Sermons on Difficult Relationships:

Forgiveness -Vs- Victimhood

Contributed by Michael Carter on Dec 2, 2019

Christians whose tenuous relationship with God hangs by some vaporous thread of hope all the while they continue clinging and subscribing to worldly ideologies are seeking forgiveness in the mouth of evil.

Forgiveness I was on a phone call this last week with someone very near and dear to my heart. Just before we ended the long, cheerful Thanksgiving day conversation, I asked a question that I’d not contemplated or asked before. I felt a bit weird even asking it, but there it came out. For some ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 103:2, Romans 12:18, Jeremiah 17:9, Isaiah 66:2, Romans 2:14-15  (view more)  (view less)

My Purpose In Life Series

Contributed by Kevin Ruffcorn on Mar 25, 2005

Our relationships with other people are vital avenues for God’s Spirit to reach people and touch lives. We are instruments that God uses to love people and offer them the gift of faith.

Mark 8:27-38 “My Purpose In Life” INTRODUCTION Have you ever found yourself questioning the purpose of your life—asking “Why?” Often, we find ourselves questioning our purpose for living, when we are confronted by difficult times in our lives. We wonder about our purpose in life when we ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:27-46

Denomination: Lutheran

Reactions To The Crucifixion Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Dec 31, 2006

How do you react to the cross of Jesus? It may say a lot about your spiritual condition and your relationship to Christ. Learn how many of the witnesses reacted.

If you really want to get a reaction on something from somebody-mention the cross of Jesus Christ. From the recent Mel Gibson movie The Passion of the Christ, right on back through the generations and millennia-mentioning the cross instantly puts people into several camps and creates a response ...read more

Scripture: Luke 23:1-56

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Time To Change Seats Series

Contributed by Blake Inscore on Sep 1, 2008

To “change seats” when it comes to our relationship with the Lord requires us to give up trying to “fly” our own lives and allow Jesus to set our course.

Introduction: Today we are continuing our series of messages on the importance of love and unity in the Church. When we began several weeks ago we saw that the key to unity within the Body of Christ is love. That is why Paul said in Colossians 3:14—“Above all, put on love—the perfect bond of ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:12-14

Denomination: Baptist

The Shepherd, The Sheep, And The Church

Contributed by Douglas Phillips on Jul 7, 2001

This sermon speaks of the relationship between Christ and His church as that of the Shepherd and sheep. It looks at some of Satan’s pitfalls in the church, as thieves and robbers, and relates the sheepfold to the church.

The Shepherd, The Sheep, And the Church Introduction: I believe that of the many images that Jesus identifies Himself with in the New Testament, one that brings solace to many is that of the shepherd. Many stained glass windows in our churches portray Jesus as ...read more

Scripture: John 10:1-21

Denomination: Baptist

The Friendship Factor - Part 1 Series

Contributed by Daniel Harman on Mar 19, 2008

Preaching on the importance of building & maintaining friendships. Encourages members to invest time in relationships & cultivate a ‘Friendship Factor’ within in the church & learn about its healthy benefits.

THE FRIENDSHIP FACTOR (Part 1) By Pastor Daniel Harman on INTERNATIONAL FRIENDSHIP DAY MEDIA CLIP: Ice Age, Lethal Weapon or Friends OPENING SONG: I’LL BE THERE FOR YOU (FRIENDS THEME TUNE)or YOU’VE GOT A FRIEND (Nat King Cole) or LEAN ON ME Theme: Friendship Anagrams: DR FINE HIPS / RED FISH ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 15:32-37

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Who Do You Believe? Introduction (Session 0) Series

Contributed by Dean Courtier on Jan 23, 2010

There may be times when you find it difficult to reconcile God’s truth to your own opinion or worldview, God’s truth is eternal, it does not change, our understanding of the truth does change as we allow God to work in our hearts and minds. These sessio

Who you believe: Introduction In this series of studies we continue our quest to establish what is true about God, the Bible and us. Ask ten people the question “What is a Christian?” and you will probably get 10 different answers. Some answers may contain a grain of truth, others ...read more

Scripture: John 10:10

Denomination: Pentecostal

Dealing With Dificult People Part 1 Series

Contributed by Rodney Fry on Aug 8, 2004

Dealing with Difficult people use scriptureFrom the time we were babies, we all have found ways in which to "get our way". Some are legitimate means of obtaining your objectives ... others are means whereby we manipulate people. These means of manipulatio

PAGE 1 DEALING WITH DIFICULT PEOPLE PART 1 From the time we were babies, we all have found ways in which to "get our way". Some are legitimate means of obtaining your objectives ... others are means whereby we manipulate people. These means of manipulation are usually an irritant to those who ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:14-16

Denomination: Baptist

What Jesus’ Grief Over Jerusalem Reveals Series

Contributed by Otis Mcmillan on Mar 30, 2023

The reasons for grief are many, such as the loss of a loved one, the loss of health, or the letting go of a long-held dream. Dealing with a significant loss can be one of the most difficult times in a person's life. Jesus sees God’s dream for Jerusalem slipping away.

Sermon: What Jesus’ Grief over Jerusalem Reveals Matthew 23:37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God’s messengers! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn’t let me. 38 And now, look, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:1-36, Matthew 23:37-39, Acts 7:51-53, Proverbs 29:1-2

Denomination: Methodist

It Doesn't Matter: Who You Are Series

Contributed by Jeffrey Sims on Jan 29, 2019

This sermon should help people realize that their Pedigree and financial statement are not enough to give them salvation. It helps point them in the direction of Christ and a relationship with Him for true eternal salvation

In our world today who you are means something, you hear it a lot from folks who think their family name and genealogy should mean something to someone. I think the phrase “Do you know who I am” comes out most often when those who think more of themselves than they should are struggling at a ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:4-11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Built To Last Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Dec 7, 2021

Church congregations need to withstand storms: changes in membership, changes in leadership, differing political situations, changes in culture, and a host of potential challenges. Church congregations need to be strengthened and reinforced.

Built to Last (Romans 16:1-27) Intro 1. My kids just got a puppy that is scared of every appliance in the house, but one in particular. I suggested they name the dog, “Nature.” Because nature abhors a vacuum. 2. Appliances are not what they used to be. Old appliances were built to last. 3. We had ...read more

Scripture: Romans 16:1-27

Denomination: Independent/Bible

What Do We Know For Sure?

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Nov 19, 2002

In this day & age, sometimes it is difficult to know what is true & what is false. But surely, there are some things we can count on, some things we can know for sure. Just what do we know for sure?

MELVIN M. NEWLAND, MINISTER RIDGE CHAPEL, KANSAS, OK (Revised: 2019) GOD WANTS US TO BE SURE! TEXT: 1 John 5:11-13; John 10:14,27-28; Romans 8:31-39 What do we know for sure? ILL. The great preacher, John Wesley, once said, “When I was young I was sure of everything. But after a few years, ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 5:11-13, John 10:14, John 10:27-28

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Promises

Contributed by Lou Nicholes on Apr 6, 2005

Misunderstandings are often very difficult to untangle, because one misunderstanding often leads to another. This is what had happened to Paul as he was forced to make a change of plans. In Paul’s initial itinerary, he had intended to go immediately from

THOUGHTS ABOUT THE PASSAGE: C.S. Lewis in his biography tells of the suffering he endured because he kept a promise he had made to a buddy during World War I. This friend was worried about the care of his wife and small daughter if he should be killed in battle, so Lewis assured him that if that ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:15-22

Denomination: Baptist

What To Do When You Are In Exile, Part 1

Contributed by S Henriques on Jan 27, 2003

Don’t we all know the feeling of being in a complicated and difficult environment that feels sometimes as though we are in a foreign land? We find ourselves being forced into an unpleasant situation we would never choose for ourselves, and it looks as tho

What To Do When You Are In Exile Jeremiah 29:1-13 by S. M. Henriques Folks, I have been so eager to bring you this message of hope and good news this morning. I am truly excited about what God wants to say to you and me today. Suppose that this afternoon, a group of soldiers was to storm into ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 29:1-14

Denomination: Baptist

When God Can't Be Explained

Contributed by Danny Anderson on Oct 28, 2006

Tragedy is often difficult to cope with, hard to understand, hard to explain, and it’s hard on our faith. Tragedy often causes people to lay the blame for these events on God. This will often cause these people to become bitter and cynical toward Him. Of

When God Can’t Be Explained Introduction: As we look back over the last several years, we see recent history dotted with some very tragic events. Middle Eastern terrorists have made a number of attacks against America in various ways - their crowning achievement, of course, being 9/11. The tsunami ...read more

Scripture: Habakkuk 1:1-4

Denomination: Baptist