Sermons on Hard Heartedness:

Keys To A Wonderful Church Life - Part 3: Building On The Foundation Of God's Love Series

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Aug 30, 2021

God wants us to be... 1. Authentic and affectionate (vs. 9-10). 2. Humble and hard-working (vs. 10-11, 16). 3. Hopeful and helpful (vs. 12-13). 4. Sympathetic and same-minded (vs. 14-16).

Keys to a Wonderful Church Life Part 3: Building on the Foundation of God's Love The Book of Romans Romans 12:9-16 (Reading vs. 1-16) Sermon by Rick Crandall (Prepared August 30, 2021) BACKGROUND: *Most of us know that Romans 12 marks a big shift in the Book of Romans. In chapters 1-11, Paul ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:9-16

Denomination: Baptist

Difficult Words

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Sep 10, 2021

The most difficult words that Jesus ever uttered are easy to understand but hard to do. Let’s see how they would solve some of humanity's biggest problems. Let’s examine the selfless life in Mark 8:27-38.

Prelude The most difficult words that Jesus ever uttered are easy to understand but hard to do. Purpose: Let’s see how they would solve some of humanity's biggest problems. Plan: Let’s examine the selfless life in Mark 8:27-38. The Anointed One Mark 8:29-30 “He said to them, ‘But who do you ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:27-38

Denomination: Baptist

Forgivable & Unforgivable Sin? Series

Contributed by James Wallace on Aug 13, 2018

Jesus talked about a sin that was unforgivable, or unpardonable. What is the unpardonable sin? Is it possible that a believer can commit it? Let's do some hard thinking about what Jesus said in Matthew 12:30-32 and what the book of Hebrews says.

The Paradoxical Sayings of Jesus: Forgivable & Unforgivable Sin? Matthew 12:30-32 This morning we consider another of Jesus' paradoxical statements: "Therefore I say to you, any sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven people, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven. 32 Whoever speaks ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 12:30-32, Hebrews 6:1-7, Hebrews 3:12-15

Denomination: Bible Church

Looking For The Honey Or "Sweetness In Bitter Times”

Contributed by Luther Sexton on Feb 26, 2019

You and I know that honey is perhaps the sweetest thing that nature can produce; and a rock is one of the hardest things in nature. So, here we have sweetness coming out of hardness. This is one of God’s promises, and you should claim it for yourself.

LOOKING FOR THE HONEY “Sweetness in Bitter Times” Psalm 81:16 “He should have fed them also with the finest of the wheat: and with honey out of the rock should I have satisfied thee.” Most travelers who have visited Palestine in summer have had their attention directed to the abundance of honey, ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 81:16, Psalm 34:8, Matthew 6:11

Denomination: Pentecostal

Are You Blaming The Messenger?

Contributed by Mark Aarssen on Jun 20, 2018

Those who are called to teach you do so knowing that we must give an account for what we pass on to you. For this reason I must cover the whole Bible including the parts that are hard to understand and that are ominous and disturbing. I have no choice.

Are you blaming the messenger? Deuteronomy 18:15-20 Luke 4:14-30 People react to God in a variety of ways. Some are enthusiastic and inquisitive while others have no interest what so ever and even deny the existence of God. What happened in the Gospel of Luke Chapter 4:14-30 is an account of ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 18:15-20, Luke 4:14-30

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Power Of Counting It All Joy

Contributed by Melvin Maughmer, Jr. on Jun 28, 2022

The human desire is to have every aspect of our life be smooth, so often we consider the hard times as God’s curse upon us or His punishment for our sin, rather than what they really are and that is opportunities to joyfully mature into Christlikeness.

The Power of Counting It All Joy By Bishop Melvin L. Maughmer, Jr. OPENING: - The human desire is to have every aspect of our life be smooth, without trials, tribulations, hard-times, disappointments, and sadness. Too often, we see trials in a negative light, or we assume that there is no way joy ...read more

Denomination: Apostolic

Guarding Against Deception Series

Contributed by D. Dewaine Phillips on Jan 7, 2022

Once we cast a vision and begin laying hold of the Promised Land, we need to watch out for deceptive people; those who creep into the fold to snatch away our vision, and plunder our hard-earned spoils in an act of spiritual piracy.

Once we cast a vision and begin laying hold of the Promised Land, we need to watch out for dream catchers! Now, when I speak of dream catchers, I am not referring to the round wooden frame resembling a spider’s web, which was handcrafted by the Ojibwa tribe of Native Americans for the purpose of ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 9:3-15

Denomination: Baptist

What God Says About The Future I Series

Contributed by John Gaston on Mar 26, 2022

A hard-hitting message about Jesus coming that will bring people to the altars. God has told us what will happen in the future and warned us to be ready for His coming. Those who aren't ready will be left to face the Tribulation period.

WHAT GOD SAYS ABOUT THE FUTURE I Part 1: The Rapture INTRODUCTION A. HUMOR: “COMFORTABLE” 1. Two sisters inherited the family farm. They desperately needed a bull to breed with their heifers and they only had $600. 2. The brunette told her sister, "I’m going to go look at a bull-calf in ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, Revelation 7:9-10

Denomination: Assembly Of God

The Great Confusion - Mark 8:27-34 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Nov 19, 2023

The question, “Who do you say I am” is important, but it’s not everything. Equally important is the question, “What does the way you listen to the hard words of Christ say about who you really believe he is?"

Mark 8:27 Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, "Who do people say I am?" 28 They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets." 29 "But what about you?" he ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:27-34, Matthew 16:13-24, Luke 9:18-23

Seeking God’s Guidance - Psalm 25 Part 5 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on May 27, 2025

Most of our anxiety in hard decisions is worrying about the outcome. But the real issue is pleasing God in the way you go about making the decision. If option A and option B would be equally pleasing to God, how important could the decision possibly be?

Psalm 25:4 Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths; 5 guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and I wait for you all day long. 8 Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in his ways. 9 He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his ...read more

Survivor: What Am I Doing Here Series

Contributed by Mark Milioni on Jan 11, 2001

Imagine going through life without ever getting it. You think you have an idea, you work and strive but life is hard and things just don’t work. Have you ever thought, what am I doing here?

Imagine going through all the work and effort of Survivor and not winning. Same with Olympics. Imagine going through life without ever getting it. You think you have an idea, you work and strive but life is hard and things just don’t work. Have you ever thought, what am I doing here? What am I ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 45:5-8

Denomination: Baptist

"But Jesus...: Faith In The Face Of Reason"

Contributed by Keith Manry on Mar 21, 2002

In the struggles and hard times of our lives, we are called to look beyond our own understanding, beyond our reasoning and recognize that faith the size of a mustard seed can move mountains. In your life if you have not already experienced them, times wil

“‘But Jesus…’: Faith in the Face of Reason” Mark 6:30-44 For many people, the events of this fall have resulted in changed lives. In the beginning of September we traveled on airlines without fear and seldom gave thought to things like anthrax and small pox. Before September 11th, few people knew ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:30-44, Ephesians 2:11-22

Denomination: Methodist

I Know My Redeemer Lives Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Mar 30, 2002

Beyond all of the cultural reasons to come to Easter worship, we come to know that our lives are anchored. But it’s hard to know. Job points the way by affirming a redeemer despite the lack of evidence. Today we know a living redeemer, life changer.

 I If I were to ask you why you’ve come here today, how would you answer? Tell the truth, now; you’re in church. What do you expect and why are you here today? I’d guess that a number of us would give out what Mayor Williams calls the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:11-12, Job 19:23-27

Denomination: Baptist

How To Stop Strife Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on May 21, 2003

Nehemiah has to put down his hard hat and turn his attention from the construction of the wall to the walls that were being put up between his workers. While their external enemies helped to rally the people, internal conflict threatened to divide and de

How to Stop Strife As we continue in our series through the Book of Nehemiah, we’ve learned that Nehemiah confronted a different challenge in each chapter: • In chapter one, he was faced with a personal challenge. When he heard about what was happening in Jerusalem, he sat down and wept and then ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 5:1-19

Denomination: Baptist

Can We Ignore God Without Consequence?

Contributed by Jason Pettibone on Mar 23, 2004

Noah built the ark in the open plain, far from the sea, surely attracting derision. It was hard work that required sustained effort over years and years time. But he BELIEVED and OBEYED God as a result of his faith. God honored that faith by providing a m

Can We Ignore God Without Consequence? We return to the book of Beginnings this morning. Our text is drawn from one of the most well-known stories in the Bible, found in Genesis 6 through 9. The account of Noah. With apologies to David Letterman, here’s a Top Ten list of lessons learned from ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 6:1-8

Denomination: Assembly Of God