Sermons on Overcoming Despair:

Setting Hearts Free

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Oct 31, 2004

Jesus Christ sets us free from: 1. Cynicism 2. Despair 3. Self

Comedian Rodney Dangerfield, who passed away earlier this month at age 82, made his living playing the part of someone chronically depressed and making fun of himself because he “got no respect.” He would complain to his audiences with lines like: “I tell ya I get no respect from anyone. I ...read more

Scripture: John 8:31-36

Denomination: Methodist

The Beginning Of… Covenant Promises Series

Contributed by Glenn Durham on Apr 22, 2010

God’s promises deliver his people from despair and empower faithful living.

Scripture Introduction Lest we suspect that God is like Santa, winking at sin and hoping we will be more nice than naughty, the Bible records the catastrophic and world-wide flood in the days of Noah – God’s judgment on the rampant violence and wickedness which characterized mankind. ...read more

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Exodus Part 4 " Finding Strenght In Our Discouragement" Series

Contributed by Randy Edwards on Mar 15, 2016

Part 4 , looks at chapters 5 and 6 and Moses discouragement

Exodus “The story of God’s presence” Part 4 “Finding strength in our discouragement” I believe I can safely say Like last week we all offer Excuses from time to time in our lives Especially in our Christian walk We all also face discouragement in our lives I ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Jesus Wept Series

Contributed by Ken Mckinley on Feb 10, 2020

The 34th sermon in a series we're doing on John's Gospel. In this particular sermon we look at the shortest verse in the Bible, and we discuss why Jesus wept. We examine sin and it's effects, and how Jesus is the answer to our sin problem.

Jesus Wept (Gospel of John Part 34) Text: John 11:28-44 So; if you remember from last time, Jesus had just spoken with Martha, and Martha was strengthened in her faith and she ended up making an amazing confession of faith in Jesus. And she left Him, in order to go get her sister Mary. And ...read more

Scripture: John 11:28-44, 1 Corinthians 15:26

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Christ's Faith In You And Me

Contributed by Bob Marcaurelle on Aug 29, 2025

Jesus actually trusts us to help people come to him and calling Simon "a rock" shows He believes we can do it. Of course we will give Him all the credit.

Annual Sermons: Vol. 2 Sermon 21* Bob Marcaurelle: 1988 John 1:42 * Catalog of all messages (1000 +) bmarcaurelle.@charter.net CHRIST’S FAITH IN US As a boy, Sir Walter Scott was left week and ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:10, John 17:18, John 21:6

Denomination: Baptist

The Word Of God Abides In You, And You Have Overcome The Evil One

Contributed by John Piper on Mar 29, 2007

In the Bible, God speaks to us, and in prayer, we speak to him. And the two are interdependent in their effectiveness. The Scripture teaches us to pray and shows us what to pray and how to pray and tells us the basis for prayer and fills us with encourage

This is the last Sunday of Prayer Week. The reason we sandwich Prayer Week with a sermon on prayer and a sermon on the word of God is that these are the two great means of grace that God uses to conform us to the image of his Son (Romans 8:29; Colossians 3:10). The Interdependence of Prayer and ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 2:12-14

Denomination: Baptist

Recovering From Defeat Series

Contributed by John Hamby on Feb 26, 2002

Five Principles for recovering from a spiritual defeat taken from Joshua’s victory over Ai.

A Study of Joshua Sermon # 7 “Recovering From Defeat” Joshua 8: 1-29 As we saw last week there is no failure or mistake that cannot be remedied through the grace of God. Even Achor the valley of trouble can ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 8:1-29

Denomination: Baptist

How To Get Up When You're Down Series

Contributed by Kevin Broyhill on Sep 24, 2024

In moments of struggle and despair, we are not meant to stay down as overcomes. God has provided us with the strength and hope to rise again. Let's explore how to lift ourselves out of depression, how to find hope in God, and how to get up when we're down!

How To Get Up When Your Down! Psalm 42:5 Introduction: Text Verse: v.5 – repeated 2x’s – (v.11) and in (43:5) Not told exactly who the penman is! Many believe King David! David = having more than a blah day… fleeting moment of discouragement… he was in a time of deep emotional crisis… v.5 – ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 42:5

Denomination: Baptist

Our God And Our Family Series

Contributed by Antonio Torrence on Mar 12, 2006

This sermon is about overcoming Christians overcoming social prejudices through prayer.

Text: Matthew 6:9 Title: Our God, Our Family -By Reverend A. LaMar Torrence, Cross of Life Lutheran Church Four score and seven years ago, one of our founding civil rights fathers James Weldon Johnson published one his first novels entitled “Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man”. In that same year ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:9

Denomination: Lutheran

From Set Back To Come Back

Contributed by Jeff Taylor on Jan 13, 2023

There may be a number of things dead or comatose in your life, in our nation and in the world that desperately need to come alive. Your hopes and your future can come alive. This is about comebacks. Comebacks are necessary because of setbacks.

Turn to John 11:43, as today we delve into the subject of coming alive. Say that with me, "Come alive". Again. There may be a number of things dead or comatose in your life, in our nation and in the world that desperately need to come alive. Your hopes and your future can come alive. ...read more

Scripture: John 11:43

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Small Still Voice

Contributed by Carl Willis on Apr 14, 2001

Even in the midst of despair, we can still hear the small, still voice of God.

The Small Still Voice 1 Kings 19:1-18 1. Even great men of faith have moments of doubt and fear A. Elijah had seen God do great things - Stood before Ahab and predicted drought 17:1 - Fed by Ravens and drank from the stream 17:2-6 - Cared for by the widow of Zarephath 17:7-16 - ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 19:1-8

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Effective Fasting Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Jan 1, 2020

Fast when out of your despair, you feel totally dependent upon God.

One day, Kathy Cash’s husband, of Dallas, Texas, announced to the family that he was going to fast and pray. Ginny, their 5-year-old, had recently learned that fasting meant not eating. “No!” she shouted. “You can't fast! You'll die!” Her dad carefully explained that many men and women ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:16-18, Matthew 9:14-17, Luke 18:9-14, Isaiah 58:1-9

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Think On These Things

Contributed by Eric Hanson on Feb 15, 2024

Victory over Despair and living in the Joy of the Lord can be yours by walking in these Biblical principles.

THINK ON THESE THINGS Pastor Eric J. Hanson INTRODUCTION Many of the battles of life are faced by all of us. We all have to learn the lessons of childhood. We have to get up at a certain time and go to school, regardless of how we feel about it. We have to gradually do more work, just to keep up ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:4-9

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Faith Is A Race

Contributed by Gerald Roberts on Aug 16, 2025

Faith is a race filled with ups and downs, filled with despair and triumph, and coupled with joy and sorrow.

Faith Is a Race Hebrews 11:29–12:2 1. Faith Is Like a Race Hebrews 12:1 “let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us”. 12;1 • In the 1972 Olympics, Dave Wattle ran the 800 meters wearing his signature white cap. He lagged behind early, but with patience, strategy, and ...read more

Denomination: Methodist

Defeating Depression And Suicidal Thoughts - Part 02 - Practical Ways To Overcome Depression

Contributed by Glynda Lomax on Oct 11, 2020

In the current pandemic, so many people just feel like giving up.

So last week we began this short series on Defeating Depression and Suicidal Thoughts. We talked a lot about how prevalent depression is and how the pandemic has made that even worse. So many people just feel like giving up. Knowing the time we live in, and knowing it will only increase and get ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, Proverbs 4:23, Matthew 27:5

Denomination: Charismatic