Sermons on Ruts Are Traps:

Sermon: When God Puts You On Hold!

Contributed by Otis Mcmillan on Apr 24, 2025

Can anyone relate? Have you ever been excited about what is in your heart, but at the same time felt boxed in, trapped, on hold, or on a plateau in life? Welcome to the crowd! A plan of action for dealing with delays.

Sermon: When God Puts You on Hold! Scripture: Acts 1:4-8, “Once when he (Jesus) was eating with them, he commanded them, “Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift he promised, as I told you before. John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:4-8, Psalm 46:10, Proverbs 3:5-6, Ecclesiastes 3:1-11, James 1:2-3, John 16:13  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Methodist

What To Do When Afraid Series

Contributed by Paul Dayao on Aug 22, 2025

Drawn from David's prayer while trapped in enemy territory, this sermon on Psalm 56 offers a comforting and practical guide for confronting fear by choosing to trust in a God who treasures your every tear.

Introductiin Fear. It’s an emotion we all know intimately. It’s the knot in your stomach when you await the doctor's report. It's the anxiety that keeps you awake at 3 AM, worrying about your family or your future. It's the dread of failure, the fear of what people are saying about ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Finding Joy: Easter, 2003

Contributed by Rick Duncan on Apr 28, 2003

Do you ever feel like this? Emptiness? Exhaustion? Feeling trapped? We’ll meet two people in the Bible who felt this way. But because they met the Risen Jesus, they found joy. And you can, too!

(I used several ideas from Rick Warren’s Easter messages over the last few years for this message. Thanks, Rick! 1980 people attended our services and 63 people prayed to recieve Christ at CVCC this Easter!) * * * I’ve lived in NE Ohio 17 years and I’ve personally talked to hundreds of people ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:13-35

Denomination: Baptist

Warning This World Can Be Hazardous To Your Health

Contributed by Cedric Portis on Jan 22, 2002

We tend to get so tied up in the hustle and bustle of our daily lives that we can become idolatrous without even realizing it. Make God’s will a priority in your life to aviod the traps of this world.

Warning!! this world can be hazardous to your health John I 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. John I 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 2:15-17

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Busy Church Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Dec 12, 2005

How does busyness hurt our ability to witness for Jesus? How does ministry sometimes change our focus from loving the Messiah? Learn how to avoid the trap of busyness from Jesus’ critique of the Ephesian church.

I do some writing professionally. I haven’t had much published - but it’s a craft I care about and work on seriously. One of the best tools a writer has is not spell check - but gut check. By that I mean a critique group. A critique group reads what you’ve written - gives you some things they like ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:1-7

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Drink Your Own Water Series

Contributed by Steve Shepherd on Feb 10, 2015

This whole chapter contains the wisdom of God about marriage and avoiding the adultery trap. What’s the message? 1- Drink your own water 2- Rejoice in your wife/mate 3- Consider your ways

INTRO.- ILL.- I remember when I was only 17 or 18 years old and working as a stock clerk in a grocery store in Webb City, MO. I was stocking merchandise one day when suddenly the manager came to me and said, “Steve, follow me. I want you to witness something.” I could tell that he ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 5:15-23

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Its A Set Up

Contributed by Pastor/Author: Terry Sisney on Aug 24, 2011

If you feel like you’re trapped, if you feel like you’ve hit the wall, if you feel like the enemy has the upper hand: It’s time to praise the Lord (Its a Set Up)

The reading for my text Exe 14:1-30 Lets look together at Vs.13 And Moses said unto the people, fear not stand still and see the salvation of the Lord which he will show to you today. For the Egyptians whom ye have seen today, ye shall see them again no more forever. I came to this house today to ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 14:1-28, Exodus 14:21-22

Denomination: Pentecostal

Earthen Vessel, Feet Of Clay

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Oct 29, 2009

Ordination of Troy L. Dixon, Nov. 1989: We pursue the trappings of religion instead of what is truly value. As a common clay vessel, be wary of power games, know that your foundation can crumble, focus on the treasure of the Gospel.

Somehow in men’s minds the paraphernalia of religion get to be more important than the faith itself. It is one of the enduring problems of religious life, how it is that we get far more caught up and invested in the trappings of religion than in the faith itself. In your average church, you ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:5-18

Denomination: Baptist

Dealing With Discouragement Series

Contributed by T.j. Conwell on Jun 11, 2017

We can learn one definite lesson from Job's lamenting on his situation: Be encouraged that Jesus has already provided a way for you. Do not allow yourself to fall into the trap of thinking all is lost – it isn’t!

Dealing with Discouragement Job Sermon Series, Part 4 Introduction (Job Slide) - After Job’s worst day ever, Satan challenges God to stop protecting Job -- Satan proclaims that Job’s saving comes from the charge: “Skin for skin!” -- The meaning of this is: Job will do anything to save his ...read more

Scripture: Job 3:1-26

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

To Boldly Go Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Dec 30, 2023

Our God doesn't believe in "No-Win Scenarios"... and neither should we. How do we avoid getting caught in the trap of believing God can't win the day?

Back in the 1960s, there was a ground-breaking show that premiered on NBC, and the opening monologue was spoken by Captain James T. Kirk every week: “Space: the final frontier. These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise. Its five-year mission: to explore strange new worlds; to seek out new ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 20:1-27

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Sermon # 6 - The Secret Schemes Of The Enemy Series

Contributed by Andrew Dixon on Feb 15, 2024

Satan’s schemes are many and we as God’s children should be aware of them. Also, we need the right people who will guide and counsel us to walk in the right path and avoid the traps that the enemy sets for us.

We read in Numbers 22:6, Come now, curse this people for me, since they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I shall be able to defeat them and drive them from the land, for I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed." (ESV) As we continue to meditate on this portion ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 64:2, 1 Samuel 19:11, 1 Peter 5:8, Genesis 19:11, Esther 3:8, 2 Samuel 15:2-6, 2 Samuel 22:2-3, 1 Samuel 20:42, Proverbs 13:20, 1 Samuel 19:12, 1 Samuel 19:18, Psalm 31:18, Numbers 22:6  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Other

Jesus Answers The Divorce Question Series

Contributed by David Owens on Sep 11, 2023

When Jesus returned to His public ministry in Mark 10, the Pharisees tried to trap Him with a question about divorce. Jesus dealt with their question by directing them back to God's original design and intent in creation.

A. In the last two sermons in our sermon series on the Gospel of Mark, we have been watching Jesus privately teaching His disciples some very important lessons on discipleship. 1. The topics He discussed with them were about prayer, the passion of Jesus, pride and prejudice. 2. I trust that we have ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:1-12, Deuteronomy 24:1-4, Leviticus 20:13, Romans 1:26-27

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Why Don't We? (Praise)

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Jan 1, 2020

Complaining and fault finding can become a terrible dooming trap. Why don't we praise more? Will we allow the rocks to cry out in praise... Let us offer unto the Lord a sacrifice of PRAISE!

WHY DON’T WE? (PRAISE) By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com PRAISE IS MUCH MORE THAN A CERTAIN SONG OR A CERMONIAL HABIT OR A COLD RITUAL. Christianity must be a daily personal relationship with a man and a Holy God. Church is much more than 4 hard walls. Praise is deeper than ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 29:35, 2 Chronicles 20:20-22, Psalm 22:3

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Hiking Trail Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jul 10, 2025

God tells us to seek out the "ancient paths" and walk in it. Why should we want to to do that... and what would it look like if we managed to do it?

A few years ago one of my son’s favorite TV shows was “Man vs. Wild”. It featured a guy named Bear Grylls and it was a sort of reality show where this man would be dropped off in an isolated area carrying a knife, a water bottle, some flint (to start a campfire), a waterproof bag, a multi-purpose ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 6:16

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Towards Faith Promise 2016: Money, God, And You Series

Contributed by Troy Borst on Mar 6, 2003

The passage we will look at today is one in which the desire for money did indeed lead to a trap, foolish desires, and piercing griefs which ruined an entire nation for awhile and eventually an entire family permanently. The passage is about a man named

TOWARDS FAITH PROMISE 2016: MONEY, GOD, AND YOU JOSHUA 7:1-5 INTRODUCTION… Dumb Crooks (geocities.com/Heartland/Cottage/1955/text/copdumbcrim.html) * It seems this guy wanted some beer pretty badly. He decided that he’d just throw a cinder block through a liquor store window, grab ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 7:1-5

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