Sermons on National Failure:

God Uses The Unexpected

Contributed by D. Dewaine Phillips on Mar 6, 2022

Many times those who are underestimated and considered failures go on to accomplish great things in society. The same principle is true in the kingdom. The Lord oftentimes uses people who are rejected to bring glory to His name.

Once we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, and as we come to know the Lord by spending time with Him, we will reach a point in our life where our love will overflow in a desire for service. It’s at this place that many believers come to a screeching halt. They look at themselves ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 16:1-13

Denomination: Baptist

Free To Fail

Contributed by Bob Soulliere on Feb 27, 2010

Abraham Lincoln suffered a string of failures before he was elected to the presidency. His country store went out of business. As a young lawyer he had trouble getting clients. He was defeated in his campaigns for the state legislature, the House of Repre

FREE TO FAIL Matthew 25:24-25; Philippians 4:13 Abraham Lincoln suffered a string of failures before he was elected to the presidency. His country store went out of business. As a young lawyer he had trouble getting clients. He was defeated in his campaigns for the state legislature, the House of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:24-25

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Remember Series

Contributed by Jim Drake on Nov 16, 2009

How can this great book on leadership end this way? This chapter is a reflection on everything that has gone on up until this point. But it’s not a rose-colored reflection. It is an honest look at how quickly the remnant fell away and it demands an hones

That was a lot to read, so I want to briefly give you an overview of what’s going on here. Sometime, either before the chapter, or after verse 3, Nehemiah leaves town to fulfill the promise he made to the king back in chapter 2. We don’t really know exactly how long Nehemiah was gone. It could ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 13:1-31

Denomination: Baptist

His Sweeping Excellence-2

Contributed by Byron Sherman on Aug 10, 2011

2 of 3. Hebrews divulges the sweeping excellence of Jesus’ ministry(High Priesthood) as confirmed thru the New Covenant. How is the excellence of such confirmed? Confirming the sweeping excellence of Jesus’ priesthood is...

HIS SWEEPING EXCELLENCE-II—Hebrews 8:1-13 Attention: A pair of chickens walk into a public library, find the librarian & say, ’Buk Buk BUK.’ The librarian decides that the chickens want three books, & promptly gives them some.  Without further ado, the chickens walk out. Around midday, the two ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 8:8-13

Denomination: Baptist

Stormy Weather

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Aug 17, 2023

Jesus’ job is not to make things easy for us. It is to save us from sin and death, not from suffering and life. Life includes suffering.

Just a few weeks ago we celebrated the 150th anniversary of this church: a century and a half of vital, energetic, faithful ministry and worship. And in just another couple of weeks we will be closing the door on that history. This is not what you expected when you first embarked on your journey ...read more

Scripture: Mark 4:35-41

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

God Restores Elijah / The Heart Of The Problem

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Aug 15, 2020

To help Elijah out of his depression God needs to reach a point where Elijah is willing to listen to him. He then needs to resolve Elijah's sense of failure and hopelessness. We see how God did that.

1 KINGS 19, GOD RESTORES ELIJAH INTRODUCTION Today we’re returning to the story of Elijah in 1 Kings 19. 1 Kings 18 tells us about Elijah’s confrontation with the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. In 1 Kings 19, we find that Elijah has become very depressed. He thinks he’s a failure, but God ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

The Life No One Expected Series

Contributed by Brian Williams on Mar 7, 2024

Moses wanted to pass on this lesson from the garden to God’s people so they would learn from it, live by it, and thrive.

Genesis 1-2 begins with the orderly creation which forms the content of the scriptural vision for the future. Genesis 2 is a more detailed account of the creation narrative where we see Adam and Eve in paradise, in the midst of an incredible garden prepared for them by God Himself. At the end of ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 3:1-7

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Jesus Prays For Us Luke 22:31-34 Series

Contributed by Ken Henson on Mar 22, 2014

Peter denied Jesus three times in one night Yet Jesus prayed for him. What about you? What is your big failure? Do you feel like it is the end? IT IS NOT. For God our ends are His beginning. Jesus is praying for us.

Luke 22:31 And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned, strengthen your brethren.” 33 But he said to Him, “Lord, I am ready to go with ...read more

Scripture: Luke 22:31-34

Denomination: *other

The Power Of Secret Sin

Contributed by Brian Harvison on Apr 5, 2008

The failure at Ai

The Power of Secret Sin The failure at Ai - Joshua 7 A man purchased a white mouse to use as food for his pet snake. He dropped the unsuspecting mouse into the snake’s glass cage, where the snake was sleeping in a bed of sawdust. The tiny mouse had a serious problem on his hands. At any moment ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 7:1-26

Denomination: Baptist

Publicly Speaking...

Contributed by Suresh Manoharan on Nov 27, 2011

The need to worship our multi-faceted God for His singular trait of making PUBLIC STATEMENT as to his existence, the veracity of the Bible, salvation through the Cross and the imminent Second coming of His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.

PUBLICLY SPEAKING…! I have said before and I never tire of reiterating it; we are essentially created to worship the Creator. When it comes to worshipping Him, more than expressing our adoration for the blessings, He showers upon us our ...read more

Scripture: Acts 26:26

Denomination: *other

The Book Of Lamentations – Part 13 – Jeremiah And The Nation Are In Affliction; The Nation Is Expelled; Bodies Suffer; Bitterness - Chapter 3:1-5 Series

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Apr 25, 2025

Sin brought bitterness and hardship, so bad that horrible things were done among the people. These verses dwell on that today. God is blamed for it all through His allowing Babylon to come. They walk in darkness, but they suffer their own fate.

THE BOOK OF LAMENTATIONS – PART 13 – JEREMIAH AND THE NATION ARE IN AFFLICTION; THE NATION IS EXPELLED; BODIES SUFFER; BITTERNESS - CHAPTER 3:1-5 LAMENTATIONS CHAPTER 3 Now we enter into a lot of shorter verses but each one has a definite, strong meaning. I trust you might find a delight in ...read more

Scripture: Lamentations 3:1, 2 Timothy 3:12, Lamentations 3:2, Genesis 3:24, Matthew 25:41, Revelation 20:15, Lamentations 3:3, Revelation 6:16-17, Revelation 9:20-21, Lamentations 3:4, Deuteronomy 28:47-48, Lamentations 3:5, Deuteronomy 28:49-52, Deuteronomy 28:53-57  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Distractions And More Opposition Series

Contributed by Bobby Stults on Feb 8, 2013

Nehemiah faced opposition prior to this event, but here the opposition had the strong potential to distract Nehemiah from his work in God's plan. We find that Nehemiah reveals his character in being able to stay focused when the world around him was fille

Sermon Brief Date Written: February 8, 2013 Date Preached: February 10, 2013 Where Preached: OPBC (AM) Sermon Details: Series Title: Building with God Sermon Title: Distraction & Opposition Sermon Text: Nehemiah 6:3 [ESV] 3so I replied by sending this message to them: “I am ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 6:1-19

Denomination: Baptist

Happy Are The Sad - Matthew 5:4 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Jul 3, 2024

No one feels good after a failure. But how is the sorrow of a child of God different? And why does Jesus pronounce a blessing on people who feel that way? This message will help you draw near to God through times of hardship.

Matthew 5:1-12 Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them, saying: 3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 Blessed ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:4

Lesson 4: When I Don’t Take Responsibility

Contributed by Elmer Towns on Mar 12, 2010

What happens with failure and how to come back from a failure.

A. INTRODUCTION: MATTHEW 25:14-30 1. I was tired/weak – unable. 2. I was not ready – unprepared. 3. I didn’t give it the time – uncommitted. 4. I didn’t have the skills – unfit. 5. I didn’t get help – unable to work with others. 6. I didn’t ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:14-30

Denomination: Baptist

The Folly Of Human Utopias: Lessons From Noah And Babel Series

Contributed by Timothy Bruneau on May 17, 2025

In a world torn between nationalism and globalism, where leaders promise perfection through purging "bad actors" or uniting under one system, the ancient stories of Noah’s Ark and the Tower of Babel speak with startling relevance.

The Folly of Human Utopias: Lessons from Noah and Babel Introduction Have you ever found yourself thinking, "If only we could remove all the bad people from the world, everything would be perfect"? Perhaps you've watched the news—stories of corruption, violence, and greed—and ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 6:9, Genesis 11:4, Acts 17:26, John 3:16

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational