Sermons on Optimistic Outlook:

Thanksgiving, "A Matter Of The Heart"

Contributed by Charlie Roberts on Nov 22, 2012

As believers, thanksgiving should not be a once a year event, or for that matter even a once a week event, but should be a continual state of mind, The first thing we do in the morning, and the last thing we do at night

Thanksgiving, a matter of the Heart Philippians 4:4-9 NKJ 4. Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! 5. Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. 6. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:4-9

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

God Acts To Save Series

Contributed by Christian Cheong on Nov 7, 2009

God sent an earthquake to draw out a jailor and saved his entire family. Worship God in the midst of difficulties. Your focus determines your reality.

Amazing, God sent an earthquake to save a family. • Yes, the foundations of the prison were shaken. Yes, the prison doors were all opened. Yes, the chains were all broken. • But that was not the purpose of the earthquake. No one got away. Paul shouted, “We are all here!” Even after their ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:16-36

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Hope In Troubled Times

Contributed by John Gaston on Mar 30, 2020

The Hunger Games President Snow said, "Hope. It is the only thing stronger than fear." He was right. What oxygen is to the lungs, hope is to the soul. Hope gives us optimism, transforms us, and reminds us of our glorious future!

HOPE IN TROUBLED TIMES 1 Peter 1:3-9 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 ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:3-9

Denomination: Assembly Of God

"Living And Loving God’s Word" Series

Contributed by Rich Anderson on Jan 12, 2011

Do we live our lives in fear or do we live our lives in faith? Scripture tells us to put our trust in God no matter what the circumstances.

Most of us never take advantage of God’s abundant resources. Eph. 3:20 in the Amplified Version says, "God is able to do superabundantly, far over and above, all that we dare ask or think. Infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams." We never tap into the tremendous ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:20

Denomination: Christian Church

The Visitor Who Never Arrived Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Dec 12, 2016

Whereas the Magi devoutly and innocently sought out the newly born Messiah-King, wicked King Herod never set his evil eyes upon Him. He, like so many others, never arrived.

The Visitor Who Never Arrived Christmas “Thwarted Plans” Series (Matthew 2:1-8, 16-18) 1. A family had twin boys whose only resemblance to each other were their looks. Opposite in every way, one was an eternal optimist, the other a doom and gloom pessimist. Just to see what would ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-18

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Qualities Of Low Conflict Christians Series

Contributed by Mark D. Stetler on Feb 16, 2005

Do you want little or no conflict in your life? Look here!

Qualities for Low Conflict Christians John 15:12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” Intro… This week I believe it would be profitable for us to begin where we left off last week. Last week we talked about seven things you need to know before you die. ...read more

Scripture: John 15:12

Denomination: Church Of God

God's Grace In The Fire And Flood

Contributed by Travis Johnson on Jan 14, 2006

This sermon examines the promise of God’s presence in our trials.

GOD’S GRACE IN THE FIRE & FLOOD Isaiah 43:1-3 Intro: ILL- A man was blessed with 2 healthy sons, one an eternal optimist, one a pessimist. The boys were so completely different that psychologists wanted to test them. They placed the pessimist into a room full of toys; the optimist in a ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 43:1-3

Denomination: Holiness

Batteries Not Included #3 Joy Series

Contributed by Robert Butler on Dec 14, 2020

Joy is fruit of the Spirit creating the realistic Pollyanna Christian response - everything is going to be alright because Jesus has come and will return.

Two weeks ago, we began a new series entitled: Batteries Not Included. There is nothing more frustrating than wanting play with your new toys and finding out the package had this hidden line - batteries not included. 2020 seems to be a gift without batteries. How do find hope, peace, joy and love ...read more

Scripture: John 1:6-8, John 1:19-28, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24, Philippians 4:4-8

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Living Positively

Contributed by Kevin Ruffcorn on Mar 25, 2005

One of the ways that Christians live in a positive manner is to discover the ministry, and their gifts and serve God and those around them using their particular gifts in their unique style.

THE SEVEN SEVICE MAY 12, 2002 Romans 8:28-33 “Living Positively” INTRODUCTION We have a choice. We can either approach life as an optimist, or we can approach life as a pessimist. Both optimists and pessimists look to the future. However, one sees the positive possibilities, while the ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:28-33

Denomination: Lutheran

A Thankful Spirit Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 10, 2021

A thankful spirit encourages others to see the positive in their own lives, and so being thankful is a ministry in a world where the bad news is thrown at us so often we tend to forget the good news. We need people with a thankful spirit to remind us that light is as real as the dark

The more I study the history of man and the sea, the more grateful I become that I am a landlubber. Tens of thousands of lives have been lost in ship wrecks in my lifetime. But some sailors have much to be thankful for in spite of ship wrecks. John O'Brian, for example, was off the coast of ...read more

Scripture: Acts 27:27-37

Making My Living Hope Real Series

Contributed by Pat Damiani on Aug 8, 2016

Living hope is a matter of looking ahead rather than looking around

ENGAGE/TENSION In general, I tend to be a pretty optimistic person. But I’ve got to admit that it is getting harder and harder to be hopeful about life here on earth in the 21st century. Let’s face it, 2016 didn’t exactly get off to a great start: • This week, the stock ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:3-12

Denomination: Baptist

Rx For Discouragement Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Nov 15, 2017

If you want to overcome discouragement in your own life, then believe the good news, believe God’s Word, and be with God’s people on a regular basis.

An optimist and a pessimist were at the coffee shop where the optimist commented, “Isn’t this a wonderful, bright, sunny day?” The pessimist replied, “Yea, but if it doesn’t stop soon, all the grass, flowers and crops will dry up. Two days later, it’s raining and the optimist says, “Isn’t ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical Free

How To Treat Those Who Are Negative/Critical Series

Contributed by Mark Magee on Aug 11, 2004

In this message, let’s look at five pro-active commitments that will help us be positive in a negative world.

A. One time after church, a father gripped to his son all the way home. He’d found fault with everything in the service. He criticized the preacher, the sermon, the music, and everything in general. The boy, who had noticed what his father put in the offering plate, said, “Well, Dad, what can ...read more

Scripture: Luke 11:14-20

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Rx For Discouragement Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Nov 18, 2011

If we want to overcome discouragement and despair, then we must believe the good news, believe God’s Word, and be with God’s people on a regular basis.

An optimist and a pessimist were at the coffee shop where the optimist commented, “Isn’t this a wonderful, bright, sunny day?” The pessimist replied, “Yea, but if it doesn’t stop soon, all the grass, flowers and crops will dry up. Two days later, it’s ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical Free

The Spirit Is Coming! Series

Contributed by Mark Armstrong on Feb 17, 2019

Joel promises restoration through his Son and the sending of his Spirit. God promises to renew people who repent and turn to him.

For all the talk about forging our own brave, new world, the evidence seems to the contrary. People are despondent and the world seems a mess. Every day the ideological battles play out in the public square are they are prising apart public opinion and fragmenting society. Climate change—gender ...read more

Scripture: Joel 2:18-32

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed