Sermons on Hard Knocks:

Refuse To Come Down

Contributed by Howard Strickland on Mar 19, 2013

THis message brought healing to many. About hard times: "If you break your neck, if you have nothing to eat, if your house is on fire, then you got a problem.  Everything else is inconvenience. " ~ Robert Fulghum

Refuse to Come Down 2 Kings 1: 1-10NLT We are truly living in one of the most crucial hours of American history. Ominous clouds of fear and doom seem to be gathering over our nation. About hard times: "If you break your neck, if you have nothing to eat, if your house is on fire, ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 1:1-10

Denomination: Pentecostal

When God Messes With You Series

Contributed by Vic Folkert on May 31, 2018

Does God mess with us, to help us grow? Joseph did not immediately reveal his identity to his brothers, and they grew through their struggles. Sometimes God refines his people through trials and hard choices.

WHEN GOD MESSES WITH YOU: Genesis 42-44 I never served in the military, so I never experienced boot camp. From what I hear, boot camp is stressful, by design. The physical and mental demands on new recruits are intended to force them to confront their weaknesses, build their character, and learn ...read more

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Fool Straining At The Eye Of The Needle - Take Note And Learn Series

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Sep 23, 2022

Jesus gave a parable of the rich man whose soul God required one night. He was called a fool because he worked hard for treasures but was poverty-stricken for God. We examine treasure in heaven and faithfulness.

THE FOOL STRAINING AT THE EYE OF THE NEEDLE - TAKE NOTE AND LEARN THE INTRODUCTION {{Luke 12:20 but God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your soul is required of you, and now who will own what you have prepared?’}} - In verse 20 why did God call him a fool? Well there is one thing we ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:13-15, Luke 12:16-20, Luke 12:20, Luke 18:24-26, Psalm 14:1, Luke 12:21-34, 1 Corinthians 3:11-15, 1 Corinthians 16:15-16  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Five Ways To Keep Your Wealth Or Riches Series

Contributed by Senior Pastor Ndayiragije-Misigaro Joel on Dec 12, 2022

Some hold the belief of being wealthy or rich as what we obtain from God's blessing through wisdom, responsibility, discipline, hard work, saving, investing, and seeking God's will.

Five ways to keep your wealth or riches Written by Pastor Ndayiragije Misigaro Joel; December 12, 2022 “The silver is mine and gold is mine; declares the LORD Almighty.” Haggai 2:8. INTRODUCTION. Wealth or riches has a bigger role to play in the view of people, and believers also are not spared ...read more

Scripture: Haggai 2:8

Denomination: Pentecostal

Being A Single Christian In A Sexualized Culture: The Modern Ethic Vs. The Christian Ethic

Contributed by Justin Steckbauer on May 3, 2021

As if being a follower of Christ wasn't hard enough, imagine being a single Christian! That is the predicament for many in the world, and in the United States today. Including myself. I'm single and I have no children.

Single Christians... can we get some love? As if being a follower of Christ wasn't hard enough, imagine being a single Christian! That is the predicament for many in the world, and in the United States today. Including myself. I'm single and I have no children. I follow Christ. And as ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:28, 1 John 3:24, James 1:22-25, Colossians 3:5

Denomination: Salvation Army

Funeral Sermon For An Adult With Special Needs

Contributed by James Jackson on Oct 29, 2019

I know this is a pretty specific topic, but when this issue came up for me this week, I had a hard time finding any guidance. This is what I came up with, and I hope it helps you.

Opening Statement LORD, my heart is not proud; my eyes are not haughty. I do not get involved with things too great or too difficult for me. 2 Instead, I have calmed and quieted myself like a little weaned child with its mother; I am like a little child. 3 Israel, put your hope in the LORD, both ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Driving With Power Steering Series

Contributed by Fr Mund Cargill Thompson on May 30, 2020

Pentecost is such an important feast. It's really important that even though I'm unwell I make myself work really hard on writing a sermon... except that is the exact opposite of the message of Pentecost

.............................................................................. For years I have driven cars with power steering. It’s just standard now. But I few years back I visited New Zealand and had to hire a number of cars - and one of them did not have power steering. I don’t know if you can ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:13, 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Denomination: Anglican

Have An Albatross Marriage

Contributed by John Gaston on Oct 1, 2021

Albatrosses may have the most intense love affairs of any animal on our planet. We look at God’s original plan for marriage, the effect of hard hearts on marriage, and the 7 steps to save a troubled marriage.

HAVE AN ALBATROSS MARRIAGE Mark 10:2-12 INTRODUCTION A. HUMOR: THE SHY PASTOR 1. A shy pastor greeted the wedding guests to the Chapel. He was very nervous and didn't say much. 2. As the couple approached the altar the pastor stepped up and gave the best speech anyone had ever heard. He ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:2-12

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Sermon On Golf - A Source Of Life?

Contributed by William Meakin on Jun 23, 2025

Golf is defined as a game played on a large open-air course, in which a small hard ball with dimples is struck with a club into a series of small holes in the ground, the object being to use the fewest possible strokes to complete the course.

P. G. Wodehouse, a British writer once remarked: “Golf… is the infallible test. The man who can go into a patch of rough alone, with the knowledge that only God is watching him, and play his ball where it lies, is the man who will serve you faithfully and well.” Proverbs 27:17 reminds us: “Iron ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:13, 1 Corinthians 9:24, Philippians 4:13, Proverbs 16:9

The Lord Will Return (Zechariah) Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Jul 11, 2025

When life gets hard, look to Christ. Look forward to the glorious future He has planned for you. Look within at the changes He is making to your heart. And look up because He is coming soon!

A man stopped to watch a Little League baseball game. He asked one of the youngsters what the score was. “We're losing 18-0,” was the answer. “Well,” said the man. “I must say you don't look discouraged.” “Discouraged?” the boy said, puzzled. “Why should we be discouraged? We ...read more

Scripture: Zechariah 1:1-6, Zechariah 2:1-13, Zechariah 4:1-14, Zechariah 5:5-11, Romans 8:28-30, Zechariah 7:1-3, Zechariah 7:8-14, Zechariah 8:1-8, Zechariah 8:14-19, Zechariah 9:9, Zechariah 11:7-14, John 1:11-12, Zechariah 12:1-5, Zechariah 12:9-10, Zechariah 13:9, Zechariah 14:3-4, Zechariah 14:8-9, Zechariah 14:16, Luke 21:25-28  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Salt In My Eye

Contributed by Duane Brown on Jun 22, 2003

The story of Lot’s wife, and Jesus reminder to "Remember"...

He sat there at the gate of the city, watching the sun as it started its descent over the roof tops of the skyline of the city and slowly disappeared into the western horizon. This day like so many other, had brought with it the typical events that had become the trademark for this town. Passing ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 19:26, Luke 17:32

Denomination: Holiness

We Have A Purpose (Part 2) Series

Contributed by David Owens on Oct 14, 2008

We need to discover our specific SHAPE so that we will know what kinds of service God has ordained for us.

A. The story is told of a little boy named Johnny who had trouble pronouncing the letter “R”. 1. To try to help him with the problem, his teacher gave him this sentence to practice at home: “Robert gave Richard a rap in the rib for roasting the rabbit so rare.” 2. A few days later the teacher ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:10-11

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Procrastination's Garden Series

Contributed by Dennis Davidson on Feb 21, 2013

Noting carefully the slothful man & his field can teach us how to avoid more than poverty. Learning diligence from the depicted wall & vineyard's condition is not the only lesson offered here for the far greater concern is the condition of a soul whose o

PROVERBS 24: 30-34 PROCRASTINATION'S GARDEN [Isaiah 28:24-29; 5:1-6] We have idleness portrayed before us by the master sage, Solomon, the wisest man that ever lived (1 Kings 3:12). The true to life picture is of negligence and the consequences it brings. To the observant eye, the results of an ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 24:30-34

Denomination: Baptist

Insults Series

Contributed by Thomas Swope on Mar 11, 2016

A study of the book of Job 11: 1 – 20

Job 11: 1 – 20 Insults 1 Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said: 2 “Should not the multitude of words be answered? And should a man full of talk be vindicated? 3 Should your empty talk make men hold their peace? And when you mock, should no one rebuke you? 4 For you have said, ...read more

Scripture: Job 11:1-20

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Finding A Place Of Safety

Contributed by John Lowe on Jun 18, 2018

Jesus didn’t promise us a life without pain and suffering. In fact, it was just the opposite. He told his followers that they shouldn’t expect to get along in this world any better than He did.

4-27-04 Title: Finding a Place of Safety Text: “And the soldiers’ plan was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim away and escape. But the centurion, wanting to save Paul, kept them from their purpose, and commanded that those who could swim should jump overboard first and get to ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:9-12

Denomination: Baptist