Sermons on Optimist:

The Debt Dissolving Desire Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 8, 2021

It is something of a paradox to say Jesus paid it all, and yet see here that He demands that we remain conscious of our debt to God, and that we pray continuously for forgiveness.

About one hundred and sixty five years ago, in Jan. of 1835, the United States of America became the only major nation in modern history to do a certain thing. It was a thing she would love to be able to do again, for she paid off her national debt. It was done by the sale of public lands in the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:7-15

Good Out Of Evil Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 12, 2021

What Paul learned by his experience is that the bad stuff of life can be a way for God to use your life in a way that good things could not be used.

Luther Burbank, the world famous scientist, worked for years to try and develop a black-petaled lily. He had several thousand experimental lily plants in his laboratory. A sudden cloudburst let loose a flood of rain that they were all washed away. William Stidger tells of sympathizing with him over ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:12-26

Perspectives For The New Year (And For Every Year)

Contributed by David Owens on Jan 2, 2023

It is critical to have a godly view of time and life in order to live a life pleasing to God. As the new year begins, it is a good time to renew and refocus our minds in the Lord.

A. Happy New Year!! Welcome to 20-23! B. Let’s start with a little New Year’s humor: 1. What do cows say on Jan. 1? "Happy Moo Year!" 2. What was Dr. Frankenstein’s new year’s resolution? To make new friends. 3. What new year’s resolution should a basketball player never make? To ...read more

Scripture: James 4:13-15, Ephesians 5:15-16, John 9:4, Mark 13:32-33, 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3, 2 Peter 3:8-9  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Over Coming Battle Fatigue

Contributed by Don Campbell on Apr 25, 2023

The first line of the hymn Peace in the Valley reflects the discouragement that often fills the hearts of weary travelers: “Well, I’m so tired and so weary, but I must go along; till the Lord comes and calls me away.” If we are fighting the good fight, we are subject to battle fatigue.

OVERCOMING BATTLE FATIGUE The first line of the hymn Peace in the Valley reflects the discouragement that often fills the hearts of weary travelers: “Well, I’m so tired and so weary, but I must go along; till the Lord comes and calls me away.” Most of us want that call to be like Abraham’s, to ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 19:4

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Call To An Exemplary Life

Contributed by Jack Perkins, D.min., Ladc, Csac, Cclc on Aug 28, 2023

Paul writes to an audience steeped in the Greco-Roman culture. The message is a call to transform their minds, avoid the cultural influences that pull them away from the call of Jesus. He calls them to an exemplary lifestyle.

While in Louisiana for the memorial service for her brother, we drove by a home we built while working as an engineer on the railroad. The home was a super nice home with 3,000 sq ft. On previous trips we witnessed it was empty and deteriorating. This time we were shocked; I wish I could show you ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1-3, Luke 5:5-10, John 17:14-18, Ephesians 4:22-24

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

There Is One Path To Glory (John 12:12-26) Series

Contributed by Garrett Tyson on Feb 23, 2022

And it's through the cross, not the crowds.

Let's start today by simply rereading our passage from last week, John 11:55-12:11. This will help us remember where we are in the gospel of John: (55) Now, the Passover of the Judeans was near, and many went up to Jerusalem from the surrounding area before the Passover, in order that they ...read more

Scripture: John 12:12-26, Zechariah 9:9

Persistence In Praise Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 18, 2021

In the literature of success the theme you will confront most often is the theme of persistence. The athlete who didn't have a chance, but who by perseverance and persistence became the best. The Bible is loaded with this theme as well.

Captain Eddy Richenbacker was in an airplane crash in Atlanta and was rushed to the hospital. He was going in and out of consciousness. It was thought that he would not survive. The most famous radio commentator in the U.S. then was the late Walter Winchell. He said in his broadcast, ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 13:15-21

The Missing Ingredient Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 25, 2021

The Biblical ideal of godliness is, in both the Old and New Testament, a life of joy.

Edna Ferber makes a character in one of her novels say, "I like people with a splash of splendor in their makeup." Many people would be surprised to know that this is what should characterize every believer in Jesus. The world often gets a perverted concept of Christ just because ...read more

Scripture: John 15:11

Envious Christians Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 1, 2021

This sin of envy is capable of any evil, even to the point of killing the Son of God to eliminate Him from the competition. We live in a dangerous world because of the potential of this sin. Paul lists it with the worst sins of depravity

We seldom get the whole story on anything. No doubt, most of us are aware of how the rocks brought back from the moon were kept in isolation for some time less the contain some organism that could spread disease for which we have no defense. That made a lot of sense, and made everyone feel more ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:12-18

Good Out Of Evil Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 1, 2021

Paul never dreamed that his days in prison would be days God would use him to let his light shine through all of history because of the epistles he would write there. We should pray, "Lord this is a bad day I am having, what good can you help me make of it for your glory?"

Luther Burbank, the world famous scientist, worked for years to try and develop a black-petaled lily. He had several thousand experimental lily plants in his laboratory. A sudden cloudburst let loose a flood of rain that they were all washed away. William Stidger tells of sympathizing with him ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:12-26

Liberal Theology In The Churches – Address Number 5 Series

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Oct 21, 2022

We look here at a lot of quotes to try to understand the distorted and wicked thinking of Liberals. They operate in a lot of areas with three prominent ones - denial of and attack on the scriptures, promotion of abortion/homosexuality, and to implement socialist beliefs.

This talk continues from the 4th Part. This is the last one for this group. LIBERAL THEOLOGY IN THE CHURCHES – ADDRESS NUMBER 5 This is the last talk in this small series. Thank you all for your interest but we live in troubled times when the very foundations of our faith are being ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 36:1-4, Jeremiah 36:21-25, Revelation 22:18-19, Luke 3:23-24, Luke 3:37-38, Acts 20:29-31, 2 Timothy 1:14, 2 Timothy 4:15, 2 Peter 3:17, 1 Timothy 6:20  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Forbidden Food

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Aug 12, 2023

The Forbidden Food - Daniel chapter 1 verse 1-21 - sermon by Gordon Curley (PowerPoint slides to accompany this talk are available on request – email: gcurley@gcurley.info)

SERMON OUTLINE: • Conquest (vs 1-2) • Conscription (vs 3-7) • Courage (vs 8-16) • Choice (vs 17-21) SERMON BODY: ill: • I have a list of opposites, • I will give you a word and collectively shout out the opposite. • Happy x sad • Above x below • Broad x narrow • Ability x inability • Import x ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 1:1-21

Denomination: Brethren

Each One Reach One Series

Contributed by Pat Damiani on Aug 18, 2022

God’s kingdom is brought near to others when each one reaches one

ENGAGE About once a month I have lunch with a group of guys that I went to high school with. Although some of us didn’t even know each other when we were in high school and one of the guys in the group graduated quite a few years before me, we have a great time together because of the common bond ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

A Theology Of Problems Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 3, 2021

History began with a problem. Problems are more universal than sin, for Jesus had no sin but He had problems. Even before sin, Adam and Eve had a problem. Their problem was, should I obey God or not?

A woman who wanted her apartment painted while she was out of town was very fussy. She insisted that the ceiling be painted the exact shade of her ash tray. The painters after trying to mix this exact shade unsuccessfully finally hit upon a solution to their problem. They painted the ash ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 1:1-4

Desirable Determination Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 4, 2021

The old saying that where there is a will there is a way is confirmed over and over again. People with a spirit of determination are doing the improbable all the time, and by the grace and providence of God, sometimes even the impossible.

Alexander Solzhenitsyn is one of the great modern examples of the power of determination. He served time in the Siberian waste land for making a disparaging remark about Stalin in a letter. He endured six years of imprisonment, when he suddenly discovered the joy of writing. He was suffering for ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 1:14-22