Sermons on Optimistic Outlook:

Listen…and…obey! James 1:22-24

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Jul 1, 2021

This passage says something that seems obvious—don’t just listen the Word; do what it says. We all know we should do that, but how? This passage teaches the keys to getting what you hear into regular practice in your life.

James 1:22 But be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 Because if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man looking at his own face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But the one ...read more

Scripture: James 1:22-24

Doubting Thomas

Contributed by Fred Edwards on Apr 26, 2003

Before we hurl accusations at "Didymus," we had better check to see that it is not we in fact who are his twin. There are many who doubt Jesus in on way or another.

“DOUBTING THOMAS” John 20:24-29 (030427e) A word on verse 23 before we look at Thomas. Commentary writer, Warren Wiersbe said the following: The “remitting” power given in v. 23 does not apply to Christians today, except in the sense that we retain or remit sins as we give sinners the Gospel. ...read more

Scripture: John 20:24-29

Denomination: Baptist

Learning From Leah

Contributed by Howard Strickland on Jan 31, 2006

Out of Leah’s offspring came the Ancient of Days! Sometimes it’s the present hardships in life that drive us to Jesus!

Learning from Your Hurts Text: Genesis 29:16-19, 26-35 Leah wasn’t much to look at, but God’s hand was upon her and that’s all that matters! She was different, and she knew it. As we read we see that Jacob loved and adore Rachel. Imagine for a moment, being in a house where you are always ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 29:16-19

Denomination: Pentecostal

Should Churches Do Business?

Contributed by Jeff Van Wyk on Aug 3, 2013

A church should be an active, contributing member of its community, rather than a closed-off mini-community that keeps to itself and this can extend to becoming involved in business or in the business community.

Churches in business Luke 19:13 - So he called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten minas, and said to them, “Do business till I come.” God always intended for the priesthood to reinvest a portion of the tithe, with the expectation of a return. It was part of His plan to show ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:13

Denomination: Charismatic

Encourage Yourself, A Hard Thing To Do Series

Contributed by Joe Hayes on Nov 18, 2008

Five ways to encourage yourself in the Lord without feeling pride. You can also listen to this message at www.preaching.co.nr (Oct 2008)

Five Things You can Do to Live an Encouraged Life. In 1Sam 30 you’ll read because the fighting men lost their wives and children they Wept so they could weep no More and said “Lets stone David.” David’s response was he “found strength (encouraged himself) in the LORD his God.” 1Sam 30:7 What we ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 30:7

Denomination: Assembly Of God

The Spirit Of Joy Series

Contributed by Martin Holland on Feb 17, 2016

The second of the nine graces of the fruit of the Spirit is joy.

The Spirit of Joy Galatians 5:22-23 We are given nine graces of the Holy Spirit that projects the character and the attitude of Christ before His people and a lost and dying world. This attitude begins with love and it facilitates these other eight graces. Point: Take a careful look at these nine ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23

Denomination: Baptist

Where Is Your Treasure?

Contributed by Gaither Bailey on Aug 8, 2019

Are you living expectantly for the return of the Master by laying up treasures in heaven?

Where Is Your Treasure? Luke 12: 32 - 40 Intro: Long ago, in a kingdom far, far away, a rich king hired a “fool” to make him laugh when he was sad. He gave the fool a golden scepter and told him that when he met a greater fool than he, to pass the golden scepter to that person. The king grew ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:32-40

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Wise Guys

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Aug 27, 2024

If the philosopher strayed too far from that path, he risked following Socrates to an inevitable early death.

Friday of the Twenty-First Week in Course 2024 Wise Guys “For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.” In the first ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:1-13, Psalm 33:1-2, Psalm 33:4-5, Psalm 33:10-11, 1 Corinthians 1:17-25  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Catholic

The Twelve Apostles: Jesus’ Crew Of Ordinary Dudes (Matthew 10:1-4)

Contributed by Donald Whitchard on Feb 18, 2025

Matthew 10 begins with the names of the twelve ordinary men whom Jesus chose to be His disciples. We start with Simon Peter.

In this chapter, we are introduced to the twelve men who will carry out the message of Jesus to the nation of Israel and inevitably to the world. None of them were scholars or religious officials. They were twelve ordinary men, some of whom were fishermen by trade and probably knew each other ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 10:1-4, Mark 3:13-19, Luke 6:12-16, Acts 1:8-11

Denomination: Baptist

Even In Judgment, God Is Merciful

Contributed by Joel Pankow on Nov 8, 2001

How God shows mercy even when he does decide to judge.

November 11, 2001 Jeremiah 26:1-6 1 Early in the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, this word came from the LORD: 2 "This is what the LORD says: Stand in the courtyard of the LORD’s house and speak to all the people of the towns of Judah who come to worship in the house of the ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 26:1-6

Denomination: Lutheran

Remember Advent

Contributed by Andrew Chan on Dec 7, 2001

remembering and renewing the hope of messiah, His second coming, in our day.

Remember Advent Is.11:1-10 (NLT) Out of the stump of David’s family will grow a shoot—yes, a new Branch bearing fruit from the old root. 2 And the Spirit of the LORD will rest on him—the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Move On!

Contributed by Joel Santos on Sep 22, 2004

Maybe you have stayed too long for your ministry and God wanted you to move on in other direction or advance into a better one. This message is dedicated for you!

(I Shared this message during Central Bible College Chapel Service, Oct. 8, 2004) Brethren, Did you know that the number one problem of the Christian churches in the Philippines today is contentment? Being contented in your life according to Apostle Paul is good but when it comes to church growth, ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 1:6-8

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Side Effects Of The Holy Spirit

Contributed by Richard Scoggins on Jan 28, 2005

Side effects of Being a Christian

The Side of Effects of the Holy Spirit When I was younger there was a TV commercial that had a dramatization of an elderly woman on it who had apparently taken either the wrong medication or even just a bad side effect of a right medication. In either case she presses the button on her life alert ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:16-23

Denomination: Baptist

Growth Problems

Contributed by Steve Shepherd on Aug 25, 2007

In our text about the early church let’s consider some of the growth problems they faced and how they overcame them. Or some of the things that hindered their growth. 1- Complaining 2- Lack of workers 3- Poor organization

INTRO.- Growth problems. Ever had any? I have. I was born with a heart murmur. Guess I got over it. I’m still here after running many marathons in my forties. I remember standing in the street in Huntsville, AL, (Rocket City) with about 1200 other runners waiting for them to shoot the gun to ...read more

Scripture: Acts 6:1-7

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

With God's Help, I Can Series

Contributed by David Owens on Dec 8, 2008

Last sermon in this series. What could be more positivie than "I can do all things through Christ"?

A. It’s with a touch of sadness on my part, maybe not yours, that I bring this series to an end. 1. All this Fall, we have been focusing on some fundamental, transforming truths. 2. We have tried to understand and appreciate transforming truths like: God loves us, God forgives us, and God ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:13

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