Sermons on Hard Knocks:

"reliance In An Age Of Growing Chaos"

Contributed by John Huyser on Apr 24, 2023

Who hasn't pulled into the wrong driveway, knocked on the wrong door, absent-mindedly lifted the handle of the wrong car door or let a ball go astray into another yard? What is triggering all the senseless violence? How do we process this as believers and regain our sense of safety?

Once a month – every 29.5 days according to NASA, we have a full moon where the sun fully illuminates the moon’s visible disk. We observe full moons in the clear nighttime skies without much thought. But long known to those in law enforcement or medicine, full moons can trigger behavioral and ...read more

Going Through The Fire

Contributed by Dennis Jones on Feb 16, 2003

Sometimes we feel like we are going through a lot of unnecessary hard times. Some people like to say they are going through the fire.

Sometimes we feel like we are going through a lot of unnecessary hard times. Some people like to say they are going through the fire. My bible tells me that God will be there for me any time any place. Even in the middle of the fire like He was for Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. Open with ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 3:1-6, Daniel 3:12-17

Denomination: Pentecostal

Maynard's Motorcycle

Contributed by W Pittendreigh on May 31, 2003

There is a rumor about the Presbyterian Church -- we are the "frozen chosen." Not true! Our church is filled with the Holy Spirit and hard at work seeking and doing the will of God.

Acts 2:38-47 38 Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off-- for all whom the Lord our God will ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:38-47

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Proverbial Wisdom

Contributed by Steve Shepherd on Jun 1, 2001

Much of God’s wisdom can be found in the book of Proverbs. Two subjects covered are: 1- Hard work 2- Drinking and drunkenness.

PROVERBIAL WISDOM INTRO.- Proverbial wisdom. I want to share some of God’s wisdom from the book of Proverbs, but first let me share some good quips and quotes or words of wisdom from man. - It’s all right to be dumb, but it’s stupid to make a career out of it. - Ignorance is not the problem. ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 14:23

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Finding A Contractor (Part 2 Of 4) Series

Contributed by Jeff Armbrester on May 19, 2003

Good contractors are hard to find, especially one we can trust. Jesus is the only one who can renew our hearts and lives.

(This series was used in a capital funds campaign to raise money for repairs and renewal of the church facilities.) Jeff Armbrester Renewal for Growth There are two possible directions that renewal may take. Renewal can go in the direction of preservation, which is restoration. It is an attempt ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 3:11-12, John 1:29-34

Denomination: Methodist

Forgive? Who Me?

Contributed by Scott Carmer on Jan 31, 2005

We desire, and expect God’s forgiveness when we ask. But it is so hard to offer that forgiveness to others when they sin against us.

Forgive? Who Me? Matthew 18:21-35 I remember this story about a famous person in American history, and for the life of me, I can’t remember who it was. Anyway, this person was asked one Sunday afternoon about the worship service he attended that morning. “What did the preacher preach about?” ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:21-35

Denomination: Methodist

Settling Series

Contributed by Pat Cook on May 16, 2005

3rd in long series on Joshua. This is about the temptation to settle in, to give up when it gets hard, to accept less than the best.

Joshua 1:12-18 – Settling In an old Peanuts cartoon, Lucy demanded that her brother Linus change TV channels and then threatened him with her fist if he didn’t. "What makes you think you can walk right in here and take over?" asked Linus. "These five fingers," said Lucy. ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 1:12-18

Denomination: Baptist

The Unknown Quality Of Love Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Feb 13, 2006

Believe it or not, love is hard for the world to define. Even psychology and psychiatry have difficulty explaining it. But God doesn’t. Why is that so?

OPEN: A visiting Revivalist was impressed by an older couple in the church where he was holding Revival. The wife seemed to be half-turned toward her husband holding both his hands in hers. Every time he looked toward them he was impressed by the fact they were holding hands. After the service ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-25

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Resurrection, Our Greatest Hope

Contributed by Scotty Killingsworth on Apr 6, 2004

There are times it is hard for us to understand and even believe in life after death. But the universal question rings in every heart, if this is all there is life is a cruel joke.

This sermon was preached by Scotty L Killingsworth on Easter Sunday April 11, 2004 to the Evergreen Church. The sermon title is - Resurrection, our greatest hope. Biblical texts used in the sermon come from Job 14 and 19, John 5:24 – 28, Romans 10:17 and Luke 24 Scotty sings Who taught the ...read more

Scripture: John 5:24-28, Job 14:14

Denomination: Baptist

Stewardship: Available In Times Of Little Series

Contributed by Anthony White on Feb 28, 2009

With the looming economic meltdown, persons are tempted to not be faithful in their stewardship. This sermon is an encouragement to still be available for service despite the hard times now being faced.

Stewardship: Available In Times Of Little 1Kings 17:1-24 Today is the final in our stewardship series for the month of February. Over the last two weeks we looked at Stewardship: Giving In Times Of Little and Stewardship: Doing In Times Of Little. Today, I would like to share with you on ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 17:1-24

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Back To The Basics Series

Contributed by Pat Cook on Sep 16, 2003

A topical sermon introducing the series of "loving others". Sincerely loving others is God’s plan for us, no matter how hard it can be.

Romans 12:9 – Back to the Basics Frank was setting up a sundial in his yard when his neighbor Tom asked, “What’s this for?” Frank stopped to explain, “The sun hits that small triangular spike and casts a shadow on the face of the sundial. Then as the sun moves across the sky, the shadow also ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:9, Matthew 5:48

Denomination: Baptist

Balancing The Books Series

Contributed by Curry Pikkaart on Jul 20, 2011

No matter how hard we try, we cannot seem to balance out the scales of good and evil in our lives. We need help.

“Between the Lines: Balancing the Books” Romans 3:21-31 It never fails. I get the checkbook balanced and then it doesn’t agree with my computer budget program. Or I get the computer totals balanced and it doesn’t agree with the bank statement or my checkbook. It is so ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:21-31

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

"Will The Real Blind Beggar Please Stand Up"

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Jun 2, 2010

In the Gospel Lesson for this sermon, it’s a bit hard to tell who the real Blind Beggar is. Is it Bartimaeus or is it the disciples or the rest of the crowd?

Mark 10:46-52 “Will the Real Blind Beggar please Stand Up” By: Ken Sauer, Pastor of East Ridge United Methodist Church, Chattanooga, TN There’s an old t-v show called To Tell the Truth where contestants are challenged to figure out which of three or four persons are the Real ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:46-52

Denomination: United Methodist

The God Who Encourages Series

Contributed by Christian Cheong on Nov 14, 2009

God encourages Paul when he was discouraged. Ministry is hard work, but God is in it with you. Your circumstances do not determine how you fare.

THE TOOL CALLED ‘DISCOURAGEMENT’ Once upon a time, the Devil decided to have a garage sale and sell all the tools of his trade. There were envy, jealousy, hatred, deceit, pride, idolatry and many others. Each of the tools was marked with its own price tag. On the day of the big sale, all were ...read more

Scripture: Acts 18:1-11

Denomination: Independent/Bible

For Those In Peril On The Sea, Our Forgotten Seafarers & The Sailor Society

Contributed by Gordon Mcculloch on Jul 8, 2018

This is a sermon for the Sailor Society, a charity responsible for looking after our seafarers, those almost forgotten by society, those who live a hard life.

This sermon was delivered to Holy Trinity in Ayr, Ayrshire, Scotland on the 8th July 2018; Holy Trinity is a Scottish Episcopal Church in the Dioceses of Glasgow and Dumfries. Matthew 25:31-46 Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in you sight. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:31-46

Denomination: Episcopal