Sermons on Fiery Trials:

Two Kinds Of Wildernesses

Contributed by D. Dewaine Phillips on Feb 24, 2022

Do you feel like you're in the wilderness with no way out? This message looks at two possible reasons why someone might wind up there, by examining both the “sin-driven wilderness” and “Spirit-driven wilderness.”

The wilderness is a place that captures the imagination and stirs the soul. Native Americans, for example, will journey into the wilderness on a vision quest; thrill seekers will flock to the mountains and remote places in search of adventure; those who are overworked will retreat there for peace ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 14:26-35, Mark 1:12-14

Denomination: Baptist

Understanding Job’s Redeemer

Contributed by D. Dewaine Phillips on Feb 24, 2022

Because we live in a fallen world, there will be times in our life when we will have to endure trials and difficulty. Job went through such a time; however, he had Someone to stand in his defense. Job called Him his Redeemer.

I want to share with you this evening a message from the book of Job. It is a message that gives hope to each of us who are struggling with sin, whether it be the consequences of sin in this life, or the consequences of sin that we must face in the Day of Judgment. In this life we suffer from sin ...read more

Scripture: Job 9:32-35, Job 16:19-22, Job 19:25-27

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

Dealing With The Severe Difficulties Of Life

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Mar 4, 2022

Each winter we seem to be plagued with dreadful viruses that make us wonder about two things:

(1) Americans cannot help but wonder about what the world considers to be the greatest health care, yet it cannot even cure the common cold. Often it seems to us the world’s greatest health care is no more than the world’s greatest racket. We are told that in America we have the best health ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 55:1-17

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

How To Get Rid Of The Giants In Your Life

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Mar 24, 2022

This passage of scripture has many surprises, but we want to look especially at two of them; ONE GOOD SURPRISE and ONE BAD SURPRISE

Illus: This passage reminds me of the story of the little mother of seven children. She was leaving to go to a surprise party, and all seven of them wanted to go with her. One asked, "Mom, can we go with you?" She said, "No, it is a surprise party." One of the little ones ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 17:22-26, 1 Samuel 17:45-50

Denomination: Baptist

Caring And Sharing

Contributed by D. Dewaine Phillips on Feb 5, 2022

Caring enough to share our love and faith meets other people’s needs, physical and spiritual; but it also meets ours as well. Whenever we look out beyond ourselves and reach out to care and share, God delivers us from our own problems.

This morning’s message is entitled “caring and sharing.” Often when we teach on the purpose and life of the church we speak about koinonia, which is a New Testament Greek word meaning “fellowship.” However, one pastor tells us “that koinonia means caring for the poor” and that “Christian ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:25-34

Denomination: Baptist

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

When The Way Is Long And Hard

Contributed by Mary Erickson on Aug 10, 2020

Our lives can feel like those of the disciples in the boat, battling headwinds where we barely make any headway. But Jesus will come to us across impossible circumstances. His presence strengthens our hearts.

August 9, 2020 Rev. Mary Erickson Hope Lutheran Church Matthew 14:22-33 When the Way Is Long and Hard Friends, may grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and Christ Jesus our Lord. There is a lot of fatigue and exhaustion going on in today’s gospel story. To begin with, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 14:22-33

Denomination: Lutheran

"why Do Bad Things Happen To Good People?"

Contributed by David Henderson on Nov 4, 2020

The question we are tackling this morning is asked perhaps more than any other question about God. A question people around the world are asking right at this moment.

“Why do bad things happen to Good People?” James 1:1-12 The question we are tackling this morning is asked perhaps more than any other question about God. A question people around the world are asking right at this moment. It has been referred to as The Achilles Heel of Christianity – the ...read more

Scripture: James 1:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

Faith For The Tough Times

Contributed by John Dobbs on Sep 25, 2020

We have been living through some tough times this year. We don’t always feel tough enough to endure through them. In the second half of Genesis there is a sweeping story of an amazing man who had faith no matter what came his way.

FAITH FOR THE TOUGH TIMES Gen. 37,50 Introduction Robert Schuller was famous for his saying (and book) “Tough Times Never Last, But Tough People Do.” We have been living through some tough times this year. We don’t always feel tough enough to endure through them. In the second half of Genesis ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

How To Benefit From Your Problems Series

Contributed by Fred Sigle on Jan 13, 2023

A study from the book of James. This study is based on Rick Warren's book: Developing a Faith that Works, Book of James Volumes 1 & 2.

A. Of all the New Testament EPISTLES (letters written to Christians) James is the most practical of all. 1. It is the “HOW TO” MANUAL FOR THE CHRISTIAN LIFE. a. Every verse of this book speaks so POWERFULLY to everyday LIVING—to the “NUTS and BOLTS” of Christianity. b. It’s just ...read more

Scripture: James 1:1-4

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Painful But Profitable Series

Contributed by Chris Anderson on Mar 11, 2023

Message 1 in a series through James that helps us explore the relationship between faith and works in our lives. James was the half-brother of Jesus and the leader of the church in Jerusalem.

Today, we’re starting a new series through the New Testament book of James called Faith & Works. I truly believe that you won’t find a more practical book in the entire Bible than James. Some of you may remember the For Dummies series of books that became popular 20-30 years ago and are still ...read more

Scripture: James 1:1-12

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I Can’t See Him, But I Know He’s There!

Contributed by John Gaston on Mar 11, 2023

“Behold, I go forward, but He is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive Him: on the left hand, where He works, I cannot behold Him: but He knows the way that I take: when He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold.”

I CAN’T SEE HIM, BUT I KNOW HE’S THERE Job 23:8-10 INTRODUCTION A. HUMOR 1. At church one morning, as Gwen was about to start her four-year-olds’ Sunday school class, a little boy showed up without any identification. 2. Gwen managed to get his first name, but couldn't find out his last ...read more

Scripture: Job 23:8-10

Denomination: Assembly Of God