Sermons on Ministry Struggles:

The Truth About Betrayal

Contributed by Brian Credille on Jan 22, 2001

The story of Jesus and His betrayal by Judas challenges us to consider the real truth about betrayal, and our personal struggle with it.

"The Truth About Betrayal" Matthew 26:17-35 INTRODUCTION When you hear the word "betrayal", what do you think of? Do you think of --- Joseph, Jacob, David, Julius Caesar, Benedict Arnold, or perhaps someone close to you? To "betray" means "to prove faithless or treacherous to, as to a trust or ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 26:17-35

Denomination: Baptist

Wrestling With Immanuel

Contributed by Michael Hollinger on Dec 26, 2005

It’s Okay to struggle with God - He loves you, he’s going to bless you - He’ll be with you.

Title: Wrestling with Immanuel Text: Gen 28:13-15; Gen 33:22-32 MP: Don’t be indifferent to Christ. Intro: About this time of year, we tend to sing a lot of Christmas carols too lightly. There are radical claims and contradictions we sometimes pass right over, without a moment’s thought. This ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 33:22-23

Denomination: Baptist

Don't Be A Sore Loser

Contributed by Scott Carmer on Aug 28, 2005

When Jacob wrestled with the angel that night at the river, he was a good loser because he was willing to learn from his struggle.

Don’t Be a Sore Loser Genesis 32:22-31 Proverbs 3:12 August 28, 2005 My first and only foray into the world of coaching came during the summer that I coached my son’s baseball team. We were living in Morocco, Indiana at the time. Morocco is in Newton County and the North Newton High School ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 32:22-31

Denomination: Methodist

Confused Yet Saved

Contributed by Bradford Robinson on Oct 28, 2005

This is a sermon that honestly looks at how even as Christians, we still struggle with the things we know we should and should not do.

One of my things as a pastor is that I try to be as transparent as I can be. I tend to share stories that show my faults as much as my strengths. It’s kind of like the pastor who was told by his church, “Preacher, we’ve always heard our pastors say they were sinners just like us, but you are the ...read more

Scripture: Romans 7:1-24

Denomination: Methodist

Who's Yo' Momma Series

Contributed by Andy Payne on Jun 14, 2009

Our fight is to do what is right, and live as God wants us to live, in freedom. Free from the struggle with sin and death.

ILLUSTRATION: Braveheart DVD “FREEDOM” Clip #1 • Time: 1:21 • Start Time: 1:17:14 • End Time: 1:18:35 Start Cue: "I AM William Wallace" End Cue: "Alba gu bra!" Clip #2 • Time: 2:02 • Start Time: 2:44:38 • End Time: 2:46:40 Start Cue: "The prisoner wishes to say a word." End Cue: Cloth falls from ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

The Transformer Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jul 19, 2009

This powerful sermon touched a number of suffering people who were struggling with doubts about their own faith and God’s faithfulness.

OPEN: Over the past couple of years there has been a popular pair of movies called “Transformers.” The plot of these movies is that there are two types of aliens which have invaded Earth. The one alien force is called the “Decepticons”. These are an evil group of machines whose whole goal is to ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:17-28

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Three Paradoxes To A Fruitful Life

Contributed by Randy Bataanon on Feb 5, 2011

People struggle for their life. They fight for their right and wrestle for their greatness - only to find that it is the other way around that we can find them.

THE THREE PARADOXES TO A FRUITFUL LIFE John 12:24-26 People struggle for their life. They fight for their right and wrestle for their greatness - only to find that it is the other way around that we can find them. Jesus said: Joh 12:24 I tell you the truth, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ...read more

Scripture: John 12:24-26

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Jesus Prays In Gethsemane Series

Contributed by Bobby Stults on Feb 12, 2011

Jesus prays for deliverance from 'this cup' but submits to the Father's will, and the disciples still struggle with understanding what is going on...

39 He went out and made His way as usual to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed Him. 40 When He reached the place, he told them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation” 41 Then He withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down, and began to pray, 42 ...read more

Scripture: Luke 22:39-46

Denomination: Baptist

Fear Based On A Misperception Of Who God Is... Series

Contributed by Bobby Stults on Oct 13, 2009

So often believers suffer and live lives of struggle because they are living in FEAR and that FEAR is based on their misperception of who God is...

Sermon Brief Date Written: October 10, 2009 Date Preached: October 11, 2009 Where Preached: OPBC (AM) Sermon Details: Sermon Series: FEAR – A Believers Worst Enemy Sermon Title: FEAR – bad perception of who God is… Sermon Text: 1 John 4:17-18 [NKJV] 17 Love has been perfected among ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 4:17-18

Denomination: Baptist

Kingdom Living

Contributed by Ralph Andrus on Sep 8, 2014

Kingdom Living is 1. RIGHETOUSNESS,- In a right relationship 2> PEACE - Freedom from struggle 3. JOY- Enjoyment of His benefits

Romans 14:17 (AV) — 17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. - We celebrate events with eating & drinking - Ro. 14:17 Is not an event it is a place - Where you live has a way of making certain demands on how you live - I ...read more

Scripture: Romans 14:17

Denomination: Baptist

The Pharisee's Dilemma

Contributed by Matt Hoffmann on Dec 2, 2009

Follow a Pharisee into the desert to hear John the Baptist preach about coming Messiah and struggle with him a God breaks into his life.

Advent 2 Malachi 3:1-7; Luke 3:1-14 The day started for him just like any other. He got up early, before the sun would peek over Jerusalem’s proud stone walls. It took him a little longer to get ready than most people, because he was a Pharisee, and as a teacher of the Law of God, his fellow ...read more

Scripture: Luke 3:1-14

Denomination: Lutheran

Shake It Off!

Contributed by John Putty on Apr 16, 2011

A message encouraging believers to release negative feelings and hurts as well as accept God's help when they struggle and/or are discouraged.

Title: Shake it off! Text: Romans 13:11-12 Romans 13:11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out-of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. Romans 13:12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast-off the works of darkness, ...read more

Scripture: Romans 13:11-13

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Overcoming Loneliness Series

Contributed by Tim Smith on Sep 25, 2016

We struggle with loneliness in silence. And yet you and I were made for relationship. How can you overcome your loneliness?

Overcoming Loneliness Matthew 26:26-44 Columnist Marla Paul reluctantly admitted in an article she wrote that she was lonely. “The loneliness saddens me. How did it happen that I could be 42 years old and not have enough friends?” She ended her column with these words: “I think ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 26:26-44

Denomination: Methodist

I Know What To Do, So Why Don't I Do It? PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Sep 28, 2023

The struggle between the flesh and the Spirit in a believer's life, emphasizing the need to rely on the Holy Spirit's power to overcome sin and choose righteousness.

Good morning, brothers and sisters. Today, we're diving deep into the book of Romans, unpacking a passage that explores the struggle of the flesh, the power of the Spirit, and the choice of the believer. The Christian life is not a walk in the park, y'all; it's a journey marked by trials, ...read more

Scripture: Romans 7:16-20

Topics: Excuses

Your Circumstances PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Oct 31, 2023

Explores the struggle between earthly and divine life, encouraging faith and trust in God's guidance, peace, and love amidst life's trials.

Good morning, my brothers and sisters in Christ. It's a joy to be here with you today, sharing in the warmth of our fellowship and the light of God's word. We stand together in the house of the Lord, united by our faith and our shared hope in His promises. Our Scripture for today is Philippians ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:22

Topics: God, Rules