Sermons on Optimizing:

Enduring The Struggles Of Rebuilding Series

Contributed by Shawn Drake on Mar 27, 2015

This is the 5th sermon in the series "Rebuilding". When you are rebuilding, there will be struggles.

Series: Rebuilding [#5] ENDURING THE STRUGGLES OF REBUILDING Nehemiah 4:1-23 Introduction: I heard an old preacher say, “The Bible tells us to love our neighbors and to love our enemies, probably because they are generally the same people.” In the case of the Jews rebuilding the ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 4:1-23

Denomination: Baptist

Says The Teacher Everything Is Meaningless

Contributed by Davon Huss on Jan 13, 2014

A sermon introducing a series on Ecclesiastes (Outline and material adapted from Eugene Peterson's book, Five Smooth Stones for Pastoral Work, chapter 4 The Pastoral Work of Nay-Saying)

HoHum: There’s a guy who's looking for the meaning of life, and he goes to India to finds a guru, and he climbs the mountain, and there on the top in his cave, sitting cross-legged, is the guru, and the man says, "I've come from America to ask you the meaning of life." The guru says, "Ah yes, ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Witness: Praises #5 Series

Contributed by Robert Butler on Oct 24, 2019

When you have met the risen Christ you are so grateful you immediately get to work sharing the message .

For those who are new, we began this conversation a number of weeks ago about what gives us meaning in this life and I suggested that the question is actually a mute point for those who call themselves Christian because if we believe that Christ came, died and rose again then we must also live out ...read more

Scripture: Acts 9:1-22

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Failure Of Human Leadership Series

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Nov 20, 2019

Can human political systems save us? We elect national leaders, and are quickly disappointed. Let’s learn that only God’s government can truly bless humanity. Let’s contrast human governments and Christ’s government in Luke 23:33-43.

Can human political systems save us? We elect national leaders, and are quickly disappointed. Let’s learn that only God’s government can truly bless humanity. Let’s contrast human governments and Christ’s government in Luke 23:33-43. Forgive Them Luke 23:33-34 And when they had come to the place ...read more

Scripture: Luke 23:33-43

Denomination: Baptist

Nehemiah - Building A Strong Family

Contributed by C Jordan on May 5, 2016

If we want a strong and healthy family, we must build our family God’s way.

THE STORY OF THE JOURNEY HOME #4: NEHEMIAH – BUILDING A STRONG FAMILY OPENING TEXT: “Of Solomon. Unless the Lord builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the Lord guards the city, The watchman stays awake in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, To sit up late, To eat the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 127:1-5

Denomination: *other

Hope For The Hopeless

Contributed by Don Schultz on Feb 25, 2013

You only live 3 times. No such thing as YOLO, since Jesus has risen.

John 20:19-31 HOPE FOR THE HOPELESS - the resurrection 19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 20 After he said this, he showed them his ...read more

Scripture: John 20:19-31

Denomination: Lutheran

Hope For Even Me Series

Contributed by Perry Greene on Apr 4, 2012

Our dependence on God is the source of our hope. Biblical hope is more than desire. It is a focus on the realities of our God.

1. Self-Sufficiency A couple of years ago in the Rocky Mountains a bighorn ram approached the home of a man named Ed Bailey while he was watching football on television. The bighorn stopped suddenly, seeing its reflection in a plate glass window. Thinking it was another ram, the bighorn bowed its ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 146:5, Psalm 146:1-10

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Motivation To Serve God

Contributed by Nate Herbst on Dec 28, 2008

Staying motivated while serving God can be difficult but God has given us keys for maintaining motivation in the Great Commission He’s called us to - these keys will help you stay focussed and energized towards the goal.

Merriam-Webster’s Definition: Motivation is something, as a need or desire, that causes a person to act. Russ Akins – “Motivation is the measure of what it takes to overcome initial inertia and become activated towards some sort of accomplishment.” Introduction: One second before you die, if you ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:14-16

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

"i Want It To Matter"

Contributed by Dave Nichols on Feb 11, 2021

You may not know the name Tyler Trent. But let me tell you a few things about him: He liked Mahi Mahi: grilled, not blackened. And he liked Starbucks coffee: something with peppermint, preferably. He liked pizza – thin, not thick – and popsicles. And Pepsi Max.

“I want it to matter” Holly Springs 1/6/19 If you have your bibles with you today I want you to turn to Isaiah 44:24, again that is Isaiah 44:24: here is what it says: Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, who formed you from the womb: “I am the LORD, who made all things, who alone stretched out the ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 44:24

Denomination: Baptist

Giving Thanks During A Pandemic

Contributed by Mark A. Barber on Nov 23, 2020

We are commanded by Paul to have a joyful spirit and to be thankful, no matter what the situation.

Giving Thanks During a Pandemic 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 2020 has certainly been one of the most challenging years in recent times. It started with the spread of a new virus originating in Wuhan China which spread rapidly throughout the Earth. Many millions have caught the virus and many hundreds ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Walking In Unity [graces Of Unity]

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on May 9, 2013

Even more than reading our tracts, the world is watching our tracks.

Walking in Unity Ephesians 4:1-3 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/130512pm.mp3 I want to know how rich you are. Do you know why? Is it for tithing purposes? No. It’s for your sake. I mean true riches. Add up everything you have that money can’t buy and death can’t take away, and that’s how ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-3

Denomination: Baptist

Grace Is Not Cheap, But It Is Free"

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Oct 10, 2013

A sermon about faith, worship and Christian service.

"Grace is Not Cheap, but it is Free" Luke 17:11-19 In one Peanuts comic strip, Lucy who is in love with the piano-playing Schroeder is watching him play the piano--she's looking at him all google-eyed. Lucy asks Schroeder, "Do you know what love is?" Schroeder stops the music and says, "Love ...read more

Scripture: Luke 17:11-19

Denomination: United Methodist

John's Baptism

Contributed by William R. Nabaza on Oct 22, 2013

To show GOD's for us and not against us.

I. EXORDIUM: Do you have Heaven on your side? II. AUDIENCE PROFILE: Believers III. OBJECTIVES: To show GOD's for us and not against us. IV. TEXT: Mark 11:30 (The Message) 11:30 About the baptism of John—who authorized it: heaven or humans? Tell me." V. THESIS: GOD is backing us ...read more

Scripture: Mark 11:30

Denomination: Pentecostal

In The End God Wins

Contributed by Alvan Lewis on Oct 16, 2018

An overview of the Book of Revelation that underlines the fact that God will triumph in the end. If our life in linked to God's then we too shall win.

Some years ago, on a two-hour flight from Winnipeg to Calgary I ended up seated next to a young woman in her late twenties. As we made our way over the seemingly endless grain fields I asked the inevitable question: So, what do you do for a living? I'm a palm reader; a fortuneteller was her ...read more

Denomination: Anglican

Don’t Miss God’s Best Series

Contributed by Brad Beaman on Oct 16, 2022

Moses was told to go and explore the land. It was two men who became famous for their faith in God. Joshua and Caleb believed with God they would take the land.

Israel missed Gods best when 12 spies returned, and the majority said it was too difficult to take the promised land. Any task can feel giant when you look to the size of the task and not to God. When you look at the giant impossible task compared to your own abilities you feel like a ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 1:19-32

Denomination: Baptist