Sermons on Difficult Start:

"... And A Happy New Year!"

Contributed by Spencer Homan on Jan 19, 2009

This is a sermon that uses the fresh start of the new year as an analogy for a fresh start in Christ.

“… and a happy new year!” [Begin with a powerpoint slide titled “I Promise To…” and have it display all the things we promise to change for the new year: work out every day, eat healthier, loose 10 pounds, spend more time with the kids, be a better spouse, finally finish that “to do” list, go to ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 1:15-16

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Pray For Peace In God's Path Series

Contributed by John Dobbs on Dec 18, 2019

Peace of mind is one of the greatest blessings we can enjoy, and one of the most difficult to attain. It is not difficult because it is not available, it is difficult because we do not seek it in God’s way.

Pray for Peace in God’s Path Luke 1:76-79 Introduction Peace of mind is one of the greatest blessings we can enjoy, and one of the most difficult to attain. It is not difficult because it is not available, it is difficult because we do not seek it in God’s way. During this Advent series ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:76-79

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Whose Vine Is It Anyway? Series

Contributed by Steven Dow on Jul 10, 2004

Part 2 of 3 in the series "A Declaration of Dependence." We must (1) stop denying and start depending; (2) stop trying and start trusting; (3) stop resisting and start persisting; (4) stop pouting and start praying; and (5) stop delaying and start obeyin

WHOSE VINE IS IT ANYWAY? A Declaration of Dependence John 15:1-8 July 11, 2004 Introduction: This week we will be continuing our series titled “A Declaration of Dependence.” During this month in which we celebrate our independence as a nation I want us to turn our attention to our dependence ...read more

Scripture: John 15:1-10

When Life Seems Scattered Series

Contributed by Brad Bailey on Aug 22, 2012

Navigating life's difficult circumstances.

When Life Seems Scattered Series: BREAKOUT – God on the Move through the Book of Acts Brad Bailey – April 29, 2012 Intro One thing we each have in our lives… is circumstances… things outside ourselves that effect the context we are in. Some circumstances we welcome… ...read more

Scripture: Acts 8:1-8

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Psalm 103

Contributed by Dean Rhine on Nov 3, 2016

Praising God in Difficult Times

Psalm 103 - 7/31/16 PM Funny: A woman fell out of a second-floor window and landed in a slow-moving garbage truck. Half-buried in the litter, she tried without success to get the truck-driver’s attention. A foreign diplomat standing on the sidewalk saw her and quipped, “another example ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 103:1-22

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Why Some Verses Are Hard To Understand Lesson 1 Series

Contributed by Elmer Towns on Feb 11, 2019

How to deal with difficult verses

A. INTRODUCTION: WHY SOME VERSES ARE HARD 1. Because God is truthful, He wrote a Bible that is truthful. Truth is consistent with its self, and correlates with reality (the laws of nature). 2. What appears to be a contradiction, has an explanation. 3. We won’t understand everything. Peter said ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 3:15-16

Denomination: Baptist

Comfort In The Chaos

Contributed by Stephen E. Trail on Nov 12, 2024

How to thrive in difficult times.

Comfort in the Chaos Acts 16:20-35 20 And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city, 21 And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans. 22 And the multitude rose up together against them: and the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:20-35

Denomination: Baptist

Fiery Trials

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Jan 16, 2011

Standing up for Christ in difficult times

Reading: 1 Peter chapter 4 verses 12-19. • We’ve noted in past studies that every Christian who lives a godly life; • Will at some stage experiences a certain amount of persecution. • That’s part of the package! i.e. 2 Timothy chapter 3 verse 12. • The apostle Peter has already dealt with this ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:12-19

Denomination: Brethren

God Wants To Do A New Thing In Your Life

Contributed by Wayne Searls on Aug 24, 2003

To motivate the hearer to seek a new vision and a new in-terest in the things of God.

GOD WANTS TO DO A NEW THING IN YOUR LIFE Isaiah 43:18,19 TEXT: Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland. PROPOSITION: To motivate the hearer to seek a ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 43:18-19, Isaiah 43:1-19, Isaiah 43:18-21

Denomination: Nazarene

Better Beginnings

Contributed by Bill Bowdle on Feb 1, 2018

BETTER BEGINNINGS for New Year help build our lives on better foundations, resulting in better endings. 1:RECOGNIZE GOD AS CREATOR (In beginning God..); 2: RESPECT GOD W. REVERENCE (Fear of God=beginning of wisdom) ; 3: RECEIVE CHRIST FOR NEW BEGINNINGS.

“BETTER BEGINNINGS” by REV. BILL BOWDLE ====================================== Retired United Methodist Pastor - Liberty Township, Ohio, Delivered this message at a nearby UMC during it's pastor's vacation on 01/07/2018 Genesis 1:1, Proverbs 9:10; John 1:1-4,12 ============= INTRODUCTION ...read more

Denomination: United Methodist

Selling Herself Cheaply Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Feb 4, 2021

God makes room for all, even for those women we routinely dismiss because of a soiled past. If God accepts Rahab the prostitute, He will accept me if I look to Him in faith.

“Joshua the son of Nun sent two men secretly from Shittim as spies, saying, ‘Go, view the land, especially Jericho.’ And they went and came into the house of a prostitute whose name was Rahab and lodged there. And it was told to the king of Jericho, ‘Behold, men of Israel have come here tonight ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 2:1-7

Denomination: Baptist

In Times Like These (A Message Of Encouragement)

Contributed by Larry Wilson on Jul 20, 2010

Paul had set the example of joyfulness in difficult times. In prison, after beatings, Paul and Silas had sung praises. Now, in the difficult times of their life, Paul gives advice for believers in difficult times.

In Times Like These: A Message of Encouragement Philippians 4:1-8 Calvary Baptist Church October 19, 2008 INTRODUCTION • The church at Philippi had fallen on difficult times. APPLY! – We are in difficult times! (The economy, the election) • The story of the founding of this church may be read in ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

Parenting On Purpose Series

Contributed by Jerry Gatson on Feb 18, 2020

2020 is The Year of the Turnaround. Turnaround starts with me! Turnaround starts at home. Turnaround starts with Parenting on Purpose to train up the children in the way they should grow and go!

Isaiah 1:17 says that doing well is a learned process. In order to learn to do well, we must be trained. When I was in the U.S. Army, we did what was called Train-up Training. Train-up training is training for the next level while you are still on the previous level. Likewise, training children ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 22:6

Denomination: Charismatic

God Is Bigger Than My Expectations Series

Contributed by Scott Maze on Jun 9, 2021

God finishes what He starts. And He has started something in many of you. If God has saved you from your sins, this is simply the start.

Today, we begin a series entitled, God is Bigger. This will be a short 4-week study of the book of Philippians. I want invite you to supersize your faith in the coming days by turning to Philippians 1. Easter Sunday was a good day of harvest for our church family 12 people indicated they either ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:3-11, Ephesians 3:20-21

Denomination: Baptist

Repentance Matthew 4:17

Contributed by Todd Stacey on Nov 21, 2009

Repentance is the starting point

Matthew 4: 17 from that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” (TNIV) Repentance is the first step to having the kingdom of God to enter our lives. What is repentance? Repentance is the profound change of mind involving the changing of the direction of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:17

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational