Sermons on Difficult Passages:

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

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

Surrendering

Contributed by Sam Peters on Mar 1, 2007

Too often when we are confronted with a difficult situation we strive to solve it ourselves instead of letting God be God.

Surrendering – Let Go, Let God Text – Daniel 6:10, 16-24 Situation: Your company has made announcements that it is cutting 100 jobs across the company in an effort to trim expenses and increase shareholder equity. The cuts will be made after upper management reviews employee performance. What do ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 6:10-24

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

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

Are You A Wise Guy Series

Contributed by Leonard Cook on Mar 22, 2013

Are You A Wise Guy, the 4th installment from the book of James series, this passage still has some gaps in it with the Illustration etc but you will find the outline workable. James is all about wisdom and a good life in this passage.

Background Material James Biographical Info: • The author was James, Jesus' half-brother; James and Christ had different Fathers (Matthew 13:55; Mark 6:3). • James, also called James the Just, (Matthew 13:55; Mark 6:3). • James was not a believer (John 7:3-5) until after the ...read more

Denomination: Holiness

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

What Must I Do?

Contributed by Howard Parnell on Oct 16, 2002

In this passage, man’s greatest question is met by God’s greatest answer.

WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED? Acts 16:19-34 INTRO. A. "What must I do to be saved?" This is man’s greatest question. B. "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved." This is God’s greatest answer. 1. In these verses a despairing man saw his need for "repentance toward ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:19-34

Denomination: Baptist

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

Blessed Giver

Contributed by Juan Lane on Jan 7, 2003

This passage helps us to understand how impotant the simple blessings of God are.

The Blessed Giver Scripture Reference: Mark 12:41-44 (KJV) Mark 12:41 And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. 42 And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a ...read more

Scripture: Mark 12:41-44

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Trap Of Temptation

Contributed by Dr. Keion Parrish on Jun 9, 2007

This passage teaches how great the consequences of temptation really are and the necessity of resisting it.

Sermon Scripture: Joshua 7:1­26, especially verse 12b The Trap of Temptation Introduction: Do you realize that a single sin can potentially ruin your success, your family, a lifetime friendship, or a reputation? Temptations are all around us, waiting to destroy us if we give in (Gen. 4:7). Our ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 7:1-26

Denomination: Baptist

Unconditional Security? (Pt. 2) Series

Contributed by Thomas Clawser on Jul 30, 2004

A two-part series; based on passages from the gospel of John and the book of Hebrews.

Cable television mogul Ted Turner (who once owned CNN, TBS and others) criticized fundamentalist Christianity and said Jesus probably would "be sick to his stomach" over the way his ideas have been "twisted," the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. Turner made his remarks at a banquet in ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 10:19-39

Denomination: Other

Blueprint For Greatness Series

Contributed by David Asch on Jan 18, 2005

In our passage today, Jesus gives us God’s blueprint for greatness.

BLUEPRINT FOR GREATNESS Mark 9:33-50 INTRO: A TV news camera crew on assignment in southern Florida filming the widespread destruction of Hurricane Andrew. Amid the devastation and debris stood one house on its foundation. The owner was asked, "why is your house the only one still standing?" He ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:33-50

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

How To Press On Toward The Goal Of The Christian Life

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Sep 16, 2003

This passage draws out six keys to reaching the goal of our walk with Christ.

Analogy: Our walk with Christ is like a journey through the woods. How To Press On Toward The Goal Of The Christian Life: Questions to ask. . . 1. Do I know what my destination is? - v. 12 - “press on.” - v. 13 - “one thing I do.” - v. 14 - “I press on.” - v. 21 - The goal: to be like ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:12-21

Denomination: Baptist