Sermons on Difficult Passages:

Transformed By Truth: Living In The Light Of God's Grace Luke 1:68-75 Series

Contributed by Dean Courtier on Jul 14, 2024

A journey through a profound and transformative passage from Luke 1:68-75 - in these verses, we find rich themes of redemption, promise, covenant, and hope.

Transformed by Truth: Living in the Light of God's Grace Luke 1:68-75 It is a blessing and a joy to gather together in the presence of the Lord, to worship, to fellowship, and to grow deeper in our understanding of His Word. Today, we are going to embark on a journey through a profound and ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:68-75, Luke 1:68, John 3:16, Luke 1:69-70, Isaiah 9:6, Luke 1:72-73, Deuteronomy 7:9, Luke 1:74-75, Romans 12:1  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

Hangry

Contributed by Delray Lentz on Aug 13, 2024

Intro Did ya? Read something new in God’s Word today? See a familiar passage with new eyes? I hope you did!

Today’s word is sort of centered around those questions. Do you ever have those days that you have your complete agenda lined out, and then “poof” it was gone? Nothing went as planned? Monday as I was leaving work, I had planned everything I was going to accomplish when I got home. As I pulled into ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:6, John 13:34

Sons And Heirs: Our Glorious Adoption Series

Contributed by Paul Dayao on Sep 5, 2025

In this passage, Paul reveals our glorious new identity in the Spirit: we are no longer slaves living in fear, but adopted children of God and co-heirs with Christ.

Over the past two weeks, our journey through Romans 8 has established foundational truths for our faith. We began by celebrating the verdict that sets every believer free: "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus". Then, last week, we explored the ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:14-17

Denomination: Baptist

Knowledge, Love And Example

Contributed by Roger Hasselquist on Jun 16, 2025

So the church was split. In our society, eating meat sacrificed to idols is no longer an issue. But at least three principles Paul teaches in this passage are as relevant as ever.

Alba 6-15-2025 KNOWLEDGE, LOVE AND EXAMPLE I Corinthians 8:1-13 Rob Kenney’s YouTube channel, “Dad, how do I?” went viral five years ago (2020). Kenney released his first video shortly after the coronavirus pandemic reared its ugly head. He wanted to provide practical advice and emotional ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 8:1-13

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

When The World Isn’t Watching Series

Contributed by Brian Williams on Nov 4, 2025

What does it mean to Free? When you read this passage who was the real slave?How can we over come temptation or even compromise?

We are continuing our From Dust to Life series in Genesis. Today, we turn to Genesis 39, where we learn to live a life of integrity even when the world isn’t watching. We live in an age of instant gratification—a world where desires can be fulfilled with a click, and moral boundaries are blurred ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 39:1-23

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Quiet Life.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jan 9, 2026

When I thought to preach on this passage, it was 'too wonderful for me... I could not attain unto it' (cf. Psalm 139:6).

THE QUIET LIFE. Psalm 131:1-3. It is an incredible testimony of David that he was not overly ambitious to get to the kingdom into which he had been anointed ahead of the due time (cf. 1 Samuel 18:18). He certainly wasn’t about to murder the one who had been anointed before him (cf. 1 Samuel ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 131:1-3

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Was The Early Church The "Golden Age"? Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Aug 31, 2018

Christians today tend to romanticize the early church as a Golden Age when passages like this one present a picture of a church with plenty of struggles. What does that mean for how we should view the church today?

- Read 2 Corinthians 1:12-17 and 2:1-10. An Early Church Story: - What we are looking at today is just one story from the early church. 1. There was serious sin in the church. - 2 Corinthians 2:6; 1 Corinthians 5:1-13. - We know this from 1 Corinthians 5 and Paul’s extensive instructions to ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:12-17, 2 Corinthians 2:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

Joseph’s Just Love Series

Contributed by David Mcbeath on Jan 27, 2012

THE ONE THING TO DO: In difficult, hurtful situations follow Joseph’s countercultural example and demonstrate “just” love by knowing God’s word well enough to allow it to teach you to turn your anger into grace.

Series: Christmas 2011, Advent Message: Joseph’s “Just” Love Topics: Love, Christmas, Advent, Joseph, Anger, Hurt, Justice, Grace, Bible, Marriage Text: Matthew 1:18-20, Isaiah 42:1-6 Date: Dec. 18, 2011 Pastor: David McBeath (Credid: In this sermon I rework part of a 1st person sermon on Joseph ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 42:1-6, Matthew 1:18-20

Denomination: Baptist

It Is Really Your Choice

Contributed by Michael Koplitz on May 9, 2023

John 12:44-50 says that each person has the choice to follow His word or not. The problem in the church over same-sex marriage is one of those choices. It is difficult for the Preacher to be on one side or the other.

It is Really Your Choice John 12:37-50 Rev. Dr. Michael H. Koplitz 37 But though He had performed so many signs before them, yet they were not believing in Him. 38 This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet which he spoke: “LORD, WHO HAS BELIEVED OUR REPORT? AND TO WHOM HAS THE ARM OF THE ...read more

Scripture: John 12:37-50

Denomination: United Methodist

The Marks Of Maturity: A Leadership Checklist Series

Contributed by Larry Osborne on Jun 13, 2007

Spiritual growth and maturity is often accelerated under difficult circumstances. In Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians (see 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10), he describes what spiritual growth looks like in the midst of “severe suffering.”

1 Timothy: Doing Church God’s Way North Coast Church Message #4 July 29-30, 2006 Dr. Larry Osborne The Marks of ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 3:1-16

Denomination: Evangelical Free

The Poor Persons Rich Legacy

Contributed by Derek Geldart on Jun 12, 2022

The following sermon is going to review Psalms 34 and in doing so outline how it is our faith and reliance in God that leads to either deliverance or perseverance of the most difficult storms of life with great peace and joy!

The Poor Person’s Rich Legacy Psalms 34:1-9 Online Sermon: http://www.mckeesfamily.com/?page_id=3567 There is not a single person that at many points in their life will have to crawl through the valleys of trials and tribulations so intense that they will leave them with “emotional baggage” ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 34:1-9

Denomination: Baptist

The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

Contributed by Dan Borchert on Aug 29, 2002

John gives us two different characters in this passage. One is good, one is bad. The ugly part comes in when John tells us what he is going to do to the bad

3 John 9-12 The Good, The Bad, The Ugly. Introduction A. Guess what we are going to finish up 3 John today. Wow that was quick B. The Good The Bad The Ugly C. It is common to hear those words together D. John Fedko sometimes uses then to show sports highlights/lowlights E. Various other news ...read more

Scripture: 3 John 1:9-12

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

The Transfiguration, A Mountain Top Experience For Us All.

Contributed by Gordon Mcculloch on Feb 11, 2018

Mountain top experiences are there for a reason. They are not just moments of Epiphany or pleasure; they can be needed prior to a painful time. Also notice how many coincidences in this short passage and what that means for us.

This sermon was delivered to Holy Trinity in Ayr, Ayrshire, Scotland on the 11th February 2018 (a Scottish Episcopal Church in the Dioceses of Glasgow and Dumfries). 2 Kings 2:1-12 Psalm 50:1-6 2 Corinthians 4:3-6 Mark 9:2-9 Psalm 19:14: Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of our ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:2-9, 2 Corinthians 4:3-6

Denomination: Episcopal

Two Steps To Trouble Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Sep 4, 2024

An interesting "two step" phrase is repeated three times in this passage. It gives us insight into how what we believe in our heart creates hurdles in real life.

TWO STEPS TO TROUBLE: 1. AN IDOL IS A SUBSTITUTE FOR GOD THAT WE PUT ON OUR HEART'S THRONE. - Ezekiel 14:3, 4, 7. - The triple repeat is interesting and significant. - An idol is the start of the problem. It’s a substitute God. - Let’s look at three examples. We’ll start with this step ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 14:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

How To Take A Stand When Others Want You To Sit Down - Philippians 1: 27-30 Series

Contributed by Scott Turansky on Feb 11, 2022

in this passage Paul is going to share with us four things, four ideas that can help us to be able to take a stand when others want us to sit down.

This week my assistant who works for me… Tracy, who's worked with me for five years…she's great. I love her very much. But she has decided to move on and is leaving us with a hole in our ministry. So in a desire to replace her quickly, I put an announcement out. You probably saw this. So ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:27-30

Denomination: Independent/Bible