Sermons on Worthless Toil:

For The Sake Of The Call

Contributed by D. Dewaine Phillips on May 23, 2023

Jesus called a bunch of smelly fishermen to share in His ministry. So, when Jesus extends a call, what does it look like? What does it entail? What might He ask us to do? Or, what might we have to let go of in order to serve Him?

I have entitled our message this morning, “For the Sake of the Call,” and we are going to look at how Jesus called a bunch of smelly fishermen to share in His ministry. Allow me to get started with a joke: “Why did Jesus call so many fishermen to become apostles? He was always looking for a ‘net ...read more

Scripture: Luke 5:1-10, Matthew 4:18-22

Denomination: Baptist

The Disconcerting Dilemma Of Divine Inaction-3

Contributed by Byron Sherman on Nov 5, 2024

3 of 4. Habakkuk faced the disconcerting/unsettling dilemma of Divine 'inaction' towards His people, Judah. What makes, or How is Divine inaction unsettling? 4 fabrications that either: accentuate the dilemma—OR—that muddy/confuse/obscure the answer of God’s inaction.

The DISCONCERTING DILEMMA Of DIVINE INACTION--III —Habakkuk 1:3(1:1-4) Key Words— •Difficult/Disturbing/Disorienting/Disconcerting/Perplexing/Uncertainty/Unsettling. •Dilemma/Predicament/Quandary/Situation. Attention: Salem BC’s ‘foundation plants’ recently got a much needed trimming/hedging. ...read more

Scripture: Habakkuk 1:3, Habakkuk 1:1-4

Denomination: Baptist

Bite Your Tongue Series

Contributed by John Visser on Feb 20, 2006

It’s easy to start a fire, much harder to put it out. So let us by faith in Christ learn to zip it up, rein in our tongues.

Bite Your Tongue The story is told of a young man who had just started his new job in the produce department of a grocery store, when a woman came up to him asking to buy a half head of lettuce. As politely as he could, the young man said that “In this store, we don’t sell half heads of lettuce, ...read more

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Teach Me

Contributed by H.b. Charles Jr. on Aug 30, 2012

"Teach Me" is an exposition of Psalm 119:33-40. It teaches that only God can teach you how to live right. There is (1) a prayer for personal admission into God's school, (2) a prayer for continual progress in God's school, and (3) a prayer for steadfast p

TEACH ME! Psalm 119:33-40 In Psalm 51:5, David confesses, “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.” Every one of us shares David’s sad testimony. We are all sinners – by nature, by birth, by inclination, by choice, and by conduct. ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 119:33-40

Denomination: Baptist

Intimate Value Series

Contributed by Mark Schaeufele on Aug 6, 2014

The only thing with lasting value is a personal, intimate relationship with Jesus Christ, and the most important aspect of our lives is fostering that relationship.

Intimate Value Text: Phil. 3:1-11 Introduction 1. Illustration: "Everything in this world has two aspects - how it looks at the moment, and how it will look in the time to come. The easy way may look inviting at the moment, and the hard way daunting. 

The only way to get our values ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:1-11

Denomination: Methodist

Bad Breath Series

Contributed by D Marion Clark on Jul 13, 2012

These proverbs warn of and against those who plan and speak trouble.

Introduction We have had proverbs about sweet talking. Now they turn to bad breath. Text 25 There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death. With apologies to Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley, let me read (not sing!) a famous song that this proverb sets ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 16:25-30

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Learn From When God Struck Down His Own People (1 Corinthians 9:18-10:14) Series

Contributed by Garrett Tyson on Mar 19, 2022

Paul beats his body--- is ruthless toward it-- because he understands the dangers of giving in to sin. Idolatry, and sexual immorality, are dangerous.

This week, in chapter 10, Paul continues to make his argument against going to idol temples and eating idol meat. He begins like this, in verse 1: "(1) For." Now, whenever we start reading somewhere, and the first word we read is "for," we should have one single thought run ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:18-26, 1 Corinthians 10:1-14

The Story Of Jepthah

Contributed by Michael Deutsch on Jun 15, 2024

Looking at lessons we can learn from Jepthah as men.

Jephthah Judges 11 June 16, 2024 Back in 2010, just before Father’s Day, the July/August edition of The Atlantic hit the stands with this blazing cover story: The End of Men. That was 14 short years ago, and among the articles in the magazine was this one - - - - Are Father’s Necessary?: A ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Cleaning Up The House

Contributed by Jeffery Anselmi on Jan 10, 2003

David in Psalms 101:1-4 shares some insights with us on how to be pure

INTRODUCTION • I want to ask you to raise your hand if you cleaned you house up your house a month ago. • How many of you cleaned it again the next week and the next week? Raise you hand if you cleaned you house a month ago and then you cleaned it AGAIN this past week. • Now raise you hand if you ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 101:1-4

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Whatever Is ....

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on Mar 1, 2011

The road to transformation involves the choice of what we put into our minds and what we choose to think about.

Whatever is… Phil 4:8-9, Feb 27, 2011 Intro: For most of us, the word “meditation” conjures up a mental picture of someone in baggy pants, sitting on the floor with their legs wrapped up like a pretzel, arms comfortably outstretched, middle finger and thumb together, saying ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:8-9

Denomination: Baptist

The Testing Of Pure And False Religion

Contributed by Melvin Maughmer, Jr. on Feb 6, 2023

We need to make sure we test our religion to see if it has value or not. The heart of pure religion is not in the garb, the traditions, the rituals but is based in Love in action.

The Testing of Pure and False Religion By Bishop Melvin L. Maughmer, Jr. OPENING: - Years ago I collected soda cans and turned them in for money at the recycling center. At the recycling center I would place all the cans I collect on a belt that went through the giant magnet and if the can was ...read more

Scripture: James 1:26-27

Denomination: Apostolic

The Psalm Of Jonah Series

Contributed by Robert Leroe on Oct 19, 2003

There is still a storm brewing in chapter 2...in Jonah’s heart. The great fish was Jonah’s means of deliverance, and we see here his prayer of thanksgiving for rescue from a watery grave.

The Psalm of Jonah, ch 2:1-10 Pastor Bob Leroe, Cliftondale Congregational Church, Saugus, Massachusetts There is still a storm brewing in chapter 2...in Jonah’s heart. The great fish was Jonah’s means of deliverance, and we see here his prayer of thanksgiving for rescue from a watery grave. ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 2:1-10

Denomination: Congregational

Clanging Pots Series

Contributed by Richard Mcnair on Oct 27, 2004

A series of 3 sermons from 1 Cor 13

Childrens sermon - clanging pot, glasses w/ water ILL >>>In her book, Living with Love, Josephine Robertson tells a story. "In 1883, a youthful clergyman, the Rev. Joe Roberts, arrived by stagecoach in a blizzard to minister to the Indians of Wyoming. This great, wild area had been assigned to ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:1-3

Denomination: Baptist

Job's Endurance - Job Chapter Thirteen Series

Contributed by Tom Shepard on Jun 25, 2007

This is a study into Job chapter thirteen.

Job continues his response to Zophar. Job’s response to Zophar takes three chapters. (Chapters 12, 13 and 14) This is the longest response Job has given thus far. 1 "Behold, my eye has seen all this, My ear has heard and understood it. 2 What you know, I also know; I am not inferior to you. ...read more

Scripture: Job 13:1-28

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Cross And The Towel

Contributed by Troy Borst on Apr 6, 2006

An inductive sermon focusing people on the humility and servanthood of Jesus at the Cross.

THE CROSS AND THE TOWEL JOHN 13:1-12 Today is the day when we really begin to celebrate the Easter Season. Today is Palm Sunday in which Christians celebrate the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. The people cut palm branches and hailed and praised Jesus as He entered the city. The week ...read more

Scripture: John 13:1-12

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