Sermons on Difficult Passages:

Sermon On The Pothole Experience

Contributed by William Meakin on Sep 28, 2025

The metaphorical "pothole experience” is considered as the unforeseen obstacles, setbacks, and difficult challenges that may jolt or derail a person's journey in life, similar to how actual potholes disrupt a smooth road.

Drew Barrymore, an American actress once remarked: “Oh, I would love to be a motivational speaker. I have pulled myself out of a million potholes, and I can see the potholes ahead of me. That doesn't mean that I could always do that so perfectly for my own life. I totally fall in potholes.” ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:6, 1 Peter 4:12-13, James 1:2-4, Hebrews 12:1-2

Jesus Walks On Water: The Deliverance From Fear Series

Contributed by Jerry Cosper on Feb 6, 2023

Tonight’s passage is just a short episode of Jesus walking on the water. But in this episode Jesus shows us that He is Someone that we can count on when fear grips our lives.

If we know Jesus Christ in a personal way, we know that He will deliver us from many things. How many testimonies have we heard from people who have been delivered from something? Illness, death, financial situations, relationships, etc. Tonight, we see Jesus’ deliverance from yet another peril, ...read more

Scripture: John 6:16-21

Denomination: Baptist

Nicodemus At Night

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Jul 24, 2023

We all need to grow & deepen our understanding of the great passages of scripture. The 3rd chapter of John is one of the greatest. It tells us of a man named Nicodemus.

MELVIN NEWLAND, MINISTER RIDGE CHAPEL, KANSAS, OK NICODEMUS AT NIGHT TEXT: John 3:1-17; Rev. 22:5; John 1:4-5; Romans 6:4-6; Acts 2:37-41 (This ...read more

Scripture: John 3:1-17, Revelation 22:5, John 1:4-5, Romans 6:4-6, Acts 2:37-41  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Finding God's Strength

Contributed by David Henderson on Dec 29, 2014

Everyone seems to believe that wealth will make them happy. In this passage we read of a man who had it all yet he walked away from God because he had so much.

Finding God’s Strength Matthew 5:5 and 11:28-30 The setting for the message this morning is found in one of the highlights of the ministry of Jesus. His ministry had its share of highs and lows but this was definitely one of his finer moments. In the background, Jesus had just gone through ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:28-30

Denomination: Baptist

That They May Believe Series

Contributed by Patrick Nix on Feb 1, 2011

Exodus 3:1-4:17 records the calling of Moses. The burning bush experience was one of revelation of God as the Great I AM to a reluctant leader. The key to understanding this passage is: TRUST!

Exodus 3:1-4:17 records the calling of Moses. The burning bush experience was one of revelation of God as the Great I AM to a reluctant leader. The key to understanding this passage is: TRUST! God believed in Moses as His man – and Moses needed to learn to trust God wholly – and the ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Some Unconventional Wisdom About Anger Series

Contributed by Pat Damiani on Dec 9, 2007

37th in a series from Ephesians. The "conventional wisdom" is that this passage deals with our individual anger. But Paul seems to have something else in mind here.

This week I ran into what was billed as a “Conventional Wisdom IQ Test”. The idea is to see how many of the sayings of conventional wisdom that one can complete. The original test had 20 questions, but for time’s sake let’s see how well we can do on just 10 of them: 1. If it’s not broken.... ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:26-27

Denomination: Baptist

Developing A Strong, Godly Faith

Contributed by Mark Flurry on Jul 28, 2007

How does one strengthen and grow in faith?Expository sermon based on Psalm 131 with a backup application passage from Luke 18:9-17

1. It begins when I recognize my weakness and humble myself before God. (vs. 1a) a. God is more interested in my availability than my abilities. b. There is no place in God’s kingdom for my pride. 2. My faith will work best when I allow God to be God, and ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 131:1-3

Denomination: Baptist

How Do We Grow

Contributed by Richard White on May 2, 2008

Like the nursery rhyme; Mary Mary quite contrary, how does your garden grow? This passage gives us the essentials for growing individually and corporately.

How do we Grow? Acts 2:36-47 There is a very popular children’s nursery rhyme, Mary, Mary quite contrary, how does your garden grow? Today we might say Christian, Christian quite contrary, how does the Church grow? The Early Church had great growth because of several convictions, today I will ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:36-47

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Keeping Prayer In Context Series

Contributed by Steve Smith on Oct 8, 2007

While keeping the famous "Ask, Seek, & Knock" passage in context with the Sermon on the Mount, we can still learn some awesome principles regarding prayer.

INTRODUCTION ILLUSTRATION: PRAYER’S BEST POSITION Three ministers were talking about prayer in general and the appropriate and effective positions for prayer. As they were talking, a telephone repairman was working on the phone system in the background. One minister shared that he felt the key ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:7-12

Denomination: Baptist

The Hope Of Heaven (Revelation 7:9-17)

Contributed by David Smith on Nov 14, 2007

This passage in Revelation 7 came to light at a time when the church was dealing with a lot of pain and death through persecution, and when indeed every victory that they di...

It’s an image of the coming Kingdom - Heaven, the Kingdom of God, the New Jerusalem. Call it what you will, it is an image of the final dawning of the new age - the climaxing of human history, and, strangely, it seems quite appropriate to be talking about it today. The end of the world is becoming ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 7:9-17

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

It Is Good To Be Filled With The Holy Spirit

Contributed by Robert Doran on Jun 1, 2007

This is a sermon for people who are afraid of and or do not understand the infilling of the Holy Spirit. I use Bible passages from both the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament.

Sermon for Ellzey United Methodist Church June 3rd 2007 Acts 2:8 & 9 “It is good to be filled with the Holy Spirit “ In our day good Christian people have different opinions and teachings about the infilling of the Holy Spirit. There is what I call Pneuma-phobia. This means fear of the Holy ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:17-21

Denomination: Methodist

Take A Stand For Christ With Your Life! Series

Contributed by Chad Bolfa on Oct 23, 2008

Today from this passage Peter will outline five key principles that should characterize our lives as we respond to a hostile world and take a stand for Christ.

Take a Stand for Christ with your life! 1 Peter 3:13-17 Introduction I read yesterday that there is a theory that has been around for some time now about “How to boil a live frog”. The theory states that you can boil a live frog in a pot of water, if the water is heated slowly enough — according ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:13-17

Denomination: Baptist

Second Mile Christianity Series

Contributed by Chad Bolfa on Apr 14, 2009

How do you respond to situations in life, that is at the heart of what we will learn tonight from this passage of scripture from Jesus and His sermon on the Mount.

Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount Part 9 Second Mile Christianity Matthew 5:38-42 Introduction One winter day not so long ago a man went shopping at the local neighborhood mall. When he returned to his car he noticed a rather foul odor coming from under the hood and so he checked the engine. In the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:38-42

Denomination: Baptist

Sovereignty Of God Series

Contributed by John Gullick on Jun 4, 2007

A sermon that begins a series on the character of God This sermon focuses on god’s sovereignty using a passage from joshua chapter 7 and a Demos Shakarian illustration.

The character of God. Sermon number 1. I want to begin this series on the Character of God with a statement on just who God is. God is independent, unchangeable, eternal and omnipresent. He exists as a spiritual being, having no form or dimensions, and is omniscient (all-knowing), wise, ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 7:7-19

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Marriage And Love! Series

Contributed by Andrew Moffatt on Jan 4, 2010

Marriage, growing togeather through the commitment that is made to one another, and Christ’s example of sacrifice.Passage 1 John 4:7-12 and 16

The scripture that ----- and ----- have chosen for their reading from John’s first letter is rich with the word love, in fact love or loved is mentioned fifteen times. The love that John is talking about is divine love the kind of love that only comes from God and being in relationship with God. ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 4:7-16

Denomination: Salvation Army