Sermons on Environment Of Hope:

Beauty For Ashes

Contributed by Charles Holt on Apr 9, 2002

When hopes and dreams turn to ashes of disappointment and heartache, what to do? David’s experience at Ziklag serves as an inspiration to all who would arise out of seeming defeat.

 BEAUTY FOR ASHES Luke 4:18,19 1 Samuel 30:6 If I serve you well from this pulpit–-if I achieve the goal I have set–-my message today will be filled with hope and encouragement. First, we will hear what Jesus said ...read more

Scripture: Luke 4:18-19

Denomination: Assembly Of God

The Emmaus Road Series

Contributed by Darren Ethier on May 21, 2002

Part 2 of 4 of the series, Roads of Passion. The Emmaus Road: a road that reveals Jesus’ companionship, conversation, challenge to believe, and renewal of hope to all those who follow Him.

THE EMMAUS ROAD Luke 24:13-35 Read at beginning of service: Luke 24:13-35 (NIV) 13 Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:13-35

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Dark Night Of The Soul Series

Contributed by Chris Appleby on Feb 18, 2002

All people’s efforts to be right with God have failed, because people chose to exchange the truth about God for a lie. Their only hope is the Gospel of God’s grace.

You’d have to say that there’s nothing pretty about the picture of the world that we find in this passage from Romans ch1. Here we take off the rose coloured glasses and look, with a degree of reality, at the world we live in. I was talking to someone the other day about watching television and ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:16-31

Denomination: Anglican

A Model Worth Following Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on Mar 19, 2003

Paul and his team authentically modeled the message, focusing on the praise of God, not men. We must do the same and be as gentle as a mother and as firm as a father with those we are hoping to influence.

Marks of a Healthy Church After the sermon last week, someone came up to me and asked me a question: “If First Thessalonians is one of the shortest and easiest books to understand, why are you taking 14 weeks to preach through it?” I told him that he should be glad I’m not preaching through the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 2:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

Rest Ing With God In Faith

Contributed by Greg Nance on Dec 17, 2002

Hebrews 3:7-4:11 encourages us to enter God’s rest. In a time when the fulfillment and joy that brings rest is hard to find, what a word of hope!

Obedient Faith Brings Divine Rest Text: Hebrews 3:7-4:11 Maybe you’ve heard in the news that a large percent of Americans today are suffering from sleep deprivation. It causes road rage, traffic accidents, health issues and conflict at work and at home. We suffer from the curse of not enough ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 3:7-19, Hebrews 4:1-11

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

God Don't Have No Cataracts

Contributed by Charles Holt on Jul 17, 2001

This sermon is all about how God sees us at all times in all places. It offers a positive word of encouragement and hope of our all-seeing and all-caring Father.

Charles W. Holt, PhD email: cholt@gt.rr.com GOD DON’T HAVE NO CATARACTS Genesis 16:13; Psalm 33:18,19; (See also 1 Sam. 16:7) Excuse me. I know the title has fried the syntax of all good rules of English. Fearing a total meltdown the syntax sensitive among us are ready to bail out. Please stand ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 16:13

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Entering The Dark Night Of The Soul - And Its Exit

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on Nov 5, 2000

The psalmist was downcast in spirit and gave voice to Dejection but after an outpouring of grief it gave way to Reflection on God’s gracious provision, which led him to Restoration in hope in God.

ENTERING THE DARK NIGHT OF THE SOUL - AND ITS EXIT Do you ever feel "in the dumps?" This happens when the "feel good factor" has worn thin. There could be any number of causes that bring this on. "If people don’t feel good, they’re discouraged and discontented. Yes, feelings are important. If ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

"I Played The Fool, " Saul's Epitaph Series

Contributed by Doug Johnston on Oct 19, 2001

Instead of being like King Saul, whose life ended with disappointment, we can be like King David, whose life was characterized by hope, even when death was near.

J Sidlow Baxter’s book, Mark These Men, tells us he thinks a man plays the fool when he: Neglects his godly friends; Goes on enterprises for God before God sends him; Disobeys God; Tries to cover disobedience with religious sounding excuses; Allows jealousy or hatred to master him; Knowingly ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 23:1-6, 1 Samuel 31:1-13

Denomination: Baptist

Following Jesus To The Cross #4 - Power To Change Your Life Series

Contributed by Mark Thornton on Nov 21, 2001

This is the final message in a series that looks at Jesus’ final few days leading up to his crucifixion. This was the Easter Sunday morning message that declares the hope that we have because of the cross.

INTRODUCTION As many of us have heard, cartoonist Johnny Hart has come under a great deal of criticism for his B.C. comic strip - specifically for the strip he created for today, Easter Sunday. It depicts a Jewish menorah being transformed into a Christian cross as Jesus the last words of Jesus ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, Matthew 28:1-10

Denomination: *other

Resisting Temptation Series

Contributed by Guy Glass on Mar 26, 2007

Temptation is defined as. “something that seduces or has the quality to seduce; the desire to do or have something you know you should avoid; the act of influencing by exciting hope or desire.

NEW THINKING FOR A NEW YEAR Resisting Temptation Genesis 3:1-7 Genesis 3:1-7 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, ’You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?" 2 The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 3:1-7

Denomination: Baptist

Your Dead Shall Live

Contributed by Charles Scott on Oct 17, 2006

Christ the Lord Risen: his prophetic voice calls the faithful from the worship of idols and from vain hopes and inferior means to rise up and build the Kingdom; to really live.

First Sunday after Easter (B) Your dead shall live Isaiah 26:2-9, 19 Open the gates, that the righteous nation that keeps faith may enter in. You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock. For ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 26:2-19

Denomination: Anglican

The Godly Mother

Contributed by Jim Drake on May 14, 2007

In the prayer of Hannah, we see the devotion of a godly mother, in the lives of Samuel and Samson, we see the response to a godly mother, and in the promise of God, we see the hope of a godly mother.

1. Devotion of a godly mother a. A Godly mother recognizes the Lord’s salvation b. A Godly mother recognizes the Lord’s standing c. A Godly mother recognizes the Lord’s supremacy d. A Godly mother recognizes the Lord’s sovereignty e. A Godly mother recognizes the Lord’s supply 2. Response to a ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 2:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

The Meaning Of Christmas

Contributed by Bruce Ball on Dec 17, 2006

This sermon depicts the true meaning of what Christmas really is; through God’s forgiveness; His help in our storms; and the hope He gives us for our future.

Last week, I talked about how Christmas is a time of love. God loved us enough to send His Son to be our sacrifice. Jesus loved us enough to be that sacrifice. And now, God wants us to love Jesus enough to sacrifice our will to Him. I explained that love is the willingness to sacrifice ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:8-14

Denomination: *other

Let Us Love One Another!

Contributed by Raphiel Manenge on Sep 16, 2005

Love is above all we may need and have.Hope, faith and all things will pass away but Love remains.Without love you are NOTHING,let us LOVE!

“Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love…..Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God ...read more

Denomination: Pentecostal

Come Before Winter Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Jun 14, 2005

Is it winter in your life? Do you feel abandoned and without hope? Let the last words of the Apostle Paul encourage you as he prepared to cast off for the next shore.

Quite a number of years ago now I saw what was one of the most impacting presentations of my entire life. An actor – Phil Nash – performed a dramatic reading of 2nd Timothy called “Come Before Winter.” It was just him – in costume, alone on the stage with a few props, reciting the book as Paul the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:1-22

Denomination: Calvary Chapel