Sermons on Difficult Passages:

"Finding Balance"

Contributed by David Henderson on Jul 30, 2013

This is what this passage tells us.  Spiritual growth was not only a priority in the life of Jesus, it was everything.  Jesus taught us how to live a balanced life.

“Finding Balance” Luke 2:41-52 When we look at the life of Jesus and what the Bible tells us about Him we quickly notice that the majority of what we know is from his adult life…those 3.5 years He spent in ministry. There is of course the story of his birth. Also in the gospel ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:41-52

Denomination: Baptist

Confront Them With The Gospel Series

Contributed by John Lowe on Aug 15, 2018

In this passage, we are told of yet another way in which we are to imitate God—we are to be “light.” Once the believers were “darkness,” but now they were “light in the Lord.”

Commentary on the Book of Ephesians By: Tom Lowe Date: 11/8/17 Lesson 22: Confront them with the Gospel (Ephesians 5:8-14) Ephesians 5:8-14 (KJV) 8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: 9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:8-14

Denomination: Baptist

Equality In The Body Of Christ Series

Contributed by John Lowe on Jan 3, 2019

Paul is going to show in this passage and in the first part of Chapter 4 some of the benefits that come to us by trusting Christ that we could never receive under Law.

November 3, 2013 The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Galatians Tom Lowe Chapter III.B.2.a: Equality in the Body of Christ (3:26-29) Galatians 3.26-29 (KJV) 26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 3:26-29

Denomination: Baptist

Remember To Do This... Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on May 25, 2014

As soldiers of Christ, this passage gives us our marching orders. What can we learn from what Jesus instructed His disciples to do on their mission?

OPEN: I read the true story of a newly married flight engineer with the Air Force who had planned a weekend getaway with his new bride. But on Friday, his squadron called and told him he was to leave the next afternoon for an eight-day mission. His wife was obviously disappointed. "Don't you ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:7-13

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Be Doers Of The Word

Contributed by C Jordan on Jun 13, 2014

There are three things that James teaches us in this passage: He wants us to know that God is good, to take out the garbage, and not just hear the Word: do the Word.

JOURNEY THROUGH JAMES #3: BE DOERS OF THE WORD INTRO TO JAMES: “James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad: Greetings.” (James 1:1, NKJV). • Review first week: James = the half-brother of Jesus and a leader in the ...read more

Scripture: James 1:17-25

Denomination: *other

The Caged Spirit Series

Contributed by Freedom Obanijesu on May 31, 2020

What are these “spirits in prison”? Many people reading the word “spirits” in this passage translate it in their minds to dead people who supposedly live now (as spirits) in a prison.

1 Peter 3:19 : The spirits in prison Some time ago, I got a question from a friend of mine concerning the passage of I Peter 3:19. Let’s read this passage together with verses 18 and 20: I Peter 3:18-20 “For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:18-20, Hebrews 1:13-14

Denomination: Bible Church

Ephesians: Our Identity In Christ

Contributed by Scott Spencer on Sep 6, 2014

Do you understand what it means to experience the riches of God's grace in Christ? In this passage we will see something of what God has given to us in Christ.

Ephesians: Our Identity In Christ Part 2 Christ: The Sum of All Ephesians 1:7-12 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace, which He lavished upon us. In all wisdom and insight He made known to us the mystery of His will, ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:7-12

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Passionate Service

Contributed by Chuck Gohn on Aug 13, 2014

A special service to honor the local firefighters. I used a variety of passage to highlight how the firefighters demonstrated the level of passionate service that Christ's followers should show.

Well, good morning. Today, we continue on with our four core values of worship, discipleship, outreach, and community. Today, we swing back around to the value of outreach. Implied in the value of outreach is this idea of service. Service basically means just being available to serve to take ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 4:19

Denomination: Christian Church

Christ Series

Contributed by Troy Borst on Sep 14, 2021

As we reflect on Jesus in Mark 8, we come to one of the most basic truths about Jesus, the Essential King Jesus in this passage is: Jesus is the Christ.

ESSENTIAL KING JESUS: CHRIST MARK 8:27-30 #kingjesus USE AUDIO BIBLE: Mark Chapter 8:1-38 [5:37] https://www.biblegateway.com/audio/mclean/esv/Mark.8 INTRODUCTION… Funny Job Titles, blog.ongig.com/job-titles/funny-job-titles/ A job title tells much about the job that a person does. It shares ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:27-30

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Talk The Talk And Walk The Walk

Contributed by Ian Whitmore on Jul 31, 2024

Faith and works. This is the duo that is inseparable for James. James lays that out pretty plainly in this passage. Faith and works must go together. Belief and action, words and deeds.

Text: James 2:14-26 DT: James is telling us that we need to not only talk HIS talk, but walk HIS walk. When I was a kid I had a favorite duo. Two things that went together that one without the other just didn’t happen or it just didn't make sense that was Woody and Buzz lightyear. I love the ...read more

Scripture: James 2:14-26

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Kill Sin Or Die - Matthew 5:29-30 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Aug 14, 2024

The threat Jesus warns of here is being thrown into hell. For a lustful look? How do we reconcile that with passages that assure us that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ?

Matthew 5:27-30 "You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.' 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:29-30

Stewardship (3 Of 4)

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Apr 11, 2022

Again we would like to turn our attention to those passages in the Bible that deal with our being stewards of the money God has blessed us with.

I would like to remind you that stewardship is taught in both the OLD and the NEW TESTAMENTS. In Matthew 23, Jesus rebuked the scribes and Pharisees for what they were NOT DOING, while recognizing what THEY WERE DOING. He noted that they were careful to tithe of every plant that produced ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 4:2

Denomination: Baptist

The Book Of Ruth (1 Of 4)

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Apr 14, 2022

In this scripture passage, I want to show you a family that lived among God’s people, and then due to some hard times, they packed up and moved to Moab.

You might be saying, “So what!” people move from one city to another all the time! That is correct, but anytime we find something in the Word of God, it is there for a reason. WHAT IS THE REASON GOD PUT THIS FAMILY IN THE SCRIPTURES? God placed them in the holy scriptures that we might learn ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 1:1-2

Denomination: Baptist

An Outline For Acts 18:24-28

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Nov 9, 2023

This passage, though brief, mentions three believers: Aquila, his wife Priscilla, and Apollos. Aquila and Priscilla heard Apollos and helped him to better understand the Scriptures

Introduction: This section gives highlights about the ministries of Apollos and Aquila and Priscilla. None of them are mentioned very often after this passage but their faithfulness speaks volumes even to us today. Text: Acts 18:24-28, KJV: 24 And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, ...read more

Scripture: Acts 18:24-28

Denomination: Baptist

Can We Live "upright In Heart"?

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jan 4, 2026

To better understand the passage given us from the first letter of the apostle John, let’s consider and picture the most critical day of John’s life.

Friday after Epiphany 2026 Our prayer today began with a verse from Psalm 112: “a light has risen in the darkness for the upright of heart; the Lord is generous, merciful and just.” By the grace of God, entering our hearts through the gift of faith, it is possible to live uprightly in our world. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 5:12-16, Psalm 147:12-19, 1 John 5:5-13, John 19:26-27, Mark 15:39  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Catholic