Sermons on Obstacles:

Steering For Success Series

Contributed by Timothy Smith on Sep 10, 2005

1st in 5 part series on overcoming the obstacles and difficulties of life using five different Psalms. We used a "journey" or "road" metaphor in terms of the bumps of success, fear, guilt, grief, etc.

STEERING FOR SUCCESS Navigating the Bumps of Life - Week 1 PSALM 1 INTRODUCTION TO THE SERIES:(Special: “Without A Song.”) It was written in 1929 but it has been sung for over 6 decades by such performers as Frank Sinatra, Stevie Wonder, The Carpenters, The Supremes, Willie Nelson and now, ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 1:1-6

Denomination: Christian Church

The Faith Of The Friends Of The Paralytic

Contributed by Jose Imperial on Feb 8, 2009

Having faith in a faithless environment is a real challenge to the Christian. How did the Lord able to heal the paralytic through the faith of his friends. Lets see the odds and obstacles they face and discover the way they overcome.

The faith of the friends of the Paralytic Mt 9:1-8 Luke 5:17-26 Having faith in a faithless environment is a real challenge to the Christian. How did the Lord able to heal the paralytic through the faith of his friends. Lets see the odds and obstacles they face and discover the way they ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:1-8

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Matter Of The Heart

Contributed by Mark Aarssen on Nov 3, 2015

Unless and until you believe in your heart that Jesus rose from the dead you will not be changed from a sinner to a Saint. For many people is it the 18 inches between the head and the heart that is the obstacle to their faith in Christ.

A Matter of the Heart Romans 10:8-9 8 But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: 9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised ...read more

Scripture: Romans 10:8-10

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Detours - Pt. 2 - Detour Details Series

Contributed by Steve Ely on Dec 18, 2012

A wandering from a direct route. A different path. Unexpected turns and obstacles. What do you do when your life takes you down a path for which you didn't plan?

Pt. 2 – Detour Details Interruption. A cancelation. A meeting moved. A delay. A different route. Sickness. Lack. Brokenness. All of these things have one thing in common . . . they are detours. They knock us off our intended and preferred route. They force us to adjust and go a different ...read more

Scripture: Judges 6:1-16

Denomination: Pentecostal

Detours - Pt. 3 - Detour Deliverance Series

Contributed by Steve Ely on Dec 18, 2012

A wandering from a direct route. A different path. Unexpected turns and obstacles. What do you do when your life takes you down a path for which you didn't plan?

Pt. 3 – Detour Deliverance Detours are despised by every path loving, calendar driven, time conscious people worldwide. However, as deeply as we despise detours they continue to be a part or our life and as we have seen over the last two weeks God is involved in the detours that we face. So ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12

Denomination: Pentecostal

Detours - Pt. 1 - Detour Decisions Series

Contributed by Steve Ely on Dec 4, 2012

A wandering from a direct route. A different path. Unexpected turns and obstacles. What do you do when your life takes you down a path for which you didn’t plan?

Detours Pt. 1 – Detour Decisions I know we all have pet peeves. There are certain things that push your buttons and cause your perfect day to become your worst day. I have buttons! I am an ordered person. In other words, I like to travel the same route every day. I don’t like to alter from that ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 17:1-17

Denomination: Pentecostal

Laughing At God Series

Contributed by Scott Maze on May 24, 2021

Real faith challenges the status-quo. Real faith says, “I was made for more than this.” Real faith sees past obstacles to a brighter future God has in store for His children.

We continue our series on Abraham this morning. If you have your Bibles, turn with me to Genesis 18, if you will. As a part of today’s message, we have something special for you. At the end of today’s service, you will be invited to one of several locations in our worship center. Volunteers in ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 18:1-15

Denomination: Baptist

Don’t Be A Spiritual Packrat

Contributed by John Gaston on Jan 22, 2020

Here are practical steps on how to cooperate with Jesus and the Holy Spirit in changing your life to be more Kingdom centered. We must unclutter our lives and make changes that will reduce the obstacles to our transformation.

DON’T BE A SPIRITUAL PACKRAT INTRODUCTION A. HUMOR 1. Jerome Dasso of Georgetown, Texas was visiting the great naval academy of Annapolis (in Rochester, New York). He saw several freshmen crawling around the main courtyard on their hands and knees with pencils and clip boards. He asked his tour ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:22, James 1:21

Denomination: Assembly Of God

The Paradox Of Power

Contributed by Paul Dayao on Aug 28, 2025

This sermon 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 reveals the life-changing paradox that our greatest infirmities are not obstacles to God's power but the chosen arena where His strength is made perfect.

Introduction: Our Vain Obsession with Strength We live in a world that worships at the altar of strength. From the moment we rise to the moment we sleep, we are bombarded by a single command: Be strong. Look upon the images that flicker before our eyes, listen to the philosophies of this age. The ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Denomination: Baptist

Sermon On The Pothole Experience

Contributed by William Meakin on Sep 28, 2025

The metaphorical "pothole experience” is considered as the unforeseen obstacles, setbacks, and difficult challenges that may jolt or derail a person's journey in life, similar to how actual potholes disrupt a smooth road.

Drew Barrymore, an American actress once remarked: “Oh, I would love to be a motivational speaker. I have pulled myself out of a million potholes, and I can see the potholes ahead of me. That doesn't mean that I could always do that so perfectly for my own life. I totally fall in potholes.” ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:6, 1 Peter 4:12-13, James 1:2-4, Hebrews 12:1-2

Jericho To Jerusalem

Contributed by Brian Williams on May 2, 2025

We all are sinners in need of God’s mercy. Jesus is the only way to salvation. By God’s grace we are embracing His transformational work of salvation in our lives, and God is breaking down obstacles that keep us and others from coming to Him.

Today we will be looking at Luke chapter 19, to see what Jesus was focused on in the last weeks of His life on earth. We know Jesus was in Jericho enroute to Jerusalem. Back in Luke 9:51, we read, “When the days drew near for [Jesus] to be taken up, He set his face to go to Jerusalem.” On the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:1-10

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Stopping Stagnant Growth

Contributed by David Dewitt on Sep 20, 2006

The church like all living things has been created to grow

Stopping Stagnant Growth Matthew 13:1-9 August 6, 2006 Morning Service Introduction Would you rather be a tumbleweed or an oak in your influence on others? That’s the question posed by Galen Anderson, who wrote, "A man’s life is like either the tumbleweed or the oak tree. Some people ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:1-9

Denomination: Church Of God

Allow God To Deal With The Boulders In Your Life....he Loves You

Contributed by Richard Schwedes on Jul 11, 2009

We all face obstacles (boulders) in our life. Sometimes these boulders become bigger than they actually are. This Easter Sermon encourages us to allow Jesus to be the one who deals with the boulders in our life.

New things in our life changes a lot of things. Anyone ever had a new baby in their life? Do you remember the changes that it meant? What about a new home or a new school? Or perhaps a new boyfriend or girl friend? New things bring changes to our lives. And Christ’s resurrection changes things, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:1-10

Denomination: Lutheran

17. Romans Chapter 4 Verses 18-25 Messages In Romans – Abraham’s Unswerving Faith And The Importance Of The Resurrection For Salvation - Message 17 Series

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on May 19, 2024

Abraham’s faith was unswerving in spite of all obstacles. In belief, do you want to be listless with the majority, or victorious with the minority? Will you count for the Lord? Will you serve Him and not yourselves? Christ was delivered up, and raised for our justification.

17. ROMANS CHAPTER 4 VERSES 18-25 MESSAGES IN ROMANS – ABRAHAM’S UNSWERVING FAITH AND THE IMPORTANCE OF THE RESURRECTION FOR SALVATION - MESSAGE 17 [A]. THE PERSEVERING FAITH OF ABRAHAM HAS EXALTED HIM {{Romans 4:18 IN HOPE AGAINST HOPE he believed, in order that he might become a father of ...read more

Scripture: Romans 4:18-22, Romans 5:4, Romans 8:25, Romans 4:23-25, 1 Corinthians 15:16-19, 2 Corinthians 5:21  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

God Is In Control

Contributed by Frank Jackson on Jan 8, 2003

During that time, I discovered that when a person is able to face terrifying obstacles with the assurance that God is truly in control, an awesome sense of power, strength, assurance, and confidence begins to well up inside your heart.

God is in Control Psalm 103:19-22 I remember a particular time in my life when I was struggling a bit with discouragement, doubt, fear, and loneliness. I spent many evenings having long conversations with a close friend, to whom I poured out my heart for hours. Many times during these talks, my ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 103:19-22

Denomination: Disciples Of Christ