Sermons on Hard Knocks:

Help For The Hard Storms Of Life - Part 2

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Jul 16, 2008

Most of the worst storms we’ll face won’t have anything to do with the weather. But someday, you will find yourself in a storm just as serious as Paul faced here.

Help for the Hard Storms of Life - Part 2 Acts 27:21-44 Sermon by Rick Crandall McClendon Baptist Church - June 4, 2008 *I’ve been in a few bad storms. In 1982 I was flying to Korea to help negotiate a contract for the Air Force, and while we were out in the middle of the Pacific, we went through ...read more

Scripture: Acts 27:21-44

Denomination: Baptist

Keeping Our Faith During The Hard Times

Contributed by Jerry Cosper on Oct 26, 2022

We've probably all been through hard times at least once. It's difficult even to think of joy in those trying moments, yet James wrote that believers should consider trials joyous.

Hard times. We've probably all been through hard times at least once. It may be a financial loss that caused the hard times. It may be a job loss that caused the financial loss. It may be a relational loss - breaking up with someone we thought would be a lifelong friend. When these hard ...read more

Scripture: James 1:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

Rocky Revelations - Part 2 - Knock Down Vs. Knockout Series

Contributed by Steve Ely on Jul 16, 2009

The "Italian Stallion" faced some serious opponents. He squared off with the "Master of Disaster", "The Southside Slugger", and "The Siberian Express" just to name a few. Each time Rocky shocked the world! He won our hearts. He can also teach a thing o

Rocky Revelations Part 2 – Knockdown vs. Knockout I. Introduction In part one of this series we talked about pain. Pain is inevitable. Pain is impartial. Pain has a purpose. Pain purifies us. Pain speaks to us. Pain pushes us. Pain positions and prepares us. Pain makes us rely on God. ...read more

Denomination: Pentecostal

Time To Engage: "Following Hard After God”

Contributed by Dennis Lee on Feb 9, 2025

The impulse to follow God originates with God, but it’s our responsibility to follow. We are told throughout the Bible that we’re to seek the Lord. As we purpose to follow hard after God, He upholds and strengthens us as seen in the Psalmist description of a deer in search for water.

Time To Engage “Following Hard After God” Watch on YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFndeU2Ewgg Let me get this out of the way, and that is, I’m not saying it’s hard to follow God. In fact, God even said it isn’t. In fact,  He said it was downright easy, which is something ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 55:6, Jeremiah 29:13-14, Psalm 42:1-2, Psalm 63:8

Denomination: Foursquare

The False Prophet Balaam: When Opportunity Knocked, He Answered Series

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Feb 28, 2025

The king of Moab had a problem: Israel was near his territory. He called on Balaam to come and curse Israel. This king gave Balaam what might be considered the opportunity of a lifetime. How did Balaam respond?

(Edited from and based on a message preached Sunday evening, 2-16-25 at New Hope Baptist Church of Fulton, MO; this is not an exact transcription.) Introduction: The story of Balaam is, or at least used to be, one of the saddest in the entire Bible. It seems he knew the One True God and could ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 22:1-21

Denomination: Baptist

"knocking On Heaven’s Door:" The Friend At Midnight

Contributed by Dennis Lee on Jul 9, 2023

This Sunday in our series, “Parables to Live By,” our of Luke’s gospel, we’ll be looking at the Parable of “The Friend at Midnight,” whose overarching theme is about prayer and our knocking on Heaven’s door for God to hear our plea.

Parables to Live By “Knocking on Heaven’s Door:” The Friend at Midnight Luke 11:5-13 Watch on YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEL0NII1Shs In 1973, Bob Dylan wrote what some consider one of the most famous folk songs in the U.S. It was written for the movie, “Pat Garrett and ...read more

Scripture: Luke 11:5-13

Denomination: Foursquare

Why Should I Work So Hard?

Contributed by Kevin Ruffcorn on Mar 25, 2005

Hard work has limited appeal if its only purpose is to accumulate riches or make us more comfortable. Work becomes meaningful when it is seen as service and as ministry.

Romans 12:1-8 “Why Should I Work So Hard?” INTRODUCTION Things were going so good immediately following the creation. God had placed Adam and Eve in an idyllic situation—a garden that supplied everything that they needed. God took care of them, and the concept of work was as far beyond ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1-8

Denomination: Lutheran

It Can Be Hard When Everybody Knows You

Contributed by David Haun on Jan 9, 2004

When Jesus went home to Nazareth, he took his disciples with him. Why? What did they learn from the trip? What message does it offer for us?

"IT CAN BE HARD WHEN EVERYBODY KNOWS YOU" (Mark 6:1-6) Introduction There is an unwritten "rule" that exists in ministry. It’s a "rule" most ministers recognize. The rule: "Never return as pastor to your childhood church." So often going back home just won’t work, because folk in your ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:1-6

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Hard Work, Sharing Jesus Stories And Resting!

Contributed by Warner Pidgeon on Jul 26, 2006

After being sent out in teams, the disciples shared their stories with Jesus and he invited them to rest. We too are called to work hard, share ’Jesus’ stories and to rest.

“The apostles gathered round Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught” (v30). Jesus had sent the disciples out in twos, with instructions (6:8-11). They had gone out with the message of repentance (6:12); they had anointed many sick people with oil and healed them (6:13). It seems ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:30-34

Denomination: Anglican

Unity, Worship And Relying On God In Hard Times.

Contributed by Hannah Pinkstone on Dec 16, 2002

in hard times bring Christians close to share with you and intercede for you. worship from beginning to end and always trust God’s way! speak the name of Jesus in the face of the enemy!!

You know how you can get excited about something, so much that when you try to tell people all about it, it just comes out as over excitement?!?!?! Well, I’m excited about this chapter, it’s really cool. So I’ve tried my best to make this part a ’preach’ that’s will be understood, and that it will ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 20:1-29

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Maturing Is Hard To Do - But It's Worth It!

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Sep 26, 2011

Too often as Christians we take short cuts to maturity. In reality the only way to become complete is to let the Lord take you through difficulty and make you seem to "fail." In the process He builds life and a character in you that will lead you into His

We all have a decision to make. After we become a disciple of Jesus Christ the culture around us, our own brokenness, and an invisible enemy—will all try to mitigate the work that the Holy Spirit is doing inside of us: transforming us into a new character. The decision we have to make is how ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 13:1-13

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Help For The Hard Storms Of Life - Part 1

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Jul 16, 2008

Someday you will find yourself in a storm just as serious as Paul faced here, but we can look into the Word of God and see what to do.

Help for the Hard Storms of Life - Part 1 Acts 27:4-26 Sermon by Rick Crandall McClendon Baptist Church - May 14, 2008 *Storms: A loved one lets you down in a devastating way, the drunk driver swerves at you, your great job gets cut, the test results come back bad for you or someone you love. ...read more

Scripture: Acts 27:4-26

Denomination: Baptist

Hard Times - Better Than Evian Water Series

Contributed by Peter Loughman on Apr 12, 2008

Hard times and difficult circumstances are not an argument for the absence of God in our lives; Hard times and difficult circumstances are in fact, an argument for the presence of God in our lives.

We assume that sailing through life with ease is a sign that God is with us. We assume that when a tragedy happens, God was looking the other way. We assume that when we find ourselves out in a desert standing in the middle of nothing but dirt and rocks, we assume that there has been some mistake. ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 17:1-7

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Why Is It So Hard To Do The Right Thing

Contributed by Tim Larrimore on Apr 17, 2008

WHY IS IT SO HARD FOR CHRISTIANS TO LIVE LIKE THE BIBLE TELLS US?

WHY IS IT SO HARD TO DO THE RIGHT THING? Text: Romans 7:14-25 Intro: The church sign at White Springs Baptist church has this on it. 1. WHY IS IT SO HARD FOR PERSON WHO IS NOT SAVED TO DO THE RIGHT THING? A) Satan is against them. Isa 14:12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the ...read more

Scripture: Romans 7:14-25

Denomination: Baptist

Gods Will Easy Or Hard, It's Our Choice Series

Contributed by Mark Perryman on May 31, 2007

Doing Gods will

INTRO: Fidel Castro, leader - Communist party in Cuba 36 years. Man spent his whole life building something that’s on the verge of collapse. Someone asked him, “why don’t you just give up? Your system is a failure.” He says, “Why give up something you believe in?” Castro ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 1:1-17

Denomination: Assembly Of God