Sermons on Bitter To Better:

God’s Grace Toward People You Can’t Stand

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Dec 18, 2013

We want God's grace given to us but we're not as happy when God's grace is extended to the person who hurt us. This message looks at Jonah's anger and what God expects of us toward those who've hurt us.

WHAT GOD BELIEVES: We want God’s actions to line up with our pre-existing beliefs. - We want God to work within the confines of our pre-existing beliefs and values. We don’t want to have to go through the hard work of changing what we think and believe. - We want to love God and be a ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 4:1-3

Denomination: Baptist

Of What Spirit Are Ye?

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Mar 19, 2012

Would Jesus' Facebook status comments sound like yours?

Of What Spirit Are Ye? I grew up, off and on, in a rather mild Methodist church and my wife was in a rather laid back Lutheran one though Methodists were once call shoutin' Methodists and we all know the stir Luther made back in the day. Things mellowed out over the years. At 20 and ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:51-56

Denomination: Baptist

Where Was God When I Went Through That? Series

Contributed by Daniel J. Little on Nov 15, 2011

The Necessity of Suffering. Wounded healers only become so by the wounds suffered in their own life, while un-wounded healers have little to offer.

“Where was God when I was going through that?” I want to talk about the bruises, wounds and scars and disappointments that we all accumulate over a lifetime and the question that we all have from time to time (or maybe most of the time)... “Where was God when I was going through ...read more

Scripture: Hosea 1:1-3

Denomination: *other

Post-Christmas Battle For Your Heart

Contributed by David Tack on Dec 23, 2011

Let us look beyond the pleasantry of Christmas day this morning. Christmas will soon be over; and, for many they will go back to hearts filled with bitterness, hatred and burden. You see the hearts of humanity may appear to be EMPTY from post-Christmas

Post-Christmas Battle for Your Heart David Tack – December 22, 2011 INTRO: Christmas is a wonderful time of year. It promotes joy and goodwill to humanity and most people purposely spread the spirit of peace, love and toleration! Christmas day arrives and it is a time of great communion, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 15:8

Denomination: Baptist

Leaven Bread

Contributed by Jimmy Haile on Sep 29, 2011

Something we don't want in our life.

What our Lord is trying to get across to us. "What does the meal represent?" Very likely many of them would think back to the very first time the phrase "three measures of meal" appears in the Scriptures. It is in Genesis 18. Abraham was in his tent by the oaks of Mamre one day and he looked ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:33

Denomination: Baptist

Cast Off Your Garments Series

Contributed by Edward Hardee on Jul 25, 2020

A message about where we leave our past behind to get to Jesus. Jesus heals the blind man. This is in the series of The Miracles of Jesus. Each miracles shows us something about the Messiah.

Title: CAST IT OFF BY FAITH Theme: Text: Mark 10:46-52 Note: The bulk of this body came from a message by Bishop Wayne Dority. I wanted to share it in the series of sermons on The Miracles of Jesus. I thought it was too good not to share. Mark 10:46-52 Now they came to Jericho. As He went out ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:46-52

Denomination: Church Of God

Our Regret Is Replaced Series

Contributed by Curry Pikkaart on Dec 9, 2010

When throwing rocks womn't cut it, what do we do?

“When Heaven Comes Down…Our Regret Is Replaced” Gen. 28:1-22 In the movie Forrest Gump, Forrest has a lifetime friendship with Ginny. In one scene, when both of them are grown and Ginny is just beginning to retreat from her lifestyle of sex and drugs, they are walking down a dirt ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 28:10-22

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Freedom Of Forgiveness Series

Contributed by Paul Barreca on Jun 22, 2013

Joseph's restoration with his brothers teaches us that we can be free by forgiving those who have harmed us. In this way, Joseph is a picture of Christ - the one who forgives us and the model for the way that we should forgive others.

The year was 1996. The US would post its first ambassador to Vietnam since the N Vietnamese took control of the south in 1975. President Clinton choose as his ambassador Pete Peterson, a former congressman and US AirForce pilot. Pete had been shot down over N Vietnam 31 years earlier and was a ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Why Some Will Not Forgive Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on May 11, 2020

Not everyone is willing to forgive the truly repentant. This lack of forgiveness can be divided int three categories at least.

Why Some Will Not Forgive Luke 15:25-32 Review: We forgive as God does, conditioned upon repentance. When we wrong another, and we take responsibility and ask forgiveness for the specific wrong, things are then out of our hands. If people forgive us, it is out of their graciousness. If they do ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:25-32

Denomination: Independent/Bible

When You Are Mistreated

Contributed by Grant Adams on Apr 4, 2021

Have you been mistreated in any way in the last few weeks? I want to help us focus on the bad deals we have received and see how we can turn those into times we can praise God.

1. I wonder if you have been treated unfairly in any way this week. a. To a child, did your parents blame you for something your brother or sister did? b. At school, did your teacher get you for something the fellow behind you did? And you tried to explain and made matters worse. c. I am talking ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:18-25, 1 Peter 3:8-18, 1 Peter 4:12-19

Denomination: Baptist

Keeping Yourself On Track

Contributed by D. Dewaine Phillips on Jan 18, 2022

How are we supposed to respond when it seems as though a dream has died; one that we’ve poured our very heart and life into? What is the next step? These questions are answered with encouragement in this passage.

Harry Kemp said, “The poor man is not he who is without a cent, but he who is without a dream.”(1) I will say that the poor man is not he who is without a dream, but he who has lost his dream. If you’ve ever felt that what God has laid on your heart has been lost, then tonight’s passage is for ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:12-17

Denomination: Baptist

The Crown - David Has Killed His Tens Of Thousands Series

Contributed by Todd Catteau on Jun 17, 2023

David's success drives Saul into uncontrolled jealousy.

Today we will continue our series on the kings of Israel in 1 Samuel 18. The first king is Saul and he has not been doing well and this week we will see that things are just getting worse. Before that, here’s a little story: I was an average/mediocre athlete in high school. Good enough to make ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Provoked And Miserable, But Not Staying That Way.

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Oct 7, 2006

Hannah was provoked and miserable and bitter, but she refused to stay that way. After prayer, Hannah went home changed. God provides some better things. Hannah was changed before she saw the miracle.

PROVOKED AND MISERABLE, BUT I AM NOT STAYING THIS WAY. GOD HAS PROVIDED SOMETHING BETTER! Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com I do this in 3 parts, Sunday AM, PM, Wednesday. TEXT: Hebrews 11:40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:40

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Sermon # 41 - Remain In God's Grace - Uproot Bitterness Series

Contributed by Andrew Dixon on Jun 29, 2023

Do we value the grace of God, and how can we continue in the amazing grace that God has lavished on us? Can bitterness hinder us from obtaining God’s grace? Read on to find the answers to these questions.

In Hebrew 12:15, “See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no "root of bitterness" springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled;” (ESV) The Holy Spirit of God cautions us through the word of God, that if we allow the root of bitterness to get embedded ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:15, Genesis 6:8, Genesis 6:22, Hebrews 11:7, 1 Timothy 1:9, 1 Corinthians 10:12, 1 Corinthians 10:5, John 3:5, Romans 8:12-13, 1 Samuel 26:2, 1 Samuel 22:19, 1 Samuel 15:26  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Other

The New Year Series

Contributed by Steve Shepherd on Dec 18, 2009

Here’s some good solid advice for making the new year better. 1- The new year - Be careful 2- The new year - Be thoughtful 3- The new year - Be thankful

INTRO.- ILL.- Pete, at a New Year’s party, turns to his friend, Ken, and asks for a cigarette. “I thought you made a New Year’s resolution to quit smoking," Ken responds. “I’m in the process of quitting,” replies Pete with a grin. “Right now, I am in the middle of phase one.” “Phase one?” ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:15-20

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