Sermons on Exile Hope:

Smyrna: The Persecuted Church Series

Contributed by Carl Allen on Oct 23, 2008

The letter to the church of Smyrna gives us hope when persecution and suffering come our way.

Smyrna: Persecuted Church Revelation 2:8-11 Intro As we continue our look at the seven churches in the book of Revelation tonight, I want us to take a look at the church of Smyrna. The church at Smyrna was a church under pressure, a suffering church, a church under tremendous persecution. The ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:8-11

Denomination: Baptist

A Graveyard Of Bones

Contributed by Anthony Zibolski on May 28, 2010

God is able to restore dead and dried up bones. He is also able to give hope to the hopeless. He is the giver of life.

A graveyard of dry bones Ezekiel chapter 37:1-14 Introduction- Turn to Ezekiel chapter 37:1-14. Old Testament between Lamentations and Daniel. I want to talk to you about the dry bones of Israel. Before you think you know where I am going with this, I ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 37:1-14

Denomination: Nazarene

Promising Signs

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Oct 13, 2023

Each time Jesus is born again in any person it is a sign of the present reality of the kingdom of God.

I was talking to a man last week about our birthday party for Jesus, which is the informal family worship time we have here on Christmas morning. It’s capped by having the children blow out the candle on Jesus’ birthday cake. And he asked, “How can you fit 2003 candles on one birthday cake?” ...read more

Scripture: Micah 5:2-5

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Genealogy Of Jesus

Contributed by Farinu Ademola on Dec 4, 2006

Jesus came through an imperfect people and that is a big hope for us to see that we have a savior who identifies with us.

The Genealogy of Jesus (The Savior who identifies with us) Mat. 1:1-17 – “A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of David, the son of Abraham: 2Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, 3Judah the father of Perez and Zerah, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:1-17

Denomination: Pentecostal

O Death Where Is Your Still Sting PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Sep 27, 2023

The victory of Christ over death, the hope of eternal life, and the power of the resurrection are transformative truths that can inspire optimism and hope, despite present struggles.

Good morning, my dear brothers and sisters. Today, we are going to delve into a wonderfully reassuring passage from 1 Corinthians 15:55, "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" This profound verse reveals three incredibly powerful truths. It speaks of the victory of Christ ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:55

Topics: Death, Resurrection

God's Grace In Our Grief Series

Contributed by Mark Schaeufele on Oct 23, 2025

2. It’s difficult to see hope in the middle of grief, but God’s grace always supplies us with hope even in the darkest night.

GOD’S GRACE IN OUR GRIEF Text: Ruth 1:19-22 Introduction 1. Illustration: Franklin D. Roosevelt said: “We have always held to the hope, the belief, the conviction that there is a better life, a better world just beyond the horizon.” 2. It’s difficult to see hope in the middle of grief, but God’s ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 1:19-22

Denomination: Methodist

"Plans For The Penitent"

Contributed by Clark Tanner on Mar 6, 2007

Long before the sin, long before the discipline, God has already made plans for the restoration of the repentant. A future and a hope.

“For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.” This is the first sermon I have ever co-authored. The process was a pleasure as it turns out, because my partner in it was Jacquelynn Tanner. Her favorite ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 29:11

Denomination: Orthodox

Herod's Story

Contributed by Ken Carlson on Dec 30, 2018

In Matthew 2:13-23, we see the Christmas story through the lens of Herod the Great. In this passage we learn that when Jesus was born, hope entered our world!

MATTHEW 2:13-23 INTRODUCTION I hope you all had a very merry Christmas. And I’m sure most if you did. • But maybe some of you didn’t. • Maybe the much-sung words of "have a Holly jolly Christmas" wouldn't describe this time of year for you. • Maybe you wouldn’t describe this season ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:13-23, Matthew 2:13, Matthew 2:14, Matthew 2:15, Matthew 2:16, Matthew 2:17, Matthew 2:18, Matthew 2:19, Matthew 2:20, Matthew 2:21, Matthew 2:22, Matthew 2:23  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

How Long, O Lord? Series

Contributed by Sterling Franklin on Jun 21, 2010

Habakkuk asks the main question, ’How Long, O LORD?’ through a very confusing time in Judah’s history. Deals with suffering, hope, and our LORD’s sovereignty

How Long, O LORD? Written in 2007, Sterling C. Franklin Feel free to use (and not take credit for) this message, but please do necessary preparation for your congregation’s sake! :) TEXT Habakkuk 1:1-2:1 (ESV) 1:1 The oracle that Habakkuk the prophet saw. 2 O LORD, how long shall I cry for ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Living In Sunday

Contributed by Troy Borst on Oct 12, 2013

They were living in a Saturday full of no hope and no purpose and no answers. We, too, can easily get stuck in living with a Saturday state of mind—no hope, no courage, no plans... This particular SUNDAY was Resurrection Day a day of love, life, hope!

LIVING IN SUNDAY THE STORY CHAPTER 27 / Matthew 27:62-28:10 INTRODUCTION… Some People Live for Certain Days (P) Each of us has something in common… we all are slaves to time and we experience life on a day in and day out basis. We give the days specific names so we can help mark the ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Esther - For Such A Time As This Series

Contributed by Scott Kircher on Aug 24, 2008

How God can use us in extraordinary ways even in bad circumstances

Esther - Preparing to be used “For Such a Time as This” Slide Have you ever faced a time in your life where your circumstances just seemed plain awful? Like things could not get any worse, only to get worse. Maybe you are in a marriage where it seems your spouse just doesn’t care about ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Don’t Despise The Small Things. Series

Contributed by Allan Quak on Jan 1, 2019

We might feel small, just as the post exiles built a small temple. But when we are in the hands of God He chooses to use us as we are. Don’t be disheartened by how you think things are. Don’t despise the day of small things.

Jexit: Judah Come Home Don’t Despise the Small Things. A sermon on Zechariah 4:1-14 We continue our series on Jexit – focussing on the history and situation of the Judahites when they returned from Bablyon. The key Bible books which we will consider are Ezra, Nehamiah and Esther. We will also ...read more

Scripture: Zechariah 4:1-14

Denomination: Baptist

When Problems Come

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on May 2, 2023

Problems come. It's part of life. What are some general principles we need to follow when they do? We look at one of the greatest problems / difficulties / challenges in the history of God's people - the destruction of Jerusalem at the hands of the Babylonians and the exile - for lessons.

Everyone faces problems from time to time. Churches also face problems. For example, a church might unexpectedly lose its pastor and some other key members of its leadership at around the same time. If that happened, how would you view it? Perhaps some of you would say that it’s a CHALLENGE, ...read more

Scripture: Amos 4:7-8, Daniel 9:5, Nehemiah 1:7, Ezra 9:6

Denomination: Baptist

Which Shepherd Are You Choosing? (Pt. 2) Series

Contributed by Richard Tow on Sep 19, 2022

This exposition of Zechariah 11:7-17 examines Zechariah's prediction of Christ's rejection at his First Advent and the consequences of that rejection. The timeless truth taught is: when the leadership God sends is rejected, the judgment that follows is bad leadership.

Intro We concluded last week with God instructing Zechariah to take on the role of a shepherd. Follow with me as we read Zechariah 11:4. “This is what the Lord my God says: ‘Shepherd the flock marked for slaughter.”i That is the assignment God gives Zechariah. He is to represent the Lord as a good ...read more

Scripture: Zechariah 11:1-17, Matthew 15:14-15, John 1:1-11, Matthew 23:1-39, Matthew 26:14-16, Matthew 27:1-10, Revelation 19:20, John 11:1-48, Galatians 5:15-23  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Charismatic

End Times For Advent, Want Can We Do, How Can We Prepare?

Contributed by Gordon Mcculloch on Nov 29, 2021

Advent is a time to celebrate both the past and the future, as we remember when Jesus. End times prophesy can be horrific, and the last thing we want to hear at during advent. But there is hope, and people need to hear it.

This sermon was delivered to Holy Trinity in Ayr, South Ayrshire, Scotland on the 28th November 2021; a Scottish Episcopal Church in the Dioceses of Glasgow and Dumfries. The readings for today are: Jeremiah 33:14-16 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13 Psalm 25:1-9 Main Reading: Luke 21:25-36 Prayer: My I ...read more

Scripture: Luke 21:25-36, Jeremiah 33:14-16

Denomination: Episcopal