 2011

Today we are going to learn why God would allow so many Jews to be thirsty and then lead them to a pool of worthless water.

Purpose: To show how God used bitter water to display His power. Aim: I want the listener to be confident in God’s ability to solve any problem. INTRODUCTION: Today’s text occurs right after God delivered the Jews from slavery in Egypt and from the entire Egyptian army. Excitement and ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 15:22-27

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Role Of Your Intentions In Loving God - Psalm 63 Pt.4 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Jun 26, 2025

So often we resolve to make a change, but we fail. Does that mean resolutions are worthless? What is the role of resolve in loving God?

Psalm 63:4 I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. ************************************** Review: Seeking a Full Cup We all know the phrase from the 23rd psalm that David used to describe the sensation that comes from having been in the presence of ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 63:4

Pursuing Holiness Series

Contributed by Tom Shepard on Aug 15, 2007

This is the second sermon in this series based on Jerry Bridges book, "The Pursuit Of Holiness".

Pursuing Holiness – Cleaning Up Every Christian is to pursue holiness. Every Christian is called to live a holy life. Every Christian is to strive to stay away from sin. Holiness is not an option. The Bible says: “He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:15-16

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Press On Series

Contributed by Darrin Hunt on May 24, 2007

Part of a series in Philippians, we’re encouraged to press on in our pursuit of Christ.

Press On! Phil. 3:12-14 Jeanette Case) “Last year when I called my parents to wish them a happy New Year, my dad answered the phone. "Well, Dad, what’s your New Year’s resolution?" I asked him. "To make your mother as happy as I can all year," he answered proudly. Then mom got on, and I said, ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:12-14

Denomination: Baptist

Abimelech: Who’s In Charge Series

Contributed by Bruce Rzengota on Dec 26, 2009

ABIMELECH TYPIFIES THE PURSUIT OF OUR WAY RATHER THAN GOD’S WAY.

Abimelech -- Who’s in Charge Lessons on Having It Your Way with God Judges 9 8/2/09 INTRODUCTION James Trafficant Born into a working-class, Catholic family in Youngstown, Ohio, He graduated from Cardinal Mooney High School in 1959 and the University of Pittsburgh in 1963 (where he was a ...read more

Scripture: Judges 9:1-57

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Looking Back, Looking Ahead Series

Contributed by Troy Walliser on Feb 23, 2023

Allow the truth of the WORD not the attraction of the WORLD to determine your life’s pursuit.

Looking Back, Looking Ahead Acts 20:17-25 We arrive at Acts 20 in our ongoing series through the book of Acts this morning. My goal has been complete this series by Christmas. We have 10 Sundays, including today, until Christmas - and we have 9 chapters remaining in the book of Acts. We're ...read more

Scripture: Acts 20:17-25

Denomination: Baptist

The True Happiness PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Sep 26, 2023

True happiness is found not in worldly pursuits, but in a relationship with God and delighting in His Word.

Good morning, Church Family! Today we're going to be diving into Psalm 1, a passage that talks about true happiness and the blessings that flow from it. In our search for happiness, we often look in the wrong places, don't we? We chase after money, power, or popularity, thinking that they'll make ...read more

Topics: Happiness

Hunger PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Nov 28, 2023

Explores the spiritual hunger and thirst for righteousness and how this pursuit leads to divine fulfillment.

Beloved, gather around as we gather our hearts and minds to contemplate one of the most profound and compelling teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ. We are about to consider Matthew 5:6, a verse that is a wellspring of inspiration and a beacon of hope, a verse that invites us to a banquet of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:6

Topics: Spiritual Hunger

The Real Me

Contributed by Victor Yap on Jan 23, 2018

Disciples

WILL THE REAL ME PLEASE STAND UP? (MATTHEW 7:13-27) My fellow department coworker Roy returned from a holiday (July 31, 2017) and posted a scrrenshot to our chat group: “Rev Yap, look at this picture! Seems like your book has been pirated, Chinee IT people just told me about it.” The pirated copy ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:13

Denomination: Independent/Bible