Sermons on Difficult Passages:

The First Melancholy Christmas

Contributed by Terry Blankenship on Dec 22, 2006

The Christmas season is a difficult time for some to celebrate when they have suffered tragedy during the year. That first Christmas also had their share of tragedies.

Matthew 2:13-23 The First Melancholy Christmas Introduction – I Heard the Bells Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was filled with sorrow at the tragic death of his wife in a fire in 1861. The Civil War broke out that same year and it seemed this was an additional punishment. Two years later, Longfellow ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:13-23

Denomination: Baptist

Don't Allow Circumstances Rob Your Joy Series

Contributed by Fred Sigle on Feb 13, 2007

Philippians is commonly called the "Book of Joy". But Paul presents several thieves that try to rob us of our joy. The first thief: "Difficult Circumstances."

DON’T ALLOW CIRCUMSTANCES ROB YOUR JOY A. For the next few weeks we’re going to take a look at CHRISTIAN JOY and the THIEVES that try to ROB us of our JOY from the book of Philippians. 1. Now to some people the phrase “CHRISTIAN JOY” is an OXYMORON--in their mind these two words CONTRADICT ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:12-24

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Don't Allow People Rob Your Joy Series

Contributed by Fred Sigle on Feb 13, 2007

Philippians is commonly called the "Book of Joy". But Paul presents several thieves that try to rob us of our joy. The second thief: "Difficult People."

DO NOT ALLOW PEOPLE TO ROB YOUR JOY ILLUSTRATION: A PREACHER told about his nine-year-old daughter who one day JUMPED off the SCHOOL BUS as it stopped in front of her house and SLAMMED her way through the front door. She MARCHED up the stairs into her ROOM and again SLAMMED the DOOR. All the ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

"Fixation - Looking In All The Wrong Places" Series

Contributed by Nick Panico on Apr 28, 2008

This is the 3rd message in the four part series on walking through the wilderness. This message deals with keeping our perspective during difficult seasons in life.

Wilderness– Pt.3 “Fixation – Looking In All The Wrong Places” Ex.16:1-3 – Pastor Nick S. Panico (Exo 16:1-3 NKJV) And they journeyed from Elim, and all the congregation of the children of Israel came to the Wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 16:1-3

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Treasuring God's Money Series

Contributed by Curry Pikkaart on Oct 25, 2012

In this prolonged, difficult economic recession, what role does our Christian faith play? What does treasuring God's money look like?

“Treasuring God’s Money” 2 Chron. 20:1-17; Heb. 12:25-29 I treasure my family. That’s why I have pictures of Barb and our kids and grandkids in my office (and on my computer screen.) There’s little I wouldn’t do for them; there’s nothing I wouldn’t ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 20:1-17

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Omniscience Of God Series

Contributed by L Lee on Sep 17, 2010

Learn more about the character and attributes of God. It is difficult to please God or respond to Him appropriately if we do not know what He is like.

Omniscience of God The doctrine that God knows everything. Hebrews 4:13 (NIV) Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Psalms 139:1 4 (NIV) For the director of music. Of David. A psalm. O LORD, ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 4:13

Denomination: Christian Church

Justice Of God Series

Contributed by L Lee on Sep 17, 2010

Learn more about the character and attributes of God. It is difficult to please God or respond to Him appropriately if we do not know what He is like.

Justice of God Our God is a just God Deuteronomy 32:4 (NIV) He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he. Isaiah 45:21 (KJV) Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 32:4

Denomination: Christian Church

Justice Of God Series

Contributed by L Lee on Sep 17, 2010

Learn more about the character and attributes of God. It is difficult to please God or respond to Him appropriately if we do not know what He is like.

Justice of God Our God is a just God Deuteronomy 32:4 (NIV) He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he. Isaiah 45:21 (KJV) Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 32:4

Denomination: Christian Church

Jealousy Of God Series

Contributed by L Lee on Sep 17, 2010

Learn more about the character and attributes of God. It is difficult to please God or respond to Him appropriately if we do not know what He is like.

Jealousy of God 1. God is a jealous God Exo 34:14 Do not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God. God is soooooooooo jealous, the Bible says you might as well say His name is called JEALOUS. 2. What does it mean to us? We must not have other gods before ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 34:14

Denomination: Christian Church

Just Do It

Contributed by C M Mackinnon on Sep 17, 2010

When we ask God speak to us, we must be prepared to hear Him, and to do whatever He asks, even when it is difficult.

Now as [Jesus] was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. You know the commandments: ‘Do ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:17-22

Denomination: Pentecostal

Lorsque La Vie Est Injuste

Contributed by Patrick Berthalon on Jul 3, 2019

Des personnages bibliques exemples de difficultés de vie ne les empêchant pas de progresser...

LORSQUE LA VIE EST INJUSTE LECTURE : Luc 15.11-32 INTRODUCTION : Situation du jeune homme qui a vécu avec l’argent de son père et puis lorsqu’il n’a plus d’argent, il n’a plus d’amis… Luc 11.14-15 « Lorsqu'il eut tout dépensé, une grande famine survint dans ce pays, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-32

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Sermon On The Mystery And Wonderment Of God

Contributed by William Meakin on Feb 10, 2022

Mystery has been defined as: "Something that is difficult or impossible to understand or explain." Wonderment is described as a state of awed admiration and respect.

Albert Einstein, the German-born theoretical physicist once remarked: “The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science. He to whom the emotion is a stranger, who can no longer pause to wonder and stand wrapped in awe, is as good as dead; ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 2:2-3, Ephesians 1:9-10, Acts 2:22, Ephesians 3:5

God's Grace In Our Grief Series

Contributed by Mark Schaeufele on Oct 23, 2025

2. It’s difficult to see hope in the middle of grief, but God’s grace always supplies us with hope even in the darkest night.

GOD’S GRACE IN OUR GRIEF Text: Ruth 1:19-22 Introduction 1. Illustration: Franklin D. Roosevelt said: “We have always held to the hope, the belief, the conviction that there is a better life, a better world just beyond the horizon.” 2. It’s difficult to see hope in the middle of grief, but God’s ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 1:19-22

Denomination: Methodist

Finding Hope In God During Tough Times SermonCentral

Contributed by SermonCentral on Sep 7, 2023

This sermon explores how David found hope in God during his difficult times, offering three guiding principles for us to do the same.

We all need encouragement in our lives, especially during times of crisis, discouragement, uncertainty, stress, or fear. In these moments, it is important to find strength in the Lord. In the story of David, we can learn three principles to guide us in encouraging ourselves in the Lord. David and ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 30:1-25

Topics: God's Hope, Overcoming Challenges

Love Is Patient Series

Contributed by Kevin Cummins on Apr 20, 2005

One of the most difficult areas to show patience in is our relationships with others. But that is exactly what God’s Word calls us to have in our relationships. Because love is patient.

“Did you hear about the teacher who was helping one of her kindergarten students put on his boots? He asked for help and she could see why? With her pulling and him pushing, the boots still didn’t want to go on. When the second boot was on, she had worked up a sweat. She almost whimpered when the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:4

Denomination: Church Of God