Sermons on Bitterness:

Why Should He Love Us So?

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Jul 26, 2004

On the average, we’re really not all that lovable, are we? All around us we see the bitter fruits of hatred, selfishness, & greed. And, no, I don’t know why God loves us. But He does!

MELVIN M. NEWLAND, MINISTER RIDGE CHAPEL, KANSAS, OK (NOTE: The impetus for the development of this sermon came from an excellent sermon, "Why Should They Hate Us," contributed to SC by Jeff Strite.) John 3:16; Psalms 8:4; 2 Corinthians 2:14-16 A. There is a ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 2:14-16

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Have A Slice Of Humble Pie Series

Contributed by David Dykes on Apr 9, 2003

God doesn’t cause trouble and adversity, but He uses trouble to refine some humility in us. While trouble causes some people to raise their faces to heaven and become bitter, others bow their knees before God and become better.

Have a Slice of Humble Pie Luke 14:1-11 by David O. Dykes INTRODUCTION Maybe you’ve seen Jeff Foxworthy’s “Redneck” list. He says, “You know you’re a Redneck if…”: 1. Directions to your house include, “Turn off the paved road.” 2. You take your fishing pole to Sea World. 3. You have flowers ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

When God Can't Be Explained

Contributed by Danny Anderson on Oct 28, 2006

Tragedy is often difficult to cope with, hard to understand, hard to explain, and it’s hard on our faith. Tragedy often causes people to lay the blame for these events on God. This will often cause these people to become bitter and cynical toward Him. Of

When God Can’t Be Explained Introduction: As we look back over the last several years, we see recent history dotted with some very tragic events. Middle Eastern terrorists have made a number of attacks against America in various ways - their crowning achievement, of course, being 9/11. The tsunami ...read more

Scripture: Habakkuk 1:1-4

Denomination: Baptist

Bright Hope For Dark Days, Pt. 4

Contributed by Dave Kinney on Aug 24, 2008

Maybe you know someone who has lost their faith. So many times that person becomes bitter, negative and miserable! We have a growing number of people who despise the God of the Bible and now are devoted to the god of the New Age!

It’s truly a sad day when someone loses their faith in God during the dark days of life and walks away from Him. Maybe you know someone who has lost their faith and their life is so different than it used to be. So many times that person becomes bitter, negative and miserable! Do you know someone ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Time Mangagement

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on May 31, 2017

What are we doing with our time? Time can make us angry and bitter? Do we realize time is limited and we need to be wise stewards of our time. How did thinks look in 1917? How will they look in 2117?

TIME? WHAT DO WE DO WITH TIME? ANGER KILLS ROOTS? THESE HAVE NO ROOT ---NO ROOTS? NO FRUITS! By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com TIME CAN BE A REAL KILLER... TIME HAS A TENADANCY TO MAKE US BITTER AND HARD... Luke 8:13 They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 8:13, Hebrews 12:15, Psalm 118:24

Denomination: Assembly Of God

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

33. Joab Kills Abner: When Vengeance Hijacks Justice Series

Contributed by Dr. Bradford Reaves on Dec 2, 2025

There are moments in Scripture when the storyline slows down, the camera zooms in, and God exposes the raw human heart—its wounds, its fears, its bitterness, its impulses, and its desperate attempts to seize control when God has called us to surrender.

Joab Kills Abner: When Vengeance Hijacks Justice November 5, 2025 Dr. Bradford Reaves Crossway Christian Fellowship 2 Samuel 3:22-39 INTRODUCTION: WHEN ANGER TAKES OVER There are moments in Scripture when the storyline slows down, the camera zooms in, and God exposes the raw human heart—its ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 3:22-39

Denomination: Brethren

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

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

A Testimonial From Jonah: The Unwilling Missionary

Contributed by Gregg Bitter on Feb 2, 2003

A first person narrative sermon in which the person of Jonah encourages his hearers to share God’s saving message with an attitude of compassion.

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, Today we consider what our Lord says to us through the prophet Jonah. Dear friends in Jesus, the Messiah, Thank you for this opportunity to speak to you concerning my work as a missionary and evangelist. My name is Jonah, the ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 3:1-10, Jonah 4:1-11

Denomination: Lutheran