Sermons on Total Despair:

Spiritual Adoption - What Does That Mean?

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Jul 20, 2014

Adoption during the writings of Paul meant something totally different then it does today. Adoption signifies that you are legally a child of God. You are a full fledged member of the family. A joint heir with Christ. Updated July 2023.

For Those Not Familiar with an Anglican Service there are four Scripture Readings that proceed the Message. Today's Readings were Isaiah 55, Psalm 65, Romans 8:7-17 and Matthew 13:1-9 & Matthew 13:18-23. A young man entered the movie theater ... loaded down ......with popcorn, ... drinks, ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 3:1, Romans 8:12-25, John 15:15, Galatians 4:1-7, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Galatians 3:29, John 3:7, 2 Corinthians 6:18  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Anglican

Potholes Series

Contributed by Tim Smith on May 28, 2015

We’ve all experienced potholes in the road of life that either slow us down, delay our journey or sometimes totally disrupt it. Potholes are anything in life that keep us from moving forward.

Potholes Mark 8:27-35 Bumpy streets are so commonplace in New Orleans that residents have taken some extreme measures to draw attention to particularly bothersome potholes. There was the birthday party in New Orleans East for a 5-foot-wide pothole on Cannes Street. They had cake, balloons and a ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:27-35

Denomination: Methodist

Sermon # 3 - God's Call And His Purposes Series

Contributed by Andrew Dixon on Jul 10, 2024

Like Abraham we too must obey the call of God and respond in faith and total obedience. Only when we do so will God do mighty wonders and help us to walk victoriously in this journey of faith.

We read in Isaiah 43:1, “Israel, the LORD who created you says, "Do not be afraid---I will save you. I have called you by name---you are mine.” (GNB) God’s word in the above mentioned verse is directed towards Jacob or Israel because the promise of God is directed towards His children, who ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 43:1, Psalm 147:4, Isaiah 43:2, Genesis 22:11, Genesis 22:17, Joshua 24:2, Jeremiah 16:20, Exodus 32:23, Exodus 32:7, Psalm 106:20, Joshua 24:3, Genesis 13:17, Psalm 115:13-14  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Other

God’s Testimony Series

Contributed by Andrew Dixon on Oct 20, 2021

God is mindful of all our ways and therefore it is crucial that we live in such a way that we receive a good testimony from God. The bible records these attestations of God, about those who walked in total obedience to Him.

We read in Psalm 91:15, “He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honor him.” (AFV) For our study today we will only focus on the first part of this verse, “He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him;” These are the words of the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 91:15

Denomination: Other

What’s Your Focus?

Contributed by Howard Strickland on Oct 11, 2021

We all know what sins are, but let me focus for a moment on those hindrances. Hindrances (Weights) are those things that may not be sins, but still keep you from living a life totally surrendered to God.

What’s Your Focus? Hebrews 12:1-2NKJV We all know what sins are, but let me focus for a moment on those hindrances. Hindrances (Weights) are those things that may not be sins, but still keep you from living a life totally surrendered to God. Imagine you are at a track meet, and they’re lining up ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:1-2, Hebrews 11:1-2

Denomination: Pentecostal

The First People The Church Sent Series

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Sep 2, 2023

Jesus sent his disciples out on mission. But Acts 13 is the first time THE CHURCH sent people out on mission. They were Barnabas and Saul. It wasn't all plain sailing. But it was still totally worthwhile.

INTRODUCTION / LEAD IN I wonder if you’ve read The Lord of the Rings. In the first volume, The Fellowship of the Ring, Bilbo Baggins throws a party. Then, he suddenly vanishes! Gandalf the wizard knows how he’s done it: Bilbo has a ring with very special power, a ring that is gradually gaining ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Psalms 27, 37, And 84 Series

Contributed by Sam Mccormick on Mar 7, 2020

Passages in different locations are often interconnected in such a way that one avenue of thought springs from another. Although these psalms were not written with the intent that they be interconnected by us today, they collectively express a message relevant today.

For Sermon Central researchers: I have posted a series of 15 sermons on the Psalms. In recent personal studies I have found the psalms to be richer and more thought-provoking than I had fully appreciated. I had too often swept swiftly through psalms without slowing down to inquire as thoroughly as ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 27:1-14, Judges 6:26-27, Deuteronomy 27:1-7, Joshua 8:30-32, Exodus 24:4, Exodus 17:15, 1 Samuel 7:17, Genesis 35:1-3, 2 Samuel 24:21-25, Genesis 33:20, Psalm 37:25, Philippians 3:20, Acts 7:1-49, 2 Samuel 12:10-13, Psalm 84:1-4, Psalm 37:1-40, Psalm 27:13, Genesis 26:25, Psalm 84:11  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Signs Of The End Of The Age, Part 2 Series

Contributed by T.j. Conwell on Sep 28, 2014

Mark 13 ends with 3 important principles to live by: 1) We can have total confidence in the certainty of God’s Word; 2) we are commissioned by God to preach and to teach His Word to all; and 3) we are to live life consciously and not complacently.

Signs of the End of the Age, Part 2 Mark 13:24-37 - Jesus is demonstrated in this book as a “servant” - Jesus’ teachings, while difficult for some to deal with, are always timely - We are looking at Jesus’ final teachings to His disciples -- His teaching is clear, ...read more

Scripture: Mark 13:24-37

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Elijah's Breakthrough 5 Series

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Nov 11, 2020

Elijah was just like you and I and he has his high mountain top experiences and his low valley experience’s but his story shows how God helped him through the valley of despair and depression. God will do the same for us today as well.

Video Transition: Through the storm! Series: Breakthrough 2020 Sermon: Elijah’s Breakthrough pt. 5 Thesis: Elijah was just like you and I and he has his high mountain top experiences and his low valley experience’s but his story shows how God helped him through the valley of despair and ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Street Called Straight

Contributed by Carolyn Malaika Foster-Brooks on Aug 23, 2002

This sermon is for any one faced with the addictions of the world. It is for the dependents and the co-dependents who want to change their lives and know that they are worthy.

PRAYER: GOD, I thank you right now for the way You have come into my life and changed my thoughts and my walk. I praise You Lord for taking a sinner like me and allowing me to be used as an instrument in Your kingdom. The road is rough, but the path is clear God because it is narrow and I don’t ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:8-9, Acts 9:11-12

Denomination: Baptist

The Pivotal Choice Series

Contributed by Jonathan Mcleod on Feb 26, 2008

The pivotal choice: Trust in Jesus and receive eternal life or reject Jesus and face God’s wrath.

Life is full of choices: • Some are easy choices: what to wear, what to eat, what to watch on TV. • Some are difficult choices: where to attend university, where to work, when to retire. • All of you had a choice this morning: Should I go to church or not? • Some choices are easy; some are ...read more

Scripture: John 3:22-36

Denomination: Baptist

The Prayer Of Gethsemane Series

Contributed by Chris Anderson on Mar 10, 2023

Jesus clearly knew God’s will, and yet he had intense angst and the deep feeling of despair that came from actually obeying God’s will. This sermon is intended to equip you for those moments where DOING God’s will, is really really hard.

If you’ve been around Christian circles for any length of time, there is a considerable amount of frustration in trying to determine God’s will. For some, it’s because we love the Lord and want to please him, so we want to make sure we’re making right choices that would honor him. But for others, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 26:36-46

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

An Irrevocable Promise

Contributed by Chris Appleby on Jun 30, 2001

God’s Promise is primary. Works won’t help becuase salvatin is by faith alone.

So, what’s wrong with rules? Life couldn’t continue if we didn’t have rules to govern it. It’s good to teach your children to always say please and thank you. To knock before entering a room, to clean up after themselves. It’s important to know that blue and green should never be seen; that white ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 3:1-25

Denomination: Anglican

Propitiation And You Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Sep 30, 2019

Jesus satisfied God’s wrath on our behalf, and through faith in Him we can have a righteous legal status before God.

Propitiation and You (Romans 3:21-31) 1. A few years ago, I was trying to replace a windshield wiper on my mini-van. Somehow I let go of the wiper stem, and it hit the windshield hard. I had cracked the windshield. A $10 wiper turned into a $200 replacement windshield bill. 2. When we damage ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:21-31

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Birth Of Sin

Contributed by J. Yeargin on Nov 13, 2006

All too often our definition for Good News has to do with interesting new Bible stories, or feel good inspirationals. But we may find ourselves one day in the Valley of Despair – Valley of Dry Bones, as a result of sin (birthed within us).

THE BIRTH OF SIN Revised – 08.20.06 (Edit in text from “Elijah”, Chas. Swindoll, pages 127 – 131) Perhaps you came this morning expecting to hear some “Good News”… How do you define the term “Good News”? If I were to tell you that you are walking too close to a hanging cliff that loose ...read more

Scripture: James 1:13-15

Denomination: Assembly Of God