Sermons on Merit: showing 31-45 of 5,094

Works-Based Karma Christianity

Contributed by Dr. Craig Nelson on Oct 29, 2021

Throughout history, karma theology has penetrated church beliefs and enslaved people to serve God based on legalistic performance so they can earn His approval, receive rewards, blessings, healing, and obtain a victorious life. - A Two-Part Series

Karma, is the "law of the deed" and is a century's old worldwide belief that if you do good things then good will come back to you, and if you do bad, then bad will come back to you. It is believed that suffering is the result of a person's wrongdoing in the past. It can be ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:16, Romans 12:3, Matthew 5:12, Colossians 3:24, Romans 11:6, Ephesians 2:8-10  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Punishing Rod Part 2 Series

Contributed by Chris Swanson on Oct 27, 2022

When we merit correction or discipline, how can we or why do we grumble and complain about what type of "ROD" that God utilizes on us?

Habakkuk 1:12 – 2:20 Now the prophet asks a second question. How can God allow such a godless nation to be allowed to bring judgment upon His children? Granted Judah has been wicked, but how can God use another wicked nation to punish them? Although this is hard to understand, Habakkuk waits on ...read more

Scripture: Habakkuk 1:12

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Multiple Meanings Of Marvelous Grace Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 30, 2021

Most often Christians define grace as only unmerited favor, but this is putting a limit on the word which the New Testament does not do. It should not be surprising that grace can also mean merited favor.

A snowstorm made it impossible for a guess speaker to get to the church where he was to preach. Therefore, a local man was asked to come in as a substitute. The speaker began by explaining the meaning of substitute. If you break a window he said, and then place a cardboard there instead--that is ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:2

The Parable Of The Prayers Series

Contributed by Dennis Davidson on Nov 10, 2014

The focus is humility in prayer out of a realization that righteousness can not be reached by means of our own efforts. Prayers are heard & answered because of God's mercy not because of our self-justifying merits.

LUKE 18: 9-14 [PARABLES IN LUKE] THE PARABLE OF THE PRAYERS [Luke 11:39-11;54] In this section Jesus tells a story of a Pharisee and a tax collector. Both were sincere and devout. As a matter of fact, one kept the law scrupulously, or thought he did. The other was in a profession in which ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:9-14

Denomination: Baptist

The Dangers Of Biblical Ignorance

Contributed by Stephen Belokur on Sep 20, 2018

We live in a Biblically ignorant society. In many churches the Bible is only given lip service but no serious merit. Knowledge of the Word of God and how it is applied is a matter of eternal life and death.

If you would, please stand as we say together our memory Scripture for this quarter: Matthew 6:31-33 “Do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. “But ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 6:4, John 14:6, Exodus 20:3, John 3:18, 2 Kings 6:17, 2 Timothy 4:1-4, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Timothy 2:15, Matthew 22:23-33, Acts 4:12, 2 Kings 19:35  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Nazarene

Address Series

Contributed by John Lowe on Mar 3, 2018

Paul's call to the office of an Apostle had nothing to do with personal merit; he says instead that he is "an apostle by the will of God," and this is what constitutes the ground of the authority he claims in the Corinthian Church.

Lesson 1.1: Address Scripture 1 Corinthians 1.1-1.3 1 Cor 1:1-3 (KJV) 1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, 2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:1-3

Denomination: Baptist

Agape - God's Greatest Gift Of All, Love

Contributed by Geoffrey Foot on Jun 17, 2023

God's gift of Love is the most valuable and precious gift of all and our world would be such a wonderful place if we all expressed and practiced the merits of that love in our daily lives.

Agape LOVE Today’s collect for the 2nd Sunday after Trinity is all about true LOVE and emphasises its true value: Pour into our hearts that most excellent gift of Love, the true bond of peace and of all virtues, without which whoever lives is counted dead before You. True Life is all about Love as ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:1-7, Romans 5:8, John 3:16

Get Up

Contributed by Wayne Lawson on Apr 6, 2023

Tabitha, who is also known as Dorcas, whose name means Gazelle, was the first woman explicitly called a disciple in the book of Acts. What did she do that merited being called a disciple?

TITLE: GET UP SCRIPTURE: ACTS 9:36-43 I am glad to return to the pulpit as Sis. Lawson and I struggled with COVID the past week and a half. My desire was to honor our woman last Sunday as March was “Women History Month.” I do want to recognize the importance and critical role women have in the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 9:36-43

Denomination: Baptist

Every Time The Church Doors Open

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Feb 11, 2010

Preached 1985. What merits our coming to church frequently? We need to come with the expectation that God will meet us in the presence of His people. And then we will respond with prayer for the church, not mere criticism or complaint.

They tell the story about the fellow who on one Sunday morning woke up, struggled out of bed, shuffled downstairs for his breakfast, and then announced to his mother, "Mother, I’m not going. I’m just not going to church today. I don’t feel like it, they don’t care for me down there, I don’t need ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 122:1-9

Denomination: Baptist

Who Are God's People?

Contributed by Judith Hand on Oct 11, 2014

God's people are forgiven sinners who have accepted Christ's sacrifice for their sins. Repentant people are accepted by God, but those who think they are good enough to enter heaven on their own merit will be cast out.

Who Are God’s People? Exodus 32:1-14 Philippians 4:1-9 Matthew 22:1-14 Our first reading from Exodus is not difficult to understand. The Israelites have gotten impatient waiting for Moses so they ask Aaron to make them gods who will go before them. They had had many highs and lows on ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 32:1-14

Denomination: Methodist

When The Cockle Grows With The Wheat

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Nov 10, 2018

God does not want anyone to perish. So He showers His blessings, His graces on all the field, and the merits of His Son enable us to become pure wheat, either in this life or after it .

25th Sunday after Pentecost 2018 “And the servants of the householder came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then has it weeds?’ 28 He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’” In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti, Amen. We have a bush of confederate ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:24-30, Psalm 130:1-2, Colossians 3:12-14

Denomination: Catholic

Extra Credit Series

Contributed by Davon Huss on Oct 24, 2011

A sermon based loosely on Luke 17:7-10 on extra credit, extra merit, going above and beyond the call of duty, to earn our salvation (Outline and material adapted from Dr. Jack Cottrell)

Introduction: Extra credit is an academic concept, particularly used in American schools. Students are offered the opportunity to undertake extra work in addition to their mandatory school work. Many times extra credit can be used as a way to allow a student to improve his or her grade after weak ...read more

Scripture: Luke 17:7-10

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Finders Keepers, Losers Weepers

Contributed by Grant Adams on May 9, 2020

Finders keepers, loser’s weepers. From dictionary.com. "A person who finds something can keep it, and the loser has no right to it. This proverb is of dubious ethical merit."

This is one of the most familiar stories in the Bible. Most of us have heard the story from Sunday school. We have sung songs about Zacchaeus. So, what “fresh” lesson can be told concerning these verses. I. Jesus Always does the Finding 1. Most of us have heard and or used the saying, “Finders ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

The Mystery Of Death Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 29, 2021

As long as we are in these bodies there will be veils, but it is our responsibility to lift those veils and remove them where God has given knowledge. There is no merit in being ignorant of that which God wants us to see concerning death.

A librarian commented concerning a woman just leaving her desk that she could get more out of a mystery novel than anyone she knew. "How is that?" asked her co-worker. She replied, "She starts in the middle so that she not only wonders how it comes out, but also how it began." ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:51-58

Self-Examination: A Spiritual Checkup

Contributed by Jerry Flury on Mar 22, 2004

How do you know if you have only a head knowledge of Christ or are truly born again? Is there merit or value in questioning one’s salvation? The Bible gives the reason for self examination and the measures to use.

SELF-EXAMINATION: A SPIRITUAL CHECKUP 2 CORINTHIANS 13:1-6 (DISCERNING HEAD KNOWLEDGE FROM HEART RELATIONSHIP) Introduction: Recently I was asked, "How does one know whether one merely has a head knowledge of Christ or has been truly born again and has a true heart relationship with the Lord Jesus ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 13:1-6

Denomination: Baptist