Sermons on Difficult Relationships:

Encouraging Words In Desperate Times

Contributed by Terry Blankenship on Feb 1, 2007

Paul understands that his life is drawing to an end and pens these encouraging words to ministers and believers in difficult ministries.

Introduction - Running toward Unseen Goal United States runner Marla Runyon has been legally blind for 22 years. Even so, she competed in the 2000 Summer Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia. In fact she qualified for the finals in the 1500 meter race. (Marla finished eighth, three seconds behind the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:1-5, 2 Timothy 4:5-6

Denomination: Baptist

Taming The Tongue

Contributed by David Dewitt on Nov 17, 2006

James tells us that the tongue is one of the most needed areas of life to be tamed and also the most difficult

Taming the Tongue James 3:1-12 October 29, 2006 Evening Service Introduction A cartoon from leadership magazine shows a line of pews and the same sentence being passed from pew to pew. 1st pew: My ear kind of hurts 2nd pew: The pastor has an earache 3rd pew: The pastor got a hearing aid 4th pew: ...read more

Scripture: James 3:1-12

Denomination: Church Of God

Reading Revelation

Contributed by Robert Leroe on Jul 13, 2009

The last book of the Bible presents a prophetic vision difficult to fathom--what do we do with it?

During the early days of Desert Storm, and as we approached the year 2000, people grew concerned with whether these events might be signaling the “last days” talked about in Scripture. Now doom-sayers are claiming the world will end in 2012. I recently read The Road by Cormac McCarthy, a bleak ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 19:6-19

Denomination: Congregational

How To Change For The Better

Contributed by Rommel Samaniego on May 2, 2008

Based on Rick Warrens book, Answers to lifes difficult Questions, i added the illustrations and made it into a sermon

HOW CAN I EVER CHANGE? GENESIS 32 Get attention by : Whats’ a sermon worth—3 sermons, 1,000 hk, 15 mins, 400 hk 30 mins, 50 HK (2 hours) lets all stand and ask the ushers to circulate the offering plate and know what sermon you would like to have today. Most of us want some change, in our ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 32:24-30

Denomination: Baptist

The Season Of Hope

Contributed by Jeff Ecklund on Dec 10, 2016

This message is about the season of hope in Christ that is right in our midst that can be hidden in the difficult or buried in the familiar.

It’s interesting the way we approach our birthdays, birthdays of our children, spouses, friends etc… Consider the first birthday of your child, or grandchild…HUGE!…All the trappings, gifts, invitations, photos…(and the baby has NO idea what’s going on!) Seems as though the celebration is really ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1

Denomination: *other

Where Does The Buck Stop? Series

Contributed by Larry Turner on Aug 12, 2015

There are a lot of debates about the origin of evil but is it possible that God is responsible? A rather difficult subject attempted to be explained.

I want to tell you the story of Farmer Joe who had an accident. When the accident first took place, Farmer Joe decided not to sue the trucking company responsible for the accident. Later he reconsidered. In court, the trucking company’s fancy lawyer was questioning farmer Joe. "Didn’t ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 45:7, Isaiah 45:23

Denomination: Foursquare

The Great Contender

Contributed by Perry Greene on Jul 24, 2013

Contending for the faith is not winning arguments. It is much harder. It involves difficult things like prayer and displays of mercy.

1. Swedish Military The Swedish military has cut back from around-the-clock-operations to a 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. schedule, Monday through Friday only. Sound crazy? It's true. Some people want to be Christians on Sunday (or Sunday morning only) and then just like all other people the rest of the ...read more

Scripture: Jude 1:3-4

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

I Beg Your Pardon Series

Contributed by Perry Greene on Nov 18, 2011

One of the most difficult things to do seems to be to forgive. God requires it of us because HE is forgiving.

At a convention with their wives, two businessmen who had been roommates in college crossed paths. They sat in the lobby all night talking. They knew they would be in trouble with their wives. The next day they happened to see each other. "What did your wife think?" "I walked in the door and my ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:21-35

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Messiahs Road To The Cross Begins Series

Contributed by Mark Schaeufele on Jan 6, 2012

We must be willing to travel down the road that God is leading us down even when it is difficult.

A Messiah's Road to the Cross Begins Text: Matt. 26:1-16 Introduction 1. Illustration: There was a family in our last church in Arkansas that I dreaded to go visit. Now they were really nice people, but they lived on a really difficult road. First, it was a dirt road filled with huge rocks, and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 26:1-16

Denomination: Methodist

Waiting Room

Contributed by Perry Greene on Apr 23, 2019

It is difficult to wait, especially on God. Yet, faith enables us to wait for just the right moment to move.

1. When our daughter was very young, riding in the back seat in her car seat, my wife and I were discussing names. She commented, “You should always name your child something you like because you will say the name often.” A little voice from the back said, “Then you should have named me, ‘No’ or ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:20-21

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

You're Hard To Love

Contributed by Fr. Rian Adams on May 17, 2019

A sermon on how difficult it is to follow Jesus's commandment, "love one another."

You’re Not Easy to Love “I’m going away, but I will leave you with a new commandment; you should love one another as I have loved you.” This Gospel is a rewind, Jesus said these words at the last supper. John set the scene with Jesus eating dinner with his friends. Judas left and went out into ...read more

Scripture: John 13:31-35

Denomination: Episcopal

A Faithful Defense

Contributed by Thomas Clawser on Oct 6, 2019

The Big Idea: God wants us to be faithful him in our words and actions, even in difficult situations.

Of Christians put to death for their faith in the second century, perhaps no account is as striking as the story of Polycarp. Polycarp (A.D. 70-155) is bishop of Smyrna and a godly man who knows the apostle John personally. When urged by the Roman proconsul to renounce Christ, Polycarp responds ...read more

Scripture: Luke 13:31-35

Denomination: Other

"Were Can I Find The Intelligent Designer?”

Contributed by Clarence Eisberg on Dec 21, 2020

I love Christmas. But this is a difficult, unexpected kind of Christmas.Christmas is the celebration of the entrance of the “Intelligent Designer” of the Universe.

In Jesus Holy Name December 24, 2020 Christmas Eve–Matthew 1:20b-21 Redeemer “Were Can I Find the Intelligent Designer?” I love Christmas. But this is a difficult, unexpected kind of Christmas. Families have had to make adjustments. Churches ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:4-7, Matthew 1:20-21

Denomination: Lutheran

How To Overcome Fear

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Apr 2, 2022

Most Christians enjoy reading passages of scripture that bring comfort to our hearts during difficult times.

A very favorite passage of scripture of mine is Isaiah 41:10. We read, “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” These are comforting words. Notice, five ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 41:10

Denomination: Baptist

For Such A Time As This

Contributed by Rolando, Jr Pama on Sep 23, 2023

God has a plan for your life. There are times when God will ask you to do things that are difficult.

1. God determined a plan for you. Jeremiah 29:11 11For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 1:5 5“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed ...read more

Scripture: Esther 4:14