Sermons on Hard Knocks:

The Circle Maker 4: Think Long Series

Contributed by Mark Batterson on Nov 15, 2011

We need to be willing to pray for as long as it takes. Pray that it will take long enough and be hard enough for God to receive all of the glory.

Introduction On the Swedish Island of Visingso, there is a mysterious forest of oak trees; mysterious because oak trees aren’t indigenous to the island and its origin was unknown for more than a century. Then in 1980, the Swedish Navy received a letter from the Forestry Department reporting ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 10:12-13

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Saying No To Temptations Series

Contributed by Paul Clemente on Jun 16, 2009

Say no to temptation, no matter how hard it may be, for there is no substitute for God’s presence in and provisions for our lives today and forever!

When the disciples asked Jesus how to pray, Jesus taught them what we call today the Lord’s Prayer. Let us slowly pray it together: Our Father …………… This prayer of course is not meant to be a repetitive, by rote type of prayer. It is a model for prayer. If it was meant to be a repetitive type ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 39:5-23

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Restoring Strained Relationships Series

Contributed by Paul Clemente on Apr 27, 2009

Until you have learned God’s love for yourself and be reconciled with God, you will have a hard time reconciling with others!

God is a God of relationships; this is why He created people. Because the Creator God is a God of relationships, His created ones, people, are to be relational as well. Most of us have had strained relationships. Should we try and restore strained relationships? If so, how do we do it? How do we ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Hide And Seek

Contributed by Johnny Creasong on Dec 17, 2009

We, who were ceated for the express purpose of having fellowship with God, have a tendency to work incredibly hard at abandoning Him.

HIDE AND SEEK Matthew 10:26-27 What does it mean to "abandon," "forsake," or "leave alone" the omnipresent God, God who is everywhere. How is that possible? It is ONLY possible if God allows us to leave, allows us to turn our back upon God Himself. Yes, it is much like the parent playing "Hide and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 10:26-27

Denomination: Church Of God

Times They Are A Changing

Contributed by Thomas Bowen on May 8, 2007

God can make hard time come out fot the good. God can use unbleievers to establish a safe place.

Times they are a changing Acts 18:12-23 Have you ever had some event that changed your life? When you think about it, all kinds of things can change out lives. Going from middle school to high school, getting out of school, getting a job. How about getting married? That was a biggie. ...read more

Scripture: Acts 18:12-23

Denomination: Congregational

Get Out Of The Way!

Contributed by Curt Cizek on Feb 8, 2009

The Holy Spirit is hard at work in the lives of others. We need to make sure we are being a helper in the work of the gospel and not a hindrance.

-Have you ever been judged unfairly by others? -Has anyone ever looked down on you for something they thought you did? -Have you ever received a punishment for something that you didn’t do? -That is what the Apostle Paul is dealing with in chapter 9 of his first letter to the Corinthians -A number ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:16-23

Denomination: Lutheran

Do We Really Believe?

Contributed by David Trexler on Oct 11, 2006

This sermon challenges our claim to believe. The thought process was started by a wonderful sermon submitted by David Moore entitled The Hard Gospel.

Sermon for Mark 10:17-31 October 15th 2006 I’m one of people that can’t seem to shut their brain off in the evening. The other night my mind was churning because someone had mentioned to someone that pastor lately had been preaching a “hard” gospel. My puny little mind wandered to a time when I ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:17-31

Denomination: Lutheran

My Sediments Exactly (Ps 51 Version)

Contributed by Michael Hollinger on Jan 28, 2008

We all know what regular maintenance in our Christian lives should look like. What makes it so hard?

SERMON: MY SEDIMENTS EXACTLY 1. Case Study: What caused the Johnstown flood? 2. What makes maintenance hard? a. Purging involves loss (hyssop) b. Washing involves vulnerability c. Acknowledgement means losing control 3. How do we do it? a. The Word (Eph 5:26) b. Prayer (What is this Psalm ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 51:7-12

Denomination: Baptist

Doth This Offend You? Series

Contributed by Richard Papafio on Sep 17, 2017

When Jesus offered His body and blood and the disciples said, this is an hard saying and He asked them "doth this offend you?"

May the peace of the Lord be with you. Topic: DOTH THIS OFFEND YOU? John 6:60-61King James Version (KJV) 60 Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it? 61 When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto ...read more

Scripture: John 6:60-61

Denomination: Charismatic

With God All Things Are Possible

Contributed by Marvin Keiser Sr. on Oct 14, 2017

The human heart is sinful but, God can change it, sometimes He must get our attention the hard way.

With God all things are possible Matthew 19:26 “Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” As we look around us, you can see more and more, that the world is changing to a society that does what it wants, and nobody is going to tell them how ...read more

Observations For Change

Contributed by Anthony Zibolski on Nov 4, 2014

Change is hard, no one really likes to change. We have to decide if we want change and will take steps to accomplish the task.

Observations for Change John 5:1-5:9 Introduction- This sermon was gleaned from ideas from SermonCentral and the Bible This morning I want you to turn to John 5:1-5:8. As you are turning there, I want to tell you of a book I read about 10 years ago. It was called “Who moved my ...read more

Scripture: John 5:1-9

Denomination: Nazarene

Great Goodness Of The Lord

Contributed by William R. Nabaza on Nov 27, 2014

To show that GOD in His Great Goodness laid up all things for us and even labored and work hard for His children.

I. EXORDIUM: Are you a hard worker? II. AUDIENCE PROFILE: Believers III. OBJECTIVES: To show that GOD in His Great Goodness laid up all things for us and even labored and work hard for His children. IV. TEXT: Psalms 31:19 (Amplified Bible) 31:19 Oh, how great is Your goodness, which You ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 31:19

Denomination: Pentecostal

Sexual Satisfaction In Marriage Series

Contributed by Vince Miller on Oct 3, 2019

Some conversations are hard for couples to have, and there is none more awkward for some Christian couples than having a conversation about sex.

You think about it the most, but you talk about it the least Some conversations are hard for couples to have, and there is none more awkward for some Christian couples than having a conversation about sex. Given that we live in a culture that is saturated with sexual images and innuendos, it is ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 7:3

Denomination: Baptist

Moving In Faith. Genesis Chapter 9

Contributed by David Cramer on Dec 30, 2020

In today's hard times, we need to be reminded of the faith that Noah experienced when he started building the ark.

Moving in faith. Genesis Chapter 9 Good Morning Stand with me and lift your bible and repeat after me. This is my Bible. I am what it says I am. I can do what it says I can do. I am going to learn how to be what it says I can be. Today I will learn more of the word of God. The ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 9:22

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Christmas Eve Candlelight

Contributed by Jamie Bogaard on Dec 28, 2020

Has this been a hard year? Almost all involved in the Christmas story had hardship. This is precisely why Jesus had to come.

Christmas Eve Candlelight Through Adversity Comes a Promise Prelude: Call to Worship: Rejoice, for God is with us — Emmanuel. In the darkness of our world shines God's holy light. Now there is reason to hope, to love, to laugh, to live. God is truly with us. We are not alone. Thanks be to ...read more

Denomination: Friends