Sermons on Tough Circumstances:

Special Guest At The Easter Service At Shalom, Sydney Series

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Apr 3, 2015

I want to introduce to you today a remarkable young man who had quite a year last year since our last Easter Service. It’s been an astonishing turbulent year, but if anyone knows about the message of Easter, he does.

SPECIAL GUEST AT THE EASTER SERVICE AT SHALOM, SYDNEY I want to introduce to you today a remarkable young man who had quite a year last year since our last Easter Service. It’s been an astonishing turbulent year, but if anyone knows about the message of Easter, he does. This young man has ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16-17

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Must Jesus Bear The Cross Alone?

Contributed by Davon Huss on Aug 11, 2015

What does "take up your cross" mean and what does it not mean? (Material from: http://www.firstbaptistbuda.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/FBC-Buda-Bible-Study-3.7.12.Cross-Bearing.Dangerous-Followship-3.pdf; and Bob Tinsky's book, A Christian Is)

HoHum: Sing these verses: Must Jesus bear the cross alone, and all the world go free? No, there’s a cross for everyone, and there’s a cross for me. The consecrated cross I’ll bear, Till death shall set me free, And then go home my crown to wear, for there’s a crown for ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:23

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Thanks For Everything Series

Contributed by Ken Henson on Oct 7, 2016

We always have a choice of how we respond when things go wrong. Why not thank the One who is always right, even when our circumstances seem wrong, who is always good, even when circumstances are bad.

Day 26 Ephesians 5:20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. For a discussion of the benefits of being thankful please see the message in this series on Ephesians 5:4. Today, please notice the emphasis of this exhortation to thankfulness. Paul ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:20

Denomination: *other

Rising From Life's Difficulties

Contributed by Rusty Davidson on Aug 15, 2012

Everyone faces tough times and trials. Too many times the answers we here are trite or condescending. But in the story of Lazarus we can find the meaningful truths that will allow us to rise from the difficulties of life.

Rising From Life’s Difficulties Text: John 11:1-46 I. Introduction Illustration: Walking Dead – Hershel Greene -I can't profess to understand God's plan, Christ promised the resurrection of the dead. I just thought he had something a little different in mind. Are things not ...read more

Scripture: John 11:1-16

Denomination: Baptist

Do I Really Want To Become More Like Jesus?

Contributed by Warner Pidgeon on Sep 1, 2010

This is a tough question! Do I want to become more like Jesus, or do I want God to help me become more the person that I selfishly want to be?

Was Jesus a nice, polite, mild-mannered, good-natured young man who kept himself to himself? Was Jesus middle-of-the-road, all things to all people, politically correct, and softly spoken? Was Jesus the most inoffensive man you could ever wish to meet? I wonder what kind of gentle, meek and mild ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:1-14

Denomination: Anglican

Boards And Broken Pieces

Contributed by David Johnston on Jul 25, 2007

Just because things may be difficult for you does not mean that it is "not" the will of God for you to stay put. Too many leave the local church when it starts getting tough.

Boards & Broken Pieces Acts 27:44 And the rest, some on boards, and some on [broken pieces] of the ship. And so it came to pass, that they escaped all safe to land. Paul has really been doing some preaching… Cities are being stirred up. Devil is stirred up. Paul becomes a prisoner… appears ...read more

Scripture: Acts 27:44

Denomination: Pentecostal

Training Your Kids

Contributed by Darrell Stetler Ii on Feb 17, 2004

Kids WILL ask questions, won’t they? How do you handle those times? An examination of principles for training your children when they ask those tough questions.

Daddy, why do we close our eyes when we pray? Why do we pray to God and not to Buddah? Why do we have to go to church? Why do we have to live so different? Why can’t we be like… Every parent has faced them: Those innocent questions from the angelic faces of children -- or sometimes it’s the ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 12:21-27

Denomination: Holiness

The Half-Time Pep Talk

Contributed by Jon Mackinney on Feb 26, 2008

Things can be pretty tough there in the first half of the game. Certainly Timothy was not having a really great time. So let’s listen in to Paul’s half-time talk.

Passage: 2 Timothy 2:1-13 Intro: Most team sports have some kind of intermission, half-time. 1. and if you have played on a crummy team, like the football team I played on in HS, you have heard the half-time “pep talk.” 2. supposed to energize, encourage, send the team back out with a “rah ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:1-13

Denomination: Evangelical Free

The Man's Role In Society

Contributed by Clinton Smith on Mar 4, 2008

The sermon was written to call us to repentance for missing for so long, restore us to the place of godly leadership and stability, and encourage us to hang in there even when the going gets tough.

The society in which we live has neglected to teach men about their role in the home, in the church, and society. The worldly view of a man’s role is that he should provide financially for his family, but we shouldn’t expect him to be very engaged with home life. In spite of all our talk of ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 2:8

Denomination: Baptist

Inspiration And Perspirarion

Contributed by Anthony Zibolski on Feb 12, 2014

Jesus warns of tough times and provides us His Word to lead and guide us in our lives. We say that we live by HIs word, but are we? Is it inspiration and perspiration?

Inspiration and Perspiration 2 Timothy 3:16-3:17 Introduction- Turn with me to 2 Timothy chapter 3 I want to take a look at what most of us here would say is the Word of God that they live bye. We believe every word and know that it is the inspired Word of God. Some will say that they ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Denomination: Nazarene

Tempering Our Understanding Of Miracles

Contributed by Michael Koplitz on Mar 21, 2023

Miracles do happen. However, not all the time. Faith can be shattered by the expectations of miracles occurring. Not all prayers can be answered. Tough lesson I learned early on.

Tempering our Understanding of Miracles John 11:1-45 Rev. Dr. Michael H. Koplitz John 11:1 Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 It was the Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus ...read more

Scripture: John 11:1-45

Denomination: United Methodist

Prayer, Thanks And Obedience

Contributed by Craig Condon on May 4, 2015

Our lives are to be characterized by prayer. We are to be quick to pray in all circumstances, and not just in emergencies. We are to give thanks in everything through prayer.

Do you know what the key to a healthy life is? It is healthy emotions, and the healthiest emotion to have is gratitude. Gratitude actually helps our immune system. It makes us more resistant to stress and less susceptible to illness. People who are grateful are happy because they are satisfied with ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:12-28

Denomination: Anglican

All The Lonely People Where Do They All Come From?

Contributed by Rick Finitzer on Jun 10, 2008

The Apostle Paul serves as a fine example of how Christians at times can feel overwhelmed by the circumstances they are facing even loneliness.

Cornerstone Church October 15, 2006 “ALL THE LONELY PEOPLE, WHERE DO THEY ALL COME FROM?” 2 Timothy 4:9-13, 16 Introductory Thoughts: Most Christians cannot deny the profound ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:9-13

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Glorifying God In The Grit (Palm Sunday)

Contributed by Dale Pilgrim on Apr 3, 2018

Jesus sought to glorify God in the grit of everyday life. When this is our focus the realities of life have purpose, even when, especially when, we're wadding through the slug of the tough stuff.

GLORIFYING GOD THROUGH THE GRIT Scripture: John 16:32-17:5 Text – John 17: 1, “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you.” There are many people considered to be great people – people in their lifetimes who were called upon to live for other people and they rose to ...read more

Denomination: Salvation Army

To Live Is Christ PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Sep 26, 2023

Encourage believers to live for Christ in all circumstances, strive to bring others to Him, and follow John Wesley's philosophy of doing good in the world.

Good morning, Church family! Today, we're diving into some pretty deep waters. We'll be exploring what it means to live for Christ in difficult times, the mission of bringing others to Christ, and John Wesley's philosophy of doing good. I think you'll find that these topics are as relevant today as ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:21-30

Topics: Christian Life