Sermons on Difficult Relationships:

Promises To Keep Before I Sleep

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Nov 8, 2007

We find it difficult to keep promises because we are focused on dealing with today’s issues. We back off our commitments to God because they are hard, but we can receive help from accountability partners, and can know joy and fulfillment.

To be a saint is not to be perfect; to be a saint is to be someone who makes promises and keeps them. Sainthood is not some magic status, conferred by the church for merit or miracles; sainthood is ordinary people living in extraordinary faithfulness, making promises and keeping them. Did you ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 1:48

Denomination: Baptist

Hope For The Hopeless Series

Contributed by Darren Ethier on May 9, 2002

8 of 10 of the series, Supernatural Transformation. Jesus faced many difficult times in His ministry here on earth but probably none were more dark than the hour He was betrayed in the Garden of Gethsemane. Yet, in this experience we find that Jesus had

HOPE FOR THE HOPELESS Romans 12:12 Read at beginning of service: Romans 12:12 (NIV) 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. INTRODUCTION Matthew 26:46-56 (NIV) 46 Rise, let us go! Here comes my betrayer!" 47 While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:12, Matthew 26:46-56

Denomination: Pentecostal

First And Last Things Series

Contributed by Chris Appleby on Aug 7, 2008

We live in a world that is often difficult to understand, where sometimes we just have to trust that God is in control, even if it seems that things are upside down, even if we find we can’t straighten out the things that are crooked in this world. But we

How did a book like Ecclesiastes get in the Bible? Did someone make a mistake, do you think? I don’t know about you but I find the beginning of the book a bit depressing. Some people find it quite disturbing as it reinforces the doubts that they may have already about God’s place in the scheme of ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 1:1-11

Denomination: Anglican

A Slave’s Life Matters

Contributed by John Lowe on Mar 2, 2016

Hagar is property! You can imagine how difficult and disappointing her life was? When the master and the mistress of the household decide that Hagar can be used to bear them an heir, Hagar is not consulted. She is simply told what her role will be.

February 21, 2016 Tom Lowe Title: A Slave’s Life Matters Scripture Reading: Philippians 3:13-16 Today I want to tell you about a woman who was abused, rejected, and almost died. She is in the Bible, but you probably don’t recall much about her. Her story is not well-known, even to ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:13-16

Denomination: Baptist

Resurrection Deception

Contributed by Robert Sickler on Jan 9, 2015

It is very difficult to recognize that which we are convinced cannot exist in our life time. This then is the point; the rapture is real but pre-tribulation-rapture doctrine has a very high potential for supporting Satan’s deception, which masks the coming of the antichrist.

RESURRECTION DECEPTION SNAKE OIL There has always been someone who was willing to sell worthless crap to those gullible enough to buy it, and this is also true for Christians. Christendom is over flowing with those who are simple enough to buy almost anything the snake-oil-doctrine purveyors are ...read more

Scripture: John 5:28-29

Denomination: Christian Church

Accepting The Need To Be Accepting

Contributed by Derrick Tuper on Aug 2, 2020

Over the past four months, we've had to accept a lot of changes because of COVID-19. That, along with whatever else has happened in our lives. Although acceptance can be difficult, we need to learn to do it as graciously.

ACCEPTING THE NEED TO BE ACCEPTING As we continue to battle the pandemic there are certain things that have happened where people have chosen not to accept certain guidelines. There have been mass gatherings of unmasked people closer than six feet apart. Businesses have reopened although they ...read more

Scripture: Job 2:9-10, 2 Corinthians 11:3-4, Hebrews 6:12, Acts 2:41, Romans 14:1-3, Romans 15:7  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Going The Extra Mile When You Have To Grind Your Teeth And Fight

Contributed by Gordon Mcculloch on Mar 16, 2014

Summary: This sermon supports the understanding of humility, which use properly is one of the best weapons in a Christian’s arsenal; by traveling a second mile on a difficult, lonely road; a road Jesus knew and traveled, a road he want us to travel also.

Word Count 2513 Leviticus 19:1-2,9-18 1 Corinthians 3:10-11,16-23 Matthew 5:38-48 Psalm 119:33-40 This sermon was delivered to St Oswald’s in Maybole, and St John in Girvan, Scotland on the 23rd February 2014 (Scottish Episcopal Churches in the Dioceses of Glasgow and Dumfries) {this was ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:38-48

Denomination: Episcopal

Herod - The King Who Couldn't Kill Jesus Series

Contributed by Eloy Gonzalez on Apr 1, 2009

Lent 6 Mid-week: Herod’s treachery, brutality and paranoia showed itself in the taking of many lives. This kind of evil drives some very difficult questions. These find their answer in Jesus, whose love, suffering and sacrifice gave live to many.

