Sermons on Difficult Passages:

A Story Of Slow, Painful Forgiveness Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on May 16, 2023

The story of Joseph coming to a place of forgiveness with his brothers is a long story (four whole chapters!) but the story is a great illustration of how difficult forgiveness is.

HOW WE THINK YOU FORGIVE: Say “I forgive you” and move on. - Discuss the fact that “forgive and forget” is not in the Bible. PLOT POINTS: - This is a really long story – basically four chapters! But it’s important that we hit the various plot points because they show the back-and-forth, ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Charge Your Batteries

Contributed by Daniel Olukoya on Jul 8, 2009

No matter how intelligent a person is, it would be very difficult for the person to switch on his torchlight in the dark and it will come on when the batteries are dead.

CHARGE YOUR BATTERIES Dr. D. K. Olukoya Father Lord, we lift up your name for you are a great God. You are the keeper of Israel who neither slumbers nor sleeps. If it was not the Lord that was with us, what would our Israel now say? Thank you heavenly Father. Accept our thanks, in Jesus’ name. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:6

Denomination: Pentecostal

God's Pattern For Fatherhood

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jul 18, 2002

God is very interested in men becoming good fathers. Here in this passage we find some of the leading characteristics of a successful father.

ILLUSTRATION: (From "It Was On Fire When I Lay Down On It" by Robert Fulghum) It was Molly’s, age 7, job to pack the lunches for her family. She would put in the sandwiches, cookies, fruit and so on in a paper bag. One day, in addition to the paper bag she usually packed for her father, she gave ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 2:10-12

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Warnings To The Wealthy Series

Contributed by Freddy Fritz on Jan 13, 2006

In this passage James addresses us about the use of our finances. James warns people against using their finances as if there is no God.

Scripture William Jennings Bryan (1860-1925), the gifted orator and three-time United States Democratic nominee for President, is reported to have said, “No one can earn a million dollars honestly.” Tertullian (ca. 155–230), was a church leader and prolific author during the early years of ...read more

Scripture: James 5:1-6

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

A Tale Of Two Cities Series

Contributed by Pat Damiani on Dec 20, 2010

This passage provides a clear contrast between the citizens of Mount Zion and the citizens of Babylon in their citizenship requirements, lifestyle and final destiny.

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair… So ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 14:6-13

Denomination: Baptist

‘the Christian's Eternal Glory'

Contributed by Evie Megginson on Aug 7, 2001

WE SEE IN THIS PASSAGE, THE PILGRIM’S ATTITUDES,THE PILGRIM’S ADVERSARY, AND THE PILGRAM’S ARRIVAL.

‘THE CHRISTIAN’S ETERNAL GLORY’ I PETER 5:5-11 In the Bible, the Christian life is compared to many things such a member of a body, and as a member of a family. But the one I like the best am the one Peter describes in his book of I Peter, a pilgrim. We see this in Abraham’s life recorded in ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:5-11

Denomination: Baptist

Looking To God

Contributed by Robert Travis on Aug 24, 2001

These three passages are very powerful and you may be able to use them to bring comfort to a grieving family.

LIFT UP YOUR EYES I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 121:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

The Problems With Playing God Series

Contributed by Tim George on Sep 17, 2001

This passage deals with how pride tends to cause us to play God and the problems that go along with that.

"Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. Who are you to judge ...read more

Scripture: James 4:11-17

Denomination: Baptist

Warning! Believer Beware Series

Contributed by Steve Malone on Aug 9, 2005

Luke records for us in the passage we will study today 7 warning signs that Believers need to beware of

"WARNINGS, BELIEVER BEWARE!!" TEXT: LUKE 12 INTRODUCTION Several weeks back when we studied Luke chapter 9 and we answered the question, WHO DO YOU SAY THAT I AM -- And as that great chapter closes Jesus set His face towards Jerusalem.. towards the cross and His death. And we said that from ...read more

Scripture: Luke 13:22-30

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Seven Characteristics Of A Healthy Church

Contributed by Naveen Balakrishnan on May 17, 2004

This passage in Acts takes a look at the seven characteristics of a healthy church. This has to be true of your church for it to grow.

The Seven Characteristics of a Healthy Church Acts 2:42-47 A. It has to be a LEARNING church. (v. 42a) John 8:31-32; Acts 14:22; 20:7; 2 Timothy 3:14; 2 Peter 3:1-2, 17-18; Matthew 28:19-20 B. It has to be a LISTENING church. (v. 42b) Acts 1:14; 4:31; 6:4; Romans 12:12; Ephesians 6:18; ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:42-47

Denomination: Baptist

God's Design For The Family

Contributed by Naveen Balakrishnan on May 31, 2005

This passage looks at the first divine institution for humanity which is marriage which is to set the course for a human family.

“GOD’S DESIGN FOR THE FAMILY” GENESIS 2:18-25 1. The LORD’s COMPASSION for Adam in that he was alone and incomplete. (v. 18) Genesis 1:26-28; 5:2; 32:24; Exodus 14:12; 18:14, 18; Leviticus 13:46; Numbers 11:14, 17; Joshua 22:20; Ruth 3:1; Job 7:16; Ecclesiastes 4:9-12; Isaiah 49:21; Mark 1:24; ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 2:18-25

Denomination: Baptist

A Fresh Start. Series

Contributed by John Gullick on Mar 30, 2005

A sermon that uses the passages around Jesus’ Resurrection to explore what we need to make a fresh start/.

A Fresh Start. Every now and then in life we have to make a fresh start> Sometimes we choose a fresh start. It might be a new financial plan A new fitness regeme A new job A new family member – Sometimes the fresh start chooses us. I might get fired from my job. I might be left a fortune in ...read more

Scripture: John 20:26-29

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Do Not Grieve The Holy Spirit!

Contributed by Charles Degner on Jul 30, 2003

It’s just one passage, but it has so much to teach us about the Holy Spirit!

Ephesians 4:30 Pentecost 12 B Rev. Charles Degner August 14, 1994 I knew I would be on vacation most of this week. So the day before I left for vacation, I pulled an old sermon out of the files to use when I got back. I should know better by now. Old sermons are like apples. The ones ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:30, Isaiah 63:10

Denomination: Lutheran

Comfort For Troubled Hearts

Contributed by Dennis Deese on Aug 7, 2003

There has never been any more powerful statements of comfort given in history than the words in this passage.

“COMFORT FOR TROUBLED HEARTS” Dr. Dennis Deese - www.dennisdeese.com JOHN 14:1-31 There has never been any more powerful statements of comfort given in history than the words we have just read in this passage. One of the reasons being is that they are eternal truths. They will ...read more

Scripture: John 14:1-31

Lovest Thou Me?

Contributed by Evie Megginson on Nov 4, 2003

iN THESE PASSAGES, NOTICE THE PERSON WHO ASKED THE QUESTION. THE PERSON WHO WHOM THE QUESTION WAS ASKED, AND THE PERSONALITY OF THE QUESTION.

LOVEST THOU ME? JOHN 21:15-17 Let me ask you a question this morning. What do you love most of all? If we would be honest, we would have several answers. One might say, I LOVE MONEY. I am going to get all of it I can. But you need to remember, the Bible says, THE LOVE OF MONEY IS THE ROOT OF ...read more

Scripture: John 21:15-17

Denomination: Baptist