Sermons on Encouragement For Trials:

Presenting Our Vessels

Contributed by D. Dewaine Phillips on Feb 8, 2022

God can provide the ability to complete any task, but sometimes sacrifice is required. Whenever we make ourselves and our resources available to God, then His power and grace will flow through our lives and pour into our situation.

Have you ever experienced a time in your life in which you were going through trials and hard times? Probably everybody has. Perhaps during this time you felt distant from God and spiritually dry. Dwight L. Moody used to say, “The only way to keep a broken vessel full is to keep it always under ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 4:1-7

Denomination: Baptist

The Night God Didn’t Come Through

Contributed by Bright Adeyeye on Feb 9, 2022

Have you gone through a situation where you feel God hasn’t come through to help you?

“6 And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were keeping the prison. 7 Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and ...read more

Scripture: Acts 12:6-7, Romans 8:28

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

"Have A Believer’s Eye For Blessings”

Contributed by Michael Otterstatter on Feb 21, 2022

In our sermon today we will hear our Savior say that those who are poor, hungry, weeping, and persecuted are blessed. We need him to open our eyes to see how that can be so!

The prophet Elisha was a wanted man. The king of Aram (a nation to the northeast of the Holy Land) was at war with Israel. Aram is also called Syria and it was pretty much in the same area as modern-day Syria. But Elisha was frustrating all of his battle plans. Through God’s power ...read more

Scripture: Luke 6:17-26

Denomination: Lutheran

The Power Of Counting It All Joy

Contributed by Melvin Maughmer, Jr. on Jun 28, 2022

The human desire is to have every aspect of our life be smooth, so often we consider the hard times as God’s curse upon us or His punishment for our sin, rather than what they really are and that is opportunities to joyfully mature into Christlikeness.

The Power of Counting It All Joy By Bishop Melvin L. Maughmer, Jr. OPENING: - The human desire is to have every aspect of our life be smooth, without trials, tribulations, hard-times, disappointments, and sadness. Too often, we see trials in a negative light, or we assume that there is no way joy ...read more

Denomination: Apostolic

Getting Our Attention

Contributed by Perry Greene on Jul 25, 2022

God uses hardships to get our attention.

I am sure you remember the story of the farmer with the exceptional mule. The mule was a hard worker and could do things that amazed other farmers. One day the farmer wanted to show off his mule to his friends. They watched in shock as the farmer hit the mule between the eyes with a 2 x 4 stud. The ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 78:34

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Danger Of Discouragement #2 Of 2

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Feb 23, 2022

In a previous sermon, we discovered something that we all have in common, that is, we all get discouraged.

And if you ever hear a fellow say that he never gets discouraged, watch out for him! Illus: He will also probably tell you he likes to take cold showers when it is 30? below zero. For some, discouragement has become a way of life. That is, if you talk to them today they are discouraged, and if ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 17:18-24

Denomination: Baptist

Let Jesus Pilot Your Boat

Contributed by D. Dewaine Phillips on Mar 3, 2022

In our voyage through life, we will encounter both smooth sailing and tempestuous seas brought on by raging storms or trials. We must realize that the Captain, Jesus Christ, is the only One who can pilot our boat safely into harbor.

The first line of a well-known hymn says, “Jesus, lover of my soul, let me to Thy bosom fly. While the nearer waters roll, while the tempest still is high: Hide me, O my Savior, hide, till the storm of life is past. Safe into the haven guide; O receive my soul at last.”(1) Charles Wesley ...read more

Scripture: John 6:15-21

Denomination: Baptist

The Refiner’s Fire

Contributed by D. Dewaine Phillips on Mar 13, 2022

In this passage, Ezekiel described the Babylonian exile as being the crucible in which Israel was melted down, and the godly (the silver) were separated from the unrighteous (the dross). The purpose of the refiner's fire is spiritual purification.

I wish to begin our message with an illustration: There was a dedicated Christian woman who once visited a tourist attraction, which happened to be a working replica of a pioneer village; and one of the manned displays she observed was a silversmith shop. The woman watched the silversmith as he ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 22:17-22

Denomination: Baptist

Staying Upbeat When You Are Being Beaten Up!

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Mar 15, 2022

Everyone has troubles. Some are better than others at covering their troubles up, but I can assure you that everyone has troubles.

Illus: Did you hear about the four expectant fathers that were in a Minneapolis hospital waiting room, while their wives were in labor? • The nurse arrived and announced to the first man, "Congratulations sir, you're the father of twins." "What a coincidence" the man said ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 143:1-7

Denomination: Baptist

The Suffering Saint

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Mar 16, 2022

Make no mistake about it, SAINTS and SINNERS in this life suffer. Some who promote “Easy-Believism” in order to win converts to the Lord, paint a picture of the Christian life as a fairy tale.

You accept the Lord and live happily ever after. But that is not true. SAINTS, like the SINNERS in this life have their share of suffering. • We may not suffer for the same reasons they suffer, but we suffer • Many times for the SAINTS and the SINNERS, the sufferings come from bad decisions they ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 38:1-15

Denomination: Baptist

Standing Firm Series

Contributed by Dr. Dave Hartson on May 11, 2022

Are you standing firm? Do you really know what Standing Firm means?

Introduction: The Bible tells us several times in the New Testament to “Stand Firm.” Paul, when he tells us to put on the whole armor of God, says to “stand firm.” Paul in writing to the Corinthians tells them to “stand firm.” Once again, Paul this time writing from prison to the church at ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Sleeping Through A Garden Moment

Contributed by Chris Swanson on Oct 18, 2022

This is the story of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. No doubt we have all heard this story preached, read it ourselves, or seen movies regarding the Crucifixion of Christ. He was the perfect Son, in perfect union, with the perfect Father.

Was Jesus attempting to escape the performance of his undertaking? Jesus was communicating his actual sentiments however he did not deny or oppose God's will. He reaffirmed his desire to do what God needed him to do. His petition features the awful enduring he needed to suffer, and desolation ...read more

Scripture: Mark 14:32-42, Matthew 26:36-46, Luke 22:39-46

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Benefits Of Adversity

Contributed by Derrick White Sr on Oct 23, 2022

BECAUSE SOMETIMES THE SITUATIONS OF LIFE WILL SUCK YOU IN WASH YOU UP AND BLOW YOU OVER THAT IS------- SUCK US INTO A VICIOUS CURCUMSTANCE AND WASH US OVER WITH WORRY AND WEARINESS AND BLOW US OVER WITH BURDENS

THE BENEFITS OF ADVERSITY Job 23:10 (NKJV) 10  But He knows the way that I take; When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold. THE WORD OF GOD FOR THE CHILDREN OF GOD VERY BRIEFLY I WANT TO REASON WITH YOU ON THE THOUGHT (THE BENEFITS OF ADVERSITY ) MY BROTHERS AND MY SISTERS A ...read more

Scripture: Job 23:10

Denomination: Baptist

The Biggest Mistake Of All

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Mar 19, 2023

Why did the crowd choose Barabbas over Jesus? Does it say something about their priorities - and ours?

Nathan wished he were anything but here. When he had reported for duty that morning he had no idea what he was getting into. Usually he loved being a temple guard. The pay was good, the duty was light, and the prestige was awesome. The hardest thing he had to do was keep his mouth shut about what ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 27:15-23

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Warnings And Promises For Evil Days. Revised.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Apr 13, 2023

The end is not yet.

WARNINGS AND PROMISES FOR EVIL DAYS. Revised. Luke 21:5-19. Every so often we are confronted with all the uncertainty that arises from the dawn of what seem to be evil days. Over one hundred years ago people wondered if the fierce battles of World War One represented the Apocalyptic ...read more

Scripture: Luke 21:5-19

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational