Sermons on Optimistic:

Habakkuk - God Of The Unexpected Series

Contributed by Christian Cheong on Feb 15, 2013

Hope in God, even when He is not doing anything. Trust in God, even when you do not understand His way. Worship God by holding on to what you know about Him.

We hardly hear a sermon preached on Habakkuk, which has only 3 chapters, but we do have some popular verses from this book – • 2:4 “The righteous will live by his faith” (quoted a few times in NT), • 2:20 “The Lord is in His holy temple; let all the earth be ...read more

Scripture: Habakkuk 1:1-11

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Steps To Success

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Jul 30, 2010

It is one of the most successful building projects ever. How did it go from vision to fruition in 52 days? And how will these same principles help us build a church, or a good home, or a business? Link inc. to formatted text, audio/video, Powerpoint.

Steps to Success Nehemiah 2:1-10 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/Steps2Success.html Nehemiah heard the sad news of Jerusalem and her walls lying in ruins, and he was heartbroken, asking God to use him to fix the situation. Many of us pray to God to fix things and what we mean is, I’d like to see ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 2:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

The Rise Of A World Power Series

Contributed by Scott Chambers on Apr 3, 2009

This message is a part of a series that surveys the entire Bible. It is based upon the study guide from an older Chuck Swindoll series. This message surveys Joshua-2 Samuel.

Today, we set out on the second segment of our journey on God’s Route 66. This segment will be quite historical. These five historical books that we are going to survey today trace Israel’s transformation from a band of twelve wandering nomadic tribes to a powerful united nation. Also during this ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 1:1

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Praying For Riches Series

Contributed by Ken Mckinley on Apr 14, 2009

The riches we receive in Christ far surpass the riches that the world can give.

Praying For Riches Text: Ephesians 1:15 – 23 By: Ken McKinley (Read Text) Have you ever met someone who seems to always be trying to get something better or achieve more, and never realizing that what they already have is more than enough? There is a poem that sort of sums this kind of person ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:15-23

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Spiritual Gifts Round 1

Contributed by Jason Jones on Oct 31, 2011

Exposition of 1 Corinthians 12 regarding 4 of the 5 non-miraculous gifts in this text. Saving prophecy for later, and going to deal with the miraculous gifts (tongues, miracles, and healing) in a different sermon.

Text: 1 Cor 12:7-11, Title: Spiritual Gifts Round 1, Date/Place: NRBC, 10.29.11, AM A. Opening illustration: Slowly, the barber’s business began to dwindle. He just couldn’t compete. In a last ditch effort to save his business, he hired a business consultant. The consultant spent a day ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:7-11

Denomination: Baptist

Simple Steps To Mental Health And Happiness Series

Contributed by Lalachan Abraham on Oct 29, 2017

When your eye is right, it responds to light. When your ear is right, it responds to sound. When your heart is right, it responds to God, and that response is called F-A-I-T-H

Mental illness is one of the major health problems of today’s society. Medical science recognizes that emotions such as fear, sorrow, envy, resentment, and hatred are responsible for the majority of our sicknesses. Mental health problems like depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:4-9

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Presents And Presence Series

Contributed by Perry Greene on Jan 11, 2017

This is a focus on Jesus and his teaching about how God answers prayer. Sometimes he answers with Presents (gifts/literal blessings) and sometimes he answers with something better, his Presence.

1. Many Uses for Prayer A young man goes into a drug store to buy 3 boxes of chocolate. The pharmacist asks, ”What size, small medium or large?” "One of each." he said, "I’ve been seeing this girl for a while and she’s really beautiful. I want the chocolate because I think tonight¡¦s "the" night. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:7-12, Matthew 11:9-13

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Peace Through Contentment Series

Contributed by Christopher Benfield on Jan 11, 2017

Although facing great adversity, Paul had learned to be content. The Lord had been faithful to provide the strength he needed to endure whatever trials or difficulties he faced. We too can learn contentment and receive strength for our trials.

Peace through Contentment Philippians 4: 10-13 Our text today offers a compelling and intimate look within the heart of Paul. This letter to the Philippian church was penned from a Roman prison. Paul was bound, and unable to minister freely as he once did. The possibility of execution loomed each ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:10-13

Denomination: Baptist

No Tears In Heaven

Contributed by David Nolte on Aug 14, 2016

Reasons to know there will be no tears in Heaven.

“No Tears In Heaven!” Revelation 21:1-4 David P. Nolte Tears. They flow sometimes in grief, sometimes in pain, sometimes in regret, sometimes in sympathy, sometimes in weariness, sometimes in anger, sometimes in fear, sometimes in relief and sometimes in joy. But the day is ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 21:1-4

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

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 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

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