Sermons on Difficult Childhood:

Abraham: Living By Grace Series

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Feb 18, 2007

Lessons from Abraham’s life: 1. God uses imperfect people. 2. Having received grace, we give grace. 3. A life of grace will sometimes be difficult.

Abraham: Living by Grace Hebrews 11:8-12 Abraham’s experience with God began when the Lord appeared to him and said, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:8-12

Denomination: Methodist

Boards And Broken Pieces

Contributed by David Johnston on Jul 25, 2007

Just because things may be difficult for you does not mean that it is "not" the will of God for you to stay put. Too many leave the local church when it starts getting tough.

Boards & Broken Pieces Acts 27:44 And the rest, some on boards, and some on [broken pieces] of the ship. And so it came to pass, that they escaped all safe to land. Paul has really been doing some preaching… Cities are being stirred up. Devil is stirred up. Paul becomes a prisoner… appears ...read more

Scripture: Acts 27:44

Denomination: Pentecostal

Flesh And Spirit: Love And Self-Control Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Aug 20, 2009

Self-control is difficult for us because we are afraid of responsibility. But to have no form of control is to choose chaos. The answer is to build a relationship with Christ so close that His will becomes ours.

Scene One: You are standing in front of your freezer. You opened the door just to explore, nothing particular in mind, just to see what’s there. In front of you is a container label1ed, "Gourmet Ice Cream: Cherry Almond Fudge". Lifting the lid, again just to explore, just to see what’s there, you ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:16-25

Denomination: Baptist

A Series Of Providential Events Series

Contributed by Peter Loughman on Apr 24, 2009

Is the hand of God with you during good times, or maybe, God has brought you to terrible times as well. Why would the hand of God leave us in difficult times?

The right place at the right time. Coincidence? Happenstance? Good fortune? The wrong place at the wrong time. Bad luck? Fate? Accidental? When an amazing and wonderful thing happens in our life we say that the hand of God was certainly with us….does that mean that when something bad happens in ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 2:1-23

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Paul's Pep Talk Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Oct 26, 2008

Sometimes in the face of difficulty we need some encouragement to stay the course. That’s what Paul gives us as we prepares for a very difficult time in his life.

I dislike performance evaluations. (Performance Evaluation Dictionary). Giving or getting employee evaluations are a little like going to dentist, but without the Novocain. I like coaching better. I took golf lessons as a youngster. I really liked it when the coach would come over and put his hands ...read more

Scripture: Acts 20:1-38

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Santified In The Lord - Get In The Boat Series

Contributed by William Akehurst on Jan 17, 2011

Peter’s theme throughout the 1st book is one of suffering. We continue in this difficult passage as a part of the whole. Learn what it is to be Sanctified in the LORD and in the 'same boat'.

2011.01.16b.Sermon Sanctified in the LORD (part 2) 1 Peter 3:13-22 Peter’s message on suffering and the hope of our faith continues as a theme throughout the first book. This passage is a difficult passage to traverse without keeping in mind this theme. Last time: 1 Peter 3:8-15 Peter ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:13-22

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Out Of The Moose Muck!

Contributed by Bob Joyce on Aug 23, 2007

By asking God alone to act, you can find a way out of your difficult situation. No matter how impossible things seem, you can come back to God.

Two of my nephews are Eagle Scouts. They started in scouting early on and worked their way up to Eagle Scout. The oldest has been an Eagle Scout since 1993. One of the requirements that they had to achieve was a canoe trip up in Canada. My brother accompanied the scouts on this particular ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 40:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

Serving God In Less Than Ideal Places Series

Contributed by Philip Harrelson on Oct 1, 2015

Sometimes by the hand of God's guidance we are put in places that seem less than the best for us at the time but God knows best how to get glory out of a difficult place.

ELIJAH—A MAN OF LIKE PASSIONS 05 Serving God In Less Than Ideal Places TEXT: 1 Kings 18:1-16 1 Kings 18:1-16 KJV And it came to pass after many days, that the word of the LORD came to Elijah in the third year, saying, Go, shew thyself unto Ahab; and I will send rain upon the earth. [2] ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 18:1-16

Denomination: Pentecostal

How Would You React?

Contributed by Scott Spencer on Jul 9, 2014

When things get difficult, how do you react? Keeping a cool head is relatively easy whenever things are going smoothly. But what happens when the unexpected occurs?

How would you react? Mark 14:10-11, 27-31, 43-47, 66-72 10. Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went off to the chief priests in order to betray Him to them. 11. They were glad when they heard this, and promised to give him money. And he began seeking how to betray Him at an ...read more

Scripture: Mark 14:10-72

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

The Debt Trap Series

Contributed by David Henderson on Aug 12, 2012

All of us at one time or another have taken on excessive, unnecessary debt. As a result we are caught in a trap that is very difficult to escape. This message shows us a way out.

“Escaping the Debt Trap” 1st Timothy 6:6-10 This morning I want to begin with a question…in fact several questions. First of all where do you go when you need financial advice? Who do you talk to when your finances are in trouble? The 3rd question I want you to answer by a ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:6-10

Denomination: Baptist

A Satisfying Meal Series

Contributed by D Marion Clark on Oct 29, 2012

Following Jesus is not easy. Sometimes what he expects of us seems too difficult; sometimes it just doesn’t seem to make sense. It is then that we need to obey.

Introduction You have heard the term Christ-figure. It is a literary term for a character in a story who is like a savior or sacred figure. Those of you who have read John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath might remember Jim Casey, a fallen preacher who helps migrant workers. It is no ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:30-44

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Understanding In Christ

Contributed by Gerald Albers on Nov 9, 2007

As we embark on this study we will see how we, who are IN CHRIST, have riches that the lost world knows nothing about and find that it’s not a difficult book to UNDERSTAND.

Introduction: As we embark on this study we will see how we, who are IN CHRIST, have riches that the lost world knows nothing about and find that it’s not a difficult book to UNDERSTAND. It is sad that sinners know nothing about these “riches to a lost world,” but sadder still is the fact that ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:1-6

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Conviction Of Love Series

Contributed by James Bohrer on Sep 6, 2017

REAL LOVE GOES BEYOND MERE SENTIMENT. LOVE MUST BE BASED UPON THE WILL TO LOVE EVEN WHEN CIRCUMSTANCES MAKE IT DIFFICULT. LOVE ACTS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE OTHER PERSON.

RUTH 1 The Conviction of Love Love is a choice. God loved us when we behaved in unlovable ways. Romans 5:8 “ CHAPTER 1:3-10; 14-19 3 Then Elimelech, Naomi’s husband, died; and she was left with her two sons. 4 They took for themselves Moabite women as wives; the name of the one was Orpah and the ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 1:3-13

Denomination: Baptist

An Understanding Of The Will Of God

Contributed by Douglas Phillips on Apr 22, 2017

IT’S DIFFICULT TO KNOW THE SOVEREIGN WILL OF GOD BECAUSE GOD'S WILL IS A WORK IN PROGRESS, AND THERE ARE SOME ASPECTS OF IT THAT WE MAY NOT KNOW RIGHT AWAY, AND MAY NOT KNOW COMPLETELY THIS SIDE OF HEAVEN.

AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE WILL OF GOD PSALM 121 I WANT TO BEGIN TODAY BY SAYING THAT THIS IS A VERY DIFFICULT MESSAGE TO DELIVER TODAY. MESSAGES ON THE WILL OF GOD HAVE MANY DIFFERENT ROADS THAT THEY CAN TAKE, AND I WANT TO BE VERY CAREFUL AS TO WHICH ROADS WE GO DOWN TODAY. IT’S ALSO DIFFICULT IN ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 121:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

The Gospel In Distressing Times Series

Contributed by Stephen Aram on Jun 20, 2019

Isaiah gives us an opportunity to observe faithfulness in difficult times. The first verse of the Book of Isaiah gives the setting for his amazing ministry. He is a prophet for our times as well.

The Gospel According To Isaiah: Ancient Wisdom for the Modern World, Part 1: The Gospel in an Unsettled World Isaiah 1:1 February 26, 2012 Rev Stephen Aram It was about the year 1980. Kathy and I lived in Holland, on staff in a discipleship school run by the same mission that we had ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 1:1