Sermons on Facing Difficulties:

Understanding What Paul Understood Series

Contributed by David Owens on Aug 8, 2016

In this sermon, we look at some of the difficulties that Paul faced and how he endured them by trusting in God. He understood that God would always be with him, and that although God would not remove the difficulties, God would enable him to overcome.

Introduction: A. M. Scott Peck’s 1978 best-selling book, The Road Less Traveled, opens with these words: “Life is difficult. This is a great truth, one of the greatest truths. It is a great truth because once we truly see this truth, we transcend it. Once we truly know that life is ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Finding Positivity In Trials SermonCentral

Contributed by SermonCentral on Sep 9, 2023

No matter the intensity of the fire you're facing, always remember that something beneficial will emerge from it.

I don't know what kind of fire you're going through, but the good news is "Something good is going to come out of this." In the book of Daniel, there is a story about three men who were thrown into a fiery furnace because they refused to worship a golden statue. These men were Shadrach, Meshach, ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 3:1-30

Topics: Encouragement, Faith

Confused By God's Favor

Contributed by John Appling on Dec 22, 2008

Mary is described in this passage as highly favored by God. But this favor didn’t result in an easy time. We need to understand God’s thoughts if we are not going to struggle in life.

Confused by God’s favor – by John Appling Luke 1:26-38 26In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:26-38

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Why Trials Come Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on Jul 11, 2010

God wants to grow us through the garbage in our lives.

Why Trials Come James 1:2-8 Rev. Brian Bill 7/11/10 I began the message last week with a question from a PBC member. I begin today with a series of questions from someone else. She has been wracked with worry and pummeled with pain: “Why does it seem some people just can’t get ...read more

Scripture: James 1:2-8

Denomination: Baptist

Grace And Future Glory Series

Contributed by Martin Wiles on May 10, 2011

God takes everything in our life-good and evil, and works it together for good in his purpose for our life.

Romans 8:18-30 Introduction: A. There is a longing in humans that leads them to want something better and to believe there is more to life than experienced on earth. B. While we don’t necessarily want to die to attain the better experience, believers maintain taking this step is the only way ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:18-30

Denomination: Baptist

Standing In The Storm

Contributed by Daniel Austin on Apr 9, 2010

If you wish to stand in the storm, you will hear and obey; if you do not you will experience destruction.

Standing in the Storm 02/15/09 AM Text: Matthew 7:13-27 Reading: Matthew 7:24-27 INTRODUCTION This weekend brought a rare event to the San Diego area – weather! We experienced a rare powerful winter storm system that brought about weather about as wild as it gets in Southern California. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:13-27

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Blessed People On A Cursed Earth

Contributed by Rusty Tardo on Oct 18, 2008

God’s people are still a blessed people in spite of living on a broken planet

A Blessed People on a Cursed Earth M-1099 / 7 September, 2008 Dr. Russell K. Tardo In view of the events of the past weeks, the Lord put a message on my heart that I’ve entitled, A Blessed People on a Cursed Earth. That’s what God’s people are. And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 3:17-19

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Releasing The Shackles

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Nov 22, 2010

Releasing the Shackles. (PowerPoint slides to accompany this talk are available on request - email: gcurley@gcurley.info)

Reading: chapter 16 verses 11-41 Ill: Harry Houdini, the famed escape artist; • Issued a challenge wherever he went: • He claimed he could be locked in any jail cell in the country, • And set would set himself free and he would do it quickly and easily. • He ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:11-41

Denomination: Brethren

God Is More Valuable Than Life & Health Series

Contributed by Scott Turansky on Dec 25, 2022

Jesus Christ in the darkness of our suffering brings into it the light that we need so that we can move forward.

I'm really grateful for God's word. I don't know what I would do without it. The Bible has so much information in it about who we are and who God is and God's plan for us that it becomes this really strategic place that we spend our time learning and studying. That's why we ...read more

Scripture: John 9:1-7

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Difficult Doeg Series

Contributed by Troy Borst on Aug 10, 2022

Difficult people are everywhere around us. Difficult people may be us. How do we act and react?

THE VERY RELATABLE LIFE OF KING DAVID DIFFICULT DOEG 1 SAMUEL 21:1-9, 22:6-23, PSALM 52 #kingdavid INTRODUCTION We are currently in a time when we are looking deeper at the life of King David in the Bible. His life is given to us as a gift in that we see the ups and downs of his life in detail. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 22:6-23, 1 Samuel 21:1-9

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Worship From The Depths

Contributed by Tim Diack on Dec 5, 2012

We all have bad days and difficult seasons in life - how do we genuinely worship God when our world is falling apart around us? Join us as we study Job's life and discover how we can "Worship from the Depths"!

Worship From the Depths - Job 1-2 - November 11, 2012 We’ve all had bad days before - those days when nothing seems to go right no matter how hard we try. I’ve had some pretty bad days but I’m not sure that many of them come close to the experience of a man I will simply ...read more

Denomination: *other

I Predict God Will Be With You This Year Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jan 2, 2011

If God has promised that He'd never leave me or forsake me... shouldn't that mean I won't encounter any difficulties or frustrations in my life? No, but the reason what this is true may change your life.

OPEN: Some years back I read the true story of a conversation a traveler had with a farmer in New York State. They got to talking about the weather, and the farmer assured the traveler that he could tell what the weather was going to be - by watching the behavior of his cows. "When the cows are ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 13:1-6

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Purposes Of Storms

Contributed by David Wilson on Oct 18, 2000

Those storms in our lives don’t always come from our sin-- in fact, following Christ will lead us directly into the eye of the storm.

1. ALL PROBLEMS IN LIFE ARE NOT RELATED TO SIN! The Jews believed strongly that if something bad happened to someone, they had done some sort of sin. If a person was stricken with an illness it reflected on some sort of sin. If he suffered financial loss, it was sin-related.. If his children grew ...read more

Scripture: Luke 8:22-25

Denomination: Baptist

Encouragement For Those Who Suffer

Contributed by Shawn Rose on Dec 26, 2008

The apostle Peter gives us encouragement to help us when we suffer.

ENCOURAGEMENT FOR THOSE WHO SUFFER Text: 1 Peter 1:13 – 16 Introduction: • 64 AD Rome burns under Nero; Nero blames Christians • Christians around world still suffer • US suffering: verbal, emotional, or physical abuse; inciting to lose temper or to sin; hindering your service for God ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:13-16

Denomination: Baptist

Where Will God Take You?

Contributed by Ernest Canell on Jan 7, 2009

WHere is God taking you to. A fresh understanding to help us move forward in GOd’s direction

Where will God take you? Luke 2:26-28 When you say, "It’s time for us to move, not just feed," the flock will mumble. But a pastor, by definition, is a shepherd who is not only feeding, but also is taking people somewhere. My goal in preaching is to help people capture God’s vision and align ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:26-28

Denomination: *other