Sermons on Bitter Cup:

When Seats Become Set-Ups

Contributed by Norris Harris I on Feb 6, 2003

IT IS A fact THAT You have been SET UP for FAILURE, FRUSTRATION and the FORFEITURE of all that which you have FORCLOSED! In practice, your FAITH has FAILED to FUNCTION in the FACE of SET UPS. YOU JUST DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO WHEN SEATS BECOME SET UPS.

Perhaps you are wondering, ’Why it is that your Service always seems to SET YOU UP?’ I don’t know, but I’m Speculating. I’m not sure, but its possible that you might be puzzled as to Why your SERVICE ultimately SET YOU UP for FAILURE? I can’t be absolutely certain, I have a sneaking suspicion ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 20:24-27

Denomination: Baptist

How The Holy Spirit Can Lead You As He Led Jabez

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Oct 18, 2000

Instead of being bitter, or changing his name to something like "love" or "peace," Jabez turned to the Lord. He asked God to bless his life indeed. Let us boldly ask God for His blessings in an extraordinary empowering and enabling way.

How the Holy Spirit Can Lead You as He Led Jabez (I Chron. 4:9,10) Illustration: Oh, that You would bless me . . . and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain! –1 Chronicles 4:10 When we read through the Bible, we’re inclined to skip the first nine chapters of 1 Chronicles ...read more

Scripture: 1 Chronicles 4:9-10

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Real Christmas Carol

Contributed by Paul Green on Dec 16, 2009

Scrooge was changed from a selfish, greedy and bitter old man, and he becomes a grateful, generous and compassionate figure. A man filled with deep regret sees his life transformed. This Christmas time Jesus, the Son of God, invites us to do the same.

The Real Christmas Carol Carol Service 2009 Show M&S advert Finish this phrase – ‘For you, Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without...?’ It’s true isn’t it that for most of us, if not for all of us, there are certain things that have to happen, or certain things that you have to have, without ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-20

Denomination: Baptist

Ruth Scene 1 Series

Contributed by Sean Harder on Feb 6, 2013

It appears that this little book was a small beacon of hope that would lead ultimately to Jesus through the line of King David. The three main characters are a bitter older Israelite widow who finds her way home, a redeemer, and a gentile woman who shows

50 cents for anyone who can tell me what book comes before or after the book of Ruth. The book of Ruth sits in a very interesting place in Biblical history. It is this tiny little book that sits between the dark ages of Israel during the period of the judges, when the nation was about as apostate ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 1:1-22

The "One" Thing Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jun 5, 2017

Families can often be shattered by pain and anger and bitterness. There's only one thing that heal those broken homes and fix what has been damaged by the abuse, neglect and selfishness that family members often inflict on each other. What is that?

POEM: If you love something, set it free. If it comes back to you, it is yours, if it doesn't, it never was. (Pause) But, if it just sits in your living room, messes up your stuff, eats your food, takes your money, and doesn't appear to realize that you've set it free... you either married it or ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:21-35

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Praying A Promise Series

Contributed by Ricky Tuttle Thd on Apr 24, 2020

The subject we are looking at is not the miracle that God performed with Hannah and her husband Elkanah, nor is it about the maltreatment from another family member that led to bitterness. Both would be great subjects. Today I would like to look at the subject of “Praying A Promise.”

Discovering The Precious Promises Of God “Praying A Promise” I Samuel 1:9-18 4-24-2020AM We have in our text today a familiar passage that has been preached by many preachers. I am not here to top what they have said, but to bring out a truth that has been on my heart. The subject we are ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 1:9-18

Denomination: Baptist

The Lord's Anger Series

Contributed by Sherry Brooks Martin on Sep 24, 2025

God’s anger most often takes the form of allowing our foolish choices in life to bear their bitter fruit. He doesn’t have to send lightning bolts or earthquakes. He simply allows us to make a choice and live with the consequences.

Sermon Title: The Lord’s Anger Scripture: 2 Kings 24:18—25:7 Theme: God’s anger most often takes the form of allowing our foolish choices in life to bear their bitter fruit. He doesn’t have to send lightning bolts or earthquakes. He simply allows us to make a choice and live with the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 24:18-20, 2 Kings 25:7

Forgiveness: Letting Go And Living Free

Contributed by Derek Geldart on Aug 9, 2025

This sermon calls believers to reflect God’s heart by forgiving others—even those who have deeply wounded them—releasing bitterness, trusting God’s justice, and finding freedom through the cross where Christ first forgave us.

Letting Go and Living Free How do you forgive someone who’s taken everything from you? The Rwandan genocide stands as one of the most devastating atrocities of the 20th century. Over the span of just 100 days in 1994, nearly one million people—primarily Tutsis and moderate Hutus—were brutally ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 103:10, Matthew 6:14-15, Romans 8:38-39, Romans 12:17-21, Hebrews 12:4-13  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

When People Hurt You - Ecclesiastes 3:15-4:3 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Mar 15, 2025

How do you avoid bitterness toward people who have hurt you and refuse to repent? Even when you affirm that God meant it for good, still, how do you not get upset over the fact that the person meant it for evil?

Ecclesiastes 3:15 Whatever is, has already been, and whatever will be, already is. God repeats what has passed. 16 I also observed under the sun: there is wickedness at the place of judgment and there is wickedness at the place of righteousness. 17 I said to myself, “God will judge the righteous ...read more

Practising Serving Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jun 25, 2017

The model that is frequently brought into the church is provided by this world. That model drives the disciple to step on others in order to advance himself. The model Jesus provides, though often neglected, is quite different; it teaches us to serve.

“A dispute also arose among them, as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest. And he said to them, ‘The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors. But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 22:24-29

Denomination: Baptist

Be Ye Angry And Sin Not

Contributed by Stephen Belokur on Jan 2, 2021

What does this mean? Are supposed to be angry? Of course the phrasing is in Old English from the 1600's and newer translations put it this way, "In your anger do not sin." Is such a feat even possible? What does God's Holy Word say?

Be Ye Angry and Sin Not Please stand with me as we go over our current memory Scripture: Psalm 1:1-2 “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the Law of the LORD, and on His Law he ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:17-32, Matthew 5:38-48, 1 Corinthians 11:20-22, 1 Corinthians 11:27-29, John 13:34  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Nazarene

Now Is Not The End

Contributed by Barry O Johnson on Nov 26, 2021

This teaching looks at the life of Joseph and how circumstances did not prevent God from being with him and working through him.

We’re going to look at Joseph, who was Jacob’s second youngest son. Remember how his father had given him the coat of many colors? It was a coat that set him apart from his brothers in terms of authority and rank in the family. Remember how his brothers were none too happy with him having that ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 37:36, Genesis 39:1-2, Genesis 37:23, Genesis 37:20-27, Hebrews 13:5-6, Genesis 45:1-7, Genesis 41:37-40, Genesis 41:1, Genesis 39:3-5, Genesis 39:9  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Parable Of The Pouting Son Series

Contributed by David Dykes on Apr 4, 2003

This in-depth view of Prodigal Son parable focuses on the elder son and the bitterness and resentment he displayed upon his brother’s return and how we sometimes have the same inflated sense of goodness and faulty understanding of our Father’s grace.

The Parable of the Pouting Son Luke 15:25-32 by David O. Dykes INTRODUCTION Over the last three weeks we have been looking at what has been called the Parable of the Prodigal Son. In this masterpiece, Jesus communicates several lessons. I believe the main point of this story is to show us what ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:25-32, Luke 15:12-32, Luke 15:11-32

Denomination: Baptist

Knowing And Listening To God's Voice

Contributed by Seth Aryee on Dec 3, 2005

Whatever seems dead in your life shall resurrect today. If your finances have been plundered, you are going to experience a new lease of live in your business. If your marriage is collapsing, today you will have the bitter waters sweetened. Where sickn

SERMON BY BRO. SETH A. ARYEE LOCAL PREACHER, BETHANY METHODIST CHURCH, DZORWULU, ACCRA-GHANA THEME: KNOWING AND LISTENING TO GOD’S VOICE GENESIS 22: 1-14 TEXT: “AND ABRAHAM CALLED THE NAME OF THAT PLACE JEHOVAH JIREH" - GENESIS 22:14 This evening, I want us to examine the faith Abraham had in ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 22:1-14

Denomination: Methodist

Heroes And The Heroic

Contributed by Michael Blankenship on Jan 4, 2007

GIDEON COMES TO A REALIZATION THAT: No great man ever lives in vain failure visits each of us: Each person has tasted, felt, beheld, the bitterness of failure, of feeling either too inadequate or inferior, or just too average, to accomplish great things.

Judges 6 Notes The Need of Heroes and the Heroic Hall Street Baptist Church Sunday Morning Dec 3, 2006 Urian Oakes (1675-1681) Fourth President of Harvard University, in speaking of the theological necessity of history said “We are to be the Lord’s remembrancers.” By that felicitous phrase he ...read more

Scripture: Judges 6:1-13

Denomination: Baptist