Sermons on Wrong Motives:

A Future With Focus Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 2, 2021

The key to happiness and success in the new year is to have a dream, and a goal to pursue. Without a dream or goal to motivate us we will just drift through the new year, and whatever we achieve will be a matter of chance and not design.

Vanna White, the glamorous star who turns the letter on Wheel Of Fortune, was a leader in her church youth group at North Myrtle Beach, North Carolina. Her pastor wrote about how he asked her, when she was a senior, what she was going to do after graduation. She responded that her dream was to ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:7-14

Jesus And Women Series

Contributed by Rev. Dr. Andrew B Natarajan on Mar 20, 2023

Reading of the Gospel according to Mark, inspires and motivates us to know the value of women. Jesus had tender heart and compassionate eyes upon them. He healed them, and forgiven them to live a happy life.

Mark 7:24-30 Jesus and Women in Mark Jesus and Women in Mark Women are prominent in the story of Christ Jesus. They are mentioned in no less than sixteen contexts. (Fabian Ekwunife Ezenwa). He was born of a woman, had numerous interactions with women, and was seen first by women after his ...read more

Scripture: Mark 7:24-30

Denomination: Methodist

Compassion - Part 2 Of 2 Series

Contributed by Graham Kettle on Jan 26, 2018

Compassion is the fuel that enables & drives us. It is the only fuel that will enable us to fulfil God’s will and finish the task He has set us. In this passage, compassion was the four men’s motivation to get their sick friend to the feet of Jesus.

COMPASSION BRINGING A SICK WORLD TO CHRIST - Part 2 of 2 Mark 2:1-12 A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. 2 So many gathered that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. 3 Some men came, ...read more

Scripture: Mark 2:1-12

Denomination: Church Of God

Kingdom Greatness - Matthew 5:19 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Aug 2, 2024

People who seek glory and honor in this world are called megalomaniacs. If that’s such a bad thing in this world, why does Jesus want us to seek greatness in the kingdom? Is greatness in the kingdom ever a motivating factor for things you do?

Matthew 5:17 "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:19

Paul Before Agrippa Series

Contributed by John Lowe on May 29, 2017

He explains why he was particularly pleased to be able to state his case to King Agrippa. Of all the high officials residing in the country, nobody knew better than the king the history, principals, and passions that motivated the Jewish people.

July 31, 2016 Acts of the Apostles By: Tom Lowe Lesson: IV.F.5: Paul Before Agrippa (Acts 26:1-32) Commentary 1 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth the hand, and ...read more

Scripture: Acts 26:1-32

Denomination: Baptist

For This New Year, Seek First The Kingdom

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Jan 19, 2023

"Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness." In this New Year, let's make this our motivation or "driving purpose." The information our Lord shared is just as good today as it was when He walked this earth.

(Based on a message preached January 8, 2023 at First Baptist Church of Chamois, MO, but is not an exact transcription) Introduction: Good morning to you all and Happy New Year plus a few days! You know, I had planned on preaching from a different text this morning but I believe the Lord nudged ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:16-34

Denomination: Baptist

Prayer - A Mark Of Discipleship Series

Contributed by W Pittendreigh on Feb 19, 2004

Prayer is one of the seven marks of discipleship our elders have identified for our church. But in our prayer life, we often struggle over the issue of unanswered prayer.

I read a story once about a woman who was dying in a hospital bed. Her two daughters were by her side. All day one of the daughters had been praying vigorously and passionately. But when the family’s pastor came to the hospital room, one of the daughters whispered to him, "I just can’t seem to get ...read more

Scripture: Habakkuk 1:1-13

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

James: The Apostle Of Passion Series

Contributed by Derek Geldart on Jul 2, 2018

While a lack of passion leads to spiritual complacency, the wrong kind of passion leads to unholy acts! Today’s sermon is going to focus on the life of Apostle James who learned firsthand that passion is only good when aligned with the will of Christ!

James: The Apostle of Passion Luke 9:51-56, Matthew 20:20-28 Online Sermon: http://www.mckeesfamily.com/?page_id=3567 Do you have passion to serve the Lord? You know the kind of passion that is so strong that you cannot and will not contain your desire to serve God no matter what the cost! ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:51-56, Matthew 20:20-28

Denomination: Baptist

Going Into Battle Series

Contributed by Kerry Haynes on Sep 16, 2018

The spiritual world is real. Evil battles good. We need to go into battle only in God's power. And Paul uses armor to describe entering into fervent prayer.

