Sermons on Bitter Root:

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

Jehovah Rapha Series

Contributed by Gordon Pike on Sep 27, 2020

The only way to go from Mar’ah to Elim is to turn to Jesus … who is Jehovah Rapha … the One who heals … the One who repairs.

The sign in the parking lot said: “Crystal Lake – 5 miles.” So you shoulder your pack and begin hiking to Crystal Lake. It’s fun at first … being in the woods … beautiful clear day … the fresh air … the sounds … seeing all the nature … but after a few hours your backpack starts to get a little ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 15:22-27, Psalm 22:1-2, Job 7:2-3, Exodus 15:1-2, Exodus 15:11, 1 Peter 2:24  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: United Methodist

Job Series

Contributed by John Lowe on Apr 14, 2022

Job was faithful to God, even when he lost absolutely everything that had been important to him. This legend concerns Job, a prosperous man of outstanding piety. Satan acts as an agent provocateur to test whether or not Job's piety is rooted merely in his prosperity.

Job Job was faithful to God, even when he lost absolutely everything that had been important to him. This legend concerns Job, a prosperous man of outstanding piety. Satan acts as an agent provocateur to test whether or not Job's piety is rooted merely in his prosperity. However, Job still ...read more

Scripture: Job 23:3-4

Denomination: Baptist

Untying The Knot Of Envy Series

Contributed by Chuck Sligh on May 5, 2013

The 4th sermon in the series, "Untying What’s Tying You Up", this sermon deals with envy, examining what it is; how the Bible views it; what's at the root of it, and how to get untied from it.

Untying the Knot of Envy Series – Problems: Untying What’s Tying You Up Chuck Sligh May 5, 2013 NOTE: A PowerPoint presentation of this sermon is available upon request by emailing me at chucksligh@hotmail.com. ATTENTION: Although I have personalized this sermon to suit my style and some of my ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:6-10

Denomination: Baptist

Robbed By Relationships Series

Contributed by Scott Kircher on May 17, 2009

Discusses how seeking fulfillment in human relationships can rob us of our identity in who God created us to be and talks about how we can have our identity restored and protected.

Identity Theft Is your Identity at Risk of being… Robbed by Relationships We risk Identity Theft when we… …Seek fulfillment through Human relationships We recover and protect ourselves from Identity theft when we… …Enter a relationship with Jesus Christ …Forgive those in relationships who have ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 2:1-11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Power Of Knowledge Series

Contributed by Lalachan Abraham on Feb 22, 2013

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children...Hosea 4:6

The Power of knowledge “Hear the word of the Lord, O children of Israel, for the Lord has a controversy with the inhabitants of the land. There is no faithfulness or steadfast love, and no knowledge of God in the land; there is swearing, lying, ...read more

Scripture: Hosea 4:1-6

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Lent 2021 - Jesus And The Barren Fig Tree Series

Contributed by Stephen Belokur on Mar 6, 2021

The account of Jesus and the unfruitful fig tree is one that surprisingly connects with the spiritual condition of the Jews in Jesus' time and with our spiritual conditions as well. May we bear much fruit for the Lord and bring glory to His Name!

Jesus and the Barren Fig Tree Please stand with me as we go over our current memory Scripture: Matthew 5:3-5 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the ...read more

Scripture: Mark 11:12-25, Deuteronomy 27:15-19, Jeremiah 17:5, Malachi 1:14, Galatians 5:22-23, John 15:5-8, Philippians 1:9-11  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Nazarene

Love Must Be Sincere

Contributed by Derek Geldart on Mar 29, 2025

What does it truly mean to love without a mask? Discover how sincere love—rooted in God's truth, marked by sacrifice, and modeled by Christ—can transform your heart and your relationships in this powerful message from Romans 12:9–21.

Love Must be Sincere Romans 12:9-21 Online Sermon: http://www.mckeesfamily.com/?page_id=3567 Is your love for God truly sincere? Do you genuinely love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind (Matthew 22:37)? That’s more than a question of religious ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:9-21, Galatians 5:22-23, Galatians 2:20, Philippians 2:3-4

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

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

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

Blinded By Hate Blinded By Love

Contributed by Mark Aarssen on Jan 14, 2008

Hatred is a dark, violent, selfish emotion that can destroy the human heart even the best of them. Hatred has a way of taking root within us like no other emotion can. It twists our thinking and speaking until all that spews out of us are dark sentences

Blinded by Hatred, Blinded by Love Hatred is a dark, violent, selfish emotion that can destroy the human heart even the best of them. Hatred has a way of taking root within us like no other emotion can. It twists our thinking and speaking until all that spews out of us are dark sentences. It’s ...read more

Scripture: Acts 9:1-25

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed