Sermons on Struggle:

Right Side Up In An Upside Down World Series

Contributed by Mark Opperman on Oct 1, 2015

Rather than giving a list of ideals to strive for, Jesus was showing the people how widely available God’s kingdom was – even for ordinary, poor, ignorant, imperfect, despised people. The beatitudes describe their struggle & grace to thrive in adversity.

Right Side Up in an Upside Down World Intro: The more I study the Sermon on the Mount, esp. the Beatitudes, the less prescriptive and the more descriptive they become to me. Here is what I mean by that. Last week as I shared them, I introduced the first one (poor in spirit) as a requirement for ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-16

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Loaded - Pt. 1 - Benefit 1 Series

Contributed by Steve Ely on Nov 22, 2014

We are instructed to give thanks. Some of us struggle to do that because we aren't sure that God has blessed us lately. Situations and circumstances cause us to wonder if God even deserves our thanks! The truth is that we are loaded!

Loaded Pt. 1- Benefit 1 I. Introduction One day a year we are reminded to be thankful. This reminder should not be needed since we are commanded to be thankful. Psalm 95, 97, 107, and then in Psalm 118, 1 Chronicles 16, and finally in one of the most interesting instances in Psalm 136. This is an ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 103:1-5

Denomination: Pentecostal

Loaded - Pt. 2 - Benefit 2 Series

Contributed by Steve Ely on Nov 29, 2014

We are instructed to give thanks. Some of us struggle to do that because we aren't sure that God has blessed us lately. Situations and circumstances cause us to wonder if God even deserves our thanks! The truth is that we are loaded!

Loaded Pt. 1- Benefit 2 I. Introduction We have been commanded repeatedly to be thankful. Over and over again gratitude is commanded because God is worthy and because the writers understand that He responds to grateful people. With that said there are times when we must make the conscious choice ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 103:1-5

Denomination: Pentecostal

Loaded - Pt. 3 - Benefit 3 Series

Contributed by Steve Ely on Dec 13, 2014

We are instructed to give thanks. Some of us struggle to do that because we aren't sure that God has blessed us lately. Situations and circumstances cause us to wonder if God even deserves our thanks! The truth is that we are loaded

Loaded Pt. 3 - Benefit 3 I. Introduction We have been commanded repeatedly to be thankful. Over and over again gratitude is commanded because God is worthy. Because life can be difficult and not everything is always as planned it is necessary to remind ourselves of the benefits that we have due to ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 103:1-5

Denomination: Pentecostal

Loaded - Pt. 4 - Benefit 4 Series

Contributed by Steve Ely on Dec 25, 2014

We are instructed to give thanks. Some of us struggle to do that because we aren't sure that God has blessed us lately. Situations and circumstances cause us to wonder if God even deserves our thanks! The truth is that we are loaded!

Loaded Pt. 4 - Benefit 4 I. Introduction We have been commanded repeatedly to be thankful. Over and over again gratitude is commanded because God is worthy. Because life can be difficult and not everything is always as planned it is necessary to remind ourselves of the benefits that we have due to ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 103:1-5

Denomination: Pentecostal

Loaded - Pt. 5 - Benefit 5 Series

Contributed by Steve Ely on Dec 25, 2014

We are instructed to give thanks. Some of us struggle to do that because we aren't sure that God has blessed us lately. Situations and circumstances cause us to wonder if God even deserves our thanks! The truth is that we are loaded!

Loaded Pt. 5 - Benefit 5 I. Introduction We have been commanded repeatedly to be thankful. Over and over again gratitude is commanded because God is worthy. Because life can be difficult and not everything is always as planned it is necessary to remind ourselves of the benefits that we have due to ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 103:1-5

Denomination: Pentecostal

Watch Your Step! Series

Contributed by David Henderson on Sep 4, 2012

There are many countries around the world that have fallen and I believe in most cases it is due to power struggles that take place and just plain old pride. Solomon said pride comes before a fall and I believe that is exactly what is happening in the Un

TRAPS “Watch your Step!” Psalm 59:12, Isaiah 14:12-14 and 2 Corinthians 7:4 For the past 12 weeks we have looked at a variety of traps that Satan places in our path. As we have seen, these traps come in different sizes, large and small. And I have this suspicion – that of all ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 14:12-14

Denomination: Baptist

Life With God In The Wilderness Series

Contributed by Bob Marcaurelle on Mar 11, 2016

Message 11 Following 1 Corinthians 10 and Revelation 12 this message shows how Israel's forty years in the wilderness is comparable to our lives with God today. There are struggles but in them God is with us and uses them to make us trust and obey Him

Moses 11 LIFE WITH GOD IN THE WILDERNESS Exodus 15:22 - 19:1 1 Cor. 10:5-6 / 11 “God was not pleased with most of them because they were overthrown in the wilderness. These things are warnings to us, not to crave evil things like they did / These things happened to them as warnings to us ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Do You Have 20/20 Vision?

