Sermons on Bitter Water:

Detours, Dead Ends, And Dry Holes

Contributed by David Dunn on Sep 24, 2025

God leads through detours, dead ends, and dry holes to grow trust, display His power, and sweeten life’s bitterness by the cross.

Introduction — The Long Way Home Good morning, friends. Please, open your Bible to Exodus 13. God’s people have just left Egypt. After four hundred years of slavery, they’re finally free. You’d think that with the Red Sea behind them and the Promised Land in front of them, the route would be ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 13:17-22, Exodus 14:13-16, Exodus 15:22-27, Deuteronomy 8:2, 1 Corinthians 10:10  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

The Devil's Cup

Contributed by David Dailey on May 24, 2003

THE longer you drink the more bitter it becomes

John 2:9-10 is our text. The Governer of the feast said something here that is a very important truth. As we read this scripture, we see the manner of the world (or the devil) described, and we see the manner of the bridegroom (or the Lord). The Governer said; Every man at the beginning doth set ...read more

Scripture: John 2:9-10

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Outbreak: The Downside Of Being So Negative Series

Contributed by Charles Whitmire on May 22, 2008

This message looks at what being negative really gets you...

Where does joy come from? I think so many times we equate joy with stuff. If I have all the right toys, the big house, enough money - then I can be happy... Other people equate joy with relationship. If I am getting along with all my friends, if my family is in order, if things are going well... ...read more

Scripture: James 1:26

Denomination: Baptist

4 Key Questions Series

Contributed by Babatunde Olugboji on Apr 26, 2010

What was it that destroyed Ahithophel? As we saw in the first part of this message, grudge and bitterness led to his annihilation, in other words, his inability to forgive, even when King David did not even know he had that deep a grudge against him.

Designed 2 Disgrace, Designed 2 Destroy (2): 4 Key Questions Introduction: What was it that destroyed Ahithophel? As we saw in the first part of this message, grudge and bitterness led to his annihilation, in other words, his inability to forgive, even when King David did not even know he had that ...read more

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Tongue As A Fire! Extra Material. 20 Seed Thoughts! Series

Contributed by John Wright on Feb 1, 2010

20 undeveloped seed thoughts relating to James' teaching

(Proverbs 18:21; italics mine). Nick Young counted some twenty positive things in the Scriptures that the tongue can do, and twenty negative things. A great ruler once sent a gift of meat, the carcass of an animal, to a philosopher with the request that the philosopher send back the best part and ...read more

Scripture: James 3:9-12

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Grace’s #1 Enemy Series

Contributed by Patrick Nix on Jul 13, 2010

Forgiveness “to set free’ – someone who has wronged you, taken from you, damaged you, injured you, taken advantage of you… Even though we know we should … its like we can’t (100 reasons why we can’t…)

* Bitterness is fruit – Unforgiveness is the root – Tree of ungrace * Grace and forgiveness – Linked * “cycle:” Injury > Penalty / Debt > cancellation (of payment) Unforgiveness – hold hostages (does not set free) Hebrews 12:15 * Creates bondage…the real loser is the one ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:14-17

Denomination: Baptist

The Ministry Of Miriam

Contributed by Craig Benner on Apr 16, 2013

Miriam was the first woman to have a public ministry. Let us see what we can derive from her life and ministry

Miriam Micah 6:4 4 For I brought thee up out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed thee out of the house of servants; and I sent before thee Moses, Aaron, and Miriam. (KJV) 4 Porque yo te hice subir de la tierra de Egipto, y de la casa de siervos te redimí; y envié delante de ti a Moisés, y a ...read more

Scripture: Micah 6:4

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Missing Climax Series

Contributed by Rick Burdette on Apr 17, 2012

Relationship, the law, bitterness

THE MISSING CLIMAX Luke 15: 25-32 (p 740) Aug. 7, 2011 INTRODUCTION: I bought a murder mystery book last year to take with me on a trip...It was a Sue Grafton book called "P" is for Peril. I bought it used at a bookstore...I like Sue Grafton..She's written these mysteries from every ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:25-32

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Righteousness Vs. Revengefulness

Contributed by Donnie Martin on Aug 29, 2011

This message reveals the differences between one who responds to life’s hurts and insults according to righteousness, and those who respond according to revengefulness.

Righteousness vs. Revengefulness Text: Eph. 4:31-32; Gen. 50:21 Intro: According to Webster’s Dictionary, revenge means, “to inflict damage, injury, or punishment in return for (an injury, insult, etc.) retaliate for.”(1) A shorter, modern-day definition would simply be “payback, settling ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 50:1-26

Denomination: Baptist

Applying Wisdom To Anger Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Feb 21, 2012

How do you learn to tame anger? How should you relate to angry people? The one-word answer is “Wisdom.”

Applying Wisdom to Anger (Proverbs 19:8, 10-13, 16,19,20) 1. I knew a guy in high school who was a friend of a friend. 2. He was a big guy, and he seemed nice enough, but he had an anger problem. 3. After we graduated, he got a part time job at McDonald’s. One day, he got so angry at his boss ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 19:8-20

Denomination: Independent/Bible

High Strung

Contributed by Eric Ferguson on Jun 10, 2008

Had any conflict at your house this week? Be honest. Maybe it was one of those he-said-she-said things. First came the noise of quarreling, then even worse—the deafening silence. So much of the pain in life flows from relational conflict. We think i

Had any conflict at your house this week? Be honest. Maybe it was one of those he-said-she-said things. First came the noise of quarreling, then even worse—the deafening silence. So much of the pain in life flows from relational conflict. We think it’ll go away if we just sweep it under the rug ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:16-21

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Vengeance Is Mine!

Contributed by Derrick Tuper on Jul 17, 2012

Revenge-we’ve probably all plotted it at one point or another. We’ve lived out the famous saying, “don’t get mad-get even!” We think revenge will make us feel better. We think through revenge we right the wrong. Let’s take a look at the dangers of revenge

VENGEANCE IS MINE! INTRODUCTION: Revenge-we’ve probably all plotted it at one point or another. We’ve lived out the famous saying, “don’t get mad-get even!” "Cash, check or charge?" I asked, after I folded the items the woman wished to purchase. As she fumbled for her ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:17-21

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Shattered Dreams Series

Contributed by Glenn Durham on Jan 11, 2011

God shatters dreams which leave us short of full joy even if fully satisfied.

Scripture Introduction In literature, a tragedy ends with a negative or sad outcome, a comedy with a happy one. Macbeth is a tragedy; Much Ado About Nothing, a comedy. From a literary view, Ruth is a comedy – the characters pass through difficulty (even heartbreak) to end with joy and hope. The ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 1:1-5

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Getting Even Somehow Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Jul 3, 2017

The emotion that wells up within us to “get even” is about control, consequences, and vindication. Relational issues are never JUST relational issues!

Getting Even Somehow (Proverbs 25:21-24) 1. Nobody likes a power outage. You may light oil lamps or use LED lanterns. 2. You enter a room, try to turn on a light switch. There is a lot of psychology there. 3. This is even true of an internet our computer outage. We have become so dependent ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 25:21-24

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Seven Steps To Forgiving Someone Who Really Hurt You

Contributed by Glynda Lomax on Feb 10, 2018

Forgiving someone who hurt you is hard work. It is easier to stay wounded and go around talking bad about them. It is easier to let bitterness put down roots and let our hearts get hardened, but Jesus said to forgive...

A preacher tells the story of inviting a guest lecturer to speak to a counseling class he was teaching and asked him to specifically discuss the topic forgiveness. He told a powerful story from his own life that day to illustrate his point that we should forgive. His brother had many struggles, ...read more

Denomination: Charismatic