Sermons on Difficult Passages:

Leadership Prayer

Contributed by Dr. Madana Kumar, Phd on Oct 18, 2008

There are many prayers in the bible. One small and "difficult to locate" prayer was made famous through the best selling book "Prayer of Jabez". If we look beyond the skepticism and commercilisation of the book and the concept, there are some valuable les

Leadership Prayer I have read this story from the Sermon Central website A woman was at work when she received a phone call that her daughter was very sick with fever. She left her work and stopped by the pharmacy to get some medication for her daughter. When returning to her car she found that ...read more

Scripture: 1 Chronicles 4:9-10

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Rooted In God's Love Series

Contributed by Mark Eberly on Oct 14, 2009

Whether we have begun the journey to emotionally healthy spirituality long ago or just starting, there is a crucial element that we must grasped in order support us during any of our difficult emotional trials.

Back To School Rooted on God’s Love Ephesians 3:16-19 October 11, 2009 Two weeks ago we explored just three ways that we function in unhealthy emotional health. There are many more that those of us who are involved in the small group study will uncover. I just wanted to give you a taste of the ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:16-19

Denomination: Church Of God

The Christian Response In Challenging Times

Contributed by Sunitha Justin on Mar 26, 2020

As Christians, our response is very critical because it influences the world around us. Even as we are now in difficult days because of COVID-19, our reaction is extremely important and will have a profound impact on others.

Two days back, while watching news on Television, my five-year-old daughter suddenly came up to me and asked me something. What she asked kind of surprised me. She said, “Why mama, everywhere and every time, it is all about corona, corona, corona…. “ The impact that this invisible organism has ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 99:1, Psalm 47:8, Psalm 46:1, 2 Chronicles 7:14

Denomination: Charismatic

Hurry Up And Wait. Does Waiting Put Your Fire Out?

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Dec 13, 2019

There is a very hard lesson to learn: HURRY UP AND WAIT. Often God uses DIVINE DELAYS to teach us faith. The is a danger that waiting can put your fire out. TO WAIT PATIENTLY is a difficult task.

HURRY UP AND WAIT… DOES WAITING PUT YOUR FIRE OUT? By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (two part) TEXT: Psalm 27:14 Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD. Psalm 27:14 (MSG) Stay with GOD! Take heart. Don't quit. ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 27:14, Psalm 37:7, Psalm 40:1, Isaiah 30:18

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Lesson 10 Make Paul's Joy Complete By Being Like-Minded, Having The Series

Contributed by John Lowe on Jul 25, 2018

Even Paul’s “ideal” congregation contained “difficult” people. Paul was facing his problems with people at Rome (Philippians 1:15-18) as well as with people in Philippi, and it was the latter who concerned him the most.

Date: 7/6/18 Lesson #10 Title: Make Paul's Joy Complete by Being Like-Minded, Having the Same Love Scripture: (Philippians 2:1-2, NIV) 1 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:1-2

Denomination: Baptist

The Week That Changed The World: The Day Jesus Saw The Downfall Of Apostate Religion Series

Contributed by Donald Whitchard on Jul 15, 2021

Jesus finished His final day of public ministry. He taught the crowds in the Temple, confronted difficult questions, and then left for good. The Temple and its religious system was corrupt, useless, and irredeemable, and would be judged by God.

Mark 12:28-44 gives us details about the final day of Jesus' public ministry and HIs departure from the Temple. He will go to the Mount of Olives and present to His astonished disciples the reality of what is to come in the future, and it does not involve a new Israel free from Rome, nor the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 22:34-46, Mark 12:28-44, Luke 10:25-28, Luke 20:41-47, Luke 21:1-4, Matthew 23:1-7  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

The Growth & Flourishing Of The Christian Mind

Contributed by Justin Steckbauer on Apr 2, 2021

God works in mysterious ways, as they say. And how truly mysterious it is and difficult to comprehend. Just when you think you've discovered a way in which God operates, he surprises you with another.

God works in mysterious ways, as they say. And how truly mysterious it is and difficult to comprehend. Just when you think you've discovered a way in which God operates, he surprises you with another. At times he seems distant. At times it seems hopeless. At other times he is close. ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 18:33, Isaiah 40:31

Denomination: Salvation Army

The Path Of Least Resistance

Contributed by Rodney V Johnson on Mar 11, 2023

This message is about walking with God and doing His will even when things are extremely difficult. It is human nature to choose the path of least resistance, but as a child of God, we can't in our service to Him.

The Path of Least Resistance Scripture: Second Timothy 1:1-7; 4:2-4; First Samuel 15:1-3; 24 The title of my message this morning is “The Path of Least Resistance.” The path of least resistance is “the physical or symbolic pathway that provides the least resistance to forward motion by a ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:1-7, 1 Samuel 15:1-24, 2 Timothy 4:2-4

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Birth Of Jesus Series

Contributed by Brad Beaman on Oct 23, 2022

The prophecies of Jesus’ birth unfold one after another in Jesus’ lineage and his birthplace. God can bring about his purposes through Herod and through Caesar Augustus. Nothing is too difficult for God.

You probably know what it is like to be busy at Christmas. I just read about someone who got so busy during the Christmas holidays that they did not have time to buy Christmas cards and send them out as scheduled. It came to the last minute, and then they felt rushed to get their cards out. They ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-7

Denomination: Baptist

Gideon: The Two Tests He Had To Pass Series

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Nov 5, 2022

Gideon had met the Angel of the LORD face to face, one day, and that night, received a message from the LORD. That message contained instructions for two of the most difficult things Gideon would ever be asked to do.

(Note: this message is based on and edited from a sermon preached at First Baptist Church of Chamois, MO on 10-16-2022 but is not an exact transcription.) Introduction: Gideon had just realized he saw the Angel of the LORD and was probably trying to take it all in. He was one of only a few people ...read more

Scripture: Judges 6:25-27

Denomination: Baptist

Remember The Past Series

Contributed by Jeffery Anselmi on Sep 1, 2023

Remembering God’s faithfulness in the past is key to navigating difficult seasons. Seeing God’s faithfulness in the past, in our lives, and in the lives of others encourages us that we can trust him in the present and the future.

INTRODUCTION • How many of us here today believe God is in control? • Can I get an amen? • It is easy to trust that God is in control when things are going well, firing on all cylinders and going the way we wanted and planned. • Praise the Lord when the stars align, and that happens. • What about ...read more

Scripture: Habakkuk 3:1-16

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Should We Always Forgive? Eight Points Connected With Forgiveness For Our Assurance Series

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Sep 11, 2022

Forgiveness is one of the most difficult aspects in Christian living because pride and resentment step in the way. We look at the sadness in Nigeria in 2013 and consider 8 points related to forgiveness and then at what forgiveness is, and is not.

SHOULD WE ALWAYS FORGIVE? EIGHT POINTS CONNECTED WITH FORGIVENESS FOR OUR ASSURANCE INTRODUCTION TO FORGIVENESS To begin, I am going to paste here a parable the Lord gave, all related to forgiveness. There are many deep, essential words that connect us with God, but one, if it did not exist, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:23-35, Exodus 34:6-7, 1 John 1:9, Ephesians 4:32, Colossians 3:13, 1 John 4:19, Ephesians 4:31-32  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Please God

Contributed by Bala Samson on Oct 28, 2023

Whether we like it not we need to stay in that position until God speaks to us. Obeying God can be at times inconvenient, uncomfortable, unclear and difficult; however, we need to please Him in all ways.

Jeremiah 42:6” Whether it is pleasing or displeasing, we will obey the voice of the LORD our God…” At a time when I was groping in the dark to hear the voice of God about a particular issue that as a family we were praying, on a particular day, when I was inside the Church, God revealed His ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 42:6

Denomination: Pentecostal

Facing Overwhelming Odds Series

Contributed by Brett Crosson on Jun 17, 2019

Sometimes we face impossibly difficult situations. And we get afraid and lose hope. But the Word encourages us to stay in faith and focussed upon the Lord. And fasting can help us do just that.

Facing overwhelming odds Psalm 3 Sometimes we face situations that are overwhelming. The opposition might be too numerous. The medical report might be too negative. The time you have to solve the problem might be hopelessly too short. Your lawyers want you to count your losses. Your family and ...read more

Denomination: Pentecostal

Our Prayers Do Matter

Contributed by Clarence Eisberg on Sep 16, 2024

Jesus answered the prayer of a mother and a father whose children were possessed by demons. No circumstance is too difficult for our God. Quotes from Jesus Manifesto, and the book "A Stroke of His Presence"

In Jesus Holy Name September 15, 2024 Text: Mark 9:28,29 Redeemer “Do Our Prayers Matter?” After the healing of the man who was deaf and unable to speak in last week’s gospel lesson ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:14-29, Matthew 17:14-23

Denomination: Lutheran