Sermons on Hard Knocks:

Hard Sayings: How To Accept Them

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Aug 21, 2024

The problem with “nice” religion is that it isn’t religion at all, and today’s three Scriptural passages are proof of that reality.

Nineteenth Sunday in Course 2024 Hard Sayings There’s a very popular opinion about religion, and I think you may be already aware of it. Folks often think that religion ought to be “nice.” In other words, religion should make you feel good about yourself, first, and then, if possible, about other ...read more

Scripture: John 6:60-69, Ephesians 5:21-32, Psalm 34:2-3, Psalm 34:16-21, Joshua 24:1-2, Joshua 24:15-18  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Catholic

Giving Thanks When Life Is Hard

Contributed by Scott Maze on Dec 6, 2023

God cares about your hope when you are struggling. God wants you to tenaciously hold onto hope when your life is challenging. Again, God cares about your hope when you are struggling.

If you have a Bible would you find the book of Lamentations with me - Lamentations 3? I just love Thanksgiving and I love it even more with each year I age. But not everyone has an equally good time on this holiday. The day before Thanksgiving an elderly man in Phoenix called his son in New York ...read more

Scripture: Lamentations 3:21-25

Denomination: Baptist

You Have Asked A Hard Thing

Contributed by John Gaston on Jan 12, 2024

Elisha wanted to be full of the Spirit. Being filled with God’s Spirit is an easy thing, but also a hard thing.The hard part is for modern Christians to prepare our hearts and to seek Him until we’re filled.

YOU HAVE ASKED A HARD THING 2 Kgs. 2:7-10 INTRODUCTION A. HUMOR 1. Churches have often been better known for their banquets than their spirituality. 2. The pastor of one Church was asked what was required to join his church. He said, “You need to be saved and to have an 8½ X 11 casserole ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 2:7-10

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Between A Rock Ad A Hard Place Series

Contributed by John L Jefferson on Sep 21, 2025

My brothers and sisters, the story of Israel at the Red Sea is not just their story — it is our story. They were a people who had been in bondage for over 400 years, crying out to God for deliverance. And God raised up a leader, Moses, who stood toe to toe with Pharaoh and said, “Let my people go.”

Between a Rock and a Hard Place Text: Exodus 14:1–14 ________________________________________ Introduction Isn’t it funny how we are constantly living in the past...? Isn’t it funny how we concentrate on how things used to be, what we used to have… What we used to do…? Memories are good to have… ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 14:1-14

Denomination: Baptist

It's Hard To Believe

Contributed by Mitchell Leonard on Oct 31, 2025

A sermon to adults on the TRUTH of Jesus Christ.

Matthew 11:1-6 11/2/25 A.M. “It’s hard to Believe” Have you all ever heard something that was just too hard to believe? It was too hard to comprehend. That happened to me a few weeks ago. I mentioned this to a few of you so you’re gonna know what I’m talking about but most of you won’t. In ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

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

Locusts & Darkness (Exodus 10)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Aug 15, 2024

Did God harden a stubborn heart that Pharaoh had already hardened? Let's look at Exodus 10.

Did God harden Pharaoh’s heart apart from his free will (Exodus 4:21; 7:3; 9:12; 10:1, 20, 27; 11:10; 14:4, 8; 14:7)? Did Pharaoh’s heart just grow hard (Exodus 7:13, 22; 8:19; 9:7, 35)? Did Pharaoh harden his own heart (Exodus 8:15, 32; 9:34)? Did God only harden what Pharaoh had already decided ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Asking, Seeking And Knocking God’s Way Series

Contributed by Pat Damiani on Nov 18, 2011

Genuine prayer focuses on those things that are on God’s heart, not on our personal needs and desires.

[“O Lord, Won’t You Buy Me a Mercedes Benz” video] The way that we pray says a lot about what we think about God. Unfortunately, Janis Joplin, and a lot of other people for that matter, view God as someone who exists to do their bidding and give them what they want – kind ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:7-11

Denomination: Baptist

Christ Is Knocking……will You Answer?

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Nov 27, 2010

Church at Laodecia. (PowerPoint slides to accompany this talk are available on request - email: gcurley@gcurley.info)

Reading: Revelation chapter 3 verses 14-22. • Nobody likes being sick; • I nobody really enjoys having to go to the doctors. Quote: • David Grimes in Reader’s Digest: • Doctors - What They Say and What They Actually Mean • What they say: “It could be ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:14-22

Denomination: Brethren

How To Stand When Life Knocks You Down

Contributed by John Dobbs on May 22, 2016

How to stand when life knocks you down ... what God is doing to help us regain position when events of life make us wonder if we're going to make it. Romans 5:1-5

HOW TO STAND WHEN LIFE KNOCKS YOU DOWN Romans 5:1-5 Introduction: No matter how strong or independent we think we are, there are times when things in life knock us down. Things that happen to us - out of our control. Things that others do to us - out of hatred or fear. Troubles that we make for ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:1, Romans 5:1-5

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Ask And Seek The Right Thing! Knock At The Right Door! Series

Contributed by Ken Henson on Jul 22, 2013

I've heard the exhortations to Ask, Seek and Knock in isolation from the Golden Rule. They are irrevocably connected. One concept leads to the other. Jesus points to the way God treats us in order to show us how treat each other.

Matthew 7:7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. The standard message on this passage is, we need to ask, and when we ask God ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:7-29

Denomination: *other

Seek, Then Knock And Then Ask. Then See What Will Happen For You!

Contributed by Tony Abram on Jun 17, 2012

In this sermon outline I am changing the order of ask, seek and knock to seek, knock and ask. However, it will not change the message of Jesus. He still is the 'Prayer answering God' that loves us more than we can ever understand. God does want to a

SEEK, THEN KNOCK AND THEN ASK. THEN SEE WHAT WILL HAPPEN FOR YOU! Matthew 7:7-11 (KJV) 7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: 8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:7-11, Matthew 7:7-12

Opportunity Knocks In Chaos…exodus 32: 25-28

Contributed by Eddie Young on Aug 24, 2018

Blessing from God will come to you if you stay faithful

We begin with two men and at this time in their lives they are pastoring a people known as the Israelites. Moses is the leader of the flock and Aaron, his associate Pastor; and his older brother. Moses has just been in intersession with God for Israel and he can’t figure out why God is upset with ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 32:25-28

Denomination: Baptist

Mathew Seven-Seven People Part 5

Contributed by Ken Crow on Feb 1, 2010

Jesus names the most distinguishable characteristic of a Mathew Seven-Seven person in this final sermon of this series.

Mathew Seven-Seven People Part 5 Knocking On The Door Pastor Ken Crow Matthew 7:7-8 (King James Version) 7Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: 8For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:7-8

Denomination: Church Of God

Ask, Seek, Knock: Transformed By Truth Matthew 7:7-8 Series

Contributed by Dean Courtier on Jan 22, 2024

Today, we delve into the transformative words of Matthew 7:7-8, where Jesus invites us into a deeper relationship with Him through the powerful principles of asking, seeking, and knocking. Join me as we explore the transformative truth found in persistent and faith-filled prayer.

Ask, Seek, Knock: Transformed by Truth Matthew 7:7-8 Introduction: Today, we delve into the transformative words of Matthew 7:7-8, where Jesus invites us into a deeper relationship with Him through the powerful principles of asking, seeking, and knocking. Join me as we explore the transformative ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:7-8, Jeremiah 29:13, Revelation 3:20, James 4:2

Denomination: Pentecostal