Sermons on Optimizing:

The Melancholy Psalm

Contributed by Davon Huss on Nov 19, 2015

What can we learn from a psalm without a happy ending? (Material adapted from Shawn McMullen in an article in Lookout Magazine and from Peter Slofstra at: http://www.crcna.org/resources/church-resources/reading-sermons/dark-ending-bright-beginning)

HoHum: Gloom, despair, and agony on me; Deep, dark depression, excessive misery; If it weren't for bad luck, I'd have no luck at all; Gloom, despair, and agony on me WBTU: Started studying on depression and went to Psalm 88. Psalm 88 has been called the most melancholy of all the psalms. One ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 88:1-18

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

"Fatal Miscalculations"

Contributed by Frankie Melton on May 12, 2017

Many people miscalculate the time they have to live.

“Fatal Miscalculations” James 4:13-16 Introduction: To miscalculate means to misjudge, to make a mistake, to calculate wrongly. History is filled with miscalculations. Some miscalculations can be costly. Some miscalculations can be deadly. Example # 1 The Mars Orbiter was the first ...read more

Scripture: James 4:13-17

Denomination: Baptist

What Is The Lord's Plan?

Contributed by Jonathan Kruschel on Mar 26, 2020

Plans are upended, dreams are derailed, life is scary and uncertain. How good it is to hear the Lord's still got a plan - a good plan to prosper us, provide hope and point us to the future he has prepared for us.

Which plan are you now on? Plan B, C, D, L, Q, Z? It feels like whenever I’ve made a plan during the last week, it needs to be changed every couple of hours. Last weekend we gathered in this place for worship with some precautionary modifications, and at the end of the service I said, “We’ll ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 29:11

Denomination: Lutheran

Were These Worse Sinners? An Exposition Of Luke 13:1-9

Contributed by Mark A. Barber on Feb 21, 2019

Trying to compare yourself favorably to those who sin more than you is a dangerous endeavor.

Were These Worse Sinners? An Exposition of Luke 13:1-9 The natural tendency of human beings is to justify one’s self by finding someone who sins worse then himself/herself. Psychologists call this “projection.” It is a survival reflex in which one wishes to place their justly deserved punishment ...read more

Scripture: Luke 13:1-9

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Reasons To Be An Optimist Series

Contributed by Scott Chambers on May 7, 2013

This is the tenth message in a series over the first five chapters of the book of Romans. This message examines the reasons that the Gospel gives us for being optimistic.

By definition an optimist is one that expects the best possible outcome of any given situation. Most of us would have to admit that we have a lot of difficulty remaining optimistic. Paul presented an argument that on the surface seems to leave us very little room for being optimistic. In fact, Paul ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:1-11

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Walk In The Light You Have

Contributed by Mike Rickman on Dec 2, 2013

You are responsible to walk according to the light you have received from the Lord.

November 24, 2013 Morning Worship Text: Psalm 89:15 Subject: Living according to the Word Title: Walk In the Light You Have I want to wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving. Isn’t it good to know the things that you have to be thankful for? But you know, our understanding of those things ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 89:15

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Conquering The Past

Contributed by Martin Wiles on Nov 12, 2012

Only as we deal with our past can we move ahead into God’s bright future.

No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead (Philippians 3:13-14 NLT). I have a past. My journey back to God began with a pack of cigarettes and an offer to teach a Sunday School class. I was saved ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:13-14

Denomination: Baptist

A Baker's Dozen Of The Commands Of Jesus

Contributed by Gerald Manning on Mar 20, 2017

A Lenten service featuring our opportunities for obedience!

THE BAKER'S DOZEN OF THE COMMANDS OF JESUS Last week, we began with the 10 saddest words in the English language, and then talked about the BAKER'S DIRTY DOZEN of things for which we need to repent. Today, let's consider 10 of the happiest words in our language as our springboard to the commands ...read more

Scripture: John 14:23

Denomination: Nazarene

Beyond Fullness

Contributed by Bryan Beverly on Aug 9, 2014

This is a message based on the miracle of Jesus changing water into wine. It speaks to the fact that we should not be satisfied with God maximizing our capacity, but rather seek that He turn our water into wine.

On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” 4And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what concern is ...read more

Scripture: John 2:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

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 Voice Of Wisdom Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 2, 2021

This is God's method. He makes the truth that people need to know available to all the people, and not just to the great and mighty. The voice of wisdom is shouting for all to hear. Whatever is wise is the voice of God.

"Integrity and wisdom are essential to success in this business," said the boss to the new employee. He said, "Integrity means that when you promise a customer something, you keep that promise, even if we loose money." "And what is wisdom," asked the employee? ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 1:20-29

When Withdrawal Is Wise Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 7, 2021

Paul’s command is in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. There is no question as to the source of Paul’s authority. Paul commands them to withdraw from fellowship those believers who live disorderly, and not in harmony with the Christian values that he taught when he was with them.

The Thessalonian Christian had been foolish enough to give heed to false teaching concerning the second coming. As a result some of them were acting in a way contrary to the will of God. Their basic problem was a lack of certain authority. They had been pagans all their lives, and they had ...read more

Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 3:1-10

Plans

Contributed by Jonathan Kruschel on Oct 12, 2020

Which plan are you now on? Plan B, C, D, L, Q, Z? The pandemic caused us to scrap plans and revise them. So what's the Lord's plan on in all of this? Does he have one? What's it look like?

Which plan are you now on? Plan B, C, D, L, Q, Z? It feels like whenever I’ve made a plan during the last week, it needs to be changed every couple of hours. Last weekend we gathered in this place for worship with some precautionary modifications, and at the end of the service I said, “We’ll ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 29:11

Denomination: Lutheran

To Be Or Not To Be

Contributed by Davon Huss on Mar 13, 2021

To succeed, to live, to love, and to serve we must... (Material adapted from LeRoy Lawson in his book, The Lord of Love, Chapter 9 with same title as sermon)

HoHum: To be, or not to be; that is the question- whether ‘tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, or to take arms against a sea of troubles, and by opposing, end them? Few lines of Shakespeare are better known that these. If I had understood Shakespeare, I’d ...read more

Scripture: John 12:23-33, Mark 8:35

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Natural Law And Christian Management Practices

Contributed by Byron Perrine on Jul 9, 2019

With the exception of those sections dealing with “natural law” and its relationship to Christianity, I am indebted to the lectures of Beth Cabrera, The Great Courses Plus.com regarding the contributions of "positive psychology" to the field of management.

(If you have found this sermon helpful, please visit us at www.HeritageRestorationProject.org or www.ChristianWisdom.info) In Ephesians 6:5-9, we read that servants are to be obedient to masters. Presumably today this applies to employees and other workers. They are to be obedient to whatever ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:5-9, 1 Timothy 5:8

Denomination: United Methodist