Sermons on Wrong Motives:

Human Praise Vs God's Praise

Contributed by William R. Nabaza on Dec 12, 2012

I. EXORDIUM: What motivates you most? the applause of people or GOD's approval or praise? II. AUDIENCE PROFILE: Believers III. OBJECTIVES: To give more value to GOD's praises rather than people's IV. TEXT: John 12:43 (New Living Tran

I. EXORDIUM: What motivates you most? the applause of people or GOD's approval or praise? II. AUDIENCE PROFILE: Believers III. OBJECTIVES: To give more value to GOD's praises rather than people's IV. TEXT: John 12:43 (New Living Translation, Second Edition) For they loved human praise more ...read more

Scripture: John 12:43

Denomination: Pentecostal

Seeking Self-Justification Series

Contributed by Mary Erickson on Mar 30, 2022

Part of a Lenten Sermon Series on people in the gospels who seek out Jesus. This week we consider less than pure motivations in “Seeking Self-Justification.” We hear the story of a man who wants Jesus to settle a dispute between him and his brother.

March 30, 2022 Hope Lutheran Church Rev. Mary Erickson Luke 12:13-21 Seeking Self-Justification Friends, may grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and Christ Jesus our Lord. Why do we seek Jesus? For direction, for help, for forgiveness. There are many reasons. And if ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:13-21

Denomination: Lutheran

Jesus Inspects His Church Series

Contributed by John Gaston on Jun 7, 2022

In Rev. 2-3, the SUPERNATURAL GAZE OF JESUS searches our hearts and tests our motives. He inspected the churches - then & now. Jesus saw 3 major problems: false reputations, lukewarm attitudes, and those who'd left their first love.

JESUS INSPECTS HIS CHURCH REV. 2-3 WHAT GOD SAYS ABOUT THE FUTURE 4 INTRODUCTION A. HUMOR: FORGET THE EYE EXAM 1. It had been many years since my last eye exam and my wife was pestering me to make an appointment. The more she nagged, the more I procrastinated. Finally she made an appointment ...read more

Denomination: Assembly Of God

The Exchanged Life

Contributed by Paul Dayao on Aug 22, 2025

This sermon on Galatians 2:20 presents the "exchanged life" as the Christian's declaration of independence from self, where the old identity is considered crucified with Christ and a new life is lived by the faith of the Son of God, motivated by His personal love and sacrifice.

Introduction: A Declaration of Spiritual Independence In our world today, the prevailing message is one of self-actualization. "Find yourself," the world cries. "Be true to yourself." "Follow your heart." We are encouraged from every corner to build our own identity, ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 2:20

Denomination: Baptist

The Principle Of Harmony Series

Contributed by Jeffery Anselmi on Feb 12, 2007

This is a revamp of an eariler sermon by the same title inspired by Bob Russell’s book, "When God Builds a Church."

INTRODUCTION  SLIDE #1  We have been looking at When God Builds a Church. Today we will move to the principle of harmony.  How many of you have been a part of an organization where there were problems. People were fighting because they had different ideas about what the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:46

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Truth, Obedience, And Other Antique Virtues

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on May 4, 2007

The unpopular notion of absolute truth, and how obedience leads us to truth

TRUTH, OBEDIENCE, AND OTHER ANTIQUE VIRTUES 1 John 2:3-6 March 5, 1995 INTRO: A few weeks ago, during our Friday night devotional, I asked my teens how many of them had seen "Schindler’s List", Steven Spielberg’s recent movie about the Holocaust. I asked them: was the Holocaust right or was ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 2:3-6

Denomination: Baptist

4 Controversial Uncompromising Life-Changing Truths Series

Contributed by Scott Maze on Nov 22, 2024

Most people who are enslaved know they are slaves. The girl who is abducted and taken into the worldwide human trafficking ring knows she’s a slave. You don’t have to tell her this. But there is a kind of slavery where people don’t fully realize they are enslaved.

Today, I want to speak to you about “4 Controversial Uncompromising Life-Changing Truths” from the lips of Jesus Himself. These 4 truths are unpopular for many. They are likely to start a good argument at the Thanksgiving dinner table. Many of these, if not all of these, run against the current ...read more

Scripture: John 8:31-47

Denomination: Baptist

How To Stunt Your Spiritual Growth Series

Contributed by Guy Mcgraw on Dec 5, 2011

Paul confronts the Galatians about how they lost their first love for God and for the servant God had sent because of their following a false message.

• How discouraging is it to invest so much into something only to see it go in a dangerous direction after you are no longer there to influence it. a) Business you once owned b) A child after he/she moves out of the house c) Church you once were a member of(or pastor of) • Paul is ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 4:8-20

Unanswered Prayer Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 19, 2021

Jesus tells it like it is in the world of prayer, and in so doing He complicates things, and forces us to wrestle with the conditions for answered prayer.

The story is told of a Russian scientist who was found guilty of a crime against the state. He was sentenced to a prison in the middle of a desert. His cell mate was another scientist. He was determined to escape, and he urged his cell mate to join him, but he refused. After much planning he did ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:1-14

Winning The War... With Humility Series

Contributed by Steven Buhr on Mar 27, 2008

Being a Christian is not a hat we wear, and then take off when it’s convenient or uncomfortable. It’s not a fake ID we show at the pearly gates of heaven or a ‘get out of hell free’ card. Being a Christian is a full-time, life time commitment to the King of kings and Lord of lords, Jesus Christ.

James 4:1-10 – Winning the War, with Humility ‘Every baby starts life as a little savage. He is completely selfish and self-centered. He wants what he wants when he wants it — his bottle, his mother’s attention, his playmate’s toy, his uncle’s watch. Deny him these once, and he seethes with rage ...read more

Scripture: James 4:1-10, James 4:7-12

Denomination: Baptist

This Is What My Peaceful Doves Have Taught Me – Will I Heed The Lessons? Part 2 Of 2 Series

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jul 29, 2022

Nature is a great teacher and the creation is full of meaning. In studying the behaviour of small doves, I have gained an insight into their habits and lives. There are lessons for Christians we can learn from them. This is Part 2 and develops those lessons.

THIS IS WHAT MY PEACEFUL DOVES HAVE TAUGHT ME – WILL I HEED THE LESSONS? PART 2 OF 2 This is PART 2 of the message on doves. The peaceful dove (zebra doves in the USA – exotic bird) is an Australian native. See PART 1 for the introduction to this story. We have been looking at Lessons we can ...read more

Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12, Matthew 7:1-5, Matthew 25:35, James 1:9-10, James 2:1-4, 1 Corinthians 12:21-25, James 4:1-3, Galatians 5:15-16  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Who Warned You?

Contributed by Joe Harding on May 29, 2001

Repentance is the confession of sin followed by a lifestyle change that honors God!

“WHO WARNED YOU?” MATTHEW 3: 1-12 MAY 20, 2001 INTRODUCTION: Several years ago the Peanuts comic strip had Lucy and Charlie Brown practicing football. Lucy would hold the ball for Charlie’s placekicking and then Charlie would kick the ball. But every time Lucy had ever held the ball for Charlie, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 3:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

A Lion In A Den Of Daniels Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Oct 24, 2000

When you feel you are the only one who's wrong in the crowd of acceptable people, see how faith teaches us to find a shred of dignity in reaching out for help, and how complete faith gives us wholeness despite our past.

This message is dedicated to the memory of my deceased great-aunt, Adelia Miller. Aunt Dedie loved to tell how, when she was a little girl going to the Sunday School at the Cloverport Baptist Church in Breckenridge County, Kentucky, the pastor had all the children in Sunday School one day. He ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-18, Luke 17:11-19

Denomination: Baptist

Praise God For His Pleasures

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Sep 1, 2003

Too many times we look for pleasure in the wrong places. There are millions of Americans who have more TV channels than ever before and are still searching for new ways to pleasure themselves. Recently, Petsmart, reported that $31 billion dollar was spent

Praise God for His Pleasures (Psa 16:9-11) Too many times we look for pleasure in the wrong places. There are millions of Americans who have more TV channels than ever before and are still searching for new ways to pleasure themselves. Recently, Petsmart, reported that $31 billion dollar was ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 16:9-11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Thought Patterns For Winners : Be Transformed By The Renewing Of Your Mind

Contributed by Dr. Stanley Vasu on Nov 18, 2001

This sermon is about how our life can be transformed when our mind is renewed by changing wrong pattern of thinking and highlights the following .1.TRUST 2.THANKFULNESS 3.TRUTH 4.TIMING 5.TRAVAILING 6.TEMPTER 7.TEACHABLE

THOUGHT PATTERNS FOR WINNERS : BE TRANSFORMED BY THE RENEWING OF YOUR MIND ********************************************************************************************** OUTLINE 1.TRUST 2.THANKFULNESS 3.TRUTH 4.TIMING 5.TRAVAILING 6.TEMPTER 7.TEACHABLE THE MESSAGE THOUGHT PATTERNS ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:2

Denomination: Pentecostal