Contributed by Chad Taylor on Jan 7, 2014

Every year we struggle with New Year's Resolutions or goals set that we fail to reach. The church is no different. Does the church have a clear vision for Jesus and the authority of His word? Its time to separate the garbage from the truth in our walk!

Introduction On September 27, 1991, as was his custom, Gerald Sittser, a professor of religion and philosophy at Whitworth College, prayed, asking God to protect and bless his family. Something went terribly wrong. Later that afternoon, returning from a family outing, a drunk driver lost control ...read more

Scripture: Acts 26:8-18

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

How To Put Your Life Back Together Series

Contributed by Chuck Sligh on Aug 19, 2013

Following Naomi's advice, Ruth did 4 things to help put their lives back together. They are the same four things we must do to put our lives together after a major trial, struggle or catastrophe in our lives.

How To Put Your LIfe Back Together Series: Ruth Chuck Sligh August 18, 2013 ATTENTION: This interpretation of Ruth and the threshing floor incident takes the traditional view of Ruth's actions. I have another sermon on the same text that takes a different view titled Doing it Right, looking at ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 3:1-14

Denomination: Baptist

Do Everything Series

Contributed by Lanny Smith on Feb 24, 2020

We all struggle with a "dual nature." We sort of like Bannon/The Hulk from the movies and comic books. It doesn't take much to move us away from Christ-likeness to self-interest and rebellion.

You can listen to this sermon on my podcast at: https://www.buzzsprout.com/697261/2134049 Do Everything  Intro: • Jekyll & Hyde, The Hulk o Book cover o Jekyll/Hyde illustration o Bannon/Hulk o Bannon/Hulk meld • Stories like these illuminate the struggle in all of us. Good vs. ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:1-17

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Wake Up, Church! Awaken Our Commitment Series

Contributed by Duane Wente on Aug 20, 2021

We struggle with commitment in our world today. Marriages, for example, last as long as life is convenient. Commitment to God has dwindled as well. If we are going to make a difference in the world, and set our country right, we need a solid commitment to God.

Lack of commitment is something that runs rampant in our world today. People do not truly stand for anything or are even truly committed to anything. They are blown around like fall leaves in a windstorm, swirling around, going this way and that. (Chameleon Commitment By Neal Gracey Copied from ...read more

Scripture: Romans 13:11, Romans 13:14, Psalm 37:1-6, Luke 9:57-62, Acts 2:42  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Balanced Life Series

Contributed by Dean Courtier on Aug 20, 2022

God has plans for each of us and specific work that He has called us to do. This should be good news to us, but often we can feel overwhelmed when we are struggling to manage everything, we think we need to do.

A Balanced Life We can make our own plans, but the LORD gives the right answer. People may be pure in their own eyes but the LORD examines their motives. Commit your actions to the LORD, and your plans will succeed. (Proverbs 16:1-3 NLT) God has plans for each of us and specific work that He has ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 16:1-3, Galatians 6:2, Hebrews 10:24-25

Denomination: Pentecostal

God's Promises For Every Need: A Dirty Mind Series

Contributed by Troy Borst on Nov 10, 2020

Thread: Aim for the Heart We find the Apostle Paul describing the push and pull and tension and struggle between good and evil and righteousness and unrighteousness that happens inside the mind of each person. Every person who has ever lived deals with the sinful nature.

GOD’S PROMISES FOR EVERY NEED: A DIRTY MIND 2 Timothy 3:1-17 #EveryNeed INTRODUCTION… The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (p) I don’t know what kind of movies you all like, but one of my favorite types of movies are westerns. I like “Sons of Katie Elder.” I like the original “True Grit” and the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:1-17

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Spiritual Warfare: Transformed By The Truth Ephesians 6:12-13 Series

Contributed by Dean Courtier on Jan 28, 2024

As we immerse ourselves in the truth of Ephesians 6:12-13, we enter the realm of spiritual warfare—the unseen battle that shapes the course of our lives. Today, let's explore the transformative truth that equips us for this ongoing struggle.

Spiritual Warfare: Transformed by the Truth Ephesians 6:12-13 Introduction: As we immerse ourselves in the truth of Ephesians 6:12-13, we enter the realm of spiritual warfare—the unseen battle that shapes the course of our lives. Today, let's explore the transformative truth that equips us for ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:12-13, Ephesians 6:12, Ephesians 6:13, 2 Corinthians 10:4, Ephesians 6:14-17, John 8:32  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal