Sermons on Hard Knocks:

Stewardshp:the Collection

Contributed by Peter Loughman on Oct 28, 2006

stewarship sermon - stewardship is hard, but what is faith without risk?

It is some what surprising what an international outlook Paul has as he writes to the Church in Corinth. He mentions Galatia, Macedonia, Achaia, Ephesus, Jerusalem. Even though most of Paul’s readers had never left their own city they understood that they were part of a world wide church body in no ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 16:1-24

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Is The Righteous Life Worth Living?

Contributed by Robert Bravo on Jul 1, 2007

Living righteous in an unrighteous world is hard. Well is it worth the effort?

Is the righteous life worth living? Malachi 3:13 - 18 (NIV) 13“You have said harsh things against me,” says the LORD. “Yet you ask, ‘What have we said against you?’ 14“You have said, ‘It is futile to serve God. What did we gain by carrying out his requirements and going about like mourners before ...read more

Denomination: Nazarene

The Mirror Of Correction Series

Contributed by Vera Hughes on Feb 20, 2008

It is easy to correct others and give advice, but hard to correct ourselves.

Self-correction – making the necessary corrections on the inside based on the Word of God. The greatest task the believer will ever have to do is to correct ourselves. Self correction makes us better witnesses for the Jesus Christ; enrich our lives in our home, church, fellowship with saints, and ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 1:5-10

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Me, Myself And I

Contributed by Brian Matherlee on Dec 9, 2009

I am the reason it’s hard to follow God.

ME, MYSELF AND I Why it’s Hard to Follow God Sunday, July 26, 2009 Pastor Brian Matherlee We borrowed a GPS for our vacation. We were going to visit DJ and Heather Williams in Louisville and John and Carol Hawkins in Galesburg, Illinois. These two places were unfamiliar and we were grateful to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:24-26

Denomination: Wesleyan

Propagating A Family Like An Olive Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Dec 26, 2014

Raising a family is like building an olive orchard, and it is hard work.

Feast of the Holy Family (Sunday after Christmas) Thirteen Days of Christmas Since the family is the basic unit of society, the Church, and her Scripture, has much to say about it. Our psalm today uses agricultural metaphors for the family: the husband will eat the fruit of his hands, the wife ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 128:1-5

Denomination: Catholic

Blessings In The Desert Series

Contributed by John Gullick on Feb 8, 2018

A sermon that attempts to encourage folk that even in hard times there is blessing.

Blessing in the desert. If you were travelling from Egypt to Palestine and you wanted to get there guided by google maps you wouldn’t go through the wilderness of Sinai. Sinai is 200 miles out of the way and when you are travelling with a whole nation it would seem strange doing such a major ...read more

Scripture: John 6:3-14, Psalm 78:5-15

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Enduring Slander

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Apr 9, 2014

It is hard to be mad at what someone said about you if it is true.

"Everybody is slandered even the good." - Robert E. Lee 1 Peter 3:14-16 14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; 15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:14-16

Denomination: Baptist

Thank You, In Spite Of Sufferings Series

Contributed by Gabriel Luigi Bautista on Nov 14, 2020

THE LIFE OF A PASTOR IN THE FAMILY THAT'S VERY HARD

FACTUAL DATA: SINULAT ITO NI PABLO KUNG SAAN SIYA AY NASA PANGIT NA SITWASYON. SIYA AY NASA ISANG SITWASYON NA KUNG SAAN PANGHIHINAAN KA TALAGA NG PANANAMPALATAYA AT PAGDUDUDAHAN MO ANG DIYOS DAHIL SA KANYANG PAGSUNOD SA DIYOS. SIYA AY IPINAKULONG NG MGA JUDIO SA HINDI MAKATARUNGANG DAHILAN. SI ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:3-14

Keep It Simple, Saint

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Aug 12, 2020

Do not make hard what God made simple and sincere!

2 Corinthians 11:3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. While the Greek word haplotes can be translated a few ways, I think it is perfect to be simplicity in this verse. Christ came ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 11:3

Denomination: Baptist

Nothing Is Impossible With God

Contributed by Dr. Casey Adams on Oct 11, 2018

This message posses the question "Is there anything too hard for God?"

I. "THE THINGS WHICH ARE IMPOSSIBLE WITH MEN ARE POSSIBLE WITH GOD" A. This decisive pronouncement by our Lord came as God's answer to the disciples’ question: 1. Said they, "Who then can be saved?" - Luke 18:26 2. The question of the disciples came when they had listened to the conversation ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:14-17, 1 Corinthians 2:2, Galatians 6:14, John 15:1-15, John 5:40, John 14:6, Philippians 4:13, Philippians 2:12, Colossians 1:20, Romans 5:1, Ephesians 2:11-14, 2 Peter 1:2-8, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Isaiah 35:3, Hebrews 12:12, Exodus 24:3, Exodus 19:8, Romans 10:1-3, John 15:5, Romans 7:24, Jeremiah 13:23, Luke 17:20, Matthew 19:16-22, Luke 18:26, Luke 18:27, Matthew 1:21  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Hearing God In The Whispers Of Life

Contributed by Anthony Zibolski on May 26, 2020

There are many voices that make it hard to hear what God desires.

Hearing God in the whisper 1 kings 19 Prayer- Introduction- Good morning everyone, glad that you are joining us this morning and taking time to hear the Word. It is almost 6 weeks that our life has been turned on edge and our Normal has been disrupted. In a lot of ways, I think normal needs ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 19:1-5

Denomination: Nazarene

Speaking With Boldness Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on Nov 26, 2019

Be bold and don’t fold when hard times come.

Speaking with Boldness Acts 4:23-31 Rev. Brian Bill November 20, 2019 Last weekend we were encouraged to imitate the example of Peter and John in order to weather the waves of persecution that are headed our way. This was our main idea: We must keep speaking even when we’re told not to. We were ...read more

Scripture: Acts 4:23-31

Denomination: Baptist

Finding Hope In Our Uncertainties Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on Dec 5, 2020

Hold on to hope when it's hard to cope.

Note: The idea for this series and the title for the sermon came from Outreach.com. How has 2020 been going for you? It’s been quite a year: a global pandemic, economic recession, unemployment, political division, cultural upheaval, racial tension, record wildfires, floods and Derecho. On top of ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:22-38

Denomination: Baptist

Fear And Worry

Contributed by Anthony Zibolski on Mar 25, 2022

This morning lets take a hard look at what scares us.

Fear and Worry Good morning everyone, welcome to online service- Let’s pray- Prayer- Father, thank you for Jesus- Thank you Father for your willingness to meet us where we are at and take us where we need to be. Thank you for your Holy Spirit that desires to guide and lead through life’s trials ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 17:5-8

Denomination: Nazarene

Grumble Or Grow Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Apr 24, 2024

When life gets hard, don’t grumble; grow!

Several years ago (2009), Louis C.K. was on Conan O’Brien’s late-night talk show, where he described today’s entitlement culture. He said in our culture, “Everything's Amazing and Nobody's Happy.” Take a look (show Louis CK video). Louis talks about how he was on a plane that offered ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 15:22-27, Exodus 16:1-30, Exodus 17:1-7, Romans 8:28-29, James 1:2-4  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical Free