Sermons on Hard Knocks:

Christ Honoring Ordinations

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 9, 2016

God ordained ministers of the Gospel present a high level of integrity in conduct of life, in proclamation of Biblical truth, and loyalty to the calling God has placed upon those who serve Him.

Christ Honoring Ordinations Keeping Biblical Integrity In Ministerial Ordinations God ordained ministers of the Gospel present a high level of integrity in conduct of life, in proclamation of Biblical truth, and loyalty to the calling God has placed upon those who serve Him. The Apostle Paul ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 4:12-16

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Desperate Housewives And Too Many Husbands Series

Contributed by Bruce Rzengota on Mar 26, 2014

Taking the Leap to something higher this summer will require embracing the hard sayings of Jesus. This week we continue with 2 "Hard Sayings" that deal with love and marriage, lust and divorce.

Desperate Housewives and Too Many Husbands Matt 5:27-32 7/7/2013 Introduction It was another interesting week in national news. The Huntingpost carried a story about a number of actresses. * Jessica Simpson * Scarlett Johansson * Megan Fox * Sarah Jessica Parker * Cameron Diaz * Reese ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:27-32

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Dirty Windows

Contributed by Craig Condon on Feb 14, 2015

Living for God is hard. There are temptations to do wrong, or perhaps what God is asking you to do seems like it is too hard. The Holy Spirit comes to help us.

Good morning boys and girls! Have you ever tried to look through a window that is smudged and dirty? Well, if you have, you know that it’s hard to see out of it because the dust and dirt block any clear view. As we think of how the Holy Spirit acts as a cleaner in our lives, we can see how ...read more

Scripture: John 16:12-16

Denomination: Anglican

Always Answered Prayers Series

Contributed by Tim Hbc on Aug 19, 2008

If I pray hard enough, can I get whatever I want? Principles of always answered prayers...

Introduction Are there 3 types of people here this morning? The first type... “The spiritual optimist”. When he looks at verses 7 &8 he says, "Yeah! Ask and you WILL receive – God will give me whatever I want if I have enough faith!!! If I pray hard enough! That job, that spouse, that health, that ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:7-11

Denomination: Baptist

Laying The Foundation In Prayer Series

Contributed by David Hughes on Jan 26, 2004

How should we respond to the knocks we receive in life? What is the key to building the Church and Christian character? Answer: prayer! We look at the Nehemiah approach.

"Building the church, building Christian character" - Nehemiah 1 [Minister stands right up front with ’lollipop’ microphone in news reporter style] "It has been described as one of the great tragedies and scandals of our time. The once proud city of Jerusalem still lies in ruins more than a ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 1:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

Keys To Steadfastness

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Jun 11, 2001

Many people proclaim their loyalty but steadfast people are hard to find.

Keys to Steadfastness (Acts 21:1-14) 1. Paul’s steadfastness serves as an inspiration and a challenge for any person who contemplates just settling for second best. ILlustration:Consider the postage stamp: Its usefulness consists in the ability to stick to one thing till it gets there. Josh ...read more

Scripture: Acts 21:1-14

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Why Following Jesus Is Not Easy

Contributed by Paul Decker on Jul 8, 2002

We follow Jesus (no matter how hard it is!).

WHY FOLLOWING JESUS IS NOT EASY John 6:60-71 S: Discipleship Th: Following Jesus Pr: WE FOLLOW JESUS (no matter how hard it is). ?: Inductive KW: Turns TS: In the recorded incident of John 6:60-71, we will find six turn of events of what it is like to follow Jesus. The _____ turn ...read more

Scripture: John 6:60-71

Denomination: Baptist

Overtime Pay On The Mad Mouse

Contributed by John Beehler on Feb 5, 2004

It’s hard to trust and obey, but man, what a ride!

Overtime Pay on the Mad Mouse I had a job once working as an inventory control analyst in a factory. Like most factories, this one operated round the clock with 3 shifts. I was one of three analysts, 1 per shift. We worked the swing shift. 2 weeks on each shift. I liked 2nd shift, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 5:1-11

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Is The Righteous Life Worth Living?

Contributed by Robert Bravo on Jul 1, 2007

Living righteous in an unrighteous world is hard. Well is it worth the effort?

Is the righteous life worth living? Malachi 3:13 - 18 (NIV) 13“You have said harsh things against me,” says the LORD. “Yet you ask, ‘What have we said against you?’ 14“You have said, ‘It is futile to serve God. What did we gain by carrying out his requirements and going about like mourners before ...read more

Denomination: Nazarene

Confessions Of The Heart

Contributed by W F on Oct 31, 2004

Confession is hard, but if we believe the bible, then confession is good news.

1 John 1:9 “Confessions of the Heart” INTRODUCTION Are we basically good or basically bad? Hollywood religion is undecided. Basically good = Tarzan or Pocahontas. “Out there” there are still pristine societies to be discovered – deep in the jungles there exist tribes without sin – untainted ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 1:9

Denomination: *other

The Mirror Of Correction Series

Contributed by Vera Hughes on Feb 20, 2008

It is easy to correct others and give advice, but hard to correct ourselves.

Self-correction – making the necessary corrections on the inside based on the Word of God. The greatest task the believer will ever have to do is to correct ourselves. Self correction makes us better witnesses for the Jesus Christ; enrich our lives in our home, church, fellowship with saints, and ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 1:5-10

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Lamentations 3

Contributed by Gareth Harron on Mar 10, 2008

Why life is hard and why its OK to say so.

Sunday 9th March 2008 Lamentations 3:19-33 Evening- Magheralin DISCLAIMER Sermons are the fruit of prayerful reflection- having studied the text, commentaries and other people’s interpretation. Any use of particular phraseology or similarity with other people’s work which has not been duly ...read more

Scripture: Lamentations 3:19-33

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Me, Myself And I

Contributed by Brian Matherlee on Dec 9, 2009

I am the reason it’s hard to follow God.

ME, MYSELF AND I Why it’s Hard to Follow God Sunday, July 26, 2009 Pastor Brian Matherlee We borrowed a GPS for our vacation. We were going to visit DJ and Heather Williams in Louisville and John and Carol Hawkins in Galesburg, Illinois. These two places were unfamiliar and we were grateful to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:24-26

Denomination: Wesleyan

Stewardshp:the Collection

Contributed by Peter Loughman on Oct 28, 2006

stewarship sermon - stewardship is hard, but what is faith without risk?

It is some what surprising what an international outlook Paul has as he writes to the Church in Corinth. He mentions Galatia, Macedonia, Achaia, Ephesus, Jerusalem. Even though most of Paul’s readers had never left their own city they understood that they were part of a world wide church body in no ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 16:1-24

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Propagating A Family Like An Olive Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Dec 26, 2014

Raising a family is like building an olive orchard, and it is hard work.

Feast of the Holy Family (Sunday after Christmas) Thirteen Days of Christmas Since the family is the basic unit of society, the Church, and her Scripture, has much to say about it. Our psalm today uses agricultural metaphors for the family: the husband will eat the fruit of his hands, the wife ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 128:1-5

Denomination: Catholic