Sermons on Optional:

The Word Made Flesh. Abridged.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Sep 11, 2017

The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth (John 1:14).

THE WORD MADE FLESH. John 1:1-14. I. THE ETERNAL WORD. John 1:1-3. “In the beginning” (John 1:1) takes us back to a point before the creation of the heavens and the earth. The New English Bible goes some way towards capturing this dynamic with the expression: “When all things began, the Word ...read more

Scripture: John 1:1-14

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Deadly Sins? Series

Contributed by Chris Appleby on Mar 14, 2005

We’re to be counter-cultural in the way we fight against the social pressures of our world where the norm is to respond to hurt with anger and revenge, where lust is seen as normal, faithfulness as an option. Rather we’re to respond with the servant love

According to the Age this week, the seven deadly sins have been knocked for six. No longer do we worry about sloth, gluttony or lust. In fact most respondents to a recent survey carried out by the BBC said they rather enjoyed those particular vices. The trouble is, according to a professor of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:17-32

Denomination: Anglican

Thorn In The Flesh

Contributed by Robert Leroe on Dec 8, 2005

Some people become defined by their hardships while others rise above their pain. We may suffer broken relationships, broken promises, broken expectations, but we don’t have to become broken people. Pain is inevitable--misery is optional.

No one knows for certain about the nature of Paul’s thorn, and there has been extensive speculation about the nature of his affliction. Explanations range from persistent temptation, dogged persecution, chronic malaria, migraine headaches, epilepsy, or a speech disorder. Because Paul dictated his ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:7-10

Denomination: Congregational

Got Problems?

Contributed by Jeff Taylor on Apr 20, 2023

Promises cause problems, which God uses to give provision. God gave Israel and you three options: surrender to the crisis, fight the undefeatable foe, or trust in God to deliver you from the enemies that present themselves, and to wipe them out.

Promises cause problems, which God uses to give provision. Consider Moses and the children of Israel fleeing from Pharaoh and brutal slavery. They had been delivered from 400 years of slavery by ten plagues that crushed Egypt, the most powerful nation on the face of the earth at that time. They ...read more

Scripture: Acts 7:1-8

Denomination: Pentecostal

"I Ran Away But I Couldn't Stay" Series

Contributed by Robert Leroe on Sep 26, 2003

That fish gets all the attention, but this book contains a message about the character of God. In these few pages we find a story that reveals to us the power and compassion of God...and along the way, like Jonah, we learn that obedience isn’t optional.

Jonah—A Sermon Series by Pastor Bob Leroe, Cliftondale Congregational Church, Saugus, Massachusetts Outline of Jonah: Ch 1, The Prodigal Prophet Ch 2, The Praying Prophet Ch 3, The Preaching Prophet Ch 4, The Pouting Prophet Message #1, “I ran away but I couldn’t stay” -chapter 1:1-3 ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 1:1-3

Denomination: Congregational

God's Invitation Leads To A Crisis Of Belief Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 21, 2003

Part 5 of a series on Blackaby’s Experiencing God: when God invites into some new truth, the first crisis will be one of personal belief; the second is one of tension between old patterns and new options; and the last comes in the temptation to fall back

There’s an old, old story about the time a crowd had gathered to watch a stunt man perform at Niagara Falls. It seems that the fellow had rigged up a wire from shore to shore, right across the falls, and was wowing the crowd by riding a bicycle along that wire. Back and forth he went, several ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 2:11-21

Denomination: Baptist

The Reality Of The Virgin Birth Series

Contributed by John Hamby on Nov 3, 2010

The virgin birth is not just an option to be considered indeed what we need to understand is that the Virgin Birth rests on the “great divide” that separates those who believe the Bible is God’s Word, and those who don’t.

The Reality of the Virgin Birth Matthew 1:18-25 We live in a day of Oprah-style “cafeteria religion,” people believe that they can just pick and choose what to believe they ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25

Denomination: Baptist

Where Are All The Esther's?

Contributed by Charlie Roberts on May 4, 2014

The option that says, I know God is bigger than this, I know God has said that all things are possible to those who believe, I know God is a God of miracles, but ....it's so cozy and warm right where we are

For starters, this morning I want everyone to stand up and trade seats with their spouse..or if your by your self today, slide over two spaces to another seat. Okay now, if everyone is all cozy now.. Let's get started. I want to describe something to you this morning, it's invisible and warm, ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Choosing God’s Choice

Contributed by Efren V. Narido on Apr 13, 2024

Is there any guide that would help us to choose what is right in God’s eyes? And if we have an idea of God’s choices, should we not consider them the best option for us to have? What are some choices then that are in line with the Sovereign Will of God?

"So Abram went up from Egypt, he and his wife and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the Negeb. Now Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold. And he journeyed on from the Negeb as far as Bethel to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 13:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

Unto Us A Son Is Given

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Nov 18, 2013

The in-breaking of the holy into the world of men.

UNTO US A SON IS GIVEN. Isaiah 9:2-7. 1. Troubled times It is quite appropriate that the sign of God’s deliverance from oppressive times should be in the birth of a child: for He says, “My strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). Whether in Judah’s oppression by Aram and ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 9:2-7

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Spiritual Solutions For Depression

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Jul 1, 2004

Pain is inevitable, but misery is optional. We cannot avoid pain, but we can avoid joy. The Holy Spirit amplifies His nearness and comforting powers to us, when we are feeling depressed. David wrote, "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves tho

Spiritual Solutions for Depression Quote: Pain is inevitable, but misery is optional. We cannot avoid pain, but we can avoid joy. Tim Hansel Psalm 34:18 Illustration: Many are suffering from emotional stress that often times leads to depression. Jim Varney who played Earnest T ("know what I ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 34:18-21

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Walk In Love

Contributed by Troy Borst on Jun 24, 2015

It means that for people who call God their God and for people who claim Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior; we have no options when it comes to love because we must act in love and have compassion for all people in all situations no matter the circu

WALK IN LOVE 2 JOHN 1:6 THREAD: 2 John 1:6, “And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.” NARRATIVE 1 (sorta Genesis 4:1-8) Once there was a family that had two sons. The older son was named ...read more

Scripture: 2 John 1:6

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Be An Agent Of Change, Not A Victim-Part -2 Series

Contributed by Lalachan Abraham on Jan 9, 2014

John C. Maxwell said “Change is inevitable. Growth is optional.” And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." – (Matthew 18:3)

Change is inevitable John C. Maxwell said “Change is inevitable. Growth is optional.” And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." – (Matthew 18:3) Thinking of their own innovation, the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:1-5

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Gospel: God’s Only Way Series

Contributed by Brad Beaman on Aug 29, 2015

In the book of Galatians Paul does everything he can to establish that any other Gospel other than faith in Christ is no gospel at all. In so many areas of life we have many good options. When it comes to the gospel there is only one way.

When you take a flight the airline’s final announcement is usually something like this; thank you for choosing our airline, we know you have a choice when you fly and we hope you decide to choose us again. In so many areas of life we have many good options. When it comes to the gospel can we ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 1:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

I Shall Not Be Headless (Part 1) Series

Contributed by Jeremiah Menyongai on Sep 5, 2016

Saul says to David: "I have played the fool." Indeed, he had. Due to his wrong choice of consulting a witch, Saul committed the ultimate rebellion & finds himself among biblical characters who committed suicide. Should suicide be an option for Christians?

SERIES: DAVID - A MAN AFTER GOD’S OWN HEART: PART 11: I SHALL NOT BE HEADLESS 1 SAMUEL 31: 1 Now the Philistines fought against Israel; the Israelites fled before them, and many fell dead on Mount Gilboa. 2 The Philistines were in hot pursuit of Saul and his sons, and they killed his sons ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 31:1-13

Denomination: Charismatic