Sermons on Hard Knocks:

Zephania: Seek The Lord Series

Contributed by Fred Sigle on Jan 12, 2023

Zephaniah's message hits hard the ruling class of Judah for their part in leading the people down a path of immorality, corruption, and idolatry. (This sermon was preached during the Fourth of July)

ILLUSTRATION: French writer Alexis de Tocqueville (TOKEVILLE), after visiting America in 1831, said, “I sought for the greatness of the United States in her commodious harbors, her ample rivers, her fertile fields, and boundless forests—and it was not there. I sought for it in her rich mines, her ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Assured Of God's Plan For Us

Contributed by Jerry Cosper on Aug 24, 2022

God will always remember His people, even when trouble feels overwhelming. We may face hard times, troubles, and tribulation, but we don’t face them alone.

Have you ever been in a store and see a child that has gotten separated from his parents? The fear is very evident on the child's face as well as the parents’ face. It's a horrible feeling when the child turns around and can't find his parents. They frantically look through every ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 24:15-22

Denomination: Baptist

We Need New Eyes

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Nov 20, 2014

There are times the soil around us becomes hard and difficult, it is no time to quit... APPLY MORE EFFORT, try again. Many times all a crying baby needs is a diaper change or to be fed.

WE NEED NEW EYES... By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com I. INTRODUCTION: MANY TIMES ALL A CRYING BABY NEEDS---- IS A CHANGE... A. Root bound: I was in Springfield, Illinois visiting my in-laws. Red my father-in-law said: Come on lets go to a friend of mine's orchard. There were 5,000 red ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 29:18

Denomination: Assembly Of God

A Handful Of Cash And Great Relationships: Finding God's Sweet Spot For Life - Ecclesiastes 4:4-16 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Mar 18, 2025

The more your affections reflect the relative value of things, the more you will make the right call on hard decisions. This message will help you find the relative importance of money, relationships, and comfort.

For free audio or video download of this message, visit https://www.treasuringgod.com/sermons-by-scripture or my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@DarrellFerguson. Ecclesiastes 4:4 I saw that all labor and all skillful work is due to a man’s jealousy of his friend. This too is futile and ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 4:4-16

Fragile Faith: Why Can’t I Stay Strong? - 2 Peter 1:6b Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Apr 14, 2025

You work hard to develop self-control or some other virtue, then one day, poof, it’s gone. Why does that happen? And what can be done about it?

2 Peter 1:5 For this very reason, having made every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8 For ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:6

Covenant Before Culture

Contributed by David Dunn on Sep 15, 2025

Marriage is God’s covenant design from creation, not a cultural contract, and only the new heart given by Christ can overcome hardness, restore faithfulness, and display His love to the world.

(The Case for Marriage) I. God’s Original Design Genesis 2:18–24 When the Pharisees asked Jesus about divorce, He did something simple and bold. He didn’t argue the law. He didn’t haggle over texts. He went back to the garden. He started at the beginning. He said, “From the beginning it was not ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 2:18-24, Malachi 2:4, Matthew 19:3-9, Matthew 5:27-28

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Oh God, You Devil PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Oct 28, 2025

Following Jesus means embracing His challenging teachings, trusting Him even when it’s hard, and letting His words transform us beyond our comfort and preferences.

Some of the most life-giving words Jesus speaks are also the ones that make us swallow hard. You’ve felt that, haven’t you? You’re reading the Bible in the early hush of morning, coffee cooling by your chair, and a sentence seems to stand up from the page. It has weight. It has heat. It asks ...read more

Scripture: John 6:60-70

Topics: False Professors, Jesus Christ

I Know Where You Live

Contributed by Antonio Torrence on Nov 25, 2000

This sermon is about living in mainstream society without compromising our faith and values.

"I Know Where You Live" (Revelation 2:13-17) -Rev. A. L. Torrence, Pastor of Cross of Life Lutheran Church The Revelation of John, or the Apocalypse as it is called in Greek unveils to God’s people the hidden things only known to God. It depicts the end of our present age and beginning of a new ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:13-17

Denomination: Lutheran

Back To School For Saul Series

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Sep 2, 2004

After his conversion, Saul was sent by God to 3 schools in order to become the Apostle Paul: ARABIA--SOLITUDE, DAMASCUS--SUFFERING, JERUSALEM--SEASONING. Powerpoint at website.

Back to School Acts 9:21-30 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/BackToSchoolForSaul.html ILL.- Teacher to student, “What are you – animal, vegetable or mineral?” The boy replied, “Vegetable. I’M A HUMAN BEAN.” ILL.- It was the little girl’s first day at school and the teacher was making out her ...read more

Scripture: Acts 9:22-30

Denomination: Baptist

Back To School Series

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Aug 22, 2007

’Tis the season, and we can see 3 schools God took Saul thru before he graduated as ’Paul.’ The schools of Solitude, Suffering, & Seasoning. Link included to formatted text, audio, and PowerPoint Presentation w/ graphics and animations.

Back to School Acts 9:21-30 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/BackToSchoolForSaul.html ILL.- Teacher to student, “What are you – animal, vegetable or mineral?” The boy replied, “Vegetable. I’M A HUMAN BEAN.” ILL.- It was the little girl’s first day at school and the teacher was making out her ...read more

Scripture: Acts 9:21-30

Denomination: Baptist

Disabled Nation

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Oct 24, 2009

America reminds me of these 70 kings in our text: Dethroned and Disabled, and reduced to settling for scraps which fall from above sparingly. And we used to sit feasting at the table of the KING of Kings. Link inc. to formatted text, audio/video, PowerPt.

Disabled Nation Judges 1:1-7 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/DisabledNation.html America and Israel are much alike. They remind me of each other. And both remind me of these 70 kings in our text: Dethroned and Disabled, and reduced to settling for scraps which fall from above sparingly. America ...read more

Scripture: Judges 1:1-7

Denomination: Baptist

Trust And Obey

Contributed by Ralf Bergmann on Jun 27, 2002

The people just couldn’t wait to hear what Jesus had to say. I think there are many times in our lives that we wait with great anticipation for our Lord’s direction. Let’s think of a time that was perhaps in the not too distant past and perhaps we can f

Sermon Title: Trust and Obey Sermon Text: Luke 5:1-11 Sunday Evening, August 6, 2000 Scripture Introduction: In this particular section of Scripture, we read about a particularly important aspect of Jesus’ journey to the cross. In this section of Scripture we read about the selection of some ...read more

Scripture: Luke 5:1-11, Luke 5:1-5

Denomination: *other

The Blessings Of Being Right With God Series

Contributed by Mark Opperman on Aug 29, 2011

Those who are right with God are at peace with Him (1-2a), find joy in the hope of seeing Him (2b), find joy in the journey (3-5a), and are filled with His love (5b).

The Blessings of Being Right with God Romans 5:1-5 1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:1-5

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Generosity In Giving Series

Contributed by Dennis Davidson on Apr 19, 2012

People who believe that the whole earth & every thing in it belongs to their Lord (Ps. 24:1) readily recognize that the resources of their own lives, which, no matter how hard they toiled and how judiciously they spent, were utterly dependent on God's gra

Proverbs 11:24–26 GENEROSITY IN GIVING [2 Kings 4:1–7] Proverbs offers practical instructions on the use of money, although sometimes it's advice we would rather not hear. It is more comfortable to continue in our habits than to learn how to use money more wisely. Money is ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 11:24-26, Proverbs 11:24-28

Denomination: Baptist

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