Sermons on Hoping Against Hope:

Complaints Against A Gracious God

Contributed by Michael Stark on Aug 17, 2023

It is a vain and futile thing to complain against God Who is gracious. A study of the descent of Israel into complaining serves to warn us against charging God with error.

“They sinned still more against [God], rebelling against the Most High in the desert. They tested God in their heart by demanding the food they craved. They spoke against God, saying, 'Can God spread a table in the wilderness? He struck the rock so that water gushed out and streams ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 78:17-31

Denomination: Baptist

78. Revelation 1-7 - Evil Powers Exposed Series

Contributed by Gary Regazzoli on Nov 17, 2018

There are evil powers at work that infiltrate and infest all levels of human society, and the book of Revelation systematically exposes these malevolent powers, along with their destruction

IN GOD'S IMAGE 78 - REVELATION 1-7 - EVIL POWERS EXPOSED This message is part of a series of 90 sermons based on the title, “In God’s Image – God’s Purpose for humanity.” This series of free sermons or the equivalent free book format is designed to take the reader through an amazing process ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:10, Revelation 4:9-11, Revelation 5:5-6, Revelation 5:9, Revelation 6:7-8, Revelation 6:16, Revelation 7:9-10  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian Church

Mentally Ill Made Well

Contributed by Kerry Haynes on Jun 23, 2019

The fellow with a legion of demons reminds us to consider: what binds us? What isolates us? What has died within us? Looking to his example, we can 1) seek out Jesus, 2) spend time with Jesus, and 3) share with others what Jesus has done for us.

Luke 8:26-39 Mentally Ill Made Well Many years ago, my wife and I were at a church where the “Power Team” came to perform. They broke stacks of blocks and bricks. They even tore apart chains. And in the midst of all the entertainment, they talked about their personal faith in Christ. While human ...read more

Scripture: Luke 8:26-39, Jeremiah 29:13, John 5:6, John 9:25, Acts 1:8  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

An Outpouring Of Thankfulness Series

Contributed by Dennis Davidson on Nov 7, 2011

Paul’s prayer burst into an overflow of thankfulness & praise. This thankfulness was because their lives demonstrated that God was at work in them and in the church. The Gospel was bearing fruit in & through their lives.

COLOSSIANS 1: 3-8 AN OUTPOURING OF THANKFULNESS [1 Peter 1:3-8] Paul gave continual thanks to God in his prayers. So it was natural that when Paul prayed for the church at Colossae, the prayer burst into an overflow of thankfulness and praise. This thankfulness was because their lives ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 1:3-8

Denomination: Baptist

Optimistic Outlook Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Dec 27, 2017

When you rely on the promises of God, you can look ahead with confidence, look up with commitment, and look around with compassion.

John Ortberg, in his book If You Want to Walk on Water, You’ve Got to Get Out of the Boat, cites a medical study in which 122 men who had suffered their first heart attack were evaluated on their degree of hopefulness and pessimism: “Of the 25 most pessimistic men, 21 had died eight years later. Of ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, Genesis 48:1-22

Denomination: Evangelical Free

The Blessings Of Our Justification Series

Contributed by David Owens on Jul 22, 2019

In the first five verses of Romans chapter 5, Paul begins to focus on the results of our justification in Christ. Paul points toward 3 blessings that comes because of our justification.

Introduction: A. Many years ago a major American magazine published the results of a most fascinating survey. 1. The editors had asked 16 prominent Americans what they did in order to find peace of mind in the midst of our stressful world. The responses were quite revealing. 2. Noted author James ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:1-5

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Looking For Real Hope In The Right Places! (Psalm 39:1-7) Series

Contributed by Charles Cunningham on Aug 12, 2019

The Psalmist highlights the difference it makes in lives by looking and finding hope in places that God honors by His Presence versus pursuing false hope in places where God is dishonored and His people discredited.

MAKING MUSIC FROM SHARPS AND FLATS IN LIFE Sermons Based on Selected Psalms Psalms Sermon VIII – Psalm 39:1-7 David ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 39:1-7

Enduring Word, Eternal Hope - 1 Peter 1:24-25 Series

Contributed by Dean Courtier on Oct 31, 2024

We live in a world that’s constantly changing. Trends shift, people come and go, and the things we once held dear can fade. In 1 Peter 1:24-25, we’re reminded that while everything around us may fade, God’s Word endures forever.

Enduring Word, Eternal Hope - 1 Peter 1:24-25 Introduction: Church, we live in a world that’s constantly changing. Trends shift, people come and go, and the things we once held dear can fade. But today, in 1 Peter 1:24-25, we’re reminded that while everything around us may fade, God’s Word ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:24-25, Psalm 39:5, Isaiah 40:8, Hebrews 4:12, James 1:22  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

Dazed By Discontent And Disappointment - When Hopes And Dreams Are Shattered On The Rocks Of Regret

Contributed by Dr. Craig Nelson on Nov 20, 2025

There are times during the Christian walk, even when the miraculous is happening all around, that things will go haywire as the reality of this life intervenes unannounced, and hopes and dreams are dashed on the rocks of regret, which manifest as fear and anger at God because they feel betrayed.

Fear and hope are similar in that they are both forms of anticipation of the future. Fear is a form of negative hope. A person’s thinking is often dominated either by the dream and hope of success or by fear of failure. When their hopes are not realized, or their desires, dreams, expectations, ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:24-25, Proverbs 3:5-6

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Hope, Joy, An Experience Of God - Some Of The Things Your Giving Pays For Series

Contributed by Fr Mund Cargill Thompson on May 27, 2017

a sermon on Stewardship

“Father, the hour has come, glorify your son so that your son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all people to give eternal life to all you have given him” (John 17:1-2)   In a month or so’s time I am going to have a hernia operation, so yesterday morning I went to UCH for my ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 24:1-27

Denomination: Anglican

Mother's Day 2019 - Finding Hope In A Broken World

Contributed by Stephen Belokur on May 10, 2019

The life of a Jesus follower should be one of hope in a world filled with broken relationships. Is there hope? Or, is the best we can hope for is being "broken together"?

Finding Hope in a Broken World Please stand as we read our newest memory Scripture together … 2 Timothy 4:3-4 “The time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12, Genesis 27:41, Acts 6:1, Acts 15:36-41, Ephesians 4:2, Ephesians 4:32, Philippians 2:3-4, 1 Peter 3:8-9, Genesis 3:8, Genesis 3:12, Genesis 3:13  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Nazarene

Praising God Amidst The Impossible Series

Contributed by Tim Diack on Oct 8, 2012

When life goes from bad to worse, and then from worse to impossible, we are tempted to ask "Where is God in the midst of all this?" Come and discover God's heart for the hurting and find the hope that is only found in Jesus!

Praising God Amidst the Impossible John 11:1-45 Hospital and Care Home Service – September 25, 2012 There are times in life when things go from bad to worse in the blink of an eye; times when a bad situation suddenly becomes seemingly impossible. Perhaps your “impossible” has ...read more

Scripture: John 11:1-45

Denomination: *other

When God Delays Series

Contributed by Kevin Ruffcorn on Apr 13, 2011

One of the hardest things for Christians to do is to wait on God. The story of the resuscitation of Lazarus tells us many important things as we wait on God in what we think is a hopeless situation.

John 11:1-45 “When God Delays” INTRODUCTION One of the most difficult situations in the Christian life is when God remains silent to our prayers. Faye and I have good friends who have two teenagers. Their son has been diagnosed with ADD, and he has been treated for this ...read more

Scripture: John 11:1-45

Denomination: Lutheran

Habakkuk's Disturbing Burden Series

Contributed by Steven Boersma on Oct 17, 2011

It seemed as if the Lord would not even lift a finger to save the righteous from the oppression of violent men. And so, Habakkuk wanted to know why God wouldn’t listen, why God wouldn’t help, and why God even tolerated all this.

Habakkuk’s Disturbing Burden Habakkuk 1:1-2:1 Introduction The story is told of a man who was washed up on a small, uninhabited island after being the only survivor of a shipwreck. Every day the man prayed feverishly for God to help him. Every day he sat at the beach, scanning the ...read more

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

20/20 Faith Series

Contributed by Steven Boersma on Oct 17, 2011

Seeing the past clearly enables Habakkuk to look ahead with 20/20 faith. His fear is turned to faith. His worry is transformed into worship. His terror becomes trust. His hang-ups are resolved with hope. And his anguish melts into adoration.

20/20 Faith Habakkuk 3:1-19 Introduction: 20/20 vision is a term used to express normal clarity or sharpness of vision. It is measured at a distance of 20 feet. If you are fortunate enough to have 20/20 vision, you can see clearly at 20 feet what should normally be seen at that distance. ...read more

Scripture: Habakkuk 3:1-19

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed