Sermons on Difficult Passages:

Giving Grace

Contributed by Douglas Bryan on Jan 20, 2003

Too many times we expect God’s forgiveness, but find it hard or difficult to forgive others. However, this message reminds us that we must always be willing to forgive.

GIVING GRACE Matthew 18:21-35 INTRODUCTION: A. Tis the season to be jolly 1. Itfs the season of love, joy, and peace on earth, good will toward men a. Itfs also the season of long lines, credit cards, traffic jams, and short fuses b. Many grow depressed or irritable c. While some are ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:21-35

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Nothing Is To Hard For Our Lord

Contributed by Barbara Folsom on Feb 25, 2002

We face many difficulties in life but we can learn from Genesis 18:14 that nothing is to hard for our Lord. We must trust Him in the difficult times.

Nothing is to hard for our Lord Genesis 18:14 “Is anything to hard for the Lord” v Have you ever felt like you just can’t do something? v Like maybe you aren’t smart enough, or talented enough, or strong enough to do a particular task, or to do what you know the Lord wants you to do? v Have ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 18:14

Denomination: Holiness

Surviving Unhealthy Relationships Series

Contributed by Richard Tow on Apr 9, 2006

Dealing with difficult people requires special skills. Sermon uses biblical examples to discuss how to deal with (1)Aggressive Controllers (2) Indirect Manipulators (3)Emotional Leaches.

Surviving Unhealthy Relationships Series: Cultivating Healthy Relationships #3 1 Samuel 25:14-25[1] 2-13-05 Intro The subject of our message this morning is How to deal with difficult people (while taking roll of duct tape and baseball bat out of bag)[2]. For the last couple of weeks we ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 25:14-25

Denomination: Charismatic

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

Terrible, Horrible, No Good Very Bad Day

Contributed by Dean Morgan on Sep 6, 2006

Difficult times (horrible days) are often God’s way of making you what He longs for you to be. Don’t pull the plug before the work is done.

Difficult times (horrible days) are often God’s way of making you what He longs for you to be. Don’t pull the plug before the work is done. In her children’s book, Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, Judith Viorst captures one young man’s really bad day. Alexander starts ...read more

Scripture: James 1:1-4

Denomination: Pentecostal

"God Will Expose Our Enemies If We Obey Him”

Contributed by David Yarbrough on Sep 24, 2001

America has waged war on terrorism, but the difficult thing is identifying and locating our enemy. Learn how God is willing to expose and defeat our enemies if we obey Him.

Intro: We as Americans have declared war on terrorism. The most difficult aspect of this war is identifying and locating our enemies. Fighting the war on terrorism is not as simple as finding one man and bringing him to justice. Terrorism is not a person or a people for that matter; it’s a state ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 6:1-21

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Answering Jesus' Most Important Question

Contributed by Michael Stover on Apr 12, 2005

Have you ever been faced with a difficult question? Jesus asked life’s most important question; our lives will be forever affected by how we answer it.

ANSWERING JESUS’ MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION Mark 8:27-35 Have you ever been faced with a difficult question? • “May I see your fishing license?” • “Do you know why I stopped you?” • “How many calories are in a mouse?” • “Will you marry me?” • “Are you saved?” The disciples were asked one of the most ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:27-35

Denomination: Baptist

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

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

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

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

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

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 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

The Hard Way - Why God Uses Diffictul People In Our Lives Series

Contributed by Paul Barreca on Feb 2, 2013

Today we want to remember that GOD uses difficult people to build our character, to make us stronger. Such people reveal hidden faults and deepen our trust in God

Charles R. Swindoll provides the following story which he calls “Tension in the Tank.” "In the northeastern United States, codfish are not only delectable, they are a big commercial business. There's a market for eastern cod all over, especially in sections farthest removed from the ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational