Sermons on Difficult:

What Keeps The Believer From Sinking?

Contributed by Rodney Johnson Sr., on Nov 9, 2002

The believer is reminded to keep his focus on the eternal promises of God.

Introduction: I could not imagine life without the promises of God. When faced with life’s most difficult times, we do well to look beyond the difficulty to the power of God. God promises will keep us afloat in the midst of the most inundating waters. We are kept afloat by the meditating on the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:11-18

Denomination: Baptist

"And Jacob Was Left Alone..." By Dr. Winson Butler

Contributed by Winson Butler on Jun 21, 2005

Abraham Lincoln said, "My great concern is not whether you have failed, but whether you are content with your failure." Jacob knew this feeling so well. Let’s examine it together!

All of us at some time or another struggle with decision(s). The difficult part is when we struggle with ourselves and greater still with God! Tug of war is what it feels like. On one hand God says...and we respond..O.K. but! That’s where the trouble begins and before we know it we are wrestling ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 32:24

Denomination: Baptist

Labouring To Rest

Contributed by Duke Jeffries on Oct 18, 2000

A. INTRODUCTION 1.

A. INTRODUCTION 1. Could there be any more appropriate and applicable study for 20th century American believers than that of the rest of God? Our lives are hectic and demanding. We have taken upon ourselves daily schedules that our parents -- when they were at our place in their lives -- would ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 4:1-13

The Jad Syndrome

Contributed by Dan Dunn on Aug 15, 2001

Joyously Amazed Disbelief describes the too-good-to-be-true experiences of God’s grace that are critical for us to recognize, because in recognizing them we are empowered to share the good news of Christ’s love with others: CLAIM AND PROCLAIM.

Thursday I was down in Albany helping lead a workshop with some folks from the Albany First Methodist Church, and there was a young woman in the group who had a glow on her face the entire day. She was simply beaming. I later discovered that she’s going to be married next month. Observing the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:36-49

Denomination: Methodist

Trials And Temptations

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Mar 4, 2001

We have to endure trials, resist temptations and take responsibility for our own lives.

Oscar Wilde, the Irish born writer, liked to say, “I can resist anything … except temptation!” Wilde also believed: “The best way to deal with temptation is to yield to it!” All of us deal with temptation. If a person is not a Christian they just give in to temptation. But temptation is ...read more

Scripture: James 1:1-15

Denomination: Methodist

A New Way Of Relating - Mutual Submission Series

Contributed by Chris Appleby on Oct 18, 2000

The key to relating in God’s church is mutual submission. This aaplies to everyone in the church, young and old, male and female.

We come today to one of those difficult passages, that most preachers would prefer to avoid if at all possible. What we find here isn’t particularly popular in today’s world. Ours is an age of liberation. The idea of submission to authority is at variance with modern ideas of permissiveness and ...read more

Denomination: Anglican

A Captive For Christ Series

Contributed by William Yates on Nov 8, 2003

In this message we examine Paul’s determination to promote the gospel even though he is a prisoner.

Philippians 1 Christ Is Preached 12 But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, 13so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ; 14and most of the ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:12-26

Running On Empty Series

Contributed by Larry Thompson on Feb 16, 2003

The danger to every leader is the adherance to the lie, "I must do everything..." Delegation is critical to a leader’s success.

LESSONS IN LEADERSHIP – PART FIVE “RUNNING ON EMPTY” GENESIS 18:13-26 ©Larry L. Thompson (2003) “The next day Moses took his seat to serve as judge for the people, and they stood around him from morning till evening. [14] When his father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 18:13-26, Exodus 18:13-26

Denomination: Baptist

The Credible Christian Woman Series

Contributed by Chris Appleby on Dec 21, 2002

The Credible Christian woman will be found if she nurtures her inner being, if she is being herself, if she is being satisfied with the occupation in which she is engaged and if she will be present to others.

(By Di Appleby) ’For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven’. I think women know a lot about seasons. It’s tied up with our biology – we keep on experiencing changes. When we first menstruate, we come to realise that we are part of a sisterhood that shares a ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:1-15, Luke 10:38-42

Denomination: Anglican

Was It Your Will That An 18 Yr Old Girl Got Cancer And Died? Series

Contributed by Bradford Robinson on Mar 11, 2003

This is a sermon that dealt with a question about the death of an 18 yr old girl who passed away after battling cancer for 2 years. A member asked if I would address this topic.

Intro: 1) Explain the difficulty of this series and the struggle I had w/ this sermon. 2) Tell the story of Tonya Nowell 3) Debbie asked this difficult question, “Was it God’s will that this girl got cancer and died? 4) This leads to even more questions. Could God have stopped ...read more

Scripture: Job 42:1-6

Denomination: Methodist

Turning Trials Into Triumphs Series

Contributed by David Owens on May 1, 2006

In James 1:2-12 we learn five timeless, spiritual truths that enable us to turn trials into triumphs.

Introduction: A. In Max Lucado’s book, In The Eye Of The Storm (published in 1991), he tells a story about a parakeet named Chippie. 1. Chippie the parakeet never saw it coming. One second he was peacefully perched in his cage, and the next he was sucked in, washed up and blown over. 2. The ...read more

Scripture: James 1:2-12

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Right To Complain

Contributed by Rodney V Johnson on Aug 25, 2007

Our feeling that we have the right to complain.

The Right To Complain Scripture: Philippians 1:6; 12-14; 2:14-16; 4:4; 6-8; 11-13; 19 Introduction This Thursday we will celebrate the holiday Thanksgiving. This holiday is the first of two holidays where people take time out to give thanks and to be thankful. But this season also opens ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Finish Line 6: Surviving A Crash Series

Contributed by Geoff Baggett on Aug 1, 2005

This is the sixth message in my NASCAR-themed "Finish Line" series, focusing upon ways we can cope with tragedy and hard times in our lives. (05-22-05)

Surviving a Crash Job 1:13-22; 2:7-10; 38:4-11 Sermon Outline Bible Truths and LIFE Applications Tragedy, heartache, and difficult times … we have come to expect them in our lives. We know that even those of us who follow God faithfully are not immune to life’s “crashes.” We must realize that ...read more

Scripture: Job 1:13-22

Denomination: Baptist

"The Power Of Patience" Series

Contributed by John Hamby on Aug 29, 2005

Eleventh in a series on the book of James. When problems overwhelm us, (1) We are tempted to Lose Patience, (2) We are tempted to Lose Perspective, and (3) We are tempted to Blame Others.

A STUDY OF THE BOOK OF JAMES Sermon #11 THE POWER OF PATIENCE JAMES 5:7-11 Is patience difficult for you? A man in Los Angeles, California was arrested for negligent discharge of a weapon after shooting his toilet bowl ...read more

Scripture: James 5:7-11

Denomination: Baptist

Fellowship Matters

Contributed by Kevin Higgins on Jun 14, 2005

What fellowship is and its necessary elements.

God’s Glorious Church Fellowship Matters Acts 2:42 Woodlawn Baptist Church June 12, 2005 Introduction On Sunday nights for a while now I’ve been dealing with things that really matter concerning the health of a church. So far we’ve dealt with why discipleship matters, why worship matters, why ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:42

Denomination: Baptist