In Sermon Illustrations: "God Brings Hope"

Meliorism

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 16, 2009

MELIORISM Have you ever heard of Meliorism? Here is what one person said about it. "I am neither an optimist nor a pessimist. I am a Meliorist. Meliorism cancels out optimism as being too bright, too airy; and rejects pessimism as being too dull, too heavy. Take life as it is, says the meliorist, ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:2

Tags: Author, God Brings Purpose

I Recently Read An Insightful Story That Would ...  PRO

Contributed by Josh Hunt on Feb 8, 2012

I recently read an insightful story that would serve as a good reminder for us both as we prepare to part ways. The story is about a group of climbers who set out to scale a large mountain in Europe. The view boasted a breathtaking peak of snowcapped rocks. On clear days the crested point reigned ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:13-35

Tags: Complaining, God Brings Purpose

Denomination: Baptist

H.g. Wells: "Until A Man Has Found God, He ...  PRO

Contributed by Dennis Clark on Apr 12, 2001

H.G. Wells: "Until a man has found God, he begins at no ...read more

Scripture: John 1:1-5

Tags: Fulfillment, God Brings Purpose, Apologetics God

Denomination: Baptist

Scarlet Cord

Contributed by Samuel M on Feb 1, 2025

The scarlet cord in the window which Rahab used to save the spies, is the same cord that saved Rahab and her family and brought her out of her old life. The sacrifices we make for God's plans are the scarlet cord which will bring us out ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 2:18

Tags: Faith, Hope

Sleepless Nights

Contributed by Samuel M on Feb 22, 2025

When the time came to bring Joseph out of jail into fulfilment of God's plan, God gave sleepless nights to King Pharoah. When the time came to exalt and elevate Daniel in the Babylon kingdom, God gave sleepless nights to King Nebuchadnezzar. Similarly, when God wants to fulfil his plan in your ...read more

Tags: Faith, Hope

God's ...

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

“God’s Protection” “Intercession for Our Armed Forces” Psalm 33:16-18 says “No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength. A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save. But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 33:16-18

Tags: Patriotism

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Riches Take Wing, Comforts Vanish, Hope Withers ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"Riches take wing, comforts vanish, hope withers away, but love ...read more

Tags: Christian Love

Hope Motivates Us To Keep Going And Not Give Up. ...  PRO

Contributed by D. Greg Ebie on Jan 27, 2004

Hope motivates us to keep going and not give up. Without hope we don’t want to do anything. Peanut’s cartoon: Lucy and Linus were sitting in front of the television set when Lucy said to Linus, "Go get me a glass of water." Linus looked surprised, "Why should I do anything for you? You never do ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 33:14-16

Tags: Faith, Faith General

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Olympic Speed Skaters Slow Down When No Hope Of ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 7, 2009

Olympic Speed Skaters Slow Down When No Hope of Winning At the 2002 Winter Olympics, Apolo Ohno, an American, hoped to win his second gold medal in the men’s 5,000-meter short track, speed-skating relay. But during one of the turns, another American skater fell. His fall and recovery only took a ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 1:2-3

Tags: Sports

Wayne A. Lamb In 100 Meditations On Hope, Shares ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Wayne A. Lamb in 100 Meditations on Hope, shares this story: “In the midst of a storm, a little bird was clinging to the limb of a tree, seemingly calm and unafraid. As the wind tore at the limbs of the tree, the bird continued to look the storm in the face, as if to say, ‘Shake me off; I sill have ...read more

Tags: Jesus' Ministry

Unbroken Preachers

Contributed by Samuel M on Sep 8, 2025

These days, pulpits are filled with lot of called unbroken preachers who lack the wilderness experience. These unbroken preachers are making a lot of noise. There's a lot of boasting, hype, and selfish ambition. Their preaching lacks the voice of the Lord. Preachers with wilderness experience ...read more

Tags: Faith, Hope

I Choose Not To Be Arrogant Nor To Put My Hope In ...  PRO

Contributed by Darryl Klassen on Jul 27, 2007

I choose not to be arrogant nor to put my hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put my hope in God, who richly provides me with everything for my enjoyment. I choose to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. I choose to lay up treasures in heaven that ...read more

Denomination: Mennonite

Faith Like A Potato: Don't Give Up Hope

Contributed by Selwyn Robins on Apr 19, 2011

FAITH LIKE A POTATO: DON'T GIVE UP HOPE There is a movie called 'Faith Like a Potato'. It takes place in South Africa. Long story short a farmer w/an anger management issue is converted to a believer (follower) of the word. Needing to bring in money for his family, he decides to plant a crop of ...read more

Tags: Faith

Denomination: Charismatic

Run The Race

Contributed by James Chandler on Apr 18, 2024

Run the Race ”Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:1-2

Tags: Hope, Perseverance

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

God's Will Is God's Word

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 13, 2009

GOD’S WILL IS GOD’S WORD Jimmy is a professional fisherman. He makes his living fishing on the BASS (Bass Angler Sportsman Society) circuit. He is also a devout Christian and belongs to the FBC Keys, Oklahoma. This year, BASS made a ruling that to be eligible for the fisherman of the year award ...read more

Tags: God's Sovereign Will

God Is A Jealous God

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 12, 2009

GOD IS A JEALOUS GOD A few years ago, I was working in Qatar installing a newsroom set for Al-Jazeera TV. I’d been there for nearly a month and was ready to go home. I can’t describe for you how badly I missed my family. We were nearly finished with the set, and the last thing to be done was to ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 20:5

Tags: Idolatry, Generation

The Best Change  PRO

Contributed by Timothy Smith on Dec 3, 2002

THE BEST CHANGE Our world has changed dramatically in the past 100 years, and futurists predict that even greater changes are coming. Consider these facts: We now watch as routine space shuttles that propel people into space and land routinely. Yet, it was under 100 years ago that the first ...read more

Tags: Evangelism The Lost, God Brings Purpose

Denomination: Christian Church

William Provine Of Cornell University Said, ...  PRO

Contributed by Lynn Floyd on May 4, 2001

William Provine of Cornell University said, “Darwinism is not just about mutations and fossils, it is a comprehensive philosophy stating that all of life can be explained by natural causes acting randomly—which implies that there is no need for the Creator. And if God ...read more

Tags: God Brings Purpose, Apologetics God, Creation

Denomination: Baptist

The Open Door

Contributed by Samuel Shamaun on Jan 20, 2026

A man once stood outside a house, knocking on the door. He knocked again and again, but no one answered. Finally, he noticed there was no handle on the outside of the door. The door could only be opened from the inside. This illustration reflects the way Jesus approaches our hearts. The Bible says ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:20

Tags: Salvation, Hope

Denomination: Pentecostal

Hope Is A Funny Thing. It Comes So Easy To Some ...  PRO

Contributed by David Yarbrough on Apr 21, 2003

Hope is a funny thing. It comes so easy to some people--maybe too easy. Milton Berle told a story about those kinds of people, about how hope can triumph over good sense. Four widows were playing cards in the retirement home they lived in. A good-looking older fellow walks in, bags under each ...read more

Tags: Easter Resurrection

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational