Sermons on Optimist:

Living In Time (New Year’s)

Contributed by Luther Sexton on Feb 21, 2019

What is tonight all about? It’s about the beginning of a New Year. It’s all about new beginnings, new opportunities. It’s all about time.

LIVING IN TIME (New Year’s) SCRIPTURE: READ Philippians 3:7-14 * Philippians 3:13 - 14 “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, (v. 14) I press toward the mark for ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:7-14, Hebrews 12:1, Luke 17:32

Denomination: Pentecostal

A Formula For Happiness: From The Bible

Contributed by Kelly Durant on Jul 17, 2018

Everyone wants to be happy! But few are obeying God on the right things that bring happiness. Here is a verse study on how to gain happiness by observing what the scriptures tell us.

A Formula for Happiness: From the Bible! Kelly Durant Psalm 146:5 Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, Whose hope is in the Lord his God, 2. Don’t you love happy people? People who can laugh despite the awkward or uncomfortable position they might be in? I lost a front tooth last ...read more

Denomination: Salvation Army

Ligaments In The Church Series

Contributed by Stephen Aram on Oct 25, 2019

Our culture suffers from profound loneliness, but God calls us into a church family with rich relationships.

You’ve heard me talk about my days of playing basketball years ago. I was never a star, but I had a lot of fun. There could be several reasons that I was never a star. There were a couple of minor problems, like I wasn’t especially good at either shooting or dribbling a ball. But another ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:11-16, Romans 12:16, Galatians 6:2, Romans 12:10, Romans 15:7, Galatians 5:13, Ephesians 4:2, Colossians 3:16, 1 Thessalonians 5:11  (view more)  (view less)

Even If You Don't

Contributed by Perry Greene on Feb 25, 2021

Faithfulness to God is blessed even in hard circumstances.

1. The challenge to faithfulness even when things don’t go our way. 2. Habakkuk 3:16-19 16 I hear, and my body trembles; my lips quiver at the sound; rottenness enters into my bones; my legs tremble beneath me. Yet I will quietly wait for the day of trouble to come upon people who invade us. 17 ...read more

Scripture: Habakkuk 3:16-19

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Atonement Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 30, 2021

Both Calvin and Arminius agree that only those who come to knowledge of truth can be saved, but Calvin says many do not come because they are not of the elect. Arminius says that many do not come because they do not hear or do not respond to the truth when they do hear

One of the most often heard statements is that I never argue about politics and religion. The motive behind this is often a legitimate desire to avoid needless controversy that only arouses emotion but solves nothing. To avoid controversy, however, ought never be the goal of the Christian, for ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 2:4-6

Down In The Dumps Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 1, 2021

The best of men and women, and the wisest, and most gifted, and most used of God, find themselves going to the dumps.

A midwestern pastor was cleaning out his garage. He was planning to haul the rubbish to the dump. His two sons were excited about this, because they considered the dump the happy hunting ground. Only those who have ever found an exciting piece of junk there can fully appreciate their feelings. ...read more

The 7 Mountains Of Influence In Society: The Arts & Business Series

Contributed by Justin Steckbauer on Apr 5, 2021

Sean knows what it’s like to face the impossible. Twice he beat unbeatable odds. At age thirteen he came down with Hodgkin’s disease.

“Sean knows what it’s like to face the impossible. Twice he beat unbeatable odds. At age thirteen he came down with Hodgkin’s disease. The doctors didn’t think he would survive, but he did. When he was sixteen, he contracted Askin’s sarcoma, a rare cancer that attaches itself to the walls of the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:15

Denomination: Salvation Army

God’s List Of Do’s And Don’ts (1-3)

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Jan 15, 2022

Often, when God’s man has the courage to stand before the people of God, and declare the whole counsel of God’s Word, it does not earn him any favorable treatment.

Why? Because he tells them things they do not want to hear. For example, how many would turn to the astrology section of the newspaper, if it told them something like this, “You are a very dumb person, and because of that, some very bad things are going to happen to you today!” They turn to the ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 20:1-17

Denomination: Baptist

Great Messages Of Encouragement #2: Strength To The Weary

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Jan 15, 2022

In Isaiah's day Judah was invaded by Assyria, threatened by Babylon and ridden with sin. And yet, Isaiah offers a wonderful message of encouragement: 'they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles.' How is that possible?

Last week we started a series on ‘Great Messages of Encouragement’ in Scripture. Today we’re going to look at a great message of encouragement in Isaiah. It’s at the end of Isaiah 40. Isaiah writes: “He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 40:27-31

Denomination: Baptist

The Years Change, But God Remains The Same

Contributed by Ken Mckinley on Dec 28, 2022

A New Years Day sermon offering encouragement as we enter into 2023

The Years Change, but God Remains the Same Text: Psalm 102:24-28, Malachi 3:6, Philippians 4:6 OPEN WITH PRAYER AND THANKSGIVING Today is the first day of the new year. 2023 anno domini – The year of our Lord. And with the new year comes new things… for some, it brings excitement, new ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 102:24-28, Malachi 3:6, Philippians 4:6

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Blindness To Blessings

Contributed by Senior Pastor Ndayiragije-Misigaro Joel on Dec 30, 2022

It is very critical if not disastrous to fall into lusting because it places one in denial and refusal to see reality. When God created man and breathed the breath of life into the nostril. Man became a human being or a living soul and not a human doing

BLINDNESS TO BLESSINGS written by Pastor Ndayiragije-Misigaro Joel December 30, 2022 Reading: Numbers 11:6 “But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes.” INTRODUCTION It is very critical if not disastrous to fall into lusting because it places one ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 11:6

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Journey Of Joy

Contributed by John Newton on Dec 17, 2023

Three perspectives on joy from Isaiah

As I was preparing to preach this week, I considered giving my sermon the title “Getting Serious About Joy”. Then I thought better of it and came up with “Joy Is No Laughing Matter”. All joking aside, were you aware that joy is currently the subject of a high-level academic examination? Nine years ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 35:1-10

Denomination: Episcopal

Face The Future With Joyful Confidence

Contributed by Efren V. Narido on Jan 9, 2023

Whether events or attitude of people in this world “will go from bad to worse (verse 13),” God’s people can still face the coming days without fear.

“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

The Benefits Of Showing Appreciation

Contributed by Otis Mcmillan on Jul 14, 2023

As it turns out, the effects of gratitude and showing appreciation can be important for our overall well-being for several reasons I attempt to uncover in this lesson.

Appreciation Banquet Sermon - The Benefits of Showing Appreciation Scripture: 2 Samuel 23: 1-5, 13-17 “These are the last words of David: “David, the son of Jesse, speaks—David, the man who was raised up so high, David, the man anointed by the God of Jacob, David, the sweet psalmist of Israel. ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 23:1-5, 2 Samuel 23:13-17, Matthew 10:42

Denomination: Methodist

Mad At God

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Oct 11, 2023

Look how patient God is with Jonah's sulking. He's that patient with you, too.

Have you ever been mad at God? I have. I became a Christian in my 30’s, which is a little unusual. Quite a number of people recommit in their middle years, as they start looking around and wondering what it’s all about, but they were usually raised at least nominally Christian, while I was ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 4:1-11

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed