Sermons on Difficult Passages:

When Jesus Is The Adversary

Contributed by Jim Butcher on May 19, 2017

A look at a challenging passage that indicates that when we refuse Jesus as Savior He will become our Adversary at judgment.

- These verses seem out of place. Why would Jesus end what He was saying here with talk about going to court? It doesn’t really seem to have much to do with the points He’s just made. - When that happens (and it happens at multiple places in the gospels), the temptation is to either presume that ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:58-59

Denomination: Baptist

Following Christ Solo Series

Contributed by Brian Atwood on May 12, 2008

Encouraging singles, widows, and Christ followers without believing spouses to successfully face the difficult task of following Christ solo.

We’re in the series "No Perfect Families Allowed" and we’re gleaning valuable real to life, hope-inspiring principles for family encouragement from the recorded biographies of Bible families. Last week we established our theme verse for this series.. Romans 5:20b (Amplified Bible) Where sin ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:1-7

Denomination: Baptist

When More Faith Is Not The Problem

Contributed by Jim Butcher on May 31, 2017

This passages initially looks like a call to greater faith, but what Jesus is actually saying points in the opposite direction.

WHY DID JESUS SAY THAT? Who wants a flying mulberry tree? - Luke 17:6. - This verse is generally taken as a generic injunction to have more faith, but let’s think about it for a moment. It’s a peculiar request when you think about it. Why exactly would anyone want to watch a mulberry tree come ...read more

Scripture: Luke 17:5-6, Luke 17:5-10

Denomination: Baptist

A Missing Piece For An Uplifting Church Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Mar 12, 2019

This passage models for us what encouragement looks like. How can my church become more encouraging?

WHY IT MATTERS: Encouragement is precious because it’s relatively rare. - 2 Corinthians 8:24. - There are some sermons where you have to spend the majority of the message explaining the idea. This is not one of those messages. - This is a straightforward concept. We know what encouragement is. ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Bring Peace During Stormy Weather PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Sep 26, 2023

Explore and understand God's presence, peace, and promises in the midst of life's storms through various biblical passages.

Good morning, family! It's such a joy to gather together in God's house today. Our topic today is one that I believe will bless hearts and uplift spirits. We're going to delve into the word of God, exploring the theme of God's presence in the storm, finding peace in the midst of the storm, and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 8:23-27, Mark 4:35-41, Isaiah 43:2, Isaiah 41:10-13, John 14:27, Psalm 55:22  (view more)  (view less)

Topics: Walking, Storm

Are We A Generation Of Gripers?

Contributed by Chris Swanson on Sep 22, 2023

When things got difficult and discouraging, the Israelites began to whine, murmur, and complain. Unfortunately, Christians of today act the same way.

When things get difficult and discouraging, many people will begin to whine, murmur, and complain. This is what the Israelites did throughout their journey through the wilderness. If they had only listened and obeyed God, they would not have been in the predicament that they were in. God had to ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 21:4-9

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Lift Jesus Up, Lift Him Up! PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Mar 14, 2024

This sermon explores glorifying God in our lives, trusting Him in difficult times, and understanding the transformative power of death through Jesus's sacrifice.

Good morning, beloved family of God, and welcome. We gather here today, not as strangers, but as a fellowship of believers, united by a common faith and a shared love for our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Isn't it wonderful to know that we are part of a community that transcends the boundaries of ...read more

Scripture: John 12:20-33

Topics: Glorify God

Understanding The Death And Triumph Of Christ Series

Contributed by Chad Bolfa on Oct 23, 2008

This is a great passage on the salvation brought about by the death of Jesus Christ. It is also an interesting passage in that it gives us some glimpse into what Jesus Christ was doing while he was dead, that is, between His crucifixion and resurrection.

Understanding the Death and Triumph of Christ 1 Peter 3:18-22 Introduction In Mel Gibson’s Movie, “The Passion of Christ” there is an obscure detail in the crucifixion scene that probably goes unnoticed by most people, but it is a detail that says so much. When Jesus is being placed on the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:18-22

Denomination: Baptist

The Re-Established Church Series

Contributed by Guy Glass on May 22, 2012

THE PASSAGE BEFORE US TODAY IS ONE OF TRANSITION. WHAT WE ARE SEEING HERE IS THE RE-ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CHURCH AFTER THE ISSUE INVOLVING THE SIN OF ANANIAS AND SAPPHIRA. THIS PASSAGE IS ALSO THE INTRODUCTION WHICH WILL LEAD THE CHURCH INTO A MAJOR TIME

THE RE-ESTABLISHED CHURCH The Pre-Curser of Persecution Acts 5:12-16 The apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon's Colonnade. 13 No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people. ...read more

Scripture: Acts 5:12-16

Denomination: Baptist

Called To Be Holy Series

Contributed by Kerry Bauman on Feb 1, 2006

What does it mean to be a holy man or woman? This passage looks at the term "sanctification" and how it applies to believers.

Called to Be Holy Text: 1 Peter 1:13-16 Introduction: It was the late 1920’s when a woman and her new husband moved into the man’s old family home. It was a clapboard house with a hall down the middle. It wasn’t much of a home, but it was all they had. Ten years later, however, the two had ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:13-16

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Opportunities Right In Front Of You

Contributed by Dr. George Calhoun on Oct 24, 2008

If you want to understand the Lord’s will, be wise by looking for the opportunities He sets before you, especially in difficult circumstances.

“Opportunities Right in Front of You” Luke 9:10-17 When NASA began the launch of astronauts into space, they found out that the pens wouldn’t work at zero gravity (Ink won’t flow down to the writing surface). In order to solve this problem, they hired Andersen Consulting. It took them one decade ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:10-17

Denomination: Baptist

Interpretation Of Scripture

Contributed by Peter Loughman on Oct 28, 2006

There is reasonalbe differentiation on biblical interpretation and then there is the loony.

Neighborhood Junk Mail. We get a lot of junk mail – don’t we all. This one is from a local realtor – they use a lot of fill. Important dates for January. (sorry I threw out the junk mail and don’t have the info for sermon central here, but it is not that relevant to the sermon. But the realtor ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 3:10-18

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What Will I Wear

Contributed by Dean Morgan on Aug 21, 2006

What are some of the most difficult decisions you make every morning? For some of you to get out of bed is difficult. For many the first decision you make is to hit the snooze alarm at least once if not several times before you get up. For some what

What are some of the most difficult decisions you make every morning? For some of you to get out of bed is difficult. For many the first decision you make is to hit the snooze alarm at least once if not several times before you get up. For some what you will eat for breakfast is the most ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:14

Denomination: Pentecostal

Love Your Enemies Series

Contributed by Justin Miller on Aug 31, 2011

1. Today we’re covering one of the most counter-culture passages in all of the Bible.

1. Today we’re covering one of the most counter-culture passages in all of the Bible. Really it’s the teaching that separates Christianity from everything else. In Matthew 5:38-48, Jesus has the nerve, the audacity to command us to let go of our need for revenge and to love our ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:38-48

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Fresh Start With God Series

Contributed by John Gullick on Feb 2, 2015

A sermon that attempts to use a passage from Ezra to extract points on how to make a fresh start with god.

Making a fresh start with God. . Ezra 3:1-13New International Version (NIV) Rebuilding the Altar 3 When the seventh month came and the Israelites had settled in their towns, the people assembled together as one in Jerusalem. 2 Then Joshua son of Jozadak and his fellow priests and Zerubbabel son of ...read more

Scripture: Ezra 3:1-13

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed