Sermons on Difficult:

The True Vine Series

Contributed by Allan Quak on Apr 16, 2021

Jesus the True Vine is the Only source of spiritual life. For us to know if we are a true disciple or a fake disciple we need recognise the difference between the Father bringing us through a difficult pruning process, or the Father cutting us off.

Message John 15:1 I Am The True Vine There are seven “I am” passages of Jesus … the last of which is found in John 15:1-6 (read) I suspect there are plenty of us who remember the “I am the vine; you are the branches” part. I wonder how many also remembered the “I am the vine, and my Father is ...read more

Scripture: John 15:1, John 15:5

Denomination: Baptist

Courageous Prayer: Words & Meditations Acceptable

Contributed by John Gaston on Sep 22, 2021

David prayed asking God to help his words and thoughts come up to God's standard of perfection. David's ambition of striving to please God even in the most difficult areas should be our goal as well.

COURAGEOUS PRAYER: WORDS & MEDITATIONS ACCEPTABLE Ps. 19:14 INTRODUCTION A. HUMOR 1. Jeannie Gibbs was trying to have her mother’s phone disconnected, but the customer-service rep told her that since the account was in her dad’s name, he’d have to be the one to put in the request. 2. The ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 19:14

Denomination: Assembly Of God

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

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

Knowing What To Pray For Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on Apr 24, 2003

Sometimes it’s difficult to know how to pray and what to pray for. Paul challenges us to pray with devotion so that the gospel message will go out clearly as we give out grace to those who do not yet know Christ.

Knowing What to Pray For Many of us have been on a trip together. As you look around this room it may not seem like it, but we’ve been fellow passengers and on several occasions, I’ve served as your tour guide. Our trips have not always been pleasant, but most have been memorable. In fact, at ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 4:2-6, Colossians 4:2

Denomination: Baptist

Sarah: When God Is Silent Series

Contributed by Aaron Burgess on Nov 20, 2002

The most difficult times in life are when God is silent. We must learn to be patient and wait on God. Sarah was a woman in the Bible who learned that it is hard to deal with God especially when he is silent. Contains some valuable lessons to be learn f

Sarah: When God Seems Silent Genesis 16 I’ve told you before the story of John Claypool who in his book The Light Within You tells of his young daughter who was diagnosed with Leukemia and was in a tremendous amount of pain. One night in the hospital she asked him, “Daddy, when will my pain go ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 16:1-9

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Rejection Test

Contributed by Doug Morrell on Dec 5, 2005

It is completely unnatural, painful and difficult to risk friendships when you are truly about God’s work, but Jesus never flinched in His pursuit of God’s will - in the end you will discover those who are there for the show and those who show Christ-like

As I was reading in I Peter 4:1-19 from The Message I came across some passages that appear to be very timely: Since Jesus went through everything you’re going through and more, learn to think like him. Think of your sufferings as a weaning from that old sinful habit of always expecting to get ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:1-19

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Work In Progress Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jan 14, 2001

When the real Jesus is seen, he presents problems -- either he is too difficult for us to accept, or he is offensive to our sloppy ways of doing church, or we are just too tired of churchiness -- but his words of life revive our weariness.

I notice that they’ve revived one of the old-time television shows. We can once again see, “To Tell the Truth”. The idea of “To Tell the Truth” is that three people come out, and they all stand and give a name – the same name. Then someone reads a few sentences about the person who actually has ...read more

Scripture: John 6:60-69

Denomination: Baptist

Faces: Nehemiah Series

Contributed by John Braland on Apr 3, 2007

Nehemiah reads like a novel and is full of practical wisdom for many of today’s complex problems. We read it to gain wisdom and for direction. Nehemiah has been an example to many when it comes to dealing with difficult people and he has been an inspira

The movie Amazing Grace accounts the determination of a man named William Wilberforce who spends his life crusading for the abolition of slavery. Wilberforce came from a prosperous family that lived near a North Sea port which saw little in the way of slave trading. At the young age of 21 he was ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

How The Holy Spirit Can Lead You As He Led Ezekiel

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Sep 17, 2006

Allow the Holy Spirit to lead you as He led Ezekiel by learning from this fine Biblical example of leadership. The Holy Spirit directed Ezekiel to take on a difficult ministry of speaking to an obstinate and hard hearted audience. His example teaches us t

How The Holy Spirit Can Lead You as He Led Ezekiel Ezekiel 2:1 (NIV, NIRV, TNIV, KJV) How The Holy Spirit Can Lead You as He Led Ezekiel Allow the Holy Spirit to lead you as He led Ezekiel by learning from this fine Biblical example of leadership. The Holy Spirit directed Ezekiel to ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 2:1-10

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

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

Called To Die

Contributed by Dale Pilgrim on Oct 27, 2009

“The multitudes were taking discipleship very easily; He will drive them away rather than have them on such terms; He will make them see, by any forcefulness of expression, that discipleship is supremely difficult. And so He declares His terms.”

Called to Die Luke 14:25-35 Promise Keeper’s November 2006 … 6,000 men rocked the Hershey Centre in Mississauga with gut-wrenching worship and passionate desire that God would rush in and baptize us. Speaker after speaker stood with power and pizzazz as the audience remained riveted to every word. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:25-35

Denomination: Salvation Army

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

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

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