Sermons on Hard Knocks:

Help For The Hard Storms Of Life - Part 2

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Jul 16, 2008

Most of the worst storms we’ll face won’t have anything to do with the weather. But someday, you will find yourself in a storm just as serious as Paul faced here.

Help for the Hard Storms of Life - Part 2 Acts 27:21-44 Sermon by Rick Crandall McClendon Baptist Church - June 4, 2008 *I’ve been in a few bad storms. In 1982 I was flying to Korea to help negotiate a contract for the Air Force, and while we were out in the middle of the Pacific, we went through ...read more

Scripture: Acts 27:21-44

Denomination: Baptist

Keeping Our Faith During The Hard Times

Contributed by Jerry Cosper on Oct 26, 2022

We've probably all been through hard times at least once. It's difficult even to think of joy in those trying moments, yet James wrote that believers should consider trials joyous.

Hard times. We've probably all been through hard times at least once. It may be a financial loss that caused the hard times. It may be a job loss that caused the financial loss. It may be a relational loss - breaking up with someone we thought would be a lifelong friend. When these hard ...read more

Scripture: James 1:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

Time To Engage: "Following Hard After God”

Contributed by Dennis Lee on Feb 9, 2025

The impulse to follow God originates with God, but it’s our responsibility to follow. We are told throughout the Bible that we’re to seek the Lord. As we purpose to follow hard after God, He upholds and strengthens us as seen in the Psalmist description of a deer in search for water.

Time To Engage “Following Hard After God” Watch on YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFndeU2Ewgg Let me get this out of the way, and that is, I’m not saying it’s hard to follow God. In fact, God even said it isn’t. In fact,  He said it was downright easy, which is something ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 55:6, Jeremiah 29:13-14, Psalm 42:1-2, Psalm 63:8

Denomination: Foursquare

Rocky Revelations - Part 2 - Knock Down Vs. Knockout Series

Contributed by Steve Ely on Jul 16, 2009

The "Italian Stallion" faced some serious opponents. He squared off with the "Master of Disaster", "The Southside Slugger", and "The Siberian Express" just to name a few. Each time Rocky shocked the world! He won our hearts. He can also teach a thing o

Rocky Revelations Part 2 – Knockdown vs. Knockout I. Introduction In part one of this series we talked about pain. Pain is inevitable. Pain is impartial. Pain has a purpose. Pain purifies us. Pain speaks to us. Pain pushes us. Pain positions and prepares us. Pain makes us rely on God. ...read more

Denomination: Pentecostal

"knocking On Heaven’s Door:" The Friend At Midnight

Contributed by Dennis Lee on Jul 9, 2023

This Sunday in our series, “Parables to Live By,” our of Luke’s gospel, we’ll be looking at the Parable of “The Friend at Midnight,” whose overarching theme is about prayer and our knocking on Heaven’s door for God to hear our plea.

Parables to Live By “Knocking on Heaven’s Door:” The Friend at Midnight Luke 11:5-13 Watch on YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEL0NII1Shs In 1973, Bob Dylan wrote what some consider one of the most famous folk songs in the U.S. It was written for the movie, “Pat Garrett and ...read more

Scripture: Luke 11:5-13

Denomination: Foursquare

The False Prophet Balaam: When Opportunity Knocked, He Answered Series

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Feb 28, 2025

The king of Moab had a problem: Israel was near his territory. He called on Balaam to come and curse Israel. This king gave Balaam what might be considered the opportunity of a lifetime. How did Balaam respond?

(Edited from and based on a message preached Sunday evening, 2-16-25 at New Hope Baptist Church of Fulton, MO; this is not an exact transcription.) Introduction: The story of Balaam is, or at least used to be, one of the saddest in the entire Bible. It seems he knew the One True God and could ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 22:1-21

Denomination: Baptist

Lord, Teach Me To Pray Intensify Series

Contributed by Dr. Gale A. Ragan-Reid on May 23, 2014

Prayer intensifies with fasting, the fire of our spirit draws us closer to Christ Jesus and closer to God Almighty. Praying for what you want "is yours for the asking".

LORD Teach Me To Pray Intensify by Dr. Gale A. Ragan-Reid (May 23, 2014) “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (St. John 10:10, King James Version, ...read more

Scripture: John 10:1-42

Denomination: Friends

Are Only A Few Going To Be Saved? The Answer Isn't Cheap

Contributed by Joel Pankow on Aug 18, 2022

Salvation isn't as easy as one might think. Jesus answer is surprising.

8.21.22 Luke 13:22–29 22 He went on his way from one town and village to another, teaching, and making his way to Jerusalem. 23 Someone said to him, “Lord, are only a few going to be saved?” He said to them, 24 “Strive to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to ...read more

Scripture: Luke 13:22-30

Denomination: Lutheran

Praying Aloud Or Playing Around?

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Oct 27, 2020

When you really get intense in prayer, you will see results. Fervor, not volume is more important.

2 Kings 13:14-19 - Desire 14 Now Elisha was fallen sick of his sickness whereof he died. And Joash the king of Israel came down unto him, and wept over his face, and said, O my father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. 15 And Elisha said unto him, Take bow and arrows. And ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 13:14-19, Luke 18:1-8, Luke 11:5-9

Denomination: Baptist

"Learning To Pray Like Jesus" Series

Contributed by David Henderson on Oct 24, 2016

The diciples came to Jesus with one request. They could have asked for so many things but they only asked for this.

“Learning to Pray like Jesus” Luke 11:1-13 When Jesus set out to call 12 men to follow him, He gathered them together and began mentoring them, discipling them so that they in turn would be able to continue the process. So when Jesus started teaching them, since this was the first ...read more

Scripture: Luke 11:1-13

Denomination: Baptist

My Trials, So Hard, Will Soon Be Over

Contributed by Brian Matherlee on Oct 3, 2006

Everyone has trouble and the psalmist displays 3 attitudes that will allow God to draw us out of despair.

The Psalmist displays 3 things that will help overcome despair: 1. Passion (42:1) a. There’s a story of a young American engineer who was sent to Ireland by his company. It was a two-year assignment. He had accepted it because it would enable him to earn enough to marry his long-time girlfriend. ...read more

Denomination: Wesleyan

Hard Work, Sharing Jesus Stories And Resting!

Contributed by Warner Pidgeon on Jul 26, 2006

After being sent out in teams, the disciples shared their stories with Jesus and he invited them to rest. We too are called to work hard, share ’Jesus’ stories and to rest.

“The apostles gathered round Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught” (v30). Jesus had sent the disciples out in twos, with instructions (6:8-11). They had gone out with the message of repentance (6:12); they had anointed many sick people with oil and healed them (6:13). It seems ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:30-34

Denomination: Anglican

It Can Be Hard When Everybody Knows You

Contributed by David Haun on Jan 9, 2004

When Jesus went home to Nazareth, he took his disciples with him. Why? What did they learn from the trip? What message does it offer for us?

"IT CAN BE HARD WHEN EVERYBODY KNOWS YOU" (Mark 6:1-6) Introduction There is an unwritten "rule" that exists in ministry. It’s a "rule" most ministers recognize. The rule: "Never return as pastor to your childhood church." So often going back home just won’t work, because folk in your ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:1-6

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Why Should I Work So Hard?

Contributed by Kevin Ruffcorn on Mar 25, 2005

Hard work has limited appeal if its only purpose is to accumulate riches or make us more comfortable. Work becomes meaningful when it is seen as service and as ministry.

Romans 12:1-8 “Why Should I Work So Hard?” INTRODUCTION Things were going so good immediately following the creation. God had placed Adam and Eve in an idyllic situation—a garden that supplied everything that they needed. God took care of them, and the concept of work was as far beyond ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1-8

Denomination: Lutheran

Unity, Worship And Relying On God In Hard Times.

Contributed by Hannah Pinkstone on Dec 16, 2002

in hard times bring Christians close to share with you and intercede for you. worship from beginning to end and always trust God’s way! speak the name of Jesus in the face of the enemy!!

You know how you can get excited about something, so much that when you try to tell people all about it, it just comes out as over excitement?!?!?! Well, I’m excited about this chapter, it’s really cool. So I’ve tried my best to make this part a ’preach’ that’s will be understood, and that it will ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 20:1-29

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational