Sermons on Difficult Passages:

Contamination Of A Nation

Contributed by Juan Lane on Aug 11, 2005

The passage helps us to undersatnd that we need to make a clear decision about who we will serve

Contamination of a Nation “Salt Water Intrusion” Scripture Reference: James 3:10-12 (KJV) James 3:10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. 11 Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? 12 Can the fig tree, my ...read more

Scripture: James 3:10-12

Denomination: Pentecostal

Love Your Enemies? Series

Contributed by Scott Chambers on Sep 27, 2011

This message is the second in a series that deals with some of the difficult sayings of Jesus. This message deals with Jesus’ call to love your enemies.

Sometimes we hear something that sounds so unreasonable our response is, “You have got to be kidding.” I believe in our text we encounter Jesus saying something that really sounds unreasonable. In fact this statement goes against what we consider to be reasonable. This statement goes against ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:43-44

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Life Of Abraham, Part 11: Sodom And Gomorrah Series

Contributed by Mark A. Barber on Feb 11, 2014

This passage seems to be an excursus from the life of Abraham. But it offers critical insight to our pilgrimage of fath.

The Life of Abraham, Part 11: Sodom and Gomorrah Genesis 19:1-38 Introduction In the last lesson the desire of the LORD to find reason to spare the wicked was revealed to Abraham. Abraham’s concern to the LORD’s message that He was going to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah was that the ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 19:1-38

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Lessons From A Lonely Apostle Series

Contributed by Donald Mcculley on Mar 18, 2019

Paul closes out this letter with some personal remarks. From this passage we learn several truths.

LESSONS FROM A LONELY APOSTLE II TIMOTHY 4:9-18 Introduction: Someone once said, “It’s lonely at the top.” I have news for you. “It’s lonely at the bottom too!” Paul closes out this letter with some personal remarks. From this passage we learn several truths. I. There Will Always be People ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:9-18

Denomination: Baptist

The Test Of Faith Series

Contributed by Lynn Malone on Jun 13, 2005

We will all one day face the most difficult challenge of our lives as we face the test of faith.

Heroes of Faith: Abraham The Test of Faith Genesis 12:1-14 Introduction We want to close this series of sermons on the life of Abraham with the most famous story arising from his life—that of the sacrifice of his son, Isaac. I need to remind you that Abraham had been promised a son through ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 12:1-14

Denomination: Methodist

Together With The Spirit

Contributed by Dwayne Brown, Phd on Jun 28, 2005

The prophet Ezekiel was considering a commission and a call. He was contemplating assuming the auspicious and difficult of leading God’s people.

The prophet Ezekiel saw a vision. He was considering a commission and a call. He was contemplating assuming the auspicious and difficult of leading God’s people. And as he lay there by the banks of the Chç - bar, assuming the position of total submission to God, God shared with him a vision. ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 1:4-12

Denomination: Baptist

My Heart Is Troubled

Contributed by Gaither Bailey on Mar 31, 2006

Following the example of Christ Jesus, our prayer in the difficult places of our lives should be for God’s name to be glorified.

John 12: 20 – 33 My Soul Is Troubled Intro: We’ve all heard the old spiritual, “Nobody Knows The Trouble I’ve Seen.” --- We earnestly believe that nobody else in the world has had the same troubles we have or to the degree that we have. What we are forgetting is the second line of that song, ...read more

Scripture: John 12:20-33

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Perils Of Not Being A Christian

Contributed by John Kapteyn on Oct 18, 2000

1. Have you ever stopped to consider the many perils of not being a Christian? Paul did in this passage.

1. Have you ever stopped to consider the many perils of not being a Christian? Paul did in this passage. In these verses Paul writes, "Therefore, God gave them up to their uncleanness." It is a terrible thing to be given over to one’s sinful nature. The degradation of self-destructive sinful ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:21-24

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Why Does Jesus Tell His Disciples Not To Tell People That He Is The Christ Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Jul 1, 2025

This passage provides an interesting insight into why Jesus told His disciples not to tell anyone He was the Christ.

KEEP QUIET: Proclaiming that Jesus was the Christ would create a lot of wrong expectations. - Luke 9:18-21. - It’s an odd thing to hear Jesus telling His disciples to not tell people that He is the Christ. You would generally think that He would want it proclaimed often and loudly from every ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:18-26

Denomination: Baptist

It's Time To Get The Ashes Off The Altar

Contributed by Bishop William Bryant Wilmore, Jr. on Jul 19, 2007

Often our lives are cluttered by the residue of past experiences, making it difficult for us to receive the full blessings of God.

Text: Numbers 4:13 "And they shall take away the ashes from the altar, and spread a purple cloth thereon..." My brothers and sisters, biblically, the origin of the altar goes clear back to Genesis when Noah built an altar to offer sacrifices after the flood. Genesis 8 & 20 says: "And Noah ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 4:13, Ezra 4:12-16

Denomination: Baptist

John Series Sermon 23 The Evidence Of Faith John 4:43–45 Series

Contributed by Rodney Fry on Mar 27, 2022

This passage is very simple, yet it pictures one of the great lessons of the gospel—the evidence of faith.

John Series Sermon 23 The Evidence of Faith John 4:43–45 (4:43–45) Introduction: this passage is very simple, yet it pictures one of the great lessons of the gospel—the evidence of faith. 1. The setting: Jesus entered Galilee (v.43). 2. The first evidence of faith: honoring Jesus (v.44). 3. The ...read more

Scripture: John 4:43-45

Denomination: Baptist

God's Messengers Series

Contributed by Troy Borst on Apr 25, 2013

Hosea brings an important message to the people of God through his life and his preaching. God put Hosea in a difficult position where he was living out his message while he was preaching it to God’s people. This was extremely difficult, but also showed

GOD’S MESSENGERS CHAPTER 15, “THE STORY” Hosea 1-14 INTRODUCTION… “The Story” so far by the numbers This morning as we begin to think about this chapter in the story, I want to share some numbers with you: 15 is the number of weeks we have been going through ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Are You Ready To Live A Radically Different Lifestyle?

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Nov 13, 2001

A different approach to an "End Times" passage focussing on witness rather than speculation

Christian witness from Luke 21: 5-19 This morning I would like to focus on our Gospel reading. Story: Dr. Ian Paisley, the fiery Irish cleric and politician was reputed to have been preaching one Sunday on the End Times - and in particular on the Day of Judgement. As he reached the climax of ...read more

Scripture: Luke 21:5-19

Denomination: Anglican

The Great Empowered Detectives Series

Contributed by Rick Macdonald on Aug 8, 2001

In our passage today, we are told that Jesus spoke the wisdom of God in a mystery.

The Baptism with the Holy Spirit - part 2 THE GREAT EMPOWERED DETECTIVES 1Corinthians 2:7-16 August 6, 2000 By Pastor Rick MacDonald Introduction I have always loved a great mystery. As a child, I used to watch Sherlock Holmes with Basil Rathbone on Sunday afternoons. What makes a mystery so ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 2:7-16

Denomination: Pentecostal

Aeneas And Dorcas- Principles Of Prayer For Healing Series

Contributed by Ewen Huffman on Jul 5, 2002

What (balanced) principles of prayer for healing can we get from this passage.

Aeneas and Dorcas- Principles of prayer for healing Acts 9:32-42 WBC 7 July 2002 What can we learn from this passage about healing? - what does God have to say to US … ME - bearing in mind I’m not Peter! Well, I think we can glean some Principles of prayer for healing The first is: 1) We ...read more

Scripture: Acts 9:32-43

Denomination: Baptist