Sermons on Hard Knocks:

Following Hard After God.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Feb 4, 2022

A feast of good things in a dry and thirsty land.

FOLLOWING HARD AFTER GOD. Psalm 63:1-8. As we enter into Psalm 63, there is both an intimacy with God, and a yearning after God. It was as if David was saying, ‘I know thee, but would know thee more.’ The Psalmist is not just on the fringes of faith, like the boy’s father in Mark 9:24 - ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 63:1-8

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Hard Questions: Faith And Works Series

Contributed by Rev. Matthew Parker on Mar 14, 2022

This is a Sermon in a series on the hard questions of the Bible. It addresses how to handle tension within Holy Scripture

March 13, 2022 sermon - Hard Questions 2: Faith & Works Ephesians 2:8-9 and James 2:14-26 Welcome to Church at the Mission, back in person! Are you happy to be here and not on your phone or computer? I am! We’re thankful to God that it has been possible to continue worship services and Bible ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8-9, James 2:14-26

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Do The Hard Work First.

Contributed by Howard Strickland on Sep 17, 2023

After living more than 60 years, I know that any claim that offers an effortless way to develop a lean, well conditioned body is a hoax. So is any sermon title that promises an easy way to become like our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Do the Hard Work First. 1 Timothy 6:11-12TPT After living more than 60 years, I know that any claim that offers an effortless way to develop a lean, well conditioned body is a hoax. So is any sermon title that promises an easy way to become like our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. In 1Timothy ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:11-12, Romans 14:17

Denomination: Pentecostal

Hardness Of Heart Or True Friendship

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Feb 24, 2025

Tested friends are the most valuable ones, sturdy shelters against future adversity.

Friday of the Seventh Week in Course 2025 Jeshua ben Sira was an Alexandrian Jew who spoke both Hebrew and Greek. About two hundred years before Jesus Christ his family gave us a compilation of his writings, which we call the Book of Sirach. It was used so often in the early Church that it ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 19:20, Mark 10:1-12

Denomination: Catholic

When Following Gets Hard...

Contributed by Anitha Jabastion on Aug 17, 2024

The words of John 6:66 strike a solemn note in the heart of any believer. How could it be that those who once followed the Lord, who witnessed His miracles and heard His teachings, would turn away? What happened to cause these disciples to abandon their walk with Christ?

John 6:66 - From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. The words of John 6:66 strike a solemn note in the heart of any believer. How could it be that those who once followed the Lord, who witnessed His miracles and heard His teachings, would turn away? What ...read more

Scripture: John 6:66, John 6:60, Matthew 19:21-22

The Hard Thing / Difficult Situation Series

Contributed by Pastor Dr. Tim Awotide on Apr 5, 2023

Elijah told Elisha that was a HARD THING, a double portion of the anointing is a HARD THING. 2 Kgs 2:9. But then a Window was created for the actualisation of that request and that window is illustrated with the word "NEVERTHELESS".

2 Kings? ?2:8-15? ?KJV. “And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground. And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 2:1-15

Denomination: Pentecostal

Hard Questions, Simple Answers

Contributed by Robby And Donna Flint on Feb 8, 2023

Jesus responds to the Pharisees and Herodians, God responds to Moses. In both situations, God provided simple answers to what could have been hard questions.

Well election day is finally over, you may or may not have liked the outcome of the presidential or legislature elections and you may or may not have liked the outcome of the constitutional amendments, but I think this is a good time for us to reflect on our obligations as citizens…and specifically ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 22:15-22, Exodus 33:12-17

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

A Safe Place In Hard Times Series

Contributed by Paul Dayao on Aug 22, 2025

In the midst of life's overwhelming storms, discover the powerful promise of Psalm 9 that God Himself offers to be your personal and unshakable refuge.

A Safe Place in Hard Times I want you to think for a moment about the last time you were caught in a really bad storm. Here in the Philippines, we know what a real storm looks like, don't we? The sky turns dark, the wind starts to howl, and the rain comes down so hard you can barely see. ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 9:9-10

Denomination: Baptist

Not As Easy (Or Hard) As It Looks

Contributed by Michael Blitz on Aug 23, 2025

Being a Christian isn’t as easy as we think—our best efforts fall short before a holy God. But it’s not as hard as it looks either, because Christ has already done the impossible for us, giving us His Spirit and His strength to live as His people.

GOOD MORNING. There were definitely times that I thought that being a pastor would make it easier to be a Christian. I realized how foolish that was even before going to seminary watching some rather famous pastors fall very publicly to temptation in the 80’ and 90’s. And this isn’t about beating ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 24:14-24, John 8:25-36

Denomination: Anglican

Finding Hope In Hard Times SermonCentral

Contributed by SermonCentral on Sep 10, 2023

Naomi's story teaches us that even in the face of immense suffering and adversity, God's goodness, kindness, and mercy prevail.

The book of Ruth takes us back to a time when judges ruled in Israel, around 1200 B.C. It is often regarded as one of the greatest love stories ever written. Today, we will explore the lessons we can learn from the story of Ruth and Naomi. Naomi's decision to leave Bethlehem during the famine was ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 1:1-18

Topics: Naomi And Ruth, Overcoming Adversity

Staying Positive In Hard Times PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Sep 26, 2023

Encourage believers to persevere through life's challenges with joy, rely on God's strength, and find contentment in His provision, as guided by the scriptures.

Good morning, church family! You know, life can sometimes feel like a marathon, right? We’re running, we’re striving, we’re trying our best to keep going, but we inevitably hit those moments where we just feel like giving up. But let me share with you a nugget of wisdom that has been a source of ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:3-4

Topics: Perseverance

It's Hard To Say Goodbye PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Nov 17, 2023

This sermon explores finding strength and hope in God's love and divine plan, even amidst the profound pain of losing a child.

Good morning, beloved family of God. We gather here today, not as individuals, but as a united body, bound by our shared faith and love for our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It is in His name, and in His love, that we find solace, strength, and the courage to face the trials and tribulations that ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 40:31

Topics: Grief, Loss, Comfort

Nothing Too Hard For God PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Jan 15, 2024

This sermon encourages believers to trust in God's limitless power, navigate doubts with faith, and honor His omnipotence, despite human limitations and uncertainties.

Good morning, beloved family of God. I stand before you today, not as a stranger but as a fellow traveler, encouraging you to look up and see the greatness of our God. A God who is not confined by our understanding or our circumstances, but whose abilities are as boundless as the heavens. We find ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 18:14

Topics: God's Power

Is There Anything Too Hard For God? PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Sep 29, 2025

God’s power is greater than our problems; prayer and obedience invite hope and restoration even when circumstances seem impossible or overwhelming.

Some weeks feel like a siege, don’t they? The walls close in. The headlines howl. The bills glare. Your energy ebbs and your faith feels small. You stand at a window and you wonder, “How is this going to work?” If that’s you today, you’re in familiar, biblical company. Jeremiah knew about closed ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 32:17-27

Topics: Possibility, Faith

Ask, Seek, Knock: Getting Prayers Answered

Contributed by Shawn Miller on Apr 27, 2015

We must pursue God with all our heart and our prayer: and when we do so we must Ask with humility, Seek with Priority, and Knock with Tenacity

Ask, Seek, Knock: Getting Answers to Prayer Introduction: Jean McMahon wrote in the Reader's Digest “Attending church in Kentucky, we watched an especially verbal and boisterous child being hurried out, slung under his irate father's arm. No one in the congregation so much as raised an ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:7-8

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational