Sermons on Tough Circumstances:

To Touch God Lesson 1 Series

Contributed by Elmer Towns on Feb 6, 2019

What does it mean to touch/encounter God

All Scripture quoted in this lesson is from The Bible by Jesus unless otherwise noted A. What Does It Mean To Touch/Encounter God? 1. You intentionally meet or encounter God. 2. In a time of great need. 3. Through unexpected circumstances. 4. When God reveals something about Himself (or His plan ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 18:1, Exodus 33:18, Judges 6:10

Denomination: Baptist

Stable Through The Storm

Contributed by Vera Hughes on Oct 16, 2013

Life brings circumstances where you don't know what to do. Sometimes, we forget we have the Word of God in our mouth. We are tossed to and fro by every circumstance. However, it is time to be stable and stand on God's Word.

I believe that this is a life-changing message. No matter what storms you face in life, you will become stable and not be rocked out of the boat. You were not meant to go being beat up by the storms of life. Look at the storm of gas prices, the economy, your job statuses, can’t pay your ...read more

Scripture: Mark 4:35-41

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Ugly Praise

Contributed by Gregory J Brice on Jul 22, 2013

Life has a way of bringing you down, BUT God WILL lift you up out of the pit that life throws you in. All you have to do is praise Him.

Joseph’s own brother Rueben was responsible for Joseph’s pit. It was Rueben that suggested they throw Joseph in the pit. We don’t know what happened but whatever it was; we know that Rueben was there when Joseph was thrown into the pit but he was not there when Joseph was lifted ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 37:18-24

Denomination: Baptist

What Does God's Will Have To Do With My Circumstances?

Contributed by Jerry Cosper on Mar 15, 2021

Circumstances aren’t always just circumstances. We have to learn to see God at work.

We’ve been talking about God’s Will for the past 4-5 Sundays. Today I ask the question, “What does God’s Will have to do with my circumstances in my everyday life?” God answers our prayers all the time. But many of those times we don’t even realize it was God trying to get our attention. ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:26-32, Ephesians 3:20

Denomination: Baptist

Expect The Unexpected

Contributed by Paul Robinson on Sep 27, 2022

Life is full of unexpected moments—it would be boring without them. But what happens when that unexpected moment is huge? It affects you personally, and it’s something that seems unbearable. It causes you to doubt. That’s what we find in Luke 7 with John the Baptist.

Has something unexpected ever happened to you? —you find a 20 dollar bill in between the cushions on your couch —you bump into someone at the store that you haven’t seen in 5 years —the forecast says it’ll be sunny, but it pours —the dog decides to bring you a gift from the outside world, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 7:19-20

Denomination: Baptist

When The Going Gets Tough Love Gets Going Series

Contributed by Leonard Cook on May 20, 2007

Living a life of love in the midst of unimaginable persecution. If this is the message to these Christians who are under unimaginable persecution, then what is the message for us living in a free society; and how much more does God expect from us as a re

When the Going Gets tough Love Gets Going 1 Peter 1:22-2:2 (Key Center, Verse 1:22) How Do You Love 22 Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart. Exegesis: You obeyed the truth and are now ...read more

Denomination: Holiness

Would You Hire This Man? Series

Contributed by Leighton (Lee) Vary on Nov 10, 2015

What kind of man was John the Baptist? Rough and tough in dress and speech.

Introduction The outline for this message came from "The Preacher's Outline and Sermon Bible", from Leadership Ministries Worldwide. John, a neighbor of mine, was annoyed because he had to search for his newspaper each morning after the paperboy tossed it. Often he would find it, covered with ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 3:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

The Jesus We Trust When The Going Gets Tough

Contributed by Dorothy Lam on Jul 16, 2025

Peter's desire to walk on water to be with Jesus is certainly a good thing, but he is unprepared for the consequences of this big step of faith. How do we handle headwinds and the waves that will certainly come in this life of faith?

Jesus was having a pretty demanding day. That morning, Jesus heard the tragic news that his cousin John the Baptist had been killed. King Herod had him executed in prison. It was a terrible injustice. That morning Jesus intended to get away by himself to pray. He needed to know from his Heavenly ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 14:22-33

Denomination: Baptist

"Why Can't I Find Happiness" Series

Contributed by David Henderson on Jul 3, 2017

There is a simple reason why most of us cannot find happiness.

THE PURSUIT OF REAL HAPPINESS “What can’t I find Happiness? Philippians 1:1-8 When I was in high school I was invited to a Bible study that took place in (of all places) a local cotton gin. The county I grew up in was a huge producer of cotton and still is. The Bible study took place inside the ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

Don't Give Up When Things Are Tough

Contributed by Travis Moore on Nov 27, 2000

Lesson in patience and perserverance

Don’t Give Up When Things Are Tough Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:9-13

Denomination: Baptist

Work It Out: Turning Tough Times Into Personal Growth

Contributed by Mark Jobe on Sep 15, 2011

1) Start choosing an attitude of joy 2) Persevere so you can grow 3) Ask God for wisdom and he will give it 4) Don’t rely on your resources to get through 5) Remember there is reward and blessing in the end.

Which James? Author: There are several men named James mentioned in the New Testament (5), but reliable tradition assigns this book to the one called James the Just - the half-brother of Jesus. Jesus had brothers (Matthew 13:55; Mark 6:3), and brother of Jude (Jude 1:1), who led the church in ...read more

Scripture: James 1:1-12

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Family Faith Transfer: In Difficult Circumstances (Lesson 5)

Contributed by Elmer Towns on Feb 3, 2003

Series: Family Faith Transfer

A. INTRODUCTION: EXODUS 2:1-15 “By faith, Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child” (Heb. 11: 23). B. THE DIFFICULTIES WHEN MOSES WAS BORN 1. Parents were slaves. “So the Egyptians made slaves of them” (1:11, LB). 2. Parents worked in ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 2:1-15

Denomination: Baptist

How To Feel Encouraged Despite Your Discouraging Circumstances

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Oct 18, 2000

Remember the famous old hymn, "Do you have any rivers you think are uncrossable? Do you have any mountains you can't tunnel through? God specializes in things thought impossible.

Remember the famous old hymn, "Do you have any rivers you think are uncrossable? Do you have any mountains you can't tunnel through? God specializes in things thought impossible. He does the things others cannot do! Sometimes people feel depressed, disheartened and frustrated when those around them ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 40:2-3

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Lesson 4: How God Leads Through Circumstances

Contributed by Elmer Towns on Aug 9, 2007

12 ways to look at circumstances.

Lesson 4: How God Leads Through Circumstances A. 12 WAYS TO LOOK AT CIRCUMSTANCES 1. God works His plan through things. “All things work together for good” (Rom. 8:28). 2. God works His plan behind the scenes, when people don’t realize He’s at work. “You thought evil . . . God meant it for ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:28

Denomination: Baptist

When God Stands Between You And Your Circumstances

Contributed by Elizabeth Mccaskill on Jul 23, 2003

sometime in life we find ourselves hemmed into situations where we can not go forward and we cannot go backward.

God stands between us and our circumstances Sometimes in our life, God will allow us to be hemmed into situations where it is humanly impossible for us to get ourselves out of. In other words, sometime in life we find ourselves in situations where we cannot go forward and we cannot go backward. ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 14:14-21

Denomination: Methodist