Sermon on How To Please God

Pleasing God: A Life of Faith and Holiness

Introduction:

As believers, our greatest desire should be to please God in all that we do. But how can we accomplish this? Today, we will explore various aspects of living a life that is pleasing to God, drawing insights from Scripture to guide us on this journey of faith and holiness.

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Pleasing the Father: What to Abandon and What to Learn

A. The Heart’s Deepest Desire The ultimate goal of the Christian life is not self-fulfillment or worldly success, but to live a life that brings a smile to the face of God. Every believer should harbor a profound, daily desire to be "well-pleasing" to their Creator.

B. The Foundation of Pleasure: Faith Our text base provides the "Golden Rule" for a life that satisfies God: Hebrews 11:6 — "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him."

C. The Spiritual Exchange Pleasing God is not an accidental occurrence; it involves a deliberate spiritual exchange. We must identify and abandon the attitudes and practices that grieve His Spirit, while simultaneously studying and adopting the virtues that align with His holy will.

I. What We Must Abandon to Please God

To fill a cup with fresh water, the old, stagnant water must first be poured out. There are specific "ways of the world" that we must intentionally unlearn.

A. Abandon Idleness and Careless Speech

1 Timothy 5:13; Proverbs 28:19 Idleness is more than just "doing nothing"; it is a vacuum that pulls in sin, such as gossip and meddling.

• The Weight of Words: We must also guard our tongues. Matthew 12:36 warns that we will give an account for every "idle word."

• Application: A Christian should be characterized by diligence, responsibility, and purposeful work.

B. Abandon Wrath and Violence

Proverbs 22:24-25; 29:22 The Bible warns that anger is contagious—if you associate with a furious man, you will learn his ways.

• The Command to Cast Off: Ephesians 4:31 instructs us to rid ourselves of all bitterness, rage, and anger.

• Application: We are called to trade the "fire" of human temper for the "cool water" of Christ’s patience and meekness.

C. Abandon Worldly Customs

Deuteronomy 18:9-12; Jeremiah 10:2 God warned Israel not to "imitate the detestable ways" of the nations around them.

• The Non-Conformist Call: Romans 12:2 commands us not to be conformed to this present world (its trends, its morals, its godless philosophies).

• Application: Our lifestyle should be dictated by the Eternal Word, not the temporary culture.

D. Abandon Human Reasoning over Divine Revelation

Proverbs 19:27; Isaiah 55:8 Human "logic" often stands in direct opposition to God's wisdom.

• The Source of Truth: Spiritual truth is taught by the Spirit, not by human intellect alone (1 Corinthians 2:13).

• Application: When the Bible says "Go" and the world says "Stay," the believer trusts the Scripture.

E. Abandon the "Skill" of Doing Evil

Romans 16:19; Jeremiah 4:22 Some people are "experts" at being wicked but "ignorant" when it comes to doing good.

• The Pure Heart: We are told to abhor what is evil and cling to what is good (Romans 12:9).

II. What We Must Learn to Please God

Pleasing God is an educational process. We must become students of the Spirit.

A. Learn the Fear of the Lord

Proverbs 16:6; 8:13 The "Fear of the Lord" is not a terrifying dread, but a profound reverence that makes us hate what God hates.

• The Invitation: Psalm 34:11 says, "Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord."

• The Fruit: Reverence leads to holiness and a life sheltered from the snares of death.

B. Learn to Do Good and Practice Justice

Isaiah 1:16-17; Tito 3:14 Doing good is a skill that must be practiced. We are commanded to "learn to do right" and "seek justice." This is not passive; it is an active occupation in "good works."

C. Learn the Humility of Christ

Matthew 11:29 Jesus gave us a direct command: "Learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart."

• The Model: Christ’s descent from the throne to the cross is our ultimate syllabus for humility (Philippians 2:5-8).

D. Learn the Art of Contentment

Philippians 4:11-13 Paul did not wake up one day naturally content; he said, "I have learned to be content." * The Power Source: Contentment is the realization that Christ is enough, regardless of whether our "circumstances" are plenty or poverty.

E. Learn Holiness and Love

1 Peter 1:15; Hebrews 12:14 Without holiness, no one will see the Lord. But holiness without love is just legalism.

• The New Commandment: We must learn to love as Christ loved (Ephesians 5:1-2).

• The Mark: Love is the primary "ID card" of a true disciple (John 13:34-35).

F. Practice What You Have Learned

Philippians 4:9; James 1:22 The Apostle Paul concludes: "Whatever you have learned or received... put it into practice." Knowledge without application is spiritual pride; knowledge with application is spiritual pleasing.

1: Persevere in Faith and Trust in God (Hebrews 11:6)

Hebrews 11:6 reminds us that without faith, it is impossible to please God. As believers, we are called to trust in God's promises and to persevere in faith, even when faced with trials and challenges.

2: Seek Holiness in All Areas of Life (1 Peter 1:16)

God calls us to be holy because He is holy. We are to strive for holiness in every aspect of our lives, allowing His sanctifying work to transform us into His likeness.

3: Expressing Love to God and Others (Matthew 22:37)

Jesus taught that the greatest commandment is to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, and mind. Additionally, we are called to love our neighbors as ourselves. Pleasing God involves demonstrating love both vertically towards God and horizontally towards others.

4: Practice Justice and Mercy (Micah 6:8)

Micah 6:8 highlights the importance of acting justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly with our God. Pleasing God entails living with integrity, showing compassion to those in need, and seeking justice for the oppressed.

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5: Living in Communion and Constant Prayer (Philippians 4:4-5)

Philippians 4:4-5 encourages us to rejoice in the Lord always and to pray without ceasing. Pleasing God involves cultivating a life of communion with Him through prayer, seeking His guidance and strength in every circumstance.

6: Do Good and Be Generous (Hebrews 13:16)

Hebrews 13:16 exhorts us to do good and to share with others, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. We are called to live generously, showing kindness and compassion to those around us.

7: Keep the Commandments of God (John 14:15)

Jesus emphasized the importance of obedience to God's commandments as an expression of our love for Him. Pleasing God requires us to align our lives with His Word and to obey His teachings.

8: Having a Grateful Heart and Constant Praise (1 Chronicles 16:34)

Gratitude and praise are pleasing to God. We are called to cultivate a heart of thanksgiving, acknowledging God's goodness and faithfulness in our lives.

9: Seek God’s Will in Every Decision (Psalm 143:10)

Psalm 143:10 urges us to seek God's guidance and to do His will. Pleasing God involves surrendering our plans and desires to His perfect will, trusting that His ways are higher than ours.

Conclusion:

As we reflect on how to please God, let us commit ourselves to live lives of faith, holiness, love, justice, and prayer. May we seek to honor God in all that we do, bearing fruit that is pleasing to Him and bringing glory to His name. Let us walk in obedience to His Word, trusting in His promises, and seeking His will in every decision. May our lives be a sweet fragrance, pleasing and acceptable to our Heavenly Father.

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Ronaldo Gomes da Silva is a Professor of Homiletics and Education Specialist (UFF, Brazil). A recognized authority in ministerial training, his homiletical frameworks are used globally and were recently cited by the newspaperCEADEMA of State Convention (June 2025).