During the mid-week Lenten worship services, we’ve spent our time considering the earthly kings who served as leaders of Israel. It’s been a pretty motley crew – hasn’t it? Life at the top of the food chain during the history of God’s people has not been much different from what we find at the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:13-20

Denomination: Lutheran

Momentary Troubles To Eternal Majesty

Contributed by Lalachan Abraham on Jan 2, 2013

God uses trouble to teach His children precious lessons. They are intended to educate us. When their good work is done, a glorious recompense will come to us through them. There is a sweet joy and a real value in them. He does not regard them as difficult

Momentary troubles to Eternal majesty “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” (2 Cor. 4:17). If there is one thing that this world is not short of it is troubles and disadvantages. But turning that adversity into ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:17-18

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Don't Give Up Series

Contributed by Brady Boyd on Oct 21, 2021

Growing up, my parents never let me quit. If I committed to a team or a project, I had to finish. Today, it seems quitting is a pandemic. We quit friends, our churches, our commitments the moment any of it becomes difficult or inconvenient.

The Revolutionary Gospel Galatians 6 – Don’t Give Up October 24, 2021 Growing up, my parents never let me quit. If I committed to a team or a project, I had to finish. Today, it seems quitting is a pandemic. We quit friends, our churches, our commitments the moment any of it becomes difficult or ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:7-9, Luke 5:16

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Holy Spirit Filled Faith

Contributed by Samuel M on Jun 25, 2024

When God gives a promise or a word, and when situations becomes completely opposite (to God’s promise) and very difficult, but there is joy that God will surely fulfil it, this is Holy Spirit-filled (or given) faith. Faith is reflected or manifested as joy.

For we walk by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7 When God gives a promise or a word, and when situations becomes completely opposite (to God’s promise) and very difficult, but there is joy that God will surely fulfil it, this is Holy Spirit-filled (or given) faith. Faith is reflected or ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:7

Defiling Dreamers Are In Stark Contrast With Michael The Archangel - Jude 1 V 8-9 Series

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Aug 13, 2022

The dispute over the body of Moses is so difficult a verse when Michael and Satan argued over Moses' body. The details are not known. Jude continues his exposure of false teachers and hones in this time on the dreamers who defile the flesh, brazen and wicked.

DEFILING DREAMERS ARE IN STARK CONTRAST WITH MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL - Jude 1 v 8-9 Jude 1:8 “Yet in the same manner these men, also by dreaming, defile the flesh, and reject authority, and revile angelic majesties, Jude 1:9 but Michael the archangel, when he disputed with the devil and argued ...read more

Scripture: Jude 1:8, Isaiah 56:10, Romans 6:1-2, 2 Peter 2:9-11, Daniel 9:21, Daniel 10:11-14, Daniel 10:20-21, Ephesians 6:12, Deuteronomy 34:5  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Something To Hold On To Series

Contributed by John Dobbs on Sep 5, 2025

In the storms of life, when things look really bad, can we trust that God will keep his promises? In this series of lessons we will be looking in the Scriptures for some of the promises of God that will see us through the difficult days - and we all have them

The Shelter of God’s Promises #1 Something To Hold On To For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory. - 2 Corinthians 1:20 Introduction Sheila Walsh begins her book The Shelter of God’s Promises by telling of ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:20

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Sermon # 19 - God Knows Our Fears Series

Contributed by Andrew Dixon on May 13, 2025

Isaac was fearful, he was surrounded by those who envied him and treated him unfairly, but God was with Isaac. Our fears and difficult situations are all known to God and He can turn everything around if only we learn to trust Him wholeheartedly.

For our study and meditation today let us read Genesis 26:23-24, From there Isaac went to Beersheba. The LORD spoke to him that night and said, "I am the God of your father Abraham. Don't be afraid. I am with you, and I will bless you. I will make your family great. I will do this because ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 26:23-24, Genesis 26:14-15, Genesis 26:12, Genesis 27:4, Genesis 26:19-22, Genesis 26:25-28, Proverbs 16:7, Proverbs 27:4  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Other

Matthew 5 - Part 11 - Quick, I Think I Need A Lawyer! Series

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Dec 31, 2009

When it comes to the law, I am not merely an in-law (one whose relationship with God is based on a set of rules and regulations) or an outlaw (one who wants to live outside the law). I need a lawyer!

Matthew 5 - Part 11 - I think I need a lawyer? I once went to court on behalf of young mother with an intellectual disability. She was a difficult person and the Department of Children’s Services had decided, in their wisdom, to apply the letter of the law and take away her child. It was my task ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:17-20

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational