Sermons on optimism:

How Does It Look To You Now?

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Dec 19, 2000

"How does it look to you now?" This is a good question to ask during the first few weeks of a New Year.

MELVIN M. NEWLAND, MINISTER RIDGE CHAPEL, KANSAS, OK (Revised: 2019) TEXT: Haggai 2:3-7; Philippians 2:13 Our scripture text this morning is from Haggai, the third book from the end of the OT. And in chapter 2, vs's 3-7 the prophet Haggai is delivering a message from God to the people of ...read more

Scripture: Haggai 2:3-7, Philippians 2:13

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Funeral Sermon For Geneva Peterson: "I Can Do That!"

Contributed by Joel Smith on Feb 9, 2009

A funeral message about an exceptional woman.

I believe that everyone’s life has a theme. Patterns emerge over the years that are true of us all the time. Sometimes it’s difficult to figure out your theme, but with Geneva it’s pretty easy. When facing a challenge or a task or a new direction she was often heard to say, “I can do that.” ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 31:10-31

Denomination: Baptist

Faith Expansion #3 Series

Contributed by Larry Walkemeyer on Sep 22, 2009

A verse by verse message on Hebrews 11:20-29 teaching people to live an "I CAN" life through faith.

Faith comes in CANS. Most of my childhood I was raised by a single mother. Her favorite saying was, “CAN’T never did anything but sit on a fence post & cry!” Whenever I said, I can’t do this. I can’t face this. She would respond with this saying. She wanted me to live in the land of FAITH, the ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:20-29

Denomination: Free Methodist

Thou Shalt Not Grumble

Contributed by David Mcnally on Jan 20, 2013

Christians should be positive and optimistic people if they want to witness to unbelievers for no one likes a negative, pessimistic person. The Hebrews on their Exodus journey should have known better than to grumble against God and Moses after all the bl

Grace, mercy and peace, from God the Father and our Lord, Jesus Christ. Exodus 16: verses 1 – 8 but especially verses 2 and 8 In the light of these words, it looks as if the Lord is suggesting an 11th commandment: ‘Thou shalt not grumble’. Psalm 145, ends with these words in ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 16:1-8

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Do You Have Eeyore Syndrome?

Contributed by Derrick Tuper on Nov 5, 2012

Could your nickname be ‘Eeyore’? Are you known as ‘Negative Nellie’ or, ‘Gloomy Gus’? Being a negative person and being a Christian is not a workable combination. Let’s see what we can do about that.

DO YOU HAVE EEYORE SYNDROME? INTRODUCTION: "Good morning, Pooh Bear," said Eeyore gloomily. "If it is a good morning; which I doubt." "Why, what's the matter?" "Nothing, Pooh Bear, nothing. We can't all, and some of us don't. That's all there is to it." "Can't all what?" said Pooh. "Gaiety. ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:8

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Light Of Hope

Contributed by John Gaston on Jul 19, 2016

We all need hope. Here I’m touching on how Hope is like a light. It should give us optimism, transform our lives, and reminds us of our inheritance.

THE LIGHT OF HOPE INTRODUCTION A. HUMOR 1. You always need to be skeptical when you are offered a “free ride.” If it looks too good to be true, it probably IS too good to be true. Example: 2. In Zimbabwe, a bus driver was transporting 20 mental patients from one mental hospital to ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 6:19

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Re-Birthday Presents Series

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Aug 7, 2011

Each one of us needs the gifts of the others in the body for our own wholeness, as well as for the health and optimal functioning of the whole church. And all of these gifts are to be used in love.

How many of you can remember building things when you were little? At my house we had Lincoln logs and tinker toys and cedar blocks, and I could spend all day building houses. I always envied the kids who had Meccano sets, you know, the metal strips with holes in them that you could put together ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:7-16

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Day Of Judgment Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 7, 2021

We must open our spiritual eyes and recognize that there are thousands of victories being won everyday around the world. We are referring to the victories of light over darkness. The Christian must balance his pessimism concerning the world with his optimism concerning the kingdom of God.

The optimist says the world is everyday in every way getting better and better. The pessimist says the world isn’t what it used to be, but is going to the dogs. The Christian realist says they are both right, because there are two kingdoms of reality. There is the world order, or that realm in ...read more

How To Let God Change You

Contributed by Bruce Lee on Jun 7, 2013

Practical ways to let God's transformation and change take place in your life.

How to Let God Change You “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” Romans 12:2 Intro: Do you know ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:2

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

From Famine To Feasting

Contributed by Manny Salva Cruz on Sep 8, 2014

For many Christians, there is a famine for God's Word that can easily affect their ability to face their problems. But it is possible to have spiritual feasting in the insurmountable riches of Christ. Let us learn from these characters from Genesis.

FROM FAMINE TO FEASTING Text: GENESIS 43:1, 16, 31 Genesis 43: 1 "Now the famine was still severe in the land." Genesis 43: 16 When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the steward of his house, “Take these men to my house, slaughter an animal and prepare a meal; they are to eat with ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 43:1-34

Denomination: Nazarene

Defeating Discouragement

Contributed by Chris Jordan on Jul 17, 2007

We all get discouraged and feel like quitting – we lose our motivation, confidence and optimism. I have good news for you this morning: discouragement can be defeated!

DEFEATING DISCOURAGEMENT JOKE: When our lawn mower broke and wouldn’t run, my wife kept hinting to me that I should get it fixed. But, somehow I always had something else to take care of first, the truck, the car, playing golf - always something more important to me. Finally she thought of a ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:6

Denomination: *other

The Land Of The Midnight Sun Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Feb 1, 2009

Our culture has lived in sheer optimism, but that time is fading. We must seize the opportunity to minister while it is here; and if we do so, we will see bountiful rewards.

My besetting sin, if you must know, is procrastination. Never do today what you can put off until tomorrow, for somehow tomorrow always seems to be even more than only a day away. It seems to be an eternity away, and so what if I do not do today what my To-Do list says I am to do? Who will know ...read more

Scripture: John 9:1-17

Denomination: Baptist

Open Your Eyes

Contributed by Michael Koplitz on Jun 1, 2021

You must learn the language and literary method that the people in Jesus used if you truly want to understand the Scripture. Hillel's method of asking questions is the optimal way.

Near Eastern people in Yeshua's (and later on) wrote in allegories, metaphors, and parables. Is this healing story real? In the minds of Near Eastern people, it does not matter. The lesson of the story is the key. The lesson is that everyone must open their eyes to reading the Torah and live ...read more

Scripture: Mark 7:21-37

Denomination: United Methodist

Celebrate Recovery Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Jan 18, 2022

If you’re going to recover and rebuild after a terrible loss, trust God to give you hope for the future, help in the present, and healing for the past.

When the television star of MASH, Alan Alda, was 8 years old, his dog died. As they were burying the dog, Alan’s father tried to stop him from crying. So he said, “Maybe we should have him stuffed.” And that’s exactly what they did. They kept the stuffed dog on the porch, and deliverymen were ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 9:1-17, Jeremiah 29:11, Psalm 46:1, 2 Corinthians 5:19

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Hebrews- Part 7- " I May Not Be Perfect But I Know Someone Who Is" Series

Contributed by Randy Edwards on Aug 19, 2016

Part 7 deals with Jesus as our high priest

Hebrews- Encouragement for a life of Faith Part 7 “I may not be perfect but I know someone who is” Today we are going to continue with our study of the great book of Hebrews This study has been a heck of a ride Prayerfully the writer and I though his words have caused each of us ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 6:23-28

Denomination: Baptist