Sermons on Hard Knocks:

Sermon # 51 - Obedience God Desires Series

Contributed by Andrew Dixon on Sep 17, 2025

Joseph and Mary are great examples of ones who implicitly obeyed God, and thereby were instrumental in being channels to bring forth and raise Jesus, the Son of God. Are we willing to obey God, despite not having logical reasons to do so and even when it is hard to do so?

For our meditation today we will consider 1 Samuel 15:22, “And Samuel said, “Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.” (ESV) The prophet Samuel spoke these ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 15:22, Matthew 1:18-19, Matthew 1:20-21, Matthew 1:24-25, Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 2:13-14, Matthew 2:22-23, Luke 1:30-31, Luke 1:34-35, Luke 1:38, Matthew 22:39  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Other

My Times Are In Your Hands

Contributed by John Gaston on Sep 17, 2025

If you watch the nonstop news, you might be tempted to despair! David faced a period of discouragement. In Psalm 31 we see David's hard plight but watch as he wrestles to trust & find hope and victory in God. It points us how to do it.

MY TIMES ARE IN YOUR HANDS Ps. 31:15 INTRODUCTION A. HUMOR: YOU KNOW YOU’RE IN TEXAS IN JULY WHEN… 1. The best parking place is determined by shade instead of distance. 2. Hot water now comes out of both taps. You can make sun tea instantly. 3. You learn that a seat belt buckle makes a ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 31:9-24

Denomination: Assembly Of God

The Paradoxical Sayings Of Jesus: Lose Your Life To Save It Series

Contributed by James Wallace on Jul 30, 2018

Perhaps Jesus' most challenging saying of all is that to save your lives we must be willing to lose it for His sake and the Gospels. We explore what this really means practically, and whether Jesus meant for it to be literally true.

The Paradoxical Sayings of Jesus Lose Your Life to Save It Mark 8:31-39 We continue in our summer series on the paradoxical sayings of Jesus. Jesus said a number of things which violate common sense, and seem to be impossible with regard to all the realities we face in this world, and would not ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:31-38

Denomination: Bible Church

Christmas Through The Eyes Of A Woman Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on Dec 5, 2010

I can't always control my reaction but my response is my responsibility. For nothing is impossible with God.

Christmas Through the Eyes of a Woman Luke 1:26-56; 2:19, 33-35 Rev. Brian Bill 12/5/10 All of our daughters were home last weekend and we had a blast buying a tree and putting up all the decorations. Unlike last year, our tree is still standing a week later and we’ve avoided any ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:26-38

Denomination: Baptist

Do We Have A Vision?

Contributed by Ronald Crandall on Jan 7, 2003

Often times challenging people to have a vision is the challenge. Causing them to see what and where God wants to take them is sometimes hard. When you are preaching about vision and people look at you like you are out there... Ya mean you want me to have

Do we have a vision? My life is but a weaving Between my Lord and me I cannot choose the colors He worketh steadily Off times He weaveth sorrow And I in foolish pride Forget He sees the upper And I the underside Not till the loom is silent And the shuttles cease to fly Shall God unroll the ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 54:1-5, Habakkuk 2:2-3

Denomination: Pentecostal

Dying To Self

Contributed by Joe Rowland on Feb 2, 2009

Have you ever found it hard to give to what you want to do? Most people will do what they want and forget what the Word of God says to do. We have to learn to die to self. We need to learn to walk in the Spirit that we do not fulfill the lust of the flesh

Dying To Self 1 Peter 4:1-4 1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; 2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:1-4

Denomination: Assembly Of God

The Blame Game

Contributed by Joe Rowland on Sep 1, 2008

A lot of times we blame Satan for all of our problems but the true problem is not him it is you who did it. A lot of times we cause the messes that we go through because of disobedience. Hard aches come our way nothing seems to go right and we automatic

The Blame Game Revelation 12:7-12 7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, 8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 12:7-12

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Our Great Mission

Contributed by Mark Haines on Dec 5, 2008

Humans tend to one of two extremes when we look at the problems plaguing this world. One extreme declares, “We can solve these problems. We can clean up this mess if we all work hard enough.” The other extreme cries out in despair, “We will never solve

Introduction: “Before you were born, God planned this moment in your life. It is no accident that you are [here this morning]. God longs for you to discover the life he created you to live – here on earth, and forever in eternity.” Citation: Rick Warren, The Purpose Driven Life, © 2002, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:18-20

Denomination: Wesleyan

How To Have The Favor Of God In Your Life

Contributed by Ray Searan on Feb 21, 2007

Have you ever noticed how hard we work at trying to get another person’s approval? People have an instinctive desire to have another person’s approval. We long to have the approval of our neighbors and friends. A child desires the approval of his or her p

Text: Galatians 3:9-14 (AMP) Introduction: Some time ago The Wisconsin State Journal surveyed Vice Presidents and Personnel Directors of the nation’s largest corporations for their most unusual experiences interviewing prospective employees. Their stories included the following: • A job ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 3:9-14

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Four Life Changing Words Series

Contributed by Tim Diack on Aug 22, 2012

Sin is easy to see in someone else's life but it's often hard to see it in our own. Simon the Pharisee thinks he's righteous in God's eyes when what he really needs to see is the reality of his own sin that he might discover what the woman weeping at Jes

Four Life Changing Words - Luke 7:36-50 - July 15, 2012 Series: Forgiven For Forever - #1 (Baptism Service) I very much appreciate that passage we just heard from the book of 2 Chronicles. Those words are a call to humbleness and holiness, to righteousness and revival. The occasion was the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 7:36-50

Denomination: *other

The Double-Anointing

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Jan 7, 2015

How did Elisha receive the double portion? He asked for it. He was totally focused, committed and sold out to it. And, he received it! How bad do you want it? Where are you in your spiritual journey today? Are you hard after God?

Opening illustration: In 1937, missionaries were forced to leave southern Ethiopia because of World War II. They had reached the remote area of Wolayto only in 1928. Nine years later, there were only 48 converts, and they experienced brutal persecution because of their faith. Tears flowed on both ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 2:1-14

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Fragrant Offering - Part 1

Contributed by Dan Cormie on Oct 28, 2013

Do tend toward bitterness? Are you preoccupied with how hard and unfair life can be, do you see the blessing of others and feel envious or sad or maybe even angry? If I am a bitter person; how do I stop being that way - can I stop?

Dakota Community Church Ephesians 58, Grace at Work 28 October 27, 2013 A Fragrant Offering 1 Ephesians 4:31-5:2 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in ...read more

Denomination: Mennonite

God’s Version Of Labour Relations

Contributed by Craig Condon on Nov 24, 2015

If we start asking ourselves who deserves to be forgiven, we soon find out that the answer is no one. No matter how hard we work, we can’t be “good enough.” The good news of the Gospel is that what can’t be obtained by good works,

A poor man walking in the forest felt close enough to God to ask, “God, what is a million years to you?” God replied, “My son, a million years to you is like a second to me.” The man then asked, “God, what is a million dollars to you?” God replied, “My ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:1-16

Denomination: Anglican

Five Essentials For Finding Peace.

Contributed by Chad Bolfa on Aug 31, 2010

We want peace in this life, we now it is hard live in this life without peace, and in the scriptures, we are promised peace, so the question is how do we get it, how do we find peace in this life, tonight I believe the apostle Paul from this passage of sc

Five Essentials for finding Peace. Philippians 4:1-9 Introduction You ask people and they will tell you, the thing that they believe to be an absolute life essential, something that they don’t want to live without is peace. When a husband and wife are not getting along, they will say ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:1-9

Denomination: Baptist

"the Woman At The Well" Series

Contributed by David Henderson on Mar 25, 2022

Jesus came to make salvation accessible to all. He came to remove any barriers. Here He was breaking down the barrier of sin between man and God. The water the woman had come to draw from the well could only be obtained through hard labor. There was no button to push on the fountain.

“Going Public with Our Faith” John 4:1-26 Last week we welcomed we welcomed in the New Year by talking about what it means to go public with our faith. In the Scripture today we find that Jesus having gone very public with Hi ministry, was now traveling. He had to go through Samaria. While ...read more

Scripture: John 4:1-29

Denomination: Baptist