Sermons on Difficult Relationships:

The Focus And Ministry Of God’s Messiah Series

Contributed by T.j. Conwell on May 18, 2025

God gives us a very clear, very distinct picture of the Messiah's purpose, relationship to Him, and what He will be responsible for doing. The challenge for us today is: will we receive this completed work to restore our relationship with a God who has never stopped loving us?

Isaiah, Part 17 The Focus and Ministry of God’s Messiah Isaiah 42:1-9 Dismiss kids for Children’s Church and Nursery Introduction - Welcome to Seasons! We are so glad you have chosen to worship with us! - Last week, we saw a unique proclamation challenging us about who God is -- ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 42:1-9, Ephesians 2:14, Matthew 3:17, 2 Samuel 7:12-14, Genesis 12:3, Matthew 26:28, John 1:4, Numbers 23:19, Titus 1:2, Luke 19:10  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Shall I Not Drink The Cup The Father Has Given Me?

Contributed by Derrick Tuper on Sep 26, 2013

Jesus faced his cup of suffering willingly. God had a plan and Jesus, as difficult as it was, was willing to carry it out. Jesus needed to teach this lesson to Peter and it's a good lesson for us as well. Are we willing to 'drink our cup'?

“SHALL I NOT DRINK THE CUP THE FATHER HAS GIVEN ME?” John 18:1-14 1) Agony in the garden (vs. 1). John’s gospel doesn’t mention anything about the events that took place in the Garden of Gethsemane before Judas showed up. It’s important to look at what Jesus dealt ...read more

Scripture: John 18:1-14

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Dare To Be Different

Contributed by Derrick Tuper on Jan 11, 2016

Change is difficult-it’s hard to sustain. There is much working against it so we need motivators and incentives to keep at it and stay the course. Daring to be differerent may not be easy but it's rewarding and it's what we're called to do as Christians.

DARE TO BE DIFFERENT 2nd Cor. 6:14-7:1 INTRODUCTION: As we roll into January we find ourselves being dedicated to making some changes-losing weight, eating better, exercising more; as well as making resolutions to be better people, manage our finances better, things like that. But, as we all know, ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Unrequited Love - Is God The Centre Of Your Affections? Series

Contributed by Nigel Heath on Feb 1, 2009

God created us for a relationship with Him in which he must come first, but our bias towards idolatry is the constant cause of all our ills.

1.2.09 UNREQUITED LOVE Jer 18:1-17 INTRO Do you remember the days of your first crush – when you fell head over heels in love with someone, but found out to your pain that the other person didn’t feel the same about you. Unrequited love – or love that is not reciprocated can take other forms. ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 18:1-17

Denomination: Baptist

Getting Life Right: Romans 10:1-17

Contributed by Vic Folkert on Jul 30, 2020

Righteousness: Right STANDING, Right RELATIONSHIP, Right BEHAVIOR, through Christ. Not by birth, religion, goodness. Evangelistic (Romans 10:9-10) and missional focus.

GETTING LIFE RIGHT—Romans 10:1-17 When I say the word “righteousness,” what pops into your head? Is it an image of a self-righteous person, who delights in being better than everyone else? Do you get defensive, because you know you’re not perfectly righteous? Do you have a ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:1-17

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Grace We Struggle To Accept: The Embrace Of Grace Series

Contributed by David Flowers on Apr 27, 2005

Grace is not only hard to understand, it is difficult to accept. While every human being has a deep need for acceptance, security, and significance, we tend to seek the meeting of those needs in other human beings, who can never really meet those needs.

Grace We Struggle to Accept: The Embrace of Grace Grace, prt. 2 Wildwind Community Church David K. Flowers 3/20/05 I want to start today’s message on an uncharacteristically heavy note. I have a few questions for you, and they’re the kind of questions that may not be easy for you to answer. ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:1-10

Denomination: Free Methodist

All Heaven Declares

Contributed by Derek Geldart on Oct 1, 2023

Though life might become very difficult and even threaten our earthly lives, we rejoice that as those who are atoned for and purchased by the Lamb, we will one day receive a crown of unspeakable happiness, God as our portion forever! Amen!

All Heaven Declares Psalms 89:1-18 Online Sermon: http://www.mckeesfamily.com/?page_id=3567 Ever have someone promise you something and doubt it would ever be fulfilled? While we would like to say that our word is 100% reliable, we often enter and subsequently break so many of our ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 89:1-18

Denomination: Baptist

Message In 1peter – Number 8 – Woe To You Lazy Ministers And Pastors Who Feed Yourselves And Not The Ones In Your Charge - 1peter 5:1-3 - Part 2 Series

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Aug 19, 2023

A shepherd must NOT be driven by the world’s agenda or ideology or greed. Righteous paths today are more difficult with all the liberal theology (satanic denial), WOKE, and Marxism pervading society and the church. The pastor must be skilled to lead the sheep in correct ways.

