Sermons on Hard Knocks:

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

"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

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

The Pit Knows Everything

Contributed by James Westmoreland on Aug 27, 2005

One of the great challenges in life is to deal with opposition and the knowledge that not everyone likes us. There are other experiences that are very hard for us to deal with and one of them is when we experience a sense of abandonment. It is then that t

Have you ever had the feeling that things were not going your way? That it was going to be a "bad hair" day and not much else was going to go well either? Robert Orben(1) was quoted as saying, "Sometimes I get the feeling the whole world is against me, but deep down I know that’s not true. Some of ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 37:1-28

Denomination: Disciples Of Christ

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

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

Two Ways To Live Series

Contributed by Chris Appleby on Jun 6, 2005

The sermon on the mount is a series of hard sayings. It begins with consolation, with the blessings for those who follow him, but it ends with a harsh warning: a warning against foolishness and its consequences. Having listened to the sermon on the mount

It seems that life today is all about choice. It’s almost as though if we’re not given half a dozen options to choose from at any given moment we feel deprived. Because choice is our right. Now choice is good because it produces competition which keeps prices down and it’s a spur to innovation ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:13-29

Denomination: Anglican

Torture And Humiliation Series

Contributed by Tim Smith on Sep 16, 2008

When we think of the flogging of Jesus, it is hard for us to understand what really happened. The Gospels only give one line to it. So what really happened when one was flogged?

The Torture and Humiliation of the King Mark 15:15b-23 Video from The Passion of the Christ” Chapter 16 0:00-1:30 Scripture reading When we think of the flogging of Jesus, it is hard for us to understand what really happened. The Gospels only give one line to it. So what really happened when one ...read more

Scripture: Mark 15:15-23

Denomination: Methodist

"Why The Storm?"

Contributed by Jerry Depoy on Jun 25, 2008

It seems like we are always in a storm. Everyone is going through a hard time? After meditating on today’s text, the Lord laid upon my heart the following five reasons for the storm:

Title: “Why the storm?” Introduction: Last week was our Daily Vacation Bible School for the children. Every day I told the children a bible story about some ship on the water that went through the storm. Jonah was in a storm on day one. A storm came up when Jesus was sleeping in the back of ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

If You Have Run With Footmen...

Contributed by Christian Curby on Mar 10, 2013

God has called us to do hard things! Do we walk away from our relationships including our relationship with God because it gets to challenging? Jeremiah 12:5

Good afternoon, it is so good to be back with you. I am thankful for all that God is doing in my life and in the life of our church. And so it is great to be with you today. Today I want to share a word with you that I believe God has been stirring in my heart for a while but I think that in the ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 12:5-6

Denomination: Foursquare

No Tiptoeing Through The Tulips Here

Contributed by Craig Benner on Sep 15, 2012

Anyone can draw a crowd if they try hard enough, but it is something quite different to build a church (body) and have the Lord to call is successful. Surely God is calling more Titus's to follow this calling

Church Stewardship Titus 1 IL.: The old man had a habit of stepping out on his porch each morning and yelling "Praise the Lord". An athiest moved in next door and quickly became agitated. He would yell back, "there is no God'. One day the believer cried out, "Lord, help me. I have no money, ...read more

Scripture: Titus 1:1-16

Denomination: Pentecostal

What God Is Looking For…

Contributed by Thomas Bowen on May 7, 2009

After seeing the disciples of Jesus hiding in the upper room it is hard to imagine that they had any vision of their own. That is why it is important to understand how God sees things and what he is watching for.

Last week we looked at the slowness of Easter’s arrival for the disciples. They were locked away in a room. They were full of fear and doubts. Jesus appears, it would be easy to claim that that fixed everything for the disciples. But it did not; we know that if we read through the different ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-31

Denomination: Congregational

Are You Going Up Or Down?

Contributed by Craig Condon on Mar 19, 2015

The rich man's sin was not his wealth, but his hard heart. Those who are rich have an obligation to help the poor. How we use what we have leads to God's judgment.

The Pope, Billy Graham and Oral Roberts all died on the same day and arrived at the Pearly Gates at the same time. St. Peter said to them, "I have some bad news and some good news. The bad news is that we are full right now and I am going to have to send the three of you down to the devil. The good ...read more

Scripture: Luke 16:19-31

Denomination: Anglican

Small Stuff Series

Contributed by Jerry Mckee on Feb 28, 2009

This series is based on the book, "Do Hard Things" by Brett and Alex Harris. It is a 7 week series that challenges teenagers to step up from the low expectations that our culture has placed on them.

And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men – Colossians 3:23 Illustration – I. Small Things A. What are small things? 1. The “stuff” that makes up our everyday life 2. It’s generally repetitive B. Small things most often occur behind the closed doors of our homes, ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:23

Denomination: *other

Stand Up

Contributed by Jerry Mckee on Feb 28, 2009

This series is based on the book, "Do Hard Things" by Brett and Alex Harris. It is a 7 week series that challenges teenagers to step up from the low expectations that our culture has placed on them.

34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:34-36

Denomination: *other