Going into Battle Ephesians 6:10-18 Sometimes Veterans will ask me, “If there is a God, how could he allow such evil to happen in the world? Why doesn’t he do something about it? Does he not care? Is he not strong enough?” I assure them that God does care and that he is strong enough. And that he ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-18, Genesis 4:7, Acts 19:15-16, 1 John 4:4, Psalm 139:23-24, John 14:6, James 4:3, Hebrews 4:12, Mark 11:24, 1 Timothy 2:1-4  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Attending Your Own Funeral Conclusion Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Jun 1, 2004

It’s A War! Christians should not take sin lightly, but need to focus on developing their relationship to God as the best way to win the battles. Paul offers several arguments to convince us of this. There are other motivations besides merit and fea

Please note: this is part two; part one is simply called, "Attending Your Own Funeral." In part two, I summarized material I covered in part one and added some new material. Attending Your Own Funeral Conclusion (Romans 6:1-23 concluded) 1. The War in Iraq keeps dragging on. 2. We hear both ...read more

Scripture: Romans 6:1-23

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Danger Of Good Intentions

Contributed by Rex Deckard on Mar 26, 2006

We live in a world where we have placed a higher premium on sincerity, than on truth. The attitude of the world is that, if our intentions are right, if we have a good motive, then our actions- no matter how awful are justified. But the ends never justi

The Danger of Good Intentions 2 All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits. Proverbs 16:2 Introduction We live in a world where we have placed a higher premium on sincerity, than on truth. The attitude of the world is that, if our intentions are right, ...read more

Scripture: Acts 24:24-25

Denomination: Pentecostal

Jesus Teaches About Judging Others

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Jun 28, 2004

In an age of tolerance, perhaps one of today’s worst over reactions is a self-destructive judgmental tendency. Avoid a hypocritical, judgmental attitude that tears down in order to build oneself up. Jesus is not giving a blanket statement to be naive, bu

Jesus Teaches About Judging Others (Matt 7:1-5) In an age of tolerance, perhaps one of today’s worst reactions is a self-destructive tendency that needs to be checked is a hypocritical, judgmental attitude that tears down in order to build oneself up. Jesus is not giving a blanket statement to be ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:1-5

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Do Not Be Afraid

Contributed by Karl Eckhoff on Jun 28, 2002

Fear can be a powerful motivating factor that can keep us from living out our Christian faith, life and responsibilities. Jesus assures us that we do not need to be afraid and releases us from fear’s bondage.

Pentecost 5 A Matthew 10:24-33 Do Not Be Afraid 06/23/02 During his years as premier of the Soviet Union, Nikita Khrushchev denounced many of the policies and atrocities of Joseph Stalin. Once, as he censured Stalin in a public meeting, Khrushchev was interrupted by a shout from a heckler in the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 10:24-33

Denomination: Lutheran

Be Willing To Enter The Valley (Part 2 Of 3) Series

Contributed by Dana Visneskie on Nov 10, 2005

Today some Christians are living in fear, intimidation and comfortableness and not trusting in God. David when faced with the problem of Goliath willing ran down to the valley to defeat the enemy. I give 3 points that show what motivated David to do that

Title: Be Willing To Enter The Valley (Part 2) Text: I Sam 17:1-58 (Key Verse is 38-48) Pray!!! Read Text!!! Introduction: - (Recap from last week’s message (Fighting Bears and Delivering Cheese)) - There was 3 points that I gave from this message about how God prepares us in life for ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 17:38-48

Denomination: Pentecostal

“what Is That To You? Follow Me”

Contributed by Silas Eke on Feb 26, 2015

We should accept it as axiomatic that God’s dealings with our fellow-disciples are no concern of ours. Our business is to watch our motives carefully, to keep our eyes on the Lord whom we follow, and not to look over our shoulders at others.

Tested saints in all ages have been prone to complain like Israel: “the way of the Lord is not equal” (Ezekiel 18:29). Some of God’s dealings seem to contradict our innate sense of fairness; and instead of faithfully discharging our responsibilities, we are tempted to look over ...read more

Scripture: John 21:15-23

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational