Sermons on Despite:

When Everything Seems Hopeless

Contributed by Jerry Flury on Jul 10, 2018

What do you do when everything seems hopeless and you don't know what to do? The events in the life of Jehoshaphat provide encouragement when we face trials, trouble, and impossible situations.

When Everything Seems Hopeless 2 Chronicles 20:1-29 Introduction: The story is told of a man named Brian Hice of Provo, Utah, who had a single day that takes the cake. First, his apartment became flooded from a broken pipe in the apartment above his. So, his manager told him to go rent a water ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 20:1-29

Denomination: Baptist

How The Holy Spirit Helps Us To Remain Upbeat Despite Discouragements

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Oct 18, 2000

Ask the Lord to remind you to plug into His infinite power, perspectives and resources whenever you are feeling any discouragement in your personal life, relationships or ministries.

1. The Holy Spirit helps bring God’s purposes to completion in us and our ministries when we feel like giving up hope. Paul wrote, "Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it onto completion until the day of Christ Jesus." (Phil. 1:6) Application: Trust the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 9:16

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Spread The Word Despite The Odds Sermon Vi: Boldness Epitomized By Stephen Series

Contributed by Charles Cunningham on Jan 15, 2020

In anti-Christian environments, mature Christians must be willing to remain steadfast in their beliefs about God and His Son Jesus Christ, and be bold in speaking the truth in love with compassion.

SPREADING THE WORD DESPITE THE ODDS - FIVE NEW TESTAMENT WITNESSES STEPHEN EPITOMIZED BOLDNESS . . . (Acts 6 and 7) After the little band of believers in Christ received power associated with the Holy Spirit, they began to speak ...read more

Scripture: Acts 6:8-15, Acts 7:51-60

Spread The Word Despite The Odds Sermon Vii: Faithfulness Epitomized By Philip Series

Contributed by Charles Cunningham on Jan 15, 2020

In anti-Christian environments, mature Christians are called upon to be faithful by continuing the work that Jesus began both to teach and to do - willing to cross all kinds of barriers to carry the gospel to any and every one.

PHILIP EPITOMIZED FAITHFULNESS . . . (Acts 8) Stephen was dead. He had been stoned to death due to his boldness in telling the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth about the sin of rejection and the absolute necessity for ...read more

Scripture: Acts 8:4-38

Spread The Word Despite The Odds Sermon Viii: Surrender Epitomized By Paul Series

Contributed by Charles Cunningham on Jan 15, 2020

In anti-Christian environments, mature Christians carry the name of Jesus Christ wherever they go and to whomever they have opportunity to share the gospel message of God's love to the world.

PAUL EPITOMIZED SURRENDER . . . (Acts 9) If the gospel was going to smash through barriers of resistance in the First Century, there would have to be, as there has been in each century since the beginning of Christianity, a recognizable ...read more

Scripture: Acts 9:15-30

Spread The Word Despite The Odds Sermon X: Encouragement Epitomized By Barnabas Series

Contributed by Charles Cunningham on Jan 15, 2020

In anti-Christian environments, mature Christians may be called on to help stabilize unsettling situations as was Barnabas whose encouraging words and acts of love changed fearfulness to thankfulness.

BARNABAS EPITOMIZED ENCOURAGMENT (Acts 11:19-30) Barnabas was the New Testament witness we all have a chance to identify with. Whether we adopt the Barnabas approach to witnessing depends on our willingness to be encouragers rather than ...read more

Scripture: Acts 11:19-30

The Lord Is Good

Contributed by Roddy Chestnut on Oct 18, 2000

Thesis: The righteous see the goodness of the Lord despite circumstances.

Thesis: The righteous see the goodness of the Lord despite circumstances. Intro.: Please turn to Psalm 107. I. LOOKING AT THE TEXT. < Pausing to make comments > A. After Verse 3. 1. This entire psalm is "compressed" in these first three verses; The rest of the psalm "unwraps" the ideas ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 107:1

Jesus, A Friend To Sinners Series

Contributed by Chris Hodges on Sep 7, 2003

To note that Jesus loves us despite our shortcomings.

The Gospel of Mark #7: Jesus, a Friend to Sinners Text: Mark 2:13-17 Thesis: To note that Jesus loves us despite our shortcomings. Introduction: (1) “Mark has shown Jesus’ fame and popularity spreading like wildfire. In this next unit (2:13-3:6), he shows opposition to Jesus from religious ...read more

Scripture: Mark 2:13-17

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Pressing On (Determination)

Contributed by Spencer Homan on Dec 11, 2007

This is a sermon focusing on staying the course despite rejection and obstacles.

Luke 13:31-35 At that very hour some Pharisees came, and said to him, “Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.” And he said to them, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I finish my course. Nevertheless I must go on my ...read more

Scripture: Luke 13:31-35

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Spread The Word Despite The Odds Sermon Iv: Let Courage Rise With Danger Series

Contributed by Charles Cunningham on Jan 14, 2020

Despite multiple attacks against Christianity today, mature Christians maintain spiritual courage to speak the truth in love and to intervention desperate situations to overcome evil with good.

LET COURAGE RISE WITH DANGER AND STRENGTH TO STRENGTH OPPOSE “No good deed goes unpunished.” Although I do not totally subscribe to the cynicism of that expression, because it is my naïve nature to believe that nobody would be opposed to acts of kindness and deeds ...read more

Scripture: Acts 4:1-20

How To Honest Amidst Pressured Situations

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Jun 7, 2001

How to keep your integrity despite the difficulty of your circumstances

Unit 6 – Integrity (Being Honest and Just in Everything I think about, believe and do) Lesson 13 – Joshua’s Choice – Numb. 13:1-14:38; Joshua 1:1-8; Josh. 24:15 For The Teacher’s Preparation 1. Aim: To lead the people to an awareness of how they can make honest, right and God pleasing decisions ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

God And The City

Contributed by Mike Fogerson on Aug 29, 2008

Despite her past, Rahab ended up working for God.

Introduction: A Joshua & Israel still are not in the promised land. 1 Jericho a 8 acres, surrounded by two walls (outer & inner; 6ft & 12 ft, respectively) w/ both walls being 30 feet high. b Many thousand people lived there, we only know one, Rahab. 2 She gave Joshua’s spies safe ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 2:9-14

Denomination: Baptist

"Strong In The Grace Of Christ Jesus"

Contributed by Stephen Becker on Oct 9, 2007

Remaining strong in the Grace of Christ Jesus, even despite persecution.

Have you ever thought about what you would write to somebody if you knew it would be your last letter ever to them? Especially if you were writing to a family member or a close friend…somebody you care for but knew that you would never see again? I’ve heard of parents who, when finding out that ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:1-13

Denomination: Lutheran

Jailhouse Rock Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Jun 11, 2018

Just as God prevails despite opposition, so does the Gospel.

Jailhouse Rock (Acts 16:16-34) [note: this title is not original -- have seen several sermons on this text with this title] 1. Late one night, a burglar broke into a house he thought was empty. He tiptoed through the living room but suddenly he froze in his tracks when he heard a loud raspy ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:16-34

Denomination: Independent/Bible

And You Think Your Family Is Messed-Up Part Ii Series

Contributed by Monty Newton on Aug 4, 2014

God is at work in and through our lives despite our dysfunction.

Title: And You Think Your Family Is Messed Up! (Part II) Text: Genesis 29:15-30 Thesis: God is at work in and through our lives despite our dysfunction. Introduction I have a method to reading the Denver Post every day. I separate the sections removing all the ads. I begin with the Editorial ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 29:15-30

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational