Sermons on Expect Trials:

God's Way In The Wilderness

Contributed by Jaco Bester on Feb 13, 2013

A reflection on the fact that God often meets us in the most difficult places...

MEETING GOD IN THE WILDERNESS... ISAIAH 40:1-11 Introduction: Someone once said that it is “only when we are brought to the end of ourselves (in other words our own strength and ability) that we are in a position to see more of God than we have seen.” How true is it that it is often ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 40:1-11

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Second Mile

Contributed by Mel Shepherd on Jul 2, 2007

Christians should be expected to do more than what’s expected of them.

Title: “Go the Second Mile” Text: Matthew 14:15-21 Introduction: Perhaps one of the most disturbing statements that Jesus ever made is this: “If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.” (Matthew 5:41) The reason this statement was so disturbing was because in Jesus day Rome ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 14:15-21

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Wait - Don't Run - Temptation To Forsake Series

Contributed by Nick Panico on Apr 28, 2008

This is the final message in a four part series on Walking Through the Wilderness. This message deals with the temptation to forsake the Lord when life just doesn’t turn out the way you thought it would.

“Wait, Don’t Run” Wilderness Pt. 4 “Forsaking” By Pastor Nick S. Panico (Exo 32:1-4 NKJV) Now when the people saw that Moses delayed coming down from the mountain, the people gathered together to Aaron, and said to him, “Come, make us gods that shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 32:1-4

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

David’s Song Of Praise

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Dec 4, 2010

David’s Song of Praise (PowerPoint slides to accompany this talk are available on request - email: gcurley@gcurley.info)

David’s song of praise Reading: • 2 Samuel chapter 22 verses 1-51. • 2 Samuel chapter 23 verses 1-7. • At least seventy-three of the psalms are assigned to David, • But his last one is found here in 2 Samuel chapters 22-23. • The phrase in chapter 23 verse 1: “These are the last words of ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 22:1-51

Denomination: Brethren

The Servant Suffers - He Is Rejected Series

Contributed by Buffy Cook on Jan 18, 2015

Seventh in a 12 part series examining THE most important week in all of history: The Passion Week, when Jesus fulfilled Mark 10:45. The Servant Suffers - He Is Rejected; Israel is guilty in their Convocation, Confrontation & Condemnation.

The Passion Week of Christ: A Study from the Book of Mark Week 7: The Servant Suffers - He Is Rejected Mark 14:53-65 I. Introduction A. You know life is full of paradoxes, particularly 21st Century America. Daylight Savings Time - 1st two weeks can't stay awake to experience it! We spend ...read more

Scripture: Mark 14:53-65

Denomination: Baptist

The Crying Of The Wolf At Midnight

Contributed by Justin Steckbauer on Mar 30, 2021

There is a crying in the night. A quiet lament of the soul. You can sense it at three in the morning, and the hour of the wolf is upon you. All the thoughts of life and the daily parade rumble through like a freight train.

There is a crying in the night. A quiet lament of the soul. You can sense it at three in the morning, and the hour of the wolf is upon you. All the thoughts of life and the daily parade rumble through like a freight train. Looking out the window, all is dark. But something compels you to ...read more

Scripture: James 1:2-4

Denomination: Salvation Army

Blessings In Disguise

Contributed by Jim Keegan on Jan 18, 2023

Hand-in-hand with God’s blessing there is always testing to deepen our bonds of intimate love and trust. Those two forces work together for our good.

We see in this familiar passage two of the foundational stories of the Gospel: Christ’s blessing by God, followed very closely by his temptation. These are also the two universal realities of the spiritual life: both blessings and trials. After his baptism, Jesus saw the Spirit descending on ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:28

Be Prepared Series

Contributed by Pat Damiani on Sep 8, 2009

Amos’ fifth vision encourages us to be prepared for the "Day of the Lord" by being saturated with God’s Word

Be Prepared. That’s the motto of the Boy Scouts. "Be prepared for what?" someone once asked Baden-Powell, the founder of Scouting, "Why, for any old thing." said Baden-Powell. Perhaps Amos would have adopted the same motto – be prepared. But not just be prepared for any old thing, as we’ll ...read more

Scripture: Amos 9:1-15

Denomination: Baptist

Money Talks & The Power Of Patience

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Nov 27, 2010

Money Talks & the Power of Patience (PowerPoint slides to accompany this talk are available on request - email: gcurley@gcurley.info)

Reading: James chapter 5 verse 1-11. Ill: • Albert Einstein was invited to speak Swarthmore College. • It was to be at a banquet held in his honour. • Hundreds of people from all over the country came along; • They crowded an auditorium to hear what he had to say. ...read more

Scripture: James 5:1-11

Denomination: Brethren

Overcoming Life's Challenges

Contributed by David Owens on Aug 19, 2013

In this sermon, we explore the way that God is able to break down any wall, and that He alone can handle the tool of vengeance.

Introduction: A. Let me start by asking you a few questions. 1. What have been the greatest challenges you have faced in your life? 2. What have been the biggest obstacles you have had to overcome? 3. What have been the hardest walls you have run into? 4. How many of them are you still ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

When Worry Gets Tough Series

Contributed by David Dewitt on Oct 7, 2011

Worry is one of the problems that many Christians face. Worry is part of the tough stuff of life

When Worry Gets Tough Luke 10:38-42 Morning Service An average person's anxiety is focused on : 40% -- things that will never happen 30% -- things about the past that can't be changed 12% -- things about criticism by others, mostly untrue 10% -- about health, which gets worse with stress 8% ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:38-42

Denomination: Church Of God

God Is In The Detours Too

Contributed by John Gaston on Feb 9, 2015

Life is full of surprises. With observation, we see that the Holy Spirit is as much in the detours as He is in the plans we carefully map out. Two passages in the New Testament & one in the Old demonstrate the truth of this insight.

GOD IS IN THE DETOURS TOO Prov. 3:5 INTRODUCTION A. HUMOR: DECISIONS 1. Harry and Kitty are celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary. 2. Max and Betty said, “You must let us in on your secret - how have you managed to stay married for so long?" 3. Harry turns to Kitty and asks, "OK for ...read more

Scripture: Acts 13:1-40

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Four In The Fire

Contributed by Lynn Malone on Mar 7, 2026

Faithfulness to God placed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace, but they were not alone. When the king looked into the flames, he saw four men walking unharmed. Daniel 3 reminds us that discipleship does not always spare us from the fire, but Christ always meets us in it.

Faith in the Fire Daniel 3 There are moments in life when faith stops being abstract. Moments when the question is no longer, “Do I believe?” but rather, “Will I stand?” Daniel 3 is one of the clearest pictures in Scripture of faith in the fire—faith that refuses to bow, faith that ...read more

Denomination: Methodist

The Incomparable Boaz Series

Contributed by Tim Diack on Feb 25, 2013

In times of harship we cry out to God to deliver us, to change our circumstances, but God wants to do a work of transformation in our hearts. Join us as we see how God reveals His grace to Ruth and begins a work in her heart.

The Incomparable Boaz - Ruth 2:4-16 - February 24, 2013 Series: From Heartache to Hope – The Redemption of Ruth #5 When we find ourselves in a miserable situation in life, surrounded by circumstances that are not of our choosing, nor of our liking, the prayer of our hearts is likely to ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 2:4-16

Denomination: *other

Advancing The Gospel Series

Contributed by Isaac Butterworth on Mar 23, 2015

Can we look at this or that circumstance in our lives and say, “As bad as my situation is, I can see a way to press it into the service of the gospel. I can bear witness to Christ even in the midst of this”?

Patsy Bonner shared with our Friday Bible study group a spoof news story that had been sent to her recently. The dateline is ostensibly Dallas, and the brief that follows says: Dallas Cowboys football practice was delayed nearly two hours today after a player reported finding an unknown white ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:12-26

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed