Sermons on Defying Odds:

A Closer Look Series

Contributed by Bob Soulliere on Nov 27, 2004

The birth of John the Baptist puts a different spin on the birth of Jesus. We get to see the birth and life of Jesus through the eyes of relatives who were going through the same odd happenings

Falling in love with Jesus Luke 1:68-80 A closer look Based on the book with the same name by Rubel Shelly Part II-B ILL: History tells us that early in the nineteenth century the whole world was watching with bated breath the campaigns of Napoleon. There was talk everywhere of marches, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:68-80

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Not Everything Is As It Seems

Contributed by Aaron Holbrough on Jul 13, 2011

Jesus meets a sick man, and Jesus question to him seems odd - "do you want to get better?" But sometimes what we want and what we need are two different things.

Not everything is as it Seems. John 5:1-15 Jesus is heading up to Jerusalem for a Feast of the Jews (doesn’t say which one) On his way he passed by pool that in Aramaic is called Bethesda archeology has uncovered these pools and they had colonnades or covered parts and the invalid and ...read more

Scripture: John 5:1-15

Denomination: Mennonite

Loyal Friends Series

Contributed by Brady Boyd on Nov 4, 2021

This book seems like an odd fit. There are no epic miracles or battles. It’s a love story for sure, but I think it’s also a book about loyalty and God’s redemption.

Ruth Chapter One – Loyal Friends November 7, 2021 This book seems like an odd fit. There are no epic miracles or battles. It’s a love story for sure, but I think it’s also a book about loyalty and God’s redemption. We open the story with a moving conversation between an elderly widow and her ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 1:13-18, Psalm 68:5-6

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Jacob Wrestles With God, A Salvation Story. Series

Contributed by Andrew Moffatt on Jun 6, 2024

Jacob had been at odds with pretty much everyone his entire life, He wrestles with God and surrenders. There is a new beginning. Why do we wrestle with God and not just surrender to him?

Read Genesis 32:22-32 Who here likes a bit of alone time, the family have gone off on a trip and here’s an opportunity, there’s that novel that you would like to finish reading, that project that you’ve been wanting to finish or in my case get started, the hobby that it would be good to lose ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 32:22-32, Ephesians 2:4-6, Genesis 32:1-32, Jeremiah 29:11-14

Denomination: Salvation Army

The Valley Of Shadows Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Mar 10, 2019

In a world that is dominated by those who defy, avoid and simply fear death, David simply says "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil." Why was it that David could be so confident?

OPEN: “Life is short, and death is sure. Sin the cause. Christ the cure.” Vladimir Lenin - the first communist dictator of Russia - died in 1924. Shortly after his death, authorities decided to maintain his body in a mausoleum. So, for the past 95 years Lenin’s body has been on display in ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 23:1-4, Hebrews 2:14, Hebrews 13:5, Genesis 39:1-23

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Unexpected Jesus (Sermon 1) At Work Today! Series

Contributed by Dean Courtier on Sep 4, 2024

Many times in the Gospels, Jesus shows up in ways that people did not expect. He often defies expectations, both then and now, and as we look at three powerful moments in Scripture, we will see how Jesus reveals Himself in unexpected ways.

Transformed by Truth: The Unexpected Jesus (sermon 1) At work today! Luke 24:13-35, John 4:4-30, Isaiah 55:8-9 Introduction Have you ever had a moment when something or someone completely surprised you? Maybe you expected one outcome, but what actually happened caught you off guard and left you ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:13-35, John 4:4-30, Isaiah 55:8-9, Proverbs 3:5-6, Galatians 3:28, Matthew 28:19-20  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Hope That Holds Us Series

Contributed by Dr. John D. Wentworth on Nov 26, 2025

The first candle of Advent is the Candle of Hope—a small flame that speaks into the long darkness of a weary world. Hope does not deny reality; it defies it. It does not ignore the brokenness around us; it simply believes God is greater than the brokenness.

Title: The Hope That Holds Us Text: We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield.” — Psalm 33:20 The first candle of Advent is the Candle of Hope—a small flame that speaks into the long darkness of a weary world. Hope does not deny reality; it defies it. It does not ignore the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 33:20

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Perfect Stories – Are You Depressed? Suffering Waves Of Attacks? – Don’t Quit! – Three Steps To Dealing With Depression Biblically + Prayer And Fasting For Oceania Series

Contributed by Ambassador Monday Ogbe on Feb 20, 2022

Hello friends, the Lord’s presence, power, protection, provision, and preservation rest mightily upon you in this month of March as you march forward with Him despite the odds that are stacked up against you in Jesus name, Amen dealing with depression biblically Do you have a desire to quit?

I woke up one morning and I had absolutely no desire to read the bible, and when I attempted to read it, it came through as strange text to me. As much as I tried, it was as if there was a screen covering my mind that would not allow me make sense of what I was reading. I tried playing spiritual or ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 42:9, 1 Kings 19:4-14

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Faith Of The Friends Of The Paralytic

Contributed by Jose Imperial on Feb 8, 2009

Having faith in a faithless environment is a real challenge to the Christian. How did the Lord able to heal the paralytic through the faith of his friends. Lets see the odds and obstacles they face and discover the way they overcome.

The faith of the friends of the Paralytic Mt 9:1-8 Luke 5:17-26 Having faith in a faithless environment is a real challenge to the Christian. How did the Lord able to heal the paralytic through the faith of his friends. Lets see the odds and obstacles they face and discover the way they ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:1-8

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Peculiar People Day Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jan 17, 2016

The KJV uses the word "peculiar" 7 times - but it didn't mean "odd" or "bizarre" - it meant a treasured "possession". But what does that mean to us and how should that effect our daily lives as Christians?

(I opened by reading Titus 2:11-14 from the KJV) OPEN: Last Sunday (January 10th) was “Peculiar People Day”. Nobody knows who came up with the idea of making that a special day (somebody thinks it might have been the greeting card companies) but the whole idea of this Peculiar People ...read more

Scripture: Titus 2:11-14

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Mary A Terrific Teenager

Contributed by Bob Marcaurelle on Dec 3, 2019

The Roman Catholic Church has defied this young girl and in response, many Protestants have demoted her as some kind of second-class servant of God. This is wrong because she, like her Son, was one of God's suffering servants.

MARY - THE TERRIFIC TEENAGER Luke 1:26-38 A remarkable thing about God is that he trusts us with His work. He trusted men and women in Bible times to receive and record His revelations of Himself. He entrusted His church with His supreme revelation, Jesus, and with the great commission ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:26-28, Luke 2:41-50, John 2:4, Matthew 12:46

Denomination: Baptist

How's Your Karma Doing?

Contributed by Jay Winters on Jun 28, 2008

You might think "How’s your karma doing?" is an odd sermon title for a Lutheran pastor. You would be right in thinking that, we don’t believe in karma, we believe in grace.

In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, the Holy Three In One Who has justified us apart from our works. Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Two Sundays ago I was in Tampa, Florida at the Campus Mission Confabulation, a ministry conference on how to effectively do campus ...read more

Denomination: Lutheran

Ah! Regrets, I Have A Few...

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Aug 5, 2008

3 TYPES OF REPENTANCE:1 METAMELLOMAI, 2.METANOEO, 3.METANOIA --- Ah, is a lost word of the Bible. It means regrets. Regrets, I have had a few, but I must press on against all odds.

AH! Regrets, I have had a few... WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN? TOMORROW’S OPPORTUNITIES? Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com IF YOU DO THIS IN ONE PART--- You must move quickly. I. THERE IS A LOST WORD THAT WE NEED TO LEARN: AH! Jeremiah 1:6 Then said I, Ah, Lord God! behold, I cannot speak: for ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 1:6

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Mary's Side Of The Story

Contributed by Wayne Lawson on Dec 5, 2017

I wonder, how does Mary’s story speak to you this Advent season? In a few weeks from now, Christmas Sunday would seem rather odd if we did not hear from Mary.

This is not an original sermon, points borrowed from Advent 3/C, December 17, 2006 Lynne M. Dolan (I believe the message was entitled “Nothing Impossible with God”). I have restructured the message, however; want to ensure I give proper credit. TITLE: MARY’S SIDE OF THE STORY SCRIPTURE: ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:26-38

Denomination: Baptist

Perspective About Our God

Contributed by Jimmy Haile on Jul 12, 2015

"Alas, my master! What shall we do?" Have you ever been in that situation? Have you ever been in that predicament? When you felt so overwhelmed? That you are facing innumerable odds?

2 Kings 6:14-17-Therefore he sent horses and chariots and a great army there, and they came by night and surrounded the city. 15 And when the servant of the man of God arose early and went out, there was an army, surrounding the city with horses and chariots. And his servant said to him, "Alas, ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 6:14-17

Denomination: Baptist