Sermons on Overwhelming Odds:

Living With Lament Series

Contributed by David Owens on Sep 21, 2020

In this last sermon of the series on grief and lament, we explore and engage in how to live with lament. How to employ it with cases of overwhelming grief, and with cases of everyday, minor grief. The sermon ends with two examples of lament prayers.

A. Back in May, during our series about hope, I opened a sermon with a story that I want to use again today as our launching point. 1. One afternoon, a man came home from work to find two young girls from the neighborhood on the steps of his building. 2. Both girls were crying very loudly, and ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 25:1-5, Romans 12:15, 1 Corinthians 12:26

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Has He Risen?

Contributed by Eric Darr on Nov 11, 2004

This title may strike you in an odd way..... Has He Risen? While we are so accustomed to hearing He Has Risen. The reason I bring this title with a question mark vs. an accustomed exclamation point is because some of us in the church do not show a

Has He Risen? While driving to church on Easter Sunday two years ago, I told my children the Easter story. "This is the day we celebrate Jesus coming back to life," I explained. Right away, my 3-year-old son, Kevin, piped up from the back seat, "Will He be in church ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:1-12

Denomination: Pentecostal

Prisoner Of The Winds?

Contributed by John Gaston on Aug 14, 2017

Jephthah had a truly tragic beginning to his life. Hated, despised, driven out. Despite all odds he kept his walk with God, trained for future victory, and was raised by God to be Judge over all Israel. We aren't at the mercy of circumstances!

PRISONER OF THE WINDS? Judges 11:1-33; 12:7 INTRODUCTION A. HUMOR 1. David, Henry and Alan, 3 little boys, were visiting their grandparents. David went over to his grandfather and asked, "Can you make a sound like a frog? 2. His grandfather, being in a kind of ill mood replies, "No David, I ...read more

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Living A Questionable Life - Part 1 Series

Contributed by Jeffrey Dillinger on Jan 22, 2024

When people look at me, do they see what they expect, or someone that is "odd?" When I am so close to Jesus that my life reflects his actions and attitudes it causes people to ask, "Why are you like this?"

Living Questionable Lives – Pt 1 (Acts 16:29-34) Intro: A. I grew up with some great tools like the Jule Miller filmstrips, Open Bible Study, and teachings about Friendship Evangelism. All them had a great place in the ministry of reconciliation, but they didn’t all work for me. Maybe it was ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:16-34

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

#60 Don’t Quit! Series

Contributed by Chuck Sligh on Feb 6, 2022

During the betrayal and arrest of Jesus is the odd story of a man who was in a linen cloth whose garment was torn from him and he ran into the night naked. What’s THAT all about? This sermon tells us the story of a failure turned success named John Mark.

#60 Don’t Quit! Series: Mark Chuck Sligh February 6, 2022 NOTE: A PowerPoint presentation is available for this sermon by request at chucksligh@hotmail.com. Please mention the title of the sermon and the Bible text to help me find the sermon in my archives. This sermon is adapted from a sermon by ...read more

Scripture: Mark 14:50-52

Denomination: Baptist

God's Healing For My Life

Contributed by Andrew Chan on Aug 29, 2001

Healing is to be sought within the God given resource of the local church, but will we have the faith to use it.

God’s Healing for my life by Andrew Chan, Senior Pastor, PBC, Vancouver, BC A man was driving along a rural road one day when he saw a three-legged chicken. He was amused enough to drive along side it for a while, and as he was driving, he noticed the chicken was running at 30 mph. "Pretty fast ...read more

Scripture: James 5:13-18

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Passionate Commitment Series

Contributed by Jefferson Williams on Apr 25, 2021

A Disciple is passionately committed to Jesus Christ.

Discipleship Matters: Passionately Committed to Jesus Luke 14:25-35 Pastor Jefferson M. Williams Chenoa Baptist Church 04-25-2021 Fan vs Fanilow I’ve been asked if my love for Barry Manilow is real or a joke. I can assure you it is real. When I took piano lessons as a kid, one of the first ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:25-35

Denomination: Baptist

Calloused Hearts Of Unbelief Series

Contributed by Richard Tow on Apr 12, 2004

Why do people not believe in Christ even in the face of overwhelming evidence? As a person resists the Holy Spirit his heart becomes calloused and his sensitivity to God diminished. The interaction of human will and divine judgement is examined in the lig

Calloused Hearts of Unbelief Fortifying the Foundations # 29 John 12:37-50[1] 2-29-04 This morning in our study of the gospel of John we stand at the end of Jesus’ public ministry. In chapters 13-17 Jesus is alone with his disciples before his arrest. He has much to say to them. There is much ...read more

Scripture: John 12:37-50, Hebrews 3:13

Denomination: Charismatic

Working It Out

Contributed by Jane Willis on Oct 18, 2004

Work gets overwhelming. The people we work with seem hurtful and self serving. Yet, work is a place where we live out our faith--a setting where we must learn to be more Christlike.

This passage about Mary and Martha is familiar to many of you. It is fairly well known. It is a story about one women working in the kitchen and making preparations to entertain guests while her sister is involved in spiritual pursuits and assisting directly in the ministry of Jesus. And, when the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:38-42

Denomination: Congregational

What Are You Looking For? A Miracle? Series

Contributed by Jay Winters on Dec 24, 2007

This is the last in a series of Isaiah sermons in Advent all starting with the same question - "What are you looking for?" In this one, we consider the background story of the familiar passage found in Isaiah 7 and the sin of overwhelming "modesty" in bel

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, the Holy Three In One who is Emmanuel. Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, The Lord spoke to Ahaz – “Ask a sign of the Lord your God, let it be as deep as Sheol or as high as the heavens.” It sounds like something that we would ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 7:10-16

Denomination: Lutheran

Living In A Murphy's Law World Series

Contributed by John Sears on Jul 22, 2011

This is a message of encouragement to people who are facing struggles and trials. We live in a Murphy's Law world where trouble is always just around the corner. How do we deal with it when the troubles of life seem overwhelming?

Introduction: Murphy’s law suggests that anything that can go wrong will go wrong. Some corollaries have been attached – they are true given the right circumstances: q At the most inopportune time q Because it is your fault q And Everyone will see it Every perceived solution only ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:18-39

Denomination: Christian Church

Where Is God When Life Is Hard? Series

Contributed by Gerry Cheney on Jul 22, 2014

When you get blindsided by life, when things get overwhelming, and you find yourself surrounded by pain or terrifying circumstances, how do you handle it? This message seeks to begin to answer those questions.

Where is God When Life is Hard? Part I: Where is God? INTRODUCTION: When you get blindsided by life… how do you ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 73:1-26

Denomination: Vineyard

Jesus Is God's Answer Sermon X: Jesus Meets Our Need For Security Series

Contributed by Charles Cunningham on Jan 6, 2020

In times of trouble - no matter the form it may take - fear of the unknown can overwhelm us and cause anxiety. Yet, a child of God can remain calm in the midst of uncertainty because our security is in the Savior our Shepherd.

JESUS MEETS OUR NEED FOR SECURITY “I am the Door . . . I am the Good Shepherd” (John 10:9 . . . 10:14) Throughout the Bible, the image most often used to dramatize God’s love and care is that of a shepherd; ...read more

Scripture: John 10:9, John 10:14

The Organization Of A Godly Leader Series

Contributed by Christopher Benfield on Jul 9, 2024

It is no secret that leadership presents its own set of challenges, and those who lead within the church are not exempt. Pastors in particular, and those in leadership positions within the church, often feel overwhelmed by the challenges associated with Kingdom work.

The Organization of a Godly Leader Nehemiah 3 (1-8 for Text) It is no secret that leadership presents its own set of challenges, and those who lead within the church are not exempt. Pastors in particular, and those in leadership positions within the church, often feel overwhelmed by the challenges ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 3:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

Pruned For God's Glory Series

Contributed by Derek Geldart on Sep 12, 2025

When life feels most overwhelming, God lovingly prunes us—not to punish or limit us, but to free us from distractions, deepen our roots in Christ, and make us abundantly fruitful for His glory.

Pruned for His Glory John 15:1-5 Why is it that when life feels most chaotic—our calendars full, our energy drained—we feel the least spiritually alive? What if the very chaos we’re resisting is what God is pruning to make room for real growth? We look across life’s horizon and see endless ...read more

Scripture: John 15:1-5

Denomination: Baptist