SERMONS ON TOUGH TOPICS
Our sermon ideas on tough topics will help you preach a powerful message on the challenging topics of funerals, divorce, addiction, homosexuality, and more. Prepare your messages with biblical truths surrounding these tough topics with sermon outlines or an entire sermon series.
Funeral Service (1 of 13)
by Christopher Harbin
Rachel Ranson: Example and Witness. I did not have the privilege of knowing Rachel prior to the onset of Alzheimer's. Having only been here for one Rachel's final year of life on earth, I did not have the experience of seeing the example and witness in Rachel that so many of you have shared with me. Though I did not get to know her as you have known her, she has left a legacy in the lives of many who have shared the stories of Rachel's example and witness to God's love. Her love for God was evident even in her latter years. Of late, she would ask who I was a dozen times a visit. When I brought communion one...
A Guide to Performing a Funeral Service plus Graveside Service
by Brian Fletcher
In this guide you will find a sample outlines, homilies and helpful notes for performing a funeral service as well as a graveside service. It's always a good idea to go over the order of the service with the funeral home director. They do this every day and they know exactly how the details of where to stand, when the body comes in or where it goes, when to lead the family, etc. If you are conducting the funeral or memorial service in the church and there is no funeral director then make sure you do a couple of things: Have a quiet place where just the family can congregate before the service starts. Pray with the family before...
Funeral for a Wood Worker
by Jeff Strite
Synopsis: Bob was a master at working with wood and had given every one in his family gifts of tables and rocking chairs and walking sticks and more. But Bob was also a Christian and this sermon reflects on Bob's faith in the Master Builder and the salvation that that Master builder - Jesus - gave to his life. ''… no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the...
Dealing with Divorce (1 of 4)
by Ernest Easley
This morning we're continuing our series of messages through the Sermon on the Mount! So take your Bible and join me in Matthew chapter 5. Now if there is one thing we have learned so far about the preaching of Jesus - it's that His preaching was practical! That is - He spoke to the issues of life! He gave them something that would help them face the realities of life! That's why I encourage you to spend time each day in God's Word! Not only does the Bible point you to Jesus for salvation - it prepares you for success: Success in your home - in your marriage, in your relationships - in your work! That's why Sunday School...
Life after Divorce (6 of 6)
by Jerry Vines
This is our last message in our series on Love, Marriage and a Baby Carriage. Divorce is a subject which touches us all. You may have experienced a divorce yourself. Your parents may have divorced. You may have children who have divorced. Whether it be by means of family or by means of friends, all of us are touched by divorce. The statistics are mammoth when you think about divorce. Over a million divorces in America today. Single parent homes are up 80%. About one out of every five children today are being brought up in a single family marriage. I haven't seen last year's statistics, but most years in Duval...
Total Commitment (3 of 4)
by Jeff Strite
A college man walked into a photography studio with a framed picture of his girlfriend. He wanted the picture duplicated. This involved removing it from the frame. In doing this, the studio owner noticed the inscription on the back of the photograph''My dearest Tom, I love you with all my heart. I love you more and more each day. I will love you forever and ever. I am yours for all eternity.''It was signed ''Helen,'' and it contained a P.S.: ''If we ever break up, I want this picture back.'' APPLY: How many of you think she was NOT totally committed to that relationship? Real commitment is a highly prized commodity and those who have experienced...
Can a Suicide Go to Heaven? And Other Questions about Death (13 of 26)
by Stan Coffey
People do not like to think about death, yet there is something about the subject that draws us like a magnet. Some people respond to the idea of death with defiance. Others laugh at death. George Burns said ''I don't believe in death.'' Some are resigned to death. The saddest of all are those who invite death. Death is a dreaded enemy, and yet the Bible promises believers victory over death through Christ. I. WHAT ABOUT PRAYERS FOR THE DEAD? A. We should respect the memories of our loved ones who have gone to be-with the Lord. (Heb. 12:1) B. We should comfort the bereaved and sympathize- with them in...
Homosexuality and the Bible (2 of 4)
by Ernest Easley
Please take your Bible and turn to Romans 1. We're thinking these days under the general heading: The Moral Collapse of America for America is sick! This nation was built on a moral and spiritual foundation, and that foundation is crumbling. The time has come for a restoring of our moral values! I believe for the moral collapse to become the moral climb...it's time we stop rejecting and refusing the Word of God and to re-establish the Bible in all we do for morality is not determined by the vote of the people, it is determined by the Word of God...Romans 3.20, ''by the law is the knowledge of sin.'' Now, for the next few weeks...I want to...
Are People Born Gay? What Does the Bible Really Say about Homosexuality? (5 of 5)
by Jason Dees
Are you born gay? In April of 1997, Ellen DeGeneres, the lead character of ABC's Sitcom Series Ellen, became the first openly gay lead character in television. I don't know if you remember the episode. Many of you don't remember the episode because there was so much backlash in the Birmingham market that the ABC affiliate did not even air the show that night. We liberals up in Huntsville did air the show, but it was big news across the whole country that there was an openly gay woman playing an openly gay woman in a TV Sitcom. That was 1997, 16 years ago. And today it is very clear that the cultural landscape has totally...
Homosexuality, the Bible, and Southern Baptists (22 of 26)
by Stan Coffey
INTRODUCTION: Earlier this month the Southern Baptist Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana denied representation to any church sanctioning the lifestyles of practicing homosexuals or who had ordained homosexuals to the ministry. The convention also approved an amendment to the constitution of the convention which would bar representation of such churches in future conventions. Homosexual behavior is not new on the world scene. Many of the Roman emperors were homosexuals. Such behavior is also mentioned earlier in the Bible in the book of Genesis in a case of cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. It is interesting to note...
Overcoming Sin
by Robert Walker
Tradition tells us that Abraham Lincoln went to a slave auction, and he noticed a rather attractive black woman who was about to be auctioned off. So he began bidding. The bidding went back and forth until finally he had purchased her. They brought her over to him, and he instructed them to take the shackles off her wrists and ankles. Then he said to her, ''You are free to go.'' She looked at him and said, ''You mean that I don't have to go home with you?'' He said, ''No, you don't.'' She said, ''You mean that I don't have to do what you tell me to do, or say what you tell me to say?'' ''That's right.'' ''You mean I don't have to be your slave, I don't have...
Breaking Satan's Chains (4 of 6)
by Jeff Schreve
Well, I remember back a number of years ago, Debbie and, and I and the girls went on our first real big vacation. We went to Breckinridge, Colorado for spring break. It was the first time that the kids had ever been on an airplane. It was the first time I'd ever spent that much money on a vacation for the five of us (laughter). And, ah, we were all excited. Now none of us ski, but we just thought, You know, it's going to be fun to be in the snow, to be in a new place. We've never been to Breckinridge. And, and we can play in the snow and do stuff. The kids will have a great time. Well, we get to Denver. I rent a car. And then we drive, you know...
You Can Be Set Free (5 of 8)
by Ernest Easley
We're learning these days from the gospel of Mark about Jesus: the Life Changer, Soul Saver. So take Gods Word and join me in Mark 5 where we're going to discover that Jesus not only has authority over disease and death … but also over demons.Now as you find Mark 5 … I want you to look up here because there is something I want to make sure you hear and understand today: YOU CAN BE SET FREE! Whatever has you in bondage: that addiction, that habit, that thing that is destroying you physically, destroying your marriage … destroying you mentally … THAT THING! You really can be set free. Let me say it...
The Giant of Strongholds (5 of 5)
by Jeff Schreve
I want to ask you this question, how many in here have a fear of snakes? Is anybody afraid of snakes? I don't like snakes at all. When I went to Africa a few years back, it helped my prayer life every time I would walk through the bush. One time I was walking through waste deep brush. The guy said, ''This is a short-cut to the next village.'' I was just praying every step. I was praying every step. They have snakes other there that can kill you in about five or ten minutes and I was just so afraid. I just don't like snakes. I identify with that Jim Stafford song, ''I don't like spiders and snakes.'' Do you remember that song? That was when I was in...
How to Break Satan's Strongholds in Your Life
by Adrian Rogers
Turn with me please to Ephesians chapter four tonight Ephesians chapter four. I want to talk to you about breaking satanic strongholds. There are people who get strongholds in their lives and I believe as surely as my name is Adrian Rogers there are many people in this congregation tonight who have in their heart and in their mind and in their life a satanic stronghold. Not only is it harming them and wrecking their spiritual life but they themselves are contaminating the life of their family and the life of their church because the devil has found an unclean place in that person and the devil has made a campground, a foul nest, a beach-head...
Reserve Strength for Tough Times
by David Cawston
This parable and all the other parables in Matthew 25 were taught during the last week of Jesus life, following his triumphal entry into Jerusalem. During that five day period Jesus had some significant things to say to his followers.Jesus was probably standing in the courtyard of a friend's home outside of Jerusalem. He loved using familiar places and events as situations for teaching. Maybe a wedding had taken place in that home the night before! Jewish law called for weddings to begin on Wednesday-usually in the home of the Bride's father, or perhaps his brother. They always lasted more than one day. That evening after the day of...
When the Going Gets Tough, Keep Your Eye on the Prize (8 of 26)
by Rick White
Introduction: There are times when I simply marvel at the sovereignty of God when I open His Word. Through the years I have made it a practice to preach through books of the Bible or special series. I have done this for two reasons. (1) It leads to better, healthier, more balanced proclamation. It would be easy to gravitate to subjects of interest and neglect some portion of teaching that is badly needed in life. (2) It has been a good personal protection. It has prevented me from taking issues of a personal nature to the pulpit and making them issues of defense. That makes it even more remarkable when God gives to you a serendipity...
Do You Know That You Can't Tolerate Sin? (6 of 7)
by Ken Trivette
I am sure you have heard the old saying, ''One bad apple can spoil the whole barrel.'' Of course, the proverb is speaking of how one rotten apple in a barrel will cause the other apples in the barrel to rot as well. The idea is that one person on a team, in an office, or among a group can have a negative influence on all. Through the years I have found that most Church problems, although they often surface in a group, were initiated and incited by one ''bad apple.'' All it takes is one disgruntled deacon, one conniving leader, one self-centered and self-motivated member to cause trouble in a Church. In a former Church I pastored...
Is Hardship a Sign of Our Sin? (4)
by Patrick Edwards
The apostle John records in his gospel the following event: As [Jesus] passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. And his disciples asked him, ''Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?'' Jesus answered, ''It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.'' Having said these things, he spit on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man's eyes with the mud and said...
