Sermons on Defying Odds:

Cohabitation

Contributed by David Parks on Nov 1, 2002

If you are a teen listen closely, because the odds are very high that someone will ask you to move in with them. Decide now, how you will respond.

COHABITATION TEXT: Gal. 5:16-26 INTRODCUTION 1. While conducting a pastor’s seminar on how to cut the divorce rate in the Tampa Bay area, Religious writer Mike McManus asked, "How many couples who come to you to be married, are living together?" In a chorus, they replied: "70 to 75 percent!" ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:16-26

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Neglected Command

Contributed by Michael Stark on Oct 10, 2008

How odd that Christians should be commanded to be thankful. However, upon reflection, we discover that we truly need such commands if we will honour God.

A NEGLECTED COMMAND COLOSSIANS 3:15b “And be thankful.” Only three words comprise our English text; but the text is assuredly appropriate on this Sunday before our national day of Thanksgiving. It serves to remind us of one of the essential characteristics marking the person who knows the ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:15

Denomination: Baptist

Fall Down And Surrender

Contributed by Howard Strickland on Apr 11, 2012

Several were saved and life's changed through the preaching of this word. The only deliverance, the only escape is Jesus; Jesus Christ changes all odds!

Fall Down and Surrender Exodus 12:12-14NKJ  ‘For I will pass through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the Lord. 13 Now the blood shall be a ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 12:12-14

Denomination: Pentecostal

Sermon – Preparation, One Of The Keys To Building A Successful Life!

Contributed by Otis Mcmillan on May 9, 2024

When the odds are against you and the stakes are high, you must realize everything in your history and preparation have made you ready for this moment. Everything up to now has been preparing you for this moment.

Sermon – Preparation, one of the Keys To Building a Successful Life! Scripture Lesson: 1 Samuel 17:51-58 “When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they turned and ran. Then the men of Israel and Judah gave a great shout of triumph and rushed after the Philistines, chasing them as far ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 17:51-58, Psalm 18:39-41, Psalm 37:22-25

Denomination: Methodist

Elijah’s Speech To The Undecided Series

Contributed by John Lowe on Jun 5, 2018

IT WAS A DAY to be remembered, when the multitudes of Israel were assembled at the foot of Mount Carmel, and when the lone prophet of the Lord came forward to defy the four hundred and fifty priests of the false god.

3-21-04 Title: Elijah’s Speech to the Undecided Text: "How long halt ye between two opinions? If the Lord be God, follow him; if Baal, then follow him."—1 Kings 18:21. IT WAS A DAY to be remembered, when the multitudes of Israel were assembled at the foot of Mount Carmel, and when the lone ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Living For A Higher Calling Than Me Series

Contributed by Charles Whitmire on Jan 27, 2008

This is the third message in the Contrarian’s Guide series. This week we look at idols, and how as odd as it sounds, if we are not careful our idol becomes "me."

This is our third message in our contrarian series - we’ve been looking at things from a little different perspective, or vantage point. Last week we talked about slowing down - rather than speeding through life, maybe if we slowed down we could learn to hear God. The week before that we talked ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

Enough With The Selfies

Contributed by Denn Guptill on May 22, 2016

In a society that seems to be obsessed with self love the concept of crucifying self seems a little odd. This message looks at what it means to crucify our sinful nature.

Enough with the selfies. And you thought that selfies were harmless. When selfies first came out I thought taking pictures of yourself with a cell phone was a passing fad. But no, it seems that they are here to stay. All kinds of people are taking pictures of themselves, from the famous to the ...read more

Scripture: Romans 6:1-11

Denomination: Wesleyan

Defending The Faith Sermon V: Embrace The Distinctiveness Of Christ As King Series

Contributed by Charles Cunningham on May 6, 2020

In times of upheaval, as the Christian Faith is attacked by unbelievers and scoffers, we Christians must separate ourselves from those that deny and defy the Lord God but we wholeheartedly embrace Christ as King and Lord.

IN TIMES LIKE THESE . . . CHRISTIANS EMBRACE THE DISTINCTIVENESS OF CHRIST AS KING Statistically, what’s true of Christianity worldwide is not true of Christianity in the USA. It is without a doubt true that our nation is like the rest of the world in that all have sinned ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 44:6-11, John 14:5-7

Repair The Family, See God's Face?

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Jun 15, 2019

Let us examine the odds that we are facing and trust God is greater. 108 people die each minute, are we gambling with our families. God can heal dysfunctional families. Let Him!

SEE GOD’S FACE: OVERCOME THE ODDS… By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (Two parts on the family) TAKING CHANCES? APPOLO 11 was launched IN 1969 BUZZ ALDRIN AND NEIL ARMSTRONG WALKED ON THE MOON…while Michael Collins stay with the orbiter. WHAT KIND OF ODDS WOULD YOU GAMBLE YOUR LIFE ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:26, Luke 12:19, Genesis 33:9

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Pray Persistently Series

Contributed by Todd Stiles on Oct 12, 2006

This odd parable about a widow and a judge shows us why we’re to pray persistently as the end approaches -- so we won’t give up!

¡§Pray Persistently¡¨ (Luke 18:1-8) Who knows what this picture is? Yep, you guessed it ¡V it is my fire pit! [SHOW PICTURE] And if you recall, a few months back I taught you how to pray (from Luke 11) and I used this fire pit as an example, remember? You¡¦re saying, ¡§Who could forget!¡¨ The ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

How Did I Get Here?

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Sep 25, 2007

It is easy to gradually drift off course. Even a dead fish can go down stream. We need to stay focused and press against all odds.

HOW DID I GET HERE? DON’T STAY HERE! GOD HAS SOME NEW THINGS FOR YOU! By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com I. CATCH THE MORAL OF THE STORY? In 1995 several young men decided to go to Kenya, Africa on a SAFARI. They studied ahead of time and had prepared their minds with information so to ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 4:4-17

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Just Give Me Jesus Series

Contributed by Rich Anderson on Feb 13, 2011

God created the world in perfect order. When God sent His Son Jesus Christ to earth, 61 Messianic prophesies were fulfilled. What are the odds?

The 39 books of the Old Testament were written over the course of 1500 years, starting with the creation of the universe and ending about 400 years before the coming of Jesus Christ. To better understand Jesus Christ, in God’s perfect process, I think it’s a good reminder to look at where he came ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 11:1-5, Isaiah 11:1

Denomination: Christian Church

Hide And Seek: When God Protects

Contributed by David Dunn on Nov 22, 2025

A Kuwait war testimony anchored in Psalm 18, showing how God protects, hides, guides, and delivers His children through overwhelming danger and impossible odds.

I have read Psalm 18 hundreds of times, but there is a version of that psalm that you can only learn in the dark. You can memorize it in the light, you can preach it in comfort, but you can only feel it—really feel it—when life leaves you nowhere to stand but in the sheltering shadow of God ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 18:1-6, Psalm 27:5, Psalm 138:7-8, Psalm 143:1, Isaiah 41:10  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Picky Picky Belief Series

Contributed by Pat Cook on Apr 14, 2006

The religious leaders were selective about which laws to follow and which ones to ignore or defy. We are too. The point of this is to expose our own double-standards and lead us to show mercy to others.

John 19:31-37 – Picky Picky Belief Tonight, in our last message of The Life of Jesus before Resurrection Day, I’d like to point out an interesting characteristic about the religious leaders that really bears hearing. Just to let you know: likely something I say tonight might make you angry. ...read more

Scripture: John 19:31-37

Denomination: Baptist

Relating To Jesus Outside Religion Series

Contributed by Brad Bailey on May 22, 2008

Helping ourselves and others relate to Jesus not as one who started a new religion… nor who can be known merely through religious tradition… but who defies religious confines… and who seeks relationship.

Intro – One of the more interesting dynamics in my own process of having ‘holy conversation’ is when someone asks what I do. When they discover I’m a pastor… I’ve seen all sorts of things go off. Discomfort with their behavior, discomfort with what they then expect from me, or even just ...read more

Scripture: John 4:4-12

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational