Sermons on Bitter Herbs:

"Murderers, Tramps, And Liars”

Contributed by David Roth on Feb 12, 2023

Epiphany 6. In His sermon on the mount, Jesus expounds on murder, adultery, and lying. He makes it clear that these sins are significant, that they reach, infect, and pervade us all, so that there is no righteousness in us, and our righteousness must be found in Him.

Matthew 5:21-37 Epiphany 6 A J. J. May the words of my mouth, and the meditations of our hearts, be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer. Amen. (Ps. 19:14) “Murderers, Tramps, and Liars” In our Gospel reading, we hear Jesus continue His sermon on the Mount. He has ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:21-37, Matthew 6:14-15, Revelation 22:14-15

Denomination: Lutheran

Sermon # 18 - Safe In The Shadow Of The Almighty God Series

Contributed by Andrew Dixon on May 7, 2025

When fear grips our heart and in those times when we feel all alone, deserted and feel that there is no one to help us or stand by us, let’s remember that God sees and He is by our side. The life of Hagar gives us a glimpse of God’s presence in the midst of life’s hardest moments.

We read in Genesis 21:17, “God heard the boy crying, and from heaven the angel of God spoke to Hagar, "What are you troubled about, Hagar? Don't be afraid. God has heard the boy crying.”(GNB) Hagar and her son wandered through the wilderness, and when the little water she carried got ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 21:17, Genesis 16:1, Genesis 16:3, Genesis 16:6-9, Genesis 16:11, Genesis 21:9, Genesis 21:14-17  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Other

What The Women Did Not Find

Contributed by Michael Stark on Apr 15, 2017

When the women who had followed Jesus came to the tomb, they found a disturbed tomb and angels that spoke to them. What they did not find was the body of the Master. This becomes the basis for Easter, the foundation of the Faith of Christ the Lord.

“There was a man named Joseph, from the Jewish town of Arimathea. He was a member of the council, a good and righteous man, who had not consented to their decision and action; and he was looking for the kingdom of God. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then he took it down ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Sucking Blessings Through A Straw

Contributed by James May on Nov 27, 2007

Trying to receive the blessings of God while we harbor a Root of Bitterness is like trying to drink after eating lemons. The flow is restricted because we are all drawn up inside.

Sucking Blessings Through a Straw #13 in the Book of James Series By Pastor Jim May James has just completed dealing with the power of the tongue to destroy and to bless. Now we will see why the tongue is often put to such terrible use when it is used to destroy a life or a reputation. Most of ...read more

Scripture: James 3:14-18

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Tomorrow Can Be A Good Day

Contributed by Ralph Andrus on Mar 2, 2010

How to Live in a Better Day: ◆ Look to a Better Day ◆ Start Each Day with God's Perspective ◆ Don't Live in the Past ◆ Get Rid of Bitterness

❶ Last Week Had Bad Days • Health care summit gets & political divisions • SeaWorld trainer killed by killer whale • Chile’s 8.8 earthquake: death toll passes 200 • Hawaii issues tsunami alert with 3 to 8 feet waves, evacuating up to 100,000 residents and ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 145:14-21

Denomination: Baptist

"My Struggle Ain't Strange"

Contributed by Jerrell A Barron on Sep 20, 2013

Every struggle in your life was tailor made to fit you and shape your life. Every struggle in your life God uses to make you better, not to make you bitter.

Intro: As Christians we must clearly understand that the happenings in our lives were tailored just for us. Your difficulties are not to make you bitter but to make you better. God created us with a plan in mind, and again the plan wasn't to make you depressed, or miserable, the plan is to make you ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:12-13, Ephesians 1:1-14

Denomination: Baptist

(6) Eyes Wide Open Series

Contributed by David Dunn on Sep 28, 2025

John's 6th sign. Jesus calls us to cast off bitterness and blame, receive His mercy, and follow Him with eyes wide open to new life.

Part One Jesus was on His way out of Jericho. Passover crowds filled the road. The noise of merchants and pilgrims echoed off the stone walls. And on that roadside sat a blind man named Bartimaeus—son of Timaeus. That name is striking. Timaeus means honorable. But nothing about this scene ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:46-52, John 9:1-3, Isaiah 62:1-3, Hebrews 12:1, 2 Corinthians 5:17  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

The Pressures Off Series

Contributed by Steve Malone on May 7, 2008

2000 years ago a religious guy met Jesus and was told he was headed down the wrong road and needed to make a u-turn that led to a life where the pressure is off and was never the same again.

The Pressures Off Never The Same Again (8) I hope you are getting pumped up about taking the One Month To Live Challenge. NEXT WEEK – we will kick off the series with an Easter Message. AND THEN – things will really start to rock and roll the week of March 30th when we launch our One Month ...read more

Scripture: John 3:1-21

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A New Covenant Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Aug 2, 2008

A Communion meditation warning us against substituting ritual for relationship.

MATTHEW 26:26-29 A NEW COVENANT “As they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, ‘Take, eat; this is my body.’ And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 26:26-29

Denomination: Baptist

The Wings Of God

Contributed by Mark Mccool on Apr 21, 2003

Who do you turn to when life is at its worst? Is there a refuge when the lightning of bitterness flashes, the thunder of hatred rolls, and the shadows of loneliness fall across your path? Be encouraged, there is...

"THE WINGS OF GOD" Mark McCool TEXT: DEUTERONOMY 32:9-12 9 For the LORD’s portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance. 10 He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; he led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye. 11 As an eagle ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 32:9-12

Denomination: Pentecostal

Paul's Principles For Handling Crises

Contributed by Paul Fritz on May 21, 2004

Paul came out of his crises even stronger in faith, courage, hope, and credibility. Every crisis that you pass through will either make you bitter or better - the choice is up to you!

How Paul the Apostle Handled Crises Acts 27:21-Acts 28:1-20 Illustration: Test pilots have a litmus test for evaluating problems. When something goes wrong, they ask, "Is this thing still flying?" If the answer is yes, then there’s no immediate danger, no need to overreact. When Apollo 12 ...read more

Scripture: Acts 27:21-25

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Change Your Clothes Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Jul 2, 2014

If we want to build strong relationships for a strong church then replace old habits with new. Replace lying with the truth, anger with peace, stealing with sharing, hurtful words with helpful ones, and bitterness with forgiveness.

An executive was plagued by a strange disease that caused splitting headaches and ringing in his ears. He first went to an ear, nose and throat specialist who corrected his deviated septum, but the condition grew worse. He consulted an ophthalmologist who performed delicate optic nerve surgery. ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:17-32

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Conceiving Iniquity And Bringing Forth Wind Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jul 12, 2014

We learn from bitter experience how wrong it is to ignore God's will and do things our own way. If this leads to pain, even the pain can be a way to focus us on the right way.

Thursday of 15th Week in Course Lumen Fidei Let’s be frank about today’s reading from Isaiah, because he is speaking about a Hebrew people who did not do God’s will. They chased after what he calls “other lords”–the Baals and Astartes. They engaged in all ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 26:7-19

Denomination: Catholic

Tearing Down Strongholds

Contributed by Dr. Jonathan Vorce on Jan 15, 2021

When people form strongholds in their lives, they imprison their thoughts with error, confusion, bitterness, pride, and false philosophies. God's word encourages us to tear down the strongholds in our lives.

II Corinthians 10:1-6 Introduction: • The word "stronghold" in 2 Corinthians 10:4 means a strong-walled military fort or prison. • When people form strongholds in their lives, they imprison their thoughts with error, confusion, bitterness, pride, and false philosophies. I. What is a ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 10:1-6, 2 Corinthians 10:4, Ephesians 6:10-18, Ephesians 6:18, 1 Peter 4:8, James 5:20  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Church Of God

I Am Your Healer - Jehovah Rapha Series

Contributed by Jm Raja Lawrence on Oct 19, 2025

Three days after Red Sea deliverance, Israel found bitter water at Marah. Their songs of praise became complaints of doubt. God revealed Himself as Jehovah Rapha, the LORD who heals.

I AM Your Healer - JEHOVAH RAPHA Main Text: Exodus 15:26 Supporting Texts: Psalm 103:3, Jeremiah 30:17 INTRODUCTION Picture the scene. The Israelites stand on the far shore of the Red Sea. Behind them, the waters have closed over Pharaoh's army. The chariots lie crushed beneath the waves. The ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 15:26, Psalm 103:3, Jeremiah 30:17, Exodus 15:2, Exodus 15:22-25, Numbers 33:8, Exodus 15:24, Luke 6:45, Luke 23:34, Romans 5:3-4, James 1:2-4, Exodus 15:25, Psalm 147:3, Psalm 103:2-3, Proverbs 4:20-22, 1 Corinthians 11:30, Mark 2:5-11, Deuteronomy 6:18, Isaiah 53:5, 1 Peter 2:24, Deuteronomy 21:23, Galatians 3:13, Isaiah 53:4-5, Proverbs 4:23, Romans 5:20, Ephesians 4:31-32, Colossians 3:13, James 5:14-15  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational