Sermons on Hard Knocks:

What Jesus Said About Prayer

Contributed by John White on Jul 13, 2019

Since God universally speaks prayer as His common language, if we wish to talk with God we must speak His own language.

What Jesus Said About Prayer Matthew 6:1-13 Someone has said, "Prayer is the language God speaks and listens to attentively." Some of you here speak Spanish, some speak Mandarin, some speak Indonesian, some speak Tagalog, some speak Japanese and others speak dialects of English with ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:1-13

Denomination: Baptist

Laziness Vs Diligence Series

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Dec 5, 2012

Thesis: The writers of this ancient wisdom literature inspired by God try to convey the message to us of “Don’t be lazy be diligent!” In other words “Make a commitment to work hard at being all God wants you to be!”

Series: Practical Proverbs Thesis: The primary message of Proverbs is “Get wisdom or act and look like a fool!” Sermon 1 & 2: Wise vs foolish We learned that wisdom is God given not manmade but foolishness is manmade not God given. We learned that wisdom is given by God to us so that we ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 6:6-11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Turing Trials Into Triumphs Series

Contributed by David Owens on Jun 7, 2021

The first subject that James addresses in his letter is how to face our trials. His suggestion is shocking: we should welcome our trials with joy. But his reason for the suggestion makes sense when you understand things from God's perspective.

A. In Max Lucado’s book, In The Eye Of The Storm, he tells a story about a parakeet named Chippie. 1. Chippie the parakeet never saw it coming -one second he was peacefully perched in his cage, and the next he was sucked in, washed up and blown over. 2. The problem began when Chippie’s owner ...read more

Scripture: James 1:2-4, Job 5:7, Job 23:10

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Suffering Successfully Series

Contributed by Timothy Smith on Jan 7, 2006

1st in a 5 part series from the book of James on making practical application to real problems.

RELIGION THAT REALLY WORKS - Week 1 SUFFERING SUCCESSFULLY JAMES 1:1-7 & 12 INTRODUCTION TO SERIES: Do you believe in God? According to a Fox News survey, 92% of Americans say they do. And since you’re here in church today it’s probably not too big a leap to think that most of you believe in ...read more

Scripture: James 1:1-12

Denomination: Christian Church

What God Has Predestined For Your Life In 2003-Shall Be! Series

Contributed by Carolyn Malaika Foster-Brooks on Oct 26, 2002

The last two years have brought a lot of pain and devastation to the lives of many Christians and non-believers. Many ask the question, "Why Me?" This sermon is designed to answer those hard questions and yet offer hope for tomorrow!

Evangelist Carolyn Malaika Foster-Brooks The Ministry of S.A.R.A.H. Lyons, Georgia PRAYER: Lord, once again I want to praise Your Holy name and tell you thank You! For you have brought me through the fire and the rain, the calm and the storms of life; though sickness, good health, heartache, ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 6:10-12, Psalm 32:8

Denomination: Baptist

If Something Is Worth Doing... Series

Contributed by Pat Cook on Sep 5, 2003

Jesus’ 4 thoughts on prayer: 1) we should pray constantly, persistently and fervently 2) but prayer is hard work 3) yet prayer taps into God’s power 4) so prayer is a reflection of our faith.

Luke 18:1-8 – If Something is Worth Doing… Dear God, So far today I’ve done all right. I haven’t gossiped, I haven’t lost my temper, I haven’t been greedy, grumpy, nasty, selfish or over-indulgent. I’m very thankful for that. But in a few minutes, God, I’m going to get out of bed, and from then ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

Get Out Of The Boat Series

Contributed by Bill Burnett on Jan 30, 2003

Do you want to grow in your relationship with Christ? Are you having a hard time making that first step? This passage encourages you to put your trust in God and help you get out of the boat of your life.

#2343 Stepping Out Of The Boat: Daring To Live The Life That God Has For You! Going To The Next Level Series Matthew 14:22-34 Let me ask you a few questions today… How many would like to move forward in your relationship with Christ? How many have felt like you’ve been stuck in a rut? In ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 14:22-33, Matthew 14:22-34

Denomination: Foursquare

Being Busy For Christ Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on Mar 19, 2003

God doesn’t want us to be loafers while we wait for the appearing of His Son. Instead, we are to work hard, settle down, and earn our wages. We must never tire of doing what is right.

Being Busy for Christ For those of you who are wondering if I got my hair cut, the answer is “yes.” On Wednesday, I invited Harold Davis to speak about sheep at the Kiwanis club. He did a great job, as he did this summer when he helped us learn more about Psalm 23. In my introduction of Harold, I ...read more

Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 3:6-18

Denomination: Baptist

You Missed The Point

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jun 23, 2003

Why do we scold fathers on Father’s Day, when it is often that their children simply miss hearing their counsel. The sons of Josiah ignored their grounding in God’s word and the support of the Temple and misunderstood the value of hard work.

The difference between Mother’s Day and Father’s Day is that we honor our mothers but we scold our fathers. We talk of saintly moms, who wore their fingers to the bone to cook and clean and sow for us. We honor them for their industry, their mother wit, and their prayer life. And that is as it ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 22:11-23

Denomination: Baptist

Dealing With Failure Series

Contributed by Doug Johnston on Oct 5, 2001

When Saul made mistakes in judgment or sinned, he had the pattern of making things hard for himself by overlooking them or blaming others instead of coming back to the heart of the matter and doing the simple things God wants most.

And Saul answered, God do so and more also: for thou shalt surely die, Jonathan. 1 Samuel 14:44 30 Then he said, I have sinned: yet honour me now, I pray thee, before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD thy God. 31 So Samuel turned again ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

The Dandelion Paradox Series

Contributed by Keith Broyles on Oct 10, 2007

What is a dandelion? To some it is a flower, to some it is a vegetable, and to some it is a weed. It is hard for us to know the difference. If we uproot the dandelion we may be causing damage. If we uproot what we think are weeds in our churches and c

Last Sunday as we were looking at the Parable of the Sower I told you about moving in to a new parsonage at Lovelady and with that new parsonage came a new yard. One of the men in the congregation, the chair of the board, thought that the lawn needed to have grass so he bought Bermuda grass seed ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:24-30

Denomination: Methodist

Integrity An Important Ingredient For Effective Leadership

Contributed by Nche Takoh on Sep 22, 2006

Integrity is a rare commodity in almost all areas of life the government, the press, Education and even the church has been hit hard by scandal. In every case, the lack of credibility can be traced back to the level of integrity of the individuals within

INTEGRITY AN IMPORTANT INGREDIENT FOR EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP Introduction/Definition Integrity is a rare commodity in almost all areas of life the government, the press, Education and even the church has been hit hard by scandal. In every case, the lack of credibility can be traced back to the level ...read more

Scripture: Luke 17:10

Denomination: Baptist

Love People, Use Things

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jan 31, 2009

Thanksgiving Eve sermon 1989: We have a hard time giving up our attachment to things material. We do need to feel, however, that what we use makes a difference for someone -- a way to love them.

When we read that the city of Washington is going to get everybody out of an infamous homeless shelter by Christmas, because that shelter is no longer fit for human habitation, we have a variety of reactions. Some react at the thought that we still have not come very far at settling the issue of ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 3:1-13

Denomination: Baptist

Galatians Chapter 2- "In Defense Of The Truth." Series

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Sep 25, 2005

When is it time to defend truth and do the hard task of confronting another person about their error? We must make sure in these difficult situations that we continue to act like Christians – in other words act like Christ.

Galatians part 2 – “In defense of the Truth!” Thesis: When is it time to defend truth and do the hard task of confronting another person about their error? We must make sure in these difficult situations that we continue to act like Christians – in other words act like Christ. Video Illustration ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 2:1-21

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Attaining Your Goals Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Apr 25, 2005

How do you get where you want to be? Naturally we try hard and try to be motivated - and hope God approves of us. In reality we need to trust in the Holy Spirit instead of our own abilities.

What if you had to climb a really steep trail - and somebody came along and said, "here, use my brand new 2004 Dodge RAM SRT-10 with its 500 horsepower engine capable of 525 pound feet of torque - able to reach 60 miles an hour in 5 seconds and tear up that mountain trail!" So you say "thanks" ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 3:1-18

Denomination: Calvary Chapel