Sermons on Hard Knocks:

Easter 2025: When Adversity Comes

Contributed by Rodney V Johnson on Apr 15, 2025

Everyone faces times of adversity but it is how we view and respond to the adversity that determines how those times will affect us. The disciples experienced this when Jesus was arrested and crucified. Their response can teach us about responding to adverse times.

Easter 2025 – When Adversity Comes Scripture: John 8:12; Mark 10:32-34; 16:9-11; James 1:2-3 Good morning Strangers Rest and happy Easter. This is surely the day the Lord has made so let us rejoice and be glad in it! Today we pause to commemorate the death and resurrection of our Lord and ...read more

Scripture: John 8:12, Mark 10:32-34, Mark 16:9-11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Good News About Hard Times Series

Contributed by Tim Bond on Jul 13, 2002

God takes the hard times of our lives and will use them to change us into the image of His Son if we will give them to Him.

Read Text: James 1:1-4, 12 Patriotic pride is at an all time high lately, and as we come to the 226th celebration of our nation’s birthday, you are going to be seeing the symbols of the US everywhere. Stars and stripes, fireworks and eagles are going to be all over the place in the weeks to come. ...read more

Scripture: James 1:1-4

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

God's Word Is Not Too Hard To Understand.

Contributed by Dr. Jerry Morrissey on Jul 6, 2001

Year C Sixth Sunday after Pentecost July 15th, 2001 Deuteronomy 30: 9-14 Title: “God’s word is not too hard to understand.”

Year C Sixth Sunday after Pentecost July 15th, 2001 Deuteronomy 30: 9-14 Title: “God’s word is not too hard to understand.” Our text is in the midst of a sermon, the third sermon of the book, delivered by Moses, exhorting the people to fidelity to Yahweh alone by living a way of life ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 30:9-14

Denomination: Lutheran

Handles For The Hard Times (Part 2) Series

Contributed by Rich Young on Jan 18, 2001

Second in a series of sermons for dealing with difficult times.

"Handles for the Hard Times" (Part #2) TEXT: Gen 45:1-8 and 50:15-20 INTRODUCTION · One day Linus and Charlie Brown are walking along and chatting with one another. Linus says, "I don’t like to face problems head on. I think the best way to solve problems is to avoid them. In fact, this is a ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 45:1-8, Genesis 50:15-20

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Handles For The Hard Times (Part 3) Series

Contributed by Rich Young on Jan 18, 2001

Third in a series of sermons for dealing with difficult times.

"Handling the Hard Times" (Sermon #3) TEXT: Heb 6: 16-20 INTRODUCTION · Thinking recently about how much our lives are like the weather Ø Sometimes sunny, partly cloudy or clouds off in the distance, beautiful rainbow, rainy or a storm ( Get ready for the rain and storm – umbrella, raincoat, ...read more

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Handles For The Hard Times (Part 4) Series

Contributed by Rich Young on Jan 18, 2001

Fourth in a series of sermons on dealing with difficult times.

Handles for the Hard Times (Sermon #4) TEXT: II Cor 12:1-10 INTRODUCTION · Ever been between a rock & a hard place? · Times when circum/difficulties/trials are pressing in upon you? · Life feels like it’s a zoo and the zoo has been turned over to the monkey? · Times when confusion & chaos ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:1-10

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Handles For The Hard Times (Part 5) Series

Contributed by Rich Young on Jan 18, 2001

Fifth, and last sermon in a series of sermons on dealing with difficult times.

Handles for the Hard Times (Part 5) TEXT: Heb 12:4-11 INTRODUCTION · This is last in a series of 5 sermons on “Handling the Hard Times” · Have provided 7 handles to hold on to when the difficulties come & many of those handles have to do with the perspective we have, or the way we look at the ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:4-11

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Nothing Is Too Hard For Our God

Contributed by Dr. Phillip Paschal on Nov 27, 2001

The Almighty God

NOTHING IS TOO HARD FOR OUR GOD JER. 32: 17, 27, 42 INTRODUCTION: WHEN WE CONSIDER THE FACT THAT GOD MADE EVERYTHING, WE AFFIRM HIS SOVEREIGNTY. GOD, WHO WAS BEFORE TIME, AND WHO WILL BE WHEN TIME IS NO MORE, HAS AT HIS DISPOSAL UNLIMITED POWER AND RESOURCES THAT CANNOT BE ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 32:17-42

Denomination: Baptist

What To Do With The Hard Things In Life

Contributed by Marion Cornett on Nov 28, 2001

This message from the life of the children of Israel shows us what to do when difficulties come our way as a believer.

What do you do with the Hard things in Life? Deuteronomy 27:1-8 The story is told of a little boy who went to the grocery store and asked the clerk for a box of laundry detergent. The clerk was very impressed at such a little guy taking on the responsibilities of ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 27:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

"O, Lord, It's Hard To Be Humble..."

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Oct 23, 2004

It shouldn’t be hard to be humble, but it is.

Luke 18:9-14 “O, Lord, It’s Hard to Be Humble…” By: Rev. Kenneth E. Sauer, Pastor of Parkview United Methodist Church, Newport News, VA www.parkview-umc.org You wouldn’t think it would be all that difficult. We were all formed from the same dust of the earth, by the same Creator. Basically, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:9-14

Denomination: United Methodist

A Good Heart These Days Is Hard To Find Series

Contributed by Pat Cook on May 16, 2005

2nd in series on what Pentecost means. Instead of the Law written on tablets of stone, it’s now written on our hearts.

Acts 2:1-11 – A Good Heart is Hard to Find (Many of the conclusions, including the wording, set forth here flow from John Eldredge.) In his book The Moral Intelligence of Children, Harvard professor Robert Coles told a story about Marian, one of his students several years ago. She had arrived ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

"Is Anything Too Hard For The Lord?"

Contributed by Don Schultz on Jul 30, 2004

God makes promises that are too hard to keep. But God keeps them.

Genesis 18:1-15 “IS ANYTHING TOO HARD FOR THE LORD?” Have you ever heard someone make a promise that seemed unrealistic? Maybe you even laughed to yourself when you heard it. The other day, I saw an advertisement by a construction company that was promising that they would build you a ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 18:1-15

Denomination: Lutheran

Stuck Between Rocks In A Hard Place

Contributed by Rev Dr Randall M Deal Sr on Mar 16, 2008

On your spiritual journey....Don’t get stuck between rocks in a hard place! Pick up your rock…and roll!

“STUCK BETWEEN ROCKS IN A HARD PLACE?” January 13, 2007 Dr. Randy Deal Revelation 21:5a , Lamentations 3:22-24 Joshua 4 On your spiritual journey… 1. Don’t get stuck in the middle! vs. 3, 5, 8-9 Genesis 46:1-4, Zechariah 14:1-4, Matthew 14:28-30, Matthew 17:20, Hebrews 11:1 God will make the ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 4:1-24

Denomination: Baptist

The Man Who Asked For The Hard Thing

Contributed by Tony Skaff on Jul 13, 2006

Elisha dared to ask for a double portion of Elijah’s spirit. Do we dare to ask for hard things or we just surrender and accept the little ones? Who can do that?

1stBBC The man who asked for the hard thing 2Ki 2:1-10 And it came to pass, when the LORD would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal. And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me to Bethel. And Elisha said unto ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 2:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

"There Is Nothing Too Hard For God."

Contributed by Tony Abram on Apr 22, 2008

God said through the Angel "Is anything too hard for the Lord?" is found in Genesis 18:14. Then through the Prophet Jeremiah God’s Word then give the answer to this most important question is found in Jeremiah 32:17, "There is nothing too hard for thee."

"There is nothing too hard for God." God said through the Angel "Is anything too hard for the Lord?" is found in Genesis 18:14. Then through the Prophet Jeremiah God’s Word then give the answer to this most important question is found in Jeremiah 32:17, "There is nothing too hard for thee." Here ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 18:1-25