Sermons on Unexpected Heroes:

Deflating Depression

Contributed by Perry Greene on Mar 26, 2019

Even God's great heroes dealt with depression. Rather than beating ourselves up, we get the help we need (especially God's) and move forward to the work He has called us to do.

1. Most if not all of us have dealt with or are dealing with depression. Touched on it last week with Grief. 2. Causes of Depression • Grief and Loss • Stress • Health problems (poor nutrition, etc.) • Drugs 3. Signs of Depression (You may need to seek professional counsel): • Prolonged ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 19:1-21

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Key To Freedom

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 12, 2021

The more you read of the history of our nation the more you realize the heroes of our history were not gods come down to earth, but they were weak and fallible men. It was their dependence upon God that enabled them to declare their independence from tyranny.

The story I am about to tell is fiction, but it is funny and it has a point. After 38 years of marriage I thought I knew everything about Lavonne. But I discovered something new when we got back from our trip to Washington. I was putting things away and I was pushing something under her side of ...read more

Scripture: Judges 6:1-6

Profitable Problems Series

Contributed by Nickolas Kooi on Aug 30, 2018

James teaches us about problems and faith already in the second verse of his letter. This sermon looks at problems and how we can count them as all joy in Jesus Christ.

Theologian Clinton Armstrong tells this story about a lunch that he had that pertains to the Epistle of James. He once had lunch with an expert in the philosophical field of ethics. Once they were done eating, they talked for a little bit longer and then paid the check. Just before they left, ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:31, James 1:3-4, 2 Corinthians 12:10, James 1:1-12, Romans 8:28, James 1:2  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Lutheran

Are You A Little Drummer Boy? Series

Contributed by Guy Glass on Dec 6, 2011

THIS PASSAGE BEFORE US TODAY LOOKS AT THE RESULT OF AN UNEXPECTED GIFT GIVEN TO SOMEONE WHO WAS, QUITE FRANKLY, LOOKING FOR SOMETHING ELSE! We often miss opportunities God has for us, because we are looking for something else other than what God wants

ARE YOU A “LITTLE DRUMMER BOY”? ACTS 3:1-10 ONE DAY PETER AND JOHN WERE GOING UP TO THE TEMPLE AT THE TIME OF PRAYER--AT THREE IN THE AFTERNOON. 2 NOW A MAN CRIPPLED FROM BIRTH WAS BEING CARRIED TO THE TEMPLE GATE CALLED BEAUTIFUL, WHERE HE WAS PUT EVERY DAY TO BEG FROM THOSE GOING INTO THE TEMPLE ...read more

Scripture: Acts 3:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

Beyond Reason

Contributed by Mike Shreve on Jan 5, 2004

There are many unwilling heroes throughout Scripture. Humble men that recognized their own incompetence, and yet God sought them out in order to use them for His glory. Recognizing these were men that would shy away from resting upon their own abilities a

Joshua 1:10-18 A Study of the Book of Joshua Sermon 2 “Beyond Reason” Joshua 1:10-18 Slide 2>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> A.W. Tozer writes, we cannot think rightly of God until we begin to think of Him as always being there, and there first. Joshua had this to learn. ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 1:10-18

Denomination: Baptist

Extreme Widows! Mark 12: 41-44

Contributed by David Smith on Dec 14, 2006

My focus here is on three widows - Ruth, her mother-in-law Naomi, and a nameless pensioner who puts all her livelihood into the offertory plate! As ever, the characters the Bible brings before us as heroes of the faith are persons whom the community at

A priest by the name of Wes Seeliger was shopping for a motorcycle. The Harley-Davidson salesperson bragged ‘this machine will go from 0 to 150 in 20 seconds. It will hug the road at 150 km/h. It will outrun anything on wheels. What do you do for a living, sir.’ ‘I’m a priest’ Seeliger said. ...read more

Scripture: Mark 12:41-44

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Believing God Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Oct 21, 2002

Abraham is such a great man of faith that at times its hard to relate to him. God knew that, so He told us few things about this super-hero of the faith that help us understand how powerful his faith really was.

OPEN: A man once told a story about his 84 year old grandmother. Apparently, she fiercely maintained her independence and lived alone in the old family home. Her 4 children lived in the same town, but she rarely called them except in emergencies. It was with some apprehension, therefore, that he ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:8-19

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

When The Odds Are Stacked Against You

Contributed by Brian Buriff on Mar 15, 2007

Driven from his home as an "illegitimate" child, Jephthah fought against the odds and elements to rediscover and reinvent himself. His tenacity led him to eventually become the hero and CEO of the nation that originally kicked him out. What to do when th

I. LIFE IS JUST NOT ALWAYS FAIR A. True In The World, In Church, In Families, In Workplace B. Times When You Feel You’re Unfairly Treated 1. There may be times when you feel underappreciated, favoritism 2. There may be times when you feel excluded, left out II. DEUTERONOMY 23 – LAWS OF ...read more

Scripture: Judges 11:1-10

Denomination: Church Of God

Dying Declarations!!!

Contributed by Suresh Manoharan on Jan 3, 2012

While “aspire to inspire before you expire” is a catchy, insightful one-liner, when it comes to the lives of numerous heroes’ of faith, it is how they expired with motivational words seemingly on their dying lips, which leaves an indelible impression in u

Dying declarations “Nemo moriturus praesumitur mentire”! Now is this Latin maxim, all “Greek and Latin” to my congregation? I can “justifiably” empathize with those not in touch with the “World of Justice” ...read more

Scripture: Luke 23:46

Denomination: *other

Part 4 - Genesis 19:1-38 - Just Cause! Game Over! Series

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Jul 31, 2010

Genesis 19 reads like a VIDEO GAME. It opens with a powerful weapon in the arsenal - Abraham's prayer (Genesis 18:23-32) which provides firecover throughout the story. The two angels that come into town are the heroes on a RESCUE MISSION from HIGH COMMAND

PART 4 - GENESIS 19:1-38 - JUST CAUSE! GAME OVER! Genesis 19 reads like a VIDEO GAME. It opens with a powerful weapon in the arsenal - Abraham's prayer (Genesis 18:23-32) which provides firecover throughout the story. The two angels that come into town are the heroes on a RESCUE MISSION from HIGH ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 19:1-38

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

From Death To Life Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Oct 28, 2018

There's a repetitive theme in Scripture: heroes and heroines of the Bible seemingly all go through the process of being given a vision by God, followed by the death of that vision, and ultimately the rebirth of that vision. How did that pattern apply to Jesus and how does it apply to us?

OPEN: (We showed the image of a fallen tree (https://imgur.com/iP32qff) I saw this picture on the internet about a month ago and it took me a while to realize what I was looking at. Obviously the tree has been uprooted and it’s lying on the ground with its dead limbs extending along the ground. But ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 27:33-51

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Summer Storms

Contributed by Mark Aarssen on Jun 23, 2011

Have you had your faith tested lately? Was it a sudden violent unexpected storm that tossed you from side to side nearly drowning you in its wake? They come, they come in every season of life. Still the question remains as Jesus put it – “where is your

Summer Storms Luke 8:22-25 It had not yet rained at the time I prepared today’s message. It had been forecasted, promised but did not arrive. We had been waiting for days for it to rain. I had put off trying to put the boat in the water for the first time this year because they said it ...read more

Scripture: Luke 8:22-25

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The God Of Great Turnarounds Series

Contributed by Duane Wente on May 22, 2023

The story of Esther and Mordecai is full of plot twists, unexpected outcomes, and surprise endings, all reminding us that we serve a God of great turnarounds. Do we have “Hamans” in our lives? From the story of Esther and Mordecai we can draw encouragement for our lives today.

Introduction Video Ill.: The Story of Esther - Second Look Films (segment 4) We are continuing our study today based loosely on Max Lucado’s book, You Were Made for This Moment. When we started, we saw that Esther and Mordecai just wanted to blend in — to be cosy in the Persian culture. Don’t ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 35:17, Jeremiah 12:1, Acts 17:31, Psalm 7:11, Mark 12:29-31, Matthew 5:43-45, Isaiah 58:6-9  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

David's Mighty Men: The 37 Men Who Stood With David At The Cave Of Adullam Series

Contributed by Justin Steckbauer on Nov 4, 2023

Bravery is a hallmark of a Christian. A true follower of Jesus is brave and bold. They know God is with them.

"Leonidas, King of Sparta, was preparing to make a stand with his Greek troops against the Persian army in 480 B.C. when a Persian envoy arrived. The man urged on Leonidas the futility of trying to resist the advance of the huge Persian army. "Our archers are so numerous," said the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 23:8

Denomination: Salvation Army

Enoch – The World Couldn't Hold Him Part 2 Series

Contributed by Terry Jones on May 10, 2008

At some point in life, every child has a hero they what to grow up to be. How do we become the model’s of Christian maturity and faith that others will want to immolate. Looking into the character of some biblical examples will help you to become a rea

Enoch – The World Couldn’t Hold Him Series – Heroes of Faith Text: Genesis 5:18-24 In all of scripture only six verses tell the biography of this great man of faith. Six verses – to span a life that lasted 365 years. Of this man Enoch, we know nothing of his social status, of his profession or ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 5:18-24

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational