Sermons on Worthless Pursuits:

Three Great Words From God

Contributed by Carl Allen on Dec 27, 2007

Often we hear people speak disparagingly of making New Year’s resolutions. They think these promises are worthless. This cynicism could indicate that they have no hope for the coming year being better than the last. It is certainly easy to give way to

Three Great Words from God for the Coming Year Romans 15:7-13 Intro Often we hear people speak disparagingly of making New Year’s resolutions. They think these promises are worthless. This cynicism could indicate that they have no hope for the coming year being better than the last. It is ...read more

Scripture: Romans 15:7-13

Denomination: Baptist

Sandpaper Christians

Contributed by John Gaston on Nov 22, 2025

In Mal. 3:17 God calls us His jewels. All gemstones began as lumps of carbon & were worthless, but under great pressure and heat, they became extremely valuable. We must be cut, sanded, grinded, and tumbled.

SANDPAPER CHRISTIANS INTRODUCTION A. HUMOR 1. When President Cleveland's second child was born, the doctor asked Cleveland for a scale to determine the baby’s weight. Cleveland searched through the house without success. 2. Finally, he remembered that he had an old scale in the basement ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:11, Malachi 3:2-3

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Chaff Or Tree? How To Thrive In A Withering World Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Apr 3, 2025

This psalm promises a blessed life to those who delight in God’s Word. The sermon describes the meaning of “blessed life,” and contrasts it with the life that is like worthless, weightless chaff. Then it reveals how to have that blessed life through delighting in Scripture.

* For hundreds of free downloadable audio and video sermons, visit TreasuringGod.com. Meditation is the natural activity that comes from delight. The first time you fell in love with someone you meditated on that person - day and night. People who love football have their thoughts consumed with ...read more

Coming Into Focus Series

Contributed by Chip Monck on Oct 25, 2005

Launch sermon in a series through the book of Nehemiah exploring the pursuit of God’s vision for our lives. Sermon addresses the birthing of vision, and the connection of concern to vision.

(Visual Aids - Placed a large pile of rocks on the stage, simulating wall rubble. Picked up rocks, and dropped them during message illustration of the rocks of life.) What a great time of year! This is by far my favorite time of year in Central Kentucky. I love the cooler temperatures. I love ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 1:1-4

Denomination: Wesleyan

Family Matters Series

Contributed by Robert Odle on May 13, 2003

In our pursuit of godly character we must recommit ourselves to doing family God’s way: children submit and parents nurture in God’s ways.

Character Counts! Family Matters (Ephesians 6:1-4) Theme: God created the family to reflect His character. Purpose: What do I want to happen in the hearer when I preach this sermon? A. Increased insight. After I preach this sermon, the hearer should be able to see that the American family is ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:1-4

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Come: To A Choking World

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Oct 6, 2009

What chokes the joy out of life? Too many cares that major on minors, and the relentless pursuit of material success. Jesus came to be authentically human among us.

Nearly every time I take an airplane trip, I get a happy surprise. When we take off and rise through the congestion of earth and the grim gray clouds of our immediate atmosphere, there comes that astonishing moment when the plane bursts through the cloud cover into bright sunlight. I am always ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:3-22

Denomination: Baptist

Resisting The Devil Series

Contributed by Tom Shepard on Aug 28, 2007

The is the fourth and final sermon in this series. This sermon series was inspired by Jerry Bridges book, "The Pursuit Of Holiness". This sermon looks at seven facts about a believer in Christ.

Resisting The Devil – Cleaning Up Last week we talked about how every Christian is to pursue holiness. Every Christian is to pursue purity. Every Christian is to strive to stay away from sin. Holiness is not an option. For the past three weeks we have been looking at a verse from first Peter ...read more

Scripture: Romans 6:12

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Life Bigger Than Money Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on May 23, 2018

This message focuses on stepping out of the American Dream's pursuit of escalating standards of living. Instead we are to hold our money lightly and "freely receive, freely give."

- In some ways this is the second part of last week’s sermon. Last week we looked at this passage in Matthew 10:8 about freely receiving and freely giving. We talked about living life with an open hand and whether we are living stingy lives. - I want to return to that same passage this morning ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Gods Forever Favor!

Contributed by Charlie Roberts on Jul 24, 2016

Life liberty and the pursuit of happiness, isn't that what we all want? Do you know what that sounds like in spiritual terms..."abundant life"

Gods, Forever Favor! Psalm 30:1-5, AMP 1.I WILL extol You, O Lord, for You have lifted me up and have not let my foes rejoice over me. 2.O Lord my God, I cried to You and You have healed me. 3.O Lord, You have brought my life up from Sheol (the place of the dead); You have kept me alive, that I ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 30:1-5

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

His Name Shall Be...king Series

Contributed by Sherm Nichols on Jan 17, 2013

Christmas sermon, a look at the Magi to help people see that searching for King Jesus is life’s most worthy pursuit, and finding Him changes it completely

His Name Shall Be…King Matthew 2:1-10 Have you ever considered the irony: When there’s a play called Snow White and the 7 Dwarfs, everyone wants to be Dopey – after all, his lines are the easiest to learn! Dopey. When it comes to a Christmas play, there are a lot of parts ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-10

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Keep God In The Calculations

Contributed by David Nolte on Jul 18, 2022

People often figure out what to add to, or subtract from, their lives. They try to multiply, or divide, pursuits in life. They often leave God out of the calculations.

Perhaps it began with marks in the dirt, then progressed to piles of stones, and then somewhere along the line came the abacus, but men have always had a means of calculating debts, payments and other quantities. These days we have desk calculators, computers, smart phones and even watches that ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:16-21

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

His Resurrection Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on May 30, 2003

The Resurrection is either one of the most wicked, heartless, vicious hoaxes ever or it is the most fantastic fact of history. As Paul said in 1 Corinthians 5:17, “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless.” This message will focus on three

The Case For Christ: His Resurrection Rev. Brian Bill 4/15/01 I have a confession to make this morning -- I am an Information Junkie. I read two newspapers a day, listen to talk radio, and often pop in a teaching tape when I’m driving. At the office I read my Bible, memos, mail, e-mail, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:17, Matthew 1:1

Denomination: Baptist

Wood That's Good For Nothing Series

Contributed by David Wilson on May 19, 2011

God asks a series of rhetorical questions designed to get the people facing the sad fact that despite being called by God they were no better than the nations around them. In fact, because they refused to bear proper fruit they were worthless to God.

VERSES 1-5: Israel as a Vine Ezekiel was not the first prophet to refer to Israel as a vine. We see this in the song of the vineyard that is found in Isaiah 5. Also, as we study this chapter, it would be good to remember Jesus offered a reference of Himself as the true vine and the need for us ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 15:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

Behold I Will Do A New Thing : Isaiah 43:18-19

Contributed by Dr. Stanley Vasu on Aug 13, 2001

1.NEW PERSONALITY 2.NEW PIETY 3.NEW PRINCIPLES 4.NEW PURSUITS 5.NEW PROVISION 6.NEW POPULARITY 7.NEW POWER

BEHOLD I WILL DO A NEW THING Isaiah 43:18-19 18 “Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old. 19 Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert. OUTLINE 1.NEW ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 43:18-19, Psalm 2:5

Denomination: Pentecostal

Esmirna, The Fearful Church

Contributed by Major Gerardo Balmori on Apr 2, 2011

The Church of Esmirna lived in a time of tremendous pursuit and suffering. God gave them a message of fortitude that helps us today to keep on covering the career in spite of the present difficulties.

Mayor Gerardo Balmori The Salvation Army Introduction • The City of Esmirna was a commercial port, which principal product was the myrrh. It was a beautiful city, which streets had been planned well. One of these streets had been covered of gold, and was connecting the temple of Zeus and the ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:8-11

Denomination: Salvation Army