Sermons on Hard Challenges:

Praying In Hard Times Series

Contributed by Ken Sowers on Dec 10, 2003

Learning to pray during the hard dry times of life.

Nov. 17 Praying in Hard Times Is God’s primary goal to make me comfortable or make me strong (comfort = make strong) - To mend my body or my spirit To whisk me out of every trial and danger or to walk by my side so I can discover how strong and good He is. Jeremiah in prison, David in the cave. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:8-10, James 1:5

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

David's Hard Heart

Contributed by Charles Andrews on Jan 1, 2004

David’s heart was hardened by sin. Only the death of his newborn son softened it. This sermon looks at three aspects of his son’s death and David’s reaction.

“David’s Hard Heart” Text: 2 Samuel 12:1-23 Introduction: Sin carries consequences! Some are immediate; others come much later in life and some last an entire lifetime. And, of course, any sin of which we do not repent and ask for forgiveness, carries with it the consequence of an eternity in a ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 12:1-23

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The School Of Hard "Nots"

Contributed by Ryan Davis on Sep 27, 2005

You may have heard of people coming through the school of hard Knocks, but as I look through the word of God, I find some “NOT’s” that are hard for some people to swallow.

THE SCHOOL OF HARD "NOTS" TITUS 3:3-8 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of ...read more

Scripture: Titus 3:3-8

Denomination: Baptist

Why Is This So Hard? Series

Contributed by Jake Kircher on Dec 28, 2005

Why is following Gopd so difficult sometimes?

***Tug-o’-war illustration*** • Start off with big kid and a small kid and tell them to pull the rope as far as he can • Slowly, continue to add people to oppose the big kid until he gives up As we continue to look at God’s call in our lives to go and change the world around us, I think this ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 10:16-25

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

It's Hard To Be Humble

Contributed by Eric Ledermann on Jul 23, 2002

Know the gifts which God has given you, these being three (purpose, prayer, and love) from a list of thousands, and go, do the work of God in your life, whatever God is calling you to do, always remaining humble in the presence of such extravagence.

HUMILITY: A pastor was asked to speak for a certain charitable organization. After the meeting the program chairperson handed the pastor a check. “Oh, I couldn’t take this,” the pastor said with some embarrassment. “I appreciate the honor of being asked to speak. You have better use for this ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:1-20

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

"Hard To Learn Lessons"

Contributed by Dennis Deese on Aug 10, 2002

There are many hard to learn lessons in the Christian life.

"HARD TO LEARN LESSONS" Dr. Dennis Deese - Fan The Flame Ministries, Inc. EZEKIEL 24:15-27 ETS: Ezekiel and the Jews had to learn some hard to learn lessons ESS: There are many hard to learn lessons in the Christian life. Introduction: The August 1992 Hurricane Andrew left more than 50,000 ...read more

Fasting The Hard Way

Contributed by Cameron Horsburgh on Nov 5, 2001

God isn’t as impressed with our pious religiosity as he is about the way we live our lives.

Now the Israelites had a problem. They practiced their religion faithfully, and they did everything that was expected, but God didn’t seem to be listening to them. What was the problem? This is a good question. And it’s an important question to ask ourselves as well. God, through his prophet, ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 58:1-9, Isaiah 58:9-14

Denomination: Holiness

The Hard Topic Of Divorce

Contributed by Daniel Sorensen on Oct 18, 2006

Combining Pastoral Care skills with the scripture on divorce allows us to meet the parishioner/seeker where they are, encourage them to be authentic with who they are, and bring themselves wholly to God. The next step would be be a refelection of God’s l

There is a group of new Pastors who are keeping in touch with one another this year via e-mail. We check-in and see how things are going. We talk about ideas for children’s sermons and compare life in the parish to what we learned in the classroom. It’s a helpful way to enter into a new ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:1-16

Denomination: Lutheran

Rebirth: Hard Hat

Contributed by Peter Loughman on Oct 28, 2006

also 2cor 3:17-18 building a spiritual house

Hard Hat, Hammer, Boots, Sunglasses, An Old Pair Of Jeans – I’m ready to build. Last week we saw that w are building a Spiritual House. But before we can even build we need to have the Holy Spirit. Without the Holy Spirit, you cannot build a spiritual house. Jesus tells us we need to be spiritually ...read more

Scripture: Romans 6:1-11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Why Is It So Hard?

Contributed by Duane Smith on Apr 15, 2007

This message is meant to bring us face to face with the problem of sin and encourage us to go to Christ for freedom and victory!

WHY IS IT SO HARD? Proverbs 13:15 INTRODUCTION: A. Over the past few months I have heard quite a few people tell me that life is hard 1. Life, Why is it so hard? a. Is the over arching principle of life found in 1 Cor 10:31 hard to understand - Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 13:15

Denomination: Baptist

The University Of Hard Knocks

Contributed by Ed Wood on May 26, 2007

Paul sat at the feet of Gamaliel and other great teachers of that day. But he learned far more from the UNIVERSITY OF HARD KNOCKS, for there he sat under God’s great teaching.

THE UNIVERSITY OF HARD KNOCKS 2 Corinthians 12:7-9 INTRO: There are many great universities in our land. Everyone knows about Harvard, Yale, and Princeton. In England there is Oxford University. But I want to tell you about another school. It has had more students and more graduates than any ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:7-9

Denomination: Baptist

A Lesson Hard Learned Series

Contributed by Mark Perryman on May 31, 2007

Let’s learn from the life of Jonah

INTRO: A minister, boy scout, computer expert were the only passengers on a small plane. Pilot came back to the cabin and said the plane was going down and there were only three parachutes and four people. Pilot: “I should take one because I have a wife and three small children” (took & jumped). ...read more

Denomination: Assembly Of God

The School Of Hard Knocks Series

Contributed by Victor Yap on Jun 28, 2008

David, Pt. 7

THE SCHOOL OF HARD KNOCKS (1 SAMUEL 30) When my wife and I sold our old house, like most homebuyers, we had to sell our old house before we could afford a new one. At that time, interest rates were down and house prices were rising, so the time was right to buy and sell. Selling our old house was ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 30:1-31

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Consistency Is Hard Work

Contributed by Matthew Morine on Oct 30, 2007

Want to make the congregation grow? Here is the solution to the problem. It is not talent, effort, or programs, it is a lack of consistency.

CONSISTENCY IS HARD WORK TEXT: 1 CORINTHIANS 15:58 THEME: CONSISTENCY IS THE KEY FOR GROWTH Every morning I try to get up at 6:00am to go to the gym to work out. I have been doing this in Waynesboro for the last 3.5 years. The key in working out is consistency. You have to get up every day ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:58

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Lord It Is Hard To Be Humble

Contributed by Thomas Bowen on Nov 25, 2007

Revival only comes when someone is ready, a person, a church a community.

O Lord It’s Hard to be Humble 2 Chronicles 7:14-7:14 We are picking up with last Sunday’s topic and talking about revival this morning. As we said last week, Revival does not come by design. God can not be manipulated to send revival. A revival is not about saving souls or converting ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 7:14

Denomination: Congregational