Sermons on Hard Knocks:

The Providence Of God

Contributed by Howard Mcglamery on Dec 18, 2002

When the circumstances of life knock us down, the only sure footing we have is the Word of God and confidence in the providence of God.

The Providence Of God Rom. 8:28 Introduction Have you ever been swimming at the seashore and found yourself knocked down by the waves and suddenly you’re in trouble. You remember how that can happen if a big wave comes and knocks you down and you go in over your head. You begin to thrash around ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:28

Denomination: Baptist

Being Optimistic In A Pessimistic World

Contributed by Ray Scott on Aug 7, 2003

We live in a negative world. The Bible is full of positives. In the parable of the Prodigal Son & the Elder Brother, we see both optimism & pessimism.

“Being Optimistic In A Pessimistic World” INTRODUCTION: There are many books on POSITIVE THINKING. The book “The Power Of Positive Thinking” by Norman Vincent Peale was required reading when I was a student at Trinity College. There are all kinds of “helps” out there to help us maintain a ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-32

Denomination: Baptist

Doing The Difficult Thing

Contributed by Jay Robison on Aug 1, 2006

Why does it have to be so hard? Doing the most important things in life is often hard. God knows that and will help us!

DOING THE DIFFICULT THINGS March 5, 2006 Jay Davis Robison MATTHEW 16:21-28 Have you ever asked yourself Why does it have to be so hard?? Why does marriage have to be so hard? Raising Kids so hard? Why is being honest, losing weight, growing in Christ so hard If doing right is the right thing, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:21-28

Denomination: Baptist

The Problem Of Perfectionism Series

Contributed by Thomas Bowen on Jan 29, 2009

It is really hard to keep up the pretence of being a perfect Christian. It si so hard that you will probably lose your faith.

Christian freedom – The problem of perfectionism In recent messages we have talked about the things that affect our Christian Freedom. How when we normally claim that we are free people that we automatically accept limits on our freedom. Limits based on cultural limits which might affect freedom ...read more

Scripture: Romans 7:14-20

Denomination: Congregational

Don’t Be Luke Warm

Contributed by John Ong on Aug 19, 2015

How hard is it to make a decision? How hard is it to accept challenges for the sake of pleasing our Lord God? Are there challenges you can’t simply put your 100% into?

How hard is it to make a decision? How hard is it to accept challenges for the sake of pleasing our Lord God? Are there challenges you can’t simply put your 100% into? The Bible speaks about lukewarm Christians in Revelations 3: 15-19 which say; ‘I know your deeds, that you are ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:15-19

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Fix Your Prayers (Part 2) Series

Contributed by David Salisbury on May 29, 2003

Lesson 15 in a series on the Sermon on the Mount. I revisited the topic of prayer as we came to Jesus’s words about asking, seeking, and knocking.

Fix Your Prayers (part 2) Matthew 7:7-11 It is quite possible that no aspect of the Christian life is as mysterious as prayer. What should I pray for and how should I pray? How come it seems like nothing happens when I pray? Do you ever think you’re just talking to the wall when you pray? Why ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:7-11

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Persistent Petitionary Prayer

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on May 15, 2016

Jesus emphasises the importance, validity and efficacy of persistent petitionary prayer. The basis of our prayer is our relationship with God.

PERSISTENT PETITIONARY PRAYER. Luke 11:1-13. It all began with Jesus at prayer, and with the disciples’ desire to learn from Jesus how to pray (Luke 11:1). Surprisingly, we are encouraged to pray in much the same terms as Jesus Himself. Our address towards God is to be one of familial ...read more

Scripture: Luke 11:1-13

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Table In The Wilderness Series

Contributed by Maurice Mccarthy on Sep 8, 2011

From a biblical perspective, the wilderness is where a lot of people die, but it is also the place where a lot of people have accelerated spiritual growth, because of the high spiritual protein foods God serves in the wilderness.

A Table in the Wilderness PPT 1 Today I want to talk about a table in the wilderness. We are going to leave our John the Baptist series and take a little trip down a sidepath this AM. I connect this message to our current series by simply noting that John the Baptist was to be a forerunner for ...read more

Scripture: Luke 7:24

Denomination: Pentecostal

Keeping Prayer In Context Series

Contributed by Steve Smith on Oct 8, 2007

While keeping the famous "Ask, Seek, & Knock" passage in context with the Sermon on the Mount, we can still learn some awesome principles regarding prayer.

INTRODUCTION ILLUSTRATION: PRAYER’S BEST POSITION Three ministers were talking about prayer in general and the appropriate and effective positions for prayer. As they were talking, a telephone repairman was working on the phone system in the background. One minister shared that he felt the key ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:7-12

Denomination: Baptist

It's Jesus - Can I Come In Series

Contributed by Ernie Arnold on Aug 15, 2023

How does Jesus end up being on the outside of this Church? Let's see what was happening in Laodicea and how Jesus redeems them.

Scripture: Revelation 3:14-22; John 14:21-23 Theme: Who Owns the Home? Title: It’s Jesus – May I Come In? Is Jesus inside your church or heart or is He knocking at the door? INTRO: Grace and peace from God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit! I read this advertisement recently: Room ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:14-22, John 14:21-23, Luke 7:36-50

Denomination: Nazarene

Matthew 7 (9/10/2017) Series

Contributed by Pastor C Burns on Aug 17, 2022

Matthew 7 - Sermon on the Mount

Matthew 7:1-6 (Jesus Teaches about Judging Others) Verses 1-2 Jesus tells us to examine our own motives and conduct instead of judging others. The traits that bother us in others are often the habits we have ourselves. Our bad habits and behavior patterns are the very ones that we most want to ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Common Areas In Which Satan Will Work Hard To Trip Up Christians (Part I)

Contributed by Gerry Pratt on May 25, 2002

A look at the different ways employed by the devil to trip up the Christian.

Eph. 6:10-13 - 10Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-13

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Common Areas In Which Satan Will Work Hard To Trip Up Christians (Part Ii)

Contributed by Gerry Pratt on May 25, 2002

Continuation of Part I.....Same description.

In my previous message on this topic, I attempted to point out some of the most common traps that satan lays for us. A. We are relatively safe from obviously gross temptations. 1. satan works in the areas in which we are the most susceptible. a. According to ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:13

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Common Areas In Which Satan Will Work Hard To Trip Up Christians (Part Iii)

Contributed by Gerry Pratt on May 25, 2002

Continuation of part II.

In the past two messages, I believe that I have made the case for the fact that Christians must be prepared properly to guard against satan’s deadly arrows. Eph. 6:18 - 18praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:18

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Thanksgiving -Thank You For Your Order....god The Father Asked Jesus A Hard Thing.

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Nov 16, 2021

One of the ways that Israel stimulated a sense of gratitude and fidelity was remembering the exodus from captivity to liberation: “remember that you were once slaves...remember that it was God who liberated you and brought you to a land of promise."

Simple Act of Gratitude is a book that tells the story of an inspiration, the writing of 365 Thank You Notes, and how John Kralik’s life was changed from a life full of debts and disasters, to learning to be grateful for the life he had. I decided that I would try this too, and so I did starting ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 15:1-8

Denomination: Catholic