Sermons on Hard Knocks:

Gloom, Despair, And Agony On Me Series

Contributed by Darrin Hunt on Aug 5, 2010

What do you do when you have one of those days? Jesus' letter to Smyrna gives us great encouragement in suffering.

How many of you remember the “Hee-Haw” Show in the 70’s-80’s? •How many would never admit to it if you did remember? “If it weren’t for bad luck, I’d have no luck at all. Gloom, despair, and agony on me”. Some of us have one of those days. ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:8-11

Denomination: Baptist

I Have Good News For You This Christmas

Contributed by Marty Baker on Dec 9, 2015

This message was connected to a Christmas Drama and used on Christmas Eve. It focuses on how often we have to wait for God's timing. All of us hate to wait, but we must remember that God has something good for us. We need to trust Him.

I have Good News Isaiah 9:1-7 / December 5, 2010 / Dr. Marty Baker Good morning I am Marty Baker and I would like to welcome you to Stevens Creek Church! I am so excited to have you here today. We are beginning the new series, “Christmas with Hope.” The sermons and the drama sketches ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 9:1-7

Denomination: Church Of God

Jesus Shatters The "Us” And "Them” Mentality Series

Contributed by Richard Pfeil on May 17, 2005

Part 2 of 8 on Jesus, with this one dealing with Jesus breaking down walls between people.

JESUS SHATTERS THE “US” AND “THEM” MENTALITY TEXT: Luke 18: 1-14 Sunday, February 24, 2002 We continue our series on “Celebrate Jesus,” and someone suggested that it looked awfully cheerful for a Lenten series. Aren’t we supposed to be repentant, aren’t we supposed to be a little darkened, ...read more

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The School Of Thanksgiving

Contributed by Chris Willis on Oct 17, 2007

My own expression of an outline adapted from James MacDonald’s sermon of the same name. Living a thankful life is beyond the childhood learning of saying a dutiful thank-you for everything we receive and the adolescent development of reminding ourselves o

The School Of Thanksgiving! *Outline from James McDonald* Here’s the problem I have on a morning like this. I grew up in a secular home where we celebrated with gusto the holidays. You’ve heard me share with you about the materialism of the Willis family Christmas. But not just Christmas, holidays ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:20

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

From The Pit To The Promise

Contributed by Jeff Taylor on Jan 28, 2023

All of us will go through the pit at some point. All of us will at some point go through hard times. We will go through the valley. But for every pit, for every valley, there IS a way out that leads to the very promise of God!

Here are things to remember when you get in the pit. First, intolerance of your condition creates your future. Say that with me. Intolerance of your condition creates your future. The problem is some start looking for ways to get accustomed to the pit. You read books on how to adjust to darkness. ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 45:1-8

Denomination: Pentecostal

Mission Impossible?

Contributed by Nickolas Kooi on Oct 3, 2019

This story looks at and applies Jesus' teachings in Luke 17:1-6 alongside the experience of Corrie Ten Boom.

There were many things that were once thought to be impossible, but are now considered to be quite common and ordinary. The idea of man landing on the moon or going to space was once thought to be impossible, but that notion was shattered in the 1960s. The idea of people surviving heart ...read more

Scripture: Luke 17:1-6

Denomination: Lutheran

Favoritism In High Places Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Jan 18, 2021

God is at least fair with everyone, but has the prerogative to be especially gracious with those He has chosen.

Favoritism in High Places? (Romans 9:14-21) 1.Penicillin was invented by Alexander Fleming in 1928. What Happened: Halfway through an experiment with bacteria, Alexander Fleming up and went on vacation. Slob that he was, he left a dirty petri dish in the lab sink. Big Discovery: When he got ...read more

Scripture: Romans 9:14-21, Exodus 19:16, Matthew 20:1-16

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Sermon # 14 - Seeking God Sincerely Series

Contributed by Andrew Dixon on Apr 17, 2023

There are always two categories of people anywhere – those who seek God for personal gain and the ones who seek God for who He really is. Which group do we belong to?

We remind ourselves that this series of messages are based on Act 11:21“And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.” (KJV) The Lord’s hand is a powerful hand, a hand that helps, a hand that exalts us, and His hand is at work in all areas of our ...read more

Scripture: Acts 11:12, Mark 3:1, Matthew 18:20, 3 John 1:2, Psalm 53:2, Genesis 28:11, Genesis 28:13, Judges 16:28, Luke 23:42, Luke 23:39, Mark 3:2, Mark 3:5  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Other

How Do You React To Pressure And Adversity?

Contributed by Gary Regazzoli on Sep 2, 2004

What happens when you subject the following items to Hot Water? Carrot, Egg and Coffee. The carrot turns to mush, the egg turns hard and the Coffee’s flavour is released. Which one do we imitate when under pressure?

Youth Service - Reaction to Hardship – Carrot, Egg, Coffee (Start by boiling carrots, an egg and coffee in three separate pots) Who’s been watching the Olympics? • Any special Olympic moments that stuck out for you? • What is fascinating about the Olympics is that we see individuals and teams under ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:28-29

Denomination: Christian Church

What Jesus Teaches Us About Loving Our Enemies

Contributed by Jerry Cosper on Mar 26, 2015

No matter how hard we try, we know that there are going to be flaws & blemishes in our life. We know that we are not without sin because the Bible tells us so. So let’s take a look at the subject of love.

If there is one thing the world really needs to know more about, & to put into practice, it is "love." How often Jesus tells us to love one another. In John 15:12 He commanded us to love one another. In fact "love" is so important that Jesus devoted a whole section of the Sermon on the Mount to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:43-48

Denomination: Baptist

Faith Introduction Series

Contributed by Steve Lawson on Jan 7, 2004

The more I study about faith, the more I come to realize that faith has more to do with our commitment to Jesus Christ than our ability to just believe hard enough.

Faith Introduction Matthew 13:58 - And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.1 In the Gospels, the word faith is mentioned 40 times. 17 of those times, something happens as a result of someone’s faith. 12 more time Jesus refers to a lack of faith. As we think of the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:58

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Moses The Vision Caster Series

Contributed by Brent Baker on Oct 18, 2005

I believe leaders sometime have a hard time casting a vision to their congregation. We are not alone in this. Moses did as well, but he teaches us some important lessons in vision casting.

Moses the Prince of Leadership The Vision Caster! Exodus 3-6 Helen Keller was once asked the question: “Is there anything worse than being blind?” “Yes," she replied, having eyesight but no vision.” Vision is the ability to see what others can’t. Vision is able to see beyond the norms of each ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

"Treasure With Heart"

Contributed by Steven Old on Jun 14, 2002

With so many choices in the world, it is hard for the believer to know where to place their time, skill, and all of their heart. In Matthew 6:19-21, Jesus gives us a perfect answer for the seeking believer.

Sermon “ Treasure with Heart” By: Steven Old Introduction: What do you treasure? In a world with so many choices, a believer can get confused, in where he should place his treasure. Most people value their family, spouse, children, relative, friends, etc. Society tells us we need to value, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:19-21

Denomination: Baptist

Creating Your Roadmap To Forgiveness Series

Contributed by Ely Lambert on Jan 3, 2003

In the journey of life forgiveness must happen for us to live as Christians, but what a hard task. This sermon begins a process of understanding how we can truly forgive those who are our oppressors.

Creating Your Roadmap to Forgiveness Destination Forgiveness Preached at the Laurel Church of Christ On January 5, 2003 Introduction: I. “Not long before she died in 1988, in a moment of surprising candor in television, Marghanita Laski, one of our best-known secular humanists and novelists, said, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:14-15

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Precious Blood

Contributed by Darrell Jones on Mar 14, 2003

Over the years I have noticed the devil fights me very hard when I preach on the subject of the Blood of Christ. I list several reasons why the devil hates the Blood.

The devil has a deep abiding hatred for the things of God especially the Blood of Christ. He fights against the truth when it is preached under the unction of the Holy Ghost, he especially fights hard when we preach on the subject of the shed blood of Jesus. For there is no salvation apart from the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:18-20

Denomination: Assembly Of God