Sermons on Waters Made Bitter:

Water For Drowning, Water For Thirst

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Dec 4, 2010

After Christmas it is easy to feel overwhelmed with the return to reality, responsibility, and even depressing weather. The psalmist also felt overwhelmed until he remembered what God had done in and for him and that God was still present, even when unfe

Takoma Park Baptist Church, Washington, DC January 6, 1985 Well, Christmas is over, isn't it? Christmas is over and done with, except for a few remaining lights and poinsettias … over, done with, finished. It was great while it lasted, but Christmas is over. How do you know that ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 42:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

Brokenness: Bitterness Or Blessing

Contributed by Stephen E. Trail on Apr 17, 2016

A message to encourage those who have bitterness in their lives to move on to blessing.

Brokenness: Bitterness or Blessing? Job 3:1-26 Job 3:1 After this opened Job his mouth, and cursed his day. ILL - My family and I lived in a temporary home after a move and did not bother to unpack our boxes. My brother and I were kept awake each night by a bothersome cricket. After several ...read more

Scripture: Job 3:1

Denomination: Baptist

The Making Of Mara (Bitterness) Series

Contributed by Glenn Durham on Jan 25, 2011

God’s wondrous workings may take us through a deep struggle with sovereignty.

Scripture Introduction One old commentator wrote about our text: “Names are given to men and women, not only to distinguish them from each other, but also,—1. To stir them up to verify the meanings… of their names. Wherefore let every Obadiah strive to be a “servant of God,” every Nathaniel to be ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 1:19-22

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

From Bitterness To Blessedness Series

Contributed by Ed Mcneely on Dec 2, 2004

Christmas: The flip-side of life’s bitter experiences. Or God’s answer to our failures.

Christmas time—the holiday season—should be a time of love, joy, and fellowship… a time of celebration and anticipation. But for all too many it’s a time of reflection on past failures… on broken dreams… on emptiness… on missed opportunities. For those who rejoice, they have taken God’s ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 38:17-20

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Getting Better Or Bitter?

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Jun 14, 2003

Asaph started to regress toward bitterness because he struggled with over-reacting to the prosperity, pleasures and privileges of others. We all have to choose to become better or slip into bitterness, cynicism and negativity.

Getting Better or Bitter? (Psa. 73:1-28) "See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many." (Heb. 12:15) Quote: " I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go" - ABRAHAM ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 73:1-28

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

From Pleasant To Bitter Series

Contributed by Chuck Sligh on Jul 30, 2013

Upon Naomi's return home she said, "Don't call me Naomi [Pleasant] anymore. Call me Mara [Bitter]" This sermon examines her bitterness, now destructive bitterness is and how to deal with the trials in life.

From Pleasant to Bitter Chuck Sligh Series: Ruth July 28, 2013 TEXT: Ruth 1:19-22 – “So they two went until they came to Bethlehem. And it came to pass, when they were come to Bethlehem, that all the city was moved about them, and they said, Is this Naomi? 20 And she said unto them, ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 1:19-22

Denomination: Baptist

Bitter Or Better Ends

Contributed by Charles Scott on Dec 16, 2007

It is in the narrow places of life, the places where we are closed in and helpless that we may experience the healing presence of God, often at the bitter or beter end.

BITTER OR BETTER ENDS NUMBERS 22__21—35 LUKE 24:13—16, 28—32 The story found in the Book of Numbers about Balaam and his ass is one of the difficult passages in the Old Testament. For some folks, it is clear evidence that the Scriptures are an ancient relic that has absolutely no meaning for ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 22:21-35

Denomination: Anglican

Overcoming The Bitter Root

Contributed by D. Dewaine Phillips on Mar 3, 2022

Bitterness arises from failing to forgive someone who has wronged you. It comes from clinging to bad memories or hurtful experiences from the past and not letting them go. Many times bitterness will give rise to vengeance.

Our sermon this morning is entitled, “Overcoming the Bitter Root.” Bitterness can be defined as harboring resentment and unforgiveness in our heart toward another person. Bitterness is also defined as, “extreme enmity,” “a grudge,” or “hatred.”(1) The meaning of the word bitter itself is, “sharp ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:17-21

Denomination: Baptist

From Bitter To Better

Contributed by John Gaston on Jan 6, 2021

Trials and troubles, far from being harmful to you, cause us to grow. Under Pharaoh's oppression Israel grew dramatically. Joseph too faced the dilemma of whether to become bitter at his brothers, or better. He saw the hand of God & chose the latter.

FROM BITTER TO BETTER Exodus 1:11-14 INTRODUCTION A. HUMOR: Some things never change! 1. A supposed ancient manuscript was found that told extra details of what happened when Adam and Eve ate the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good & Evil. 2. When Adam bit the fruit he felt great ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 1:11-14, Genesis 45:8

Denomination: Assembly Of God

In Bitterness She Prayed

Contributed by Steven Cannon on Apr 8, 2006

God used her bitterness to impact a nation.

IN BITTERNESS OF SOUL – SHE PRAYED 1 Sam 1:1 There was a certain man from Ramathaim, a Zuphite from the hill country of Ephraim, whose name was Elkanah son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. 1 Sam 1:2 He had two wives; one was called Hannah and the ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

"When The Beloved Steps Into The Water”

Contributed by Amiri Hooker on Jan 11, 2026

Beloved, on Baptism of the Lord Sunday, the church turns its eyes toward a river in the wilderness, where Jesus — Son of God, Word made flesh

SERMON TITLE: “WHEN THE BELOVED STEPS INTO THE WATER” Matthew 3:13–17 • Baptism of the Lord Sunday “Wade in the Water” as Our Hermeneutic of Liberation INTRODUCTION Beloved, on Baptism of the Lord Sunday, the church turns its eyes toward a river in the wilderness, where Jesus — Son of God, Word ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 3:13-17

Denomination: United Methodist

Beyond The Bitter To The Better

Contributed by Zachary Woods on Jun 29, 2011

How to overcome bitter times in life.

Beyond the Bitter to the Better Psalms 30:1-5 30:1 A Psalm and Song at the dedication of the house of David. I will extol thee, O LORD; for thou hast lifted me up, and hast not made my foes to rejoice over me. 2 O LORD my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me. 3 O LORD, thou hast ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 30:1-5

Denomination: Apostolic

The Bitter Cup Of Gethsemane Series

Contributed by Terry Blankenship on Mar 24, 2014

Jesus drank the bitter cup of Gethsemane which contained the wrath of God which we deserved!

Mark 14:32-42 The Bitter Cup of Gethsemane Also; Matthew 26:36-46; Luke 22:39-46; Mark 14:32-42 (LK Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him.) They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” 33 He ...read more

Scripture: Mark 14:32-42

Denomination: Baptist

"Overcoming Bitterness With Praise"

Contributed by Jerry Depoy on Jan 26, 2004

An Acrostic message. Hopefully, this will help you to remember the key points. We will be spelling the word, "Praise." The means by which God has given to us to defeat the evil in this world is with our "praise."

Read Genesis 45:1-15 Joseph had a "right" to be angry. His ten brothers had thrown him into a horrible pit and sold him into slavery. Can you imagine how Joseph must have felt when he heard his brothers denouncing him as a "dreamer," and wanting him dead. For nearly twenty years Joseph lived ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 45:1-15, 1 Samuel 19:1-20

Denomination: Baptist

Names Of God: Jehovah-Rophe, God Our Healer In The Bitter Waters Of The Wilderness Series

Contributed by Justin Steckbauer on Aug 17, 2022

Then Moses led the people of Israel away from the Red Sea, and they moved out into the desert of Shur. They traveled in this desert for three days without finding any water. 23 When they came to the oasis of Marah, the water was too bitter to drink.

"Then Moses led the people of Israel away from the Red Sea, and they moved out into the desert of Shur. They traveled in this desert for three days without finding any water. 23 When they came to the oasis of Marah, the water was too bitter to drink. So they called the place Marah (which means ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 15:22-27

Denomination: Salvation Army