Sermons on Difficult Passages:

Cowardly Concessions Series

Contributed by Tim Spear on Dec 3, 2012

Pilate learned a difficult lesson that hopefully we can each avoid as he made “cowardly concessions”.

Jesus, the God-man: Gospel of John “Cowardly Concessions” John 19:1-16 Introduction: On September 30, 1938 British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain returned to England and proudly held up a document he had signed with Adolph Hitler which he declared to promise “peace in our ...read more

Scripture: John 19:1-16

Denomination: Baptist

Entering The Badlands Series

Contributed by Philip Harrelson on Apr 7, 2014

The fourth message in my series on David. This speaks to the times that we are having to navigate through the most difficult times of life.

DAVID—A MAN AFTER GOD’S OWN HEART 04—ENTERING THE BADLANDS TEXT: 1 Samuel 18:6-9 1 Samuel 18:6-9 KJV And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 18:6-9

Denomination: Pentecostal

Defeating Your Own Personal Drought

Contributed by Kelly Benton on Aug 2, 2011

To share how we can overcome difficult times by Soaking in God's Word, Soaking in Prayer, and Soaking in service to God.

Someone published this request online: “Please pray for rain: "It’s so dry in Tennessee that the Baptists are starting to baptize by sprinkling; the Methodists are using wet-wipes; the Presbyterians are giving out rain-checks; and the Catholics are praying for the wine to turn back into ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:1-11

Denomination: Other

You're Not The Boss Of Me

Contributed by Kelly Benton on Jan 10, 2012

To share how we can overcome difficult times by Soaking in God's Word, Soaking in Prayer, and soaking in service to God.

You’re not the boss of me. This is a phrase that most of us parents have more than likely heard from our children when speaking to one another. I believe that most kids will learn this phrase and use it towards their siblings more than any other phrase. It seems to me that this is one of ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:9-11

Denomination: Other

Revelation - Series

Contributed by Paul Barreca on Sep 2, 2015

Some say that prophecy is too difficult or too controversial, However, prophecy leads us to greater worship and understanding of Jesus!

What is Prophecy all about? If your study of prophecy does not lead you to a better understanding and worship for Jesus, then it is all wrong! The most prophetic book of the Bible tells us that Jesus is the focus point of prophecy. “Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 1:1-3

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Well, Slap My Face And Call Me--- His. Series

Contributed by Larry Turner on Nov 19, 2014

An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth seemed rather fair but Jesus had a better, more difficult way to settle things.

As some of you remembered back in May, four weeks before my very first cruise, I fell at the local Y injuring my shoulder. What followed was accident reports being filed, doctor visits, ex-rays, MRIs, and the diagnosis of shoulder surgery. Looking on the internet I was discovering the cost was to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:38-42

Denomination: Foursquare

There's More In The Barrel

Contributed by Luther Sexton on May 2, 2022

How God can supply people's needs in the most difficult times. Elijah stays with the widow of Zarephath.

THERE’S MORE IN THE BARREL Scripture Reading: I Kings 17: 8 - 16 Theme Scripture: I Kings 17:16 “And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Elijah.” I. JUDGMENT IN THE FORM OF A DROUGHT A. The Cause of The ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 17:8-16, 1 Kings 16:29, 1 Kings 17:1, Psalm 9:17, Matthew 5:45  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Burden Of The Cross

Contributed by Gerald Roberts on Feb 27, 2021

The cross of Christ is hard and difficult, but Jesus asks us to deny yourself, lose yourself, and take up our cross.

Mark 8:31-38 The Burden of the Cross • It used to be that we could carry our own suitcase and sometimes they were heavy • . Now, we have wheels on the suit cases even back packs have wheels to make it easier. • When I was at my last appointment we did a Cross walk from Gazebo to The ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:31-38

Denomination: Methodist

Living With Children: The Persistent Liar Series

Contributed by Coz Von on Aug 27, 2017

Lying is one of the most difficult problems to deal with and a major parent-child power struggle - How to deal with Lying Children:

Q: We’re very concerned about our eight-year-old grandson’s lying. He always pleads innocence and wonders plaintively why no one ever believes him. When someone confronts him with some misdeed they saw him do (for example, poking holes in the back door screen), he merely shrugs his shoulders and ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Rejoice?! Can We Really Do That? Series

Contributed by Nickolas Kooi on Oct 4, 2017

Rejoicing in your circumstances can be a difficult thing, if not impossible sometimes. Paul teaches us in this text about rejoicing in the Lord.

Jim is going through some tough times. Growing up, he fell into a bad crowd, and long story short, he ended up becoming addicted to some drugs. After attending rehab for two months, when released, he falls into temptation, and goes back to using. His mother, Jill, found him in his room with ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:4-9

Denomination: Lutheran

Free To Serve, Or Not Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Nov 14, 2015

We will be judged on our service to the poor--but do our social systems make it easy or difficult to do so?

Thursday of 33rd week in course 2015 Joy of the Gospel Two things tie our Scriptures together today. The obvious one is that they are texts written in or about a time of injustice and disaster. In the first reading, the Syrian king Antiochus IV has decreed that all his subjects would act like ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:41-44

Denomination: Catholic

Ten Life Principles Lesson 16 Series

Contributed by Elmer Towns on Mar 28, 2017

The average man with limited resources, in difficult circumstances, against in surmountable odds, can be led of God to do miraculous things.

A. GET READY FOR THE TEN COMMANDMENTS 1. In a world totally committed to heathen idolatry, God chooses one man Moses to receive His message to give to His people. The average man with limited resources, in difficult circumstances, ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 20:2-21

Denomination: Baptist

In Hard Times God Plots For Our Victory Series

Contributed by Rev. Dr. Vivek Gundimi on Apr 20, 2020

Hard times are real for everyone regardless of who we are or where we are. Difficult situations are not new to any generation.

In Hard Times, God plots for your Victory : Biblical response to COVID 19 Introduction: Hard times are real for everyone regardless of who we are or where we are. Difficult situations are not new to any generation. And hard times can come as a result of our own sin, natural catastrophe, economic ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 34:19, Acts 14:22

Denomination: Methodist

A Sermon For Trinity Sunday

Contributed by Mark A. Barber on May 23, 2024

What do we mean by the Trinity? This is indeed a difficult doctrine to understand. But let us look at this in some detail this morning

A Sermon for Trinity Sunday Matthew 28:16-20 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:16-20, John 1:1-3, Genesis 1:1-3, Philippians 2:5-11, Mark 1:9-12  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Secret Of Sustained Supernatural Strength

Contributed by Bishop Prof. Julius Soyinka on Nov 6, 2025

When we wait patiently upon the Lord in difficult situations, He renews our strength to overcome discouragement and defeat.

The Secret of Sustained Supernatural Strength Study Text: Isaiah 40:29-31 Introduction: - Every believer encounters moments of exhaustion — when prayers seem delayed, when strength feels drained, and when hope is faint. - But our God is not the God of the ground; He is the God of the great ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 40:29-31

Denomination: Pentecostal