Sermons on Facing Difficulties:

Playing It Safe: Job's Friend Zophar Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Feb 7, 2009

For Lent and Annunciation: Zophar’s counsel is to "play it safe" by sticking to ideas rather than engaging persons. He thinks that security is the goal. God in Christ takes the risk of loving us and living with us.

Every human heart is so made that it can be hurt. Of that I have no doubt. Every human heart is subject to hurt, to pain, to shock. Every one of us is subject to feelings that we do not enjoy -- disappointment, anger, despair, guilt, anxiety -- a whole range of painful feelings. And we either deal ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

"I've Got To Have One Of Those!" - Facing Our Greedy Hearts

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Mar 20, 2006

This message looks at Jesus’ words about materialism, possessions, and greed in one section of the Sermon on the Mount.

Facing Our Greedy Hearts: 1. Insecure investments make for worried minds. - v. 19. - 1 Peter 1:3-6; 1 Corinthians 3:12-15. - We’re not just talking about a situation like hiding your cash under the mattress. Even when you put it in a bank with FDIC insurance, currency value can still plummet. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:19-24

Denomination: Baptist

Face Tomorrow Without Fear Isaiah 66:7.....12/25/2015

Contributed by Ronnie Miller on Dec 24, 2015

My wife Brenda and I were born in 1948. That was the year that Israel became a nation again prophesied by Isaiah chapter 66 and others.

My wife Brenda and I were born in 1948. That was the year that Israel became a nation again prophesied by Isaiah chapter 66 and others. Ezekiel 37:14, Isaiah 43:5 and Isaiah 66:7 Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man child.8 Who hath heard such ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 66:7-8

Denomination: Baptist

The Brand Of The Cross Series

Contributed by A. B. Simpson on Oct 8, 2009

It is the cross of Christ which is the object at once of His shame and His glory. This classic sermon by A. B. Simpson looks first at the marks of the Lord Jesus, and then at their reproduction in His followers.

"From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus" (Gal. 6:17). The word marks in this text is translated by Rotherham, "brand marks." The world describes a mark that has been branded into the flesh, and suggests the idea of the cruel practice of certain ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:17

Denomination: *other

You Must Put Up With The Rain To See A Rainbow

Contributed by Richard Cook on Aug 25, 2009

Teaches people that, if you want to see God’s deliverence and glory, you sometimes must endure hardships and pain.

Genesis 9:12-14 And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth. And it shall come to pass, ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 9:12-14

Denomination: Pentecostal

What Are You Doing Here? Prowhat Are You Doing Here? Problems Have Purpose!

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Nov 28, 2015

What are you doing here? How long will you stay here after the brook goes dry? Will we learn problems have purpose?

WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE? PROBLEMS HAVE PURPOSE! By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr Kyfingers@aol.com A LESSON FROM MY DAD. I was in the 8th grade and my Dad and I were traveling in East Tennessee. My Dad asked me a question: WHAT IS THE HARDEST WORD IN THE WORLD TO SAY? I knew this one --- ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 17:7

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Why The Wilderness

Contributed by John A. Peck on Nov 3, 2009

Often the wilderness is a dangerous place, frought with danger, anxiety, vulnerability. Out there, we are usually the prey or the victim, but it is also the place where we encounter God.

Why are we meeting God in the wilderness (where else?) We are, generally speaking, city dwellers. We live in cities, towns and villages, but for the most part we stay out of the wilderness unless there is something there for us. But in the Bible, a lot of important things happen in the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 5:1-11

Denomination: Orthodox

Disasters, Calamities And Evil In The World: Is God Asleep At The Switch?

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Mar 20, 2011

Our choice is to go through calamities and trials with God or without Him, but go through them we must. Still, it helps to understand what we can of the "whys and wherefores."

Disasters, Calamities and Evil in the World: Is God Asleep at the Switch? (topical) 1. As a pastor, one of my most challenging responsibilities is to comfort the grieving. People can suffer in horrible ways. 2.The earthquake & tsunami that hit Japan killed thousands and left lives in shambles. It ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:28

Denomination: Independent/Bible

I Quit Making Excuses Series

Contributed by Herbert Cooper on Sep 20, 2011

One thing that I’m convinced of, is that I haven’t arrived yet. I haven’t accomplished all that God has for me; And you haven’t either. The fact that we’re still alive means God has more for us.

1. God has more for your life Phil 3:12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. (NIV) (Paul said, I’m not there yet but I’m pressing forward because God has more for me) ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:12

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Getting To Know God Better Series

Contributed by Manny Salva Cruz on Feb 21, 2016

Many people still believe in God but the the number is declining. In this message, we will learn three things from the Book of Judges that will help us get to know Him better.

SCRIPTURE READING: Judges 3: 3 These are the nations the Lord left to test all those Israelites who had not experienced any of the wars in Canaan 2 (he did this only to teach warfare to the descendants of the Israelites who had not had previous battle experience):3 the five rulers of the ...read more

Scripture: Judges 3:1-8

Denomination: Nazarene

Do You Feel Good Series

Contributed by Randy Stephenson on May 12, 2012

Inspirational for the purpose of encouraging a decision to be in a relationship with Jesus Christ.

John 15:1–8 (ESV) Do you feel good enough about yourself? Maybe the circumstances of life have not been good for you lately. So I will ask are you feeling OK about yourself. Who validates you and your life? At various stages of life we individually experience what it means to feel broken, ...read more

Scripture: John 15:1-8

Denomination: United Methodist

Why Does God Allow Pain? Series

Contributed by Russell Brownworth on Jan 8, 2010

If God really is there and loves me, why do I still hurt?

Why is my pain unceasing, my wound incurable, refusing to be healed? Jeremiah 15:18a It’s always helpful at the start of a journey to know where you’re headed! Let me share some of the “roadmap” for our series on ‘WHY’ – the questions people ask. The well-known artist and songwriter Bill ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 15:18

Denomination: United Methodist

How To Worry Well Series

Contributed by Gary Stebbins on Oct 27, 2009

How do we live fearless lives as Christians? God’s heart is that we not just survive, but thrive (adapted from a series taughty by Pastor Larry Osborne, North Coast Church).

Introduction Fearless the series continues- last installment. We will be addressing the topic of worry today. Much to worry about today and even be fearful of. How do we master our fears/concerns as Christians? How do we worry well? Do you know someone who worries? Do you worry? What do you worry ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:4-9

Denomination: Charismatic

Refiner’s Fire

Contributed by Russell Brownworth on Dec 5, 2009

Advent #2 - What to do about the heat in your life

1See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the covenant in whom you delight—indeed, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts. 2But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? ...read more

Scripture: Malachi 3:1-4

Denomination: United Methodist

Pain Perspective - Pt. 3 - People, Permanent, And Perfected Pain Series

Contributed by Steve Ely on Mar 13, 2014

It interrupts comfort. It turns heaven into hell. Pain . . . it can cloud our vision or clear our vision. We must gain pain perspective.

Pain Perspective Pt. 3 – People, Permanent, and Perfected Pain You will remember that there are only three things that are certain in life . . . death, taxes, and then we added pain to the list because we are told in Genesis 3:19 that because of our own fallenness we will be: “be ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 53:3-11

Denomination: Pentecostal