Sermons on Difficult Choices:

Faces: Nehemiah Series

Contributed by John Braland on Apr 3, 2007

Nehemiah reads like a novel and is full of practical wisdom for many of today’s complex problems. We read it to gain wisdom and for direction. Nehemiah has been an example to many when it comes to dealing with difficult people and he has been an inspira

The movie Amazing Grace accounts the determination of a man named William Wilberforce who spends his life crusading for the abolition of slavery. Wilberforce came from a prosperous family that lived near a North Sea port which saw little in the way of slave trading. At the young age of 21 he was ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

First And Last Things Series

Contributed by Chris Appleby on Aug 7, 2008

We live in a world that is often difficult to understand, where sometimes we just have to trust that God is in control, even if it seems that things are upside down, even if we find we can’t straighten out the things that are crooked in this world. But we

How did a book like Ecclesiastes get in the Bible? Did someone make a mistake, do you think? I don’t know about you but I find the beginning of the book a bit depressing. Some people find it quite disturbing as it reinforces the doubts that they may have already about God’s place in the scheme of ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 1:1-11

Denomination: Anglican

What Is The Trinity? Series

Contributed by Sean Harder on Jan 16, 2013

the mystery of the Trinity, God being three persons in one, has been difficult for Christians to explain since the beginning. Last week we talked about some religions and offshoots of Christianity who have denied the Trinitarian nature of God because it

How many of you have read the Shack? I recently read it and the newest book that author came out with, and both books have interesting imaginings about the Trinity. In both books the Father, Jesus, and Holy Spirit are people with various characteristics, male and female. In the Shack, the Father ...read more

Scripture: John 14:6-10

The Miracle Of Giving Series

Contributed by Tim Smith on Sep 29, 2013

In our Scripture today, Jesus must have been grieving over the death of his cousin. One of the things we learn from this Scripture today is that it’s often in the most difficult times that God does his greatest miracles

The Miracle of Giving Matthew 14:13-21 As we come to our Scripture today, Jesus has just received the worst news of his life: his John the Baptist has been beheaded. John the Baptist was a prophet who challenged the people of Israel to prepare for the coming of the Messiah by turning away from sin ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 14:13-21

Denomination: Methodist

Defiling Dreamers Are In Stark Contrast With Michael The Archangel - Jude 1 V 8-9 Series

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Aug 13, 2022

The dispute over the body of Moses is so difficult a verse when Michael and Satan argued over Moses' body. The details are not known. Jude continues his exposure of false teachers and hones in this time on the dreamers who defile the flesh, brazen and wicked.

DEFILING DREAMERS ARE IN STARK CONTRAST WITH MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL - Jude 1 v 8-9 Jude 1:8 “Yet in the same manner these men, also by dreaming, defile the flesh, and reject authority, and revile angelic majesties, Jude 1:9 but Michael the archangel, when he disputed with the devil and argued ...read more

Scripture: Jude 1:8, Isaiah 56:10, Romans 6:1-2, 2 Peter 2:9-11, Daniel 9:21, Daniel 10:11-14, Daniel 10:20-21, Ephesians 6:12, Deuteronomy 34:5  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Seeds Of The Mouth

Contributed by Troy Borst on May 21, 2014

This picture in Proverbs 18:20-21 of planting seeds in our lives from our mouths. We are given the choice of either planting bad seeds which planting bad seeds which produce poisonous fruit or good seeds which produce good fruit.

SEEDS OF THE MOUTH PROVERBS 18:20-21 ILLUSTRATION… Planting seeds with your mouth (p) As we begin our time in God’s word this morning, I’d like you to use your imagination to act out in your mind the Bible passage that we will be focusing on… so put on your imagination ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 18:20-21

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Rewards Of Obedience Series

Contributed by Christian Cheong on Jun 24, 2009

When we obey God, it does not mean everything will be fine, but it does mean God will see us through. Obedience is a choice we make. Be prepare to pay a price but it’s worth it. God will do His part; there is a divine partnership in obedience. Obedience

There is a similarity between this incident and that of Acts 4. • But this time it’s not just Peter and John being arrested, the whole group of the apostles were arrested for preaching the gospel. • Once again they make it clear that the necessity of their lives is to obey God, not men; therefore ...read more

Scripture: Acts 5:17-42

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Conformity Is This World’s Sheep Dog Trials – A Very Serious Matter Series

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jul 26, 2022

Conformity is the rule these days under increasing totalitarianism, but that will present problems for the Christian. One stands firm or compromises. To be faithful means holding fast to God’s word, not yielding our faith to distorted values so that we “fit in.” This is a difficult area.

CONFORMITY IS THIS WORLD’S SHEEP DOG TRIALS – A VERY SERIOUS MATTER INTRODUCTION TO CONFORMITY The sheep dog trials found in sheep breeding countries is a competition where sheep dogs round up a group of sheep and ensure they are penned. The winner is the fastest. Australia, New Zealand and ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 2:4, Romans 8:29, Romans 12:1-2, Philippians 3:10, Philippians 3:20-21, 1 Peter 1:14, Galatians 2:11-21  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Rebuke

Contributed by Lou Nicholes on May 25, 2005

One of the most difficult things to do in life is to rebuild a shattered relationship. Unfortunately, there are many broken relationships today in homes, churches and ministries, which can only be repaired when people face problems honestly and deal with

THOUGHTS ABOUT THE PASSAGE: John Wesley and a preacher-friend of plain habits were once invited to dinner where the host’s daughter, noted for her beauty, had been profoundly impressed by Wesley’s preaching. During a pause in the meal, Wesley’s friend took the young woman’s hand and called ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 7:8-16

Denomination: Baptist

Turning Hardship To Joy

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Jun 24, 2004

Sometimes God allows things to get difficult so He can produce greater joy in and through and with us. Jesus knew that His Father often used tragedy to cause people to look to heaven for solutions to their problems.

John 15:11-16 Illustration: A cynic asked an elderly believer who had endured great physical pain for 20 years, "What do you think of your God now?" The godly sufferer replied, "I think of Him more than ever." Sorrow can be the means of bringing us heart-to-heart with God. When repeated strokes ...read more

Scripture: John 15:11-16

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

No Discipline = No Love

Contributed by Greg Nance on Jul 26, 2003

When the church fails to practice biblical discipline it loses its influence for the cause of Christ and ruins its members. A difficult work requiring committed leadership and obedient membership, see how Paul commands it and instructs it for the Thessal

No Discipline = No Love 2 Thessalonians 3 On the flight home from Honduras there was a sitcom about discipline. The title of the sitcom was “Yes Dear.” It involved two couples with young children. The son of one couple lied to the mother and they were discussing how to discipline him. They ...read more

Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 3:1-18, 2 Corinthians 10:1-6

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Stop Making The New Birth Appear So Complicated

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Apr 15, 2003

Why do you suppose that so many well meaning Christians overcomplicate the gospel with extraneous ideas, traditions and requirements? Millions of people have the mistaken notion that to become a Christian is so difficult that it is not really worth the e

Avoid Overcomplicating the New Birth in Christ – Rom. 10:5-13 Why do you suppose that so many well meaning Christians overcomplicate the gospel with extraneous ideas, traditions and requirements? Millions of people have the mistaken notion that to become a Christian is so difficult that it is ...read more

Scripture: Romans 10:4-13

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

How God Turns Things Around For Our Good

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Oct 18, 2000

Too many people live with a feeling of fatalistic pessimism that adversely affects their thinking, emotions and behavior. The Lord has a way of turning around the most difficult situations for our good. Pessimists think their circumstances are the worst p

1. Too many people live with a feeling of fatalistic pessimism that adversely affects their thinking, emotions and behavior. The Lord has a way of turning around the most difficult situations for our good. Pessimists think their circumstances are the worst possible because they believe that the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 9:23-30, Acts 9:23, Psalm 126:1

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Motherhood Today

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Feb 19, 2001

It’s difficult being a Christian mother today. But as hard as that may be, we need to realize that difficulties are not unique to our time. In every age Motherhood has had it's share of difficulties.

MELVIN M. NEWLAND, MINISTER RIDGE CHAPEL, KANSAS, OK (REVISED: 2017) TEXT: Luke 1:26-38 ILL. Most of you are familiar with the Calvin & Hobbes comic strips. Well, on one Mother's Day, Calvin is pictured standing by ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:13, Luke 1:26-38, Psalm 127:3

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Divorce & Remarriage

Contributed by Scott Bayles on Jun 25, 2007

Everyone agrees that divorce is one of the worst tragedies plaguing families today. Sadly, many pastors and church leaders have sometimes made things worst. What does the Bible really teach about this difficult issue?

Divorce & Remarriage by Scott R. Bayles Church of Christ Everyone agrees that divorce is one of the worst tragedies plaguing American families today. Some studies are now showing that for the first time in American history, single parent families now out number families with two parents living in ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 19:3-9

Denomination: Christian Church