MESSAGE IN 1PETER – NUMBER 8 – WOE TO YOU LAZY MINISTERS AND PASTORS WHO FEED YOURSELVES AND NOT THE ONES IN YOUR CHARGE - 1Peter 5:1-3 - PART 2 THE ROLES OF SHEPHERDS/PASTORS IN THE LORD’S SERVICE [A]. THE INTRODUCTION This message is PART 2 of the previous message all about ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 23:1-4, Psalm 23:1-6, Jeremiah 10:21, Jeremiah 12:10, Jeremiah 50:6-7, Ezekiel 34:1-10, Jeremiah 25:34-36, Jeremiah 3:15, Jeremiah 23:3, Jeremiah 23:4, Ezekiel 34:23-24, 1 Peter 5:1-3  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Measuring Up To God's Standard

Contributed by Greg Tabor on Oct 21, 2005

You’ve got to think that the folks listening to Jesus were hoping for a replacement for the stringent Law of God that had become even more difficult to keep under the unbearable traditions of the Pharisees. I’m sure there were some great expectations. Aft

Measuring Up to God’s Standard 7/10/05 Lighthouse Assembly of God Pastor Greg Tabor Introduction You’ve got to think that the folks listening to Jesus were hoping for a replacement for the stringent Law of God that had become even more difficult to keep under the unbearable traditions of the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:17-20

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Why The Devil Takes Visa Series

Contributed by Brian Atwood on Jan 2, 2009

Wrong things to do when I’m angry, depressed, frustrated: 1) INVEST in pride; 2) BORROW bitterness; 3) TRADE relationships.

Have you ever felt like the world around you was moving at such an incredible speed while you were standing still? I mean, have you ever wondered if maybe you weren’t going anywhere in life, at least not everywhere you want to go? Have you ever asked yourself, “Is God even at work in my life? ...read more

Scripture: Esther 1:1-22

Denomination: Baptist

Establish Your Hearts Series

Contributed by Chris Anderson on Mar 19, 2023

Message 11 in a series through James that helps us explore the relationship between faith and works in our lives. James was the half-brother of Jesus and the leader of the church in Jerusalem.

We are officially 21 days away from Christmas morning. Anyone NOT have their Christmas tree up by now? Everyone else look around and take note of these people that might not love Jesus. We are officially in the thick of the Christmas season which I can’t even imagine given that it was just summer ...read more

Scripture: James 5:7-11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Jesus Meets The Woman At The Well

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Oct 22, 2018

Why is that sharp spiritual void we have within — a void that can only be filled by a relationship with God — so often seem blunted? (for Friend Day)

Jesus Meets the Woman at the Well (John 4:4-43) 1. A renowned philosopher was held in high regard by his driver, who listened in awe as his boss lectured and answered difficult questions about the nature of things and the meaning of life. Then, one day, the driver approached the philosopher and ...read more

Scripture: John 4:4-43

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Rules For Fighting Fair Series

Contributed by Brian Atwood on May 18, 2007

All relationships are subject to disagreements so we need to know how to make them better instead of making them bitter by the way we handle them.

Rules for Fighting Fair Part 6 of 6 in the series, "When Relationships Disappoint You, How to Find God’s Peace in the Pain." We’re finishing up the current series on relationships today and I know that if you apply the Scriptures we’ve talked about your relationships will enjoy a boost. Today ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 13:10

Denomination: Baptist

Awaiting The Glory Series

Contributed by Bobby Stults on May 6, 2012

Oh how I hate to wait... waiting is so difficult for me, but I have found that waiting is a 'universal' problem... it is just that some of us do it better than others and make better use of our time while we are waiting...

Sermon Brief Date Written: May 3, 2012 Date Preached: May 6, 2012 Where Preached: OPBC (AM) Sermon Details: Sermon Title: Waiting on the Glory!! Sermon Text: Romans 8:18-25 [NLT] Introduction: Show verses as I read…following me 18Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:18-25

Denomination: Baptist

Don't Give Up On God

Contributed by Jason Patrick on Dec 1, 2001

God appears obscure and enigmatic to us all at times, but as we persevere in our relationship with God we realize that God perseveres toward us also.

“Don’t Give Up on God” / Luke 18:1-8 Proper 24, Year C; Downsville Baptist Church; 21 October 2001 If Jesus is trying to teach us about the importance of persevering in our prayer lives, we wish he would have done it in a less confusing and puzzling manner. Perhaps his parable should have gone ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:1-8

Denomination: Baptist