Sermons on Overcoming Despair:

Bowling Alone: Dying For Lack Of Hope

Contributed by Michael Stark on Mar 24, 2018

The aloneness that has become a hallmark of our modern age presents a great opportunity for the people of God to present the message of life. As Christ calls people to rest in Him, the churches must echo that call.

“Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” [1] Robert Putnam raised a red flag for people living in ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:28-30

Denomination: Baptist

What On Earth Am I Here For? Series

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Feb 22, 2004

1. Why am I alive? -- To be loved by God. 2. Does my life matter? -- I was made to last forever. 3. What is my purpose? -- To get to know God.

(Note: The outline and some of the content of this sermon are from Rick Warren’s Forty Days of Purpose material.) In the scripture we have read today, Paul is speaking to a group of Greek philosophers. Now these men were not atheists or agnostics. Neither were they anti-religious. In ...read more

Scripture: Acts 17:22-24

Denomination: Methodist

God's Affirmative Action Plan

Contributed by Dean Courtier on Jul 2, 2004

The 5 R’s of God’s affirmative action plan: Reason, Reconciliation, Revelation, Reality and Response

When I was young my grandmother used to speak to me about the importance of the 3 R’s. When I was old enough to spell I pointed out that from Reading, writing and arithmetic only one was actually spelt with an R! Today I want us to think about the 5 R’s of God’s affirmative action plan – and they ...read more

Scripture: John 1:1-18

Denomination: Pentecostal

What Good Can Come Of This? Series

Contributed by Tim Diack on Mar 12, 2012

We don't have to look far to see that suffering exists. Truth is, that tragedy enters into each of our lives. When it does we tend to ask: "Why did this happen to me?" But we should really be asking a different question.

What Good Can Come of This? - 2 Corinthians 1:3-11 Care Home and Hospital Service – February 2012 Read 2 Corinthians 1:3-11 Those words were written nearly 2000 years ago by a man named Paul. Paul was what we call an apostle and he was a man that God used to do great things during the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:3-11

Denomination: *other

Joy In Troubled Times

Contributed by Amiri Hooker on Dec 15, 2024

The Challenge of Joy in Troubled Times Church, this third Sunday of Advent—the pink candle Sunday—ushers us into joy. But how do we celebrate joy in a world so gripped by fear and trauma?

Sermon Joy in Troubled Times Zephaniah 3:14-20 The Message 14-15 So sing, Daughter Zion! Raise your voices, Israel! Daughter Jerusalem, be happy! celebrate! God has reversed his judgments against you and sent your enemies off chasing their tails. From now on, God is Israel’s king, ...read more

Scripture: Zephaniah 3:14-20

Denomination: United Methodist

What's Wrong With Gambling?

Contributed by Mike Richardson on May 15, 2001

Isaiah gives us a glimpse of the forces behind gambling and why it becomes so addictive and destructive.

Intro: ***A preacher saw a man who looked homeless sitting on a park bench and seemed to be in deep distress so he passed by him, handed him a $20 bill and whispered to him, “Never Despair”. The next day the preacher saw the man coming toward him hurriedly and gave him $60. The preacher asked ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 65:11-12

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Reconnecting With Hope Series

Contributed by Bruce Rzengota on Mar 23, 2014

Reconnecting with God reconnects us with hope.

Reconnecting with HOPE Lamentations 3:18-26 10/6/13 Introduction http://vimeo.com/62643994 When we are in the midst of Despair, Discouragement, trials the greatest place to find new hope is reconnecting with our great God. T.S. Turn with me to Lamentations. Lam 3:18-26 18 So I say, "My splendor ...read more

Scripture: Lamentations 3:18-26

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Briefly Outlineing 1 Samuel

Contributed by Ralph Andrus on Sep 17, 2013

It was the best of times and the worst of times in the life of David & Saul

- VIDEO - 11 Best of Times Worst of Times - american funniest videos - A Tale of Two Cities (1859) is a novel by Charles Dickens, set in London and Paris before and during the French Revolution. - Over 200 million copies sold - The book opens with “It was the best of times, it was the worst ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Living In Victory Instead Of Defeat

Contributed by Brian La Croix on Mar 29, 2002

Easter Sermon to encourage people (especially unbelievers) to live in the love and power of Christ.

Living in Victory Instead of Defeat 1 Corinthians 15:1-20 Easter Sunday – March 31, 2002 Introduction Before I get into the message, I want to share a story I came across while I was preparing for today. A Sunday School teacher asked her class to write one sentence each on "What Easter Means to ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:1-20

Denomination: Wesleyan

Unlocking The Power Of Thanksgiving

Contributed by Amar Chandnani on Jul 13, 2025

1 THESSALONIANS 5:18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. What Happens? What happens when we build this attitude of gratitude? The SHIFT from a state of ILL-BEING to WELL-BEING is explicitly triggered by thankfulness and gratitude.

Unlocking the Power of Thanksgiving Now, I will be your teacher this morning and today we will be looking into the divine power of thanksgiving. In how thanksgiving is not just a byword and utterance of appreciation but also a KEY that can change our PRAYER LIFE and draw us closer to GOD! Are you ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Glory Internalized Series

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on Feb 26, 2013

God's glory shine through the brokenness of our lives when we let Him be the center of our lives.

Last Sunday we began again a focus on the glory of God, and I skipped the video I had planned to share (which we first saw last September), so I want to begin there today. It helps us with the review: what is “the glory of God”? It is the words of Pastor-theologian John Piper, ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:7-16

Denomination: Baptist

The Character Of Kindness And Goodness Series

Contributed by Scott Bradford on Mar 20, 2007

This sermon is the 5th in a series on fruits of the SPirit, namely the Character of a Christian: Kindness and Goodness.

I. illustration: "Scott Currin" (NFI), Nov 02, came to Church with family, and introduced himself and said that he was moving to the community. About two weeks later he called and told of mothers death to DWI in Florida...trying to get back home, to Texas, his car broke down, and he needed $150 for ...read more

Scripture: Titus 3:1-11

Denomination: United Methodist

Knocked Down But Not Knocked Out

Contributed by Karl Perry on Dec 31, 2006

It’s good to know that it does not matter how many times we get knocked down, just as long as we get up again? And the good thing about this is the fact that when we do get back up, we may not have our full balance and composure, but just the mere effort

“KNOCKED DOWN, BUT NOT KNOCKED OUT!!” II CORINTHIANS 4:8-9 8. We may be troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9. Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed. In the sport of boxing there are all kinds of ways that a boxer can be ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:8-9

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Worry And U

Contributed by Maurice Mccarthy on Dec 7, 2008

Worry is a lie that slanders God. Reasons with the letter U that we shouldn’t worry

Worry and U Mt 6:25 "Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Jesus told us not to worry. In this message I will give five reasons worry ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:25

Denomination: Pentecostal

"Hope For The Future"

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Sep 25, 2004

The journey of the Christian life, during difficult times, leads to a hope-filled life.

Jeremiah 1-3a-6-15 “Hope for the Future” By: Rev. Kenneth Emerson Sauer, Pastor of Parkview United Methodist Church, Newport News, VA www.parkview-umc.org This is indeed a very troubling time in which to live. Our country is at war… …engaged in a different kind of war than we have ever ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 32:1-15

Denomination: United Methodist