Sermons on Hard Knocks:

Staying In Love With Jesus

Contributed by Anthony Zibolski on Oct 4, 2019

In the world we live in, it is hard to stay focused and to stay in love with Jesus. We need the Lord's help every day to help us.

Staying in love with Jesus Jude Introduction- Would you would turn to the book of Jude. It is the book before Revelation. It is a one chapter book of the Bible packed with Christian principals. It begins with an invocation (Call to order) “To those who have been called, who are loved in God the ...read more

Scripture: Jude 1:3-25

Denomination: Nazarene

The Book Of Ruth (1 Of 4)

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Apr 14, 2022

In this scripture passage, I want to show you a family that lived among God’s people, and then due to some hard times, they packed up and moved to Moab.

You might be saying, “So what!” people move from one city to another all the time! That is correct, but anytime we find something in the Word of God, it is there for a reason. WHAT IS THE REASON GOD PUT THIS FAMILY IN THE SCRIPTURES? God placed them in the holy scriptures that we might learn ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 1:1-2

Denomination: Baptist

Works Or Not?

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jun 14, 2022

Doing good works is a very controversial topic among Christians, because they are either overemphasized or underemphasized. It’s hard to find the balance, but the scriptures are the best help.

Doing good works is a very controversial topic among Christians, because they are either overemphasized or underemphasized. It’s hard to find the balance, but the scriptures are the best help, if we’ll listen to them instead of blindly accepting the prejudices of men. There are several factors to ...read more

Scripture: John 6:29, James 2:14-26, Matthew 16:27

Denomination: Baptist

Live Carefully (Cities Of Refuge; Numbers 35:1-34; Joshua 20:1-9) Series

Contributed by Garrett Tyson on Jan 22, 2022

In God's eyes, it's really hard to accidentally kill someone. He places a high value on human life-- do we?

Sometimes in life, one will person will kill another. Sometimes, this is deliberate-- it's murder. Other times, it's an accident. Two people are out cutting down trees, and one person accidentally drops a tree onto the other. You kill him. You're out driving, and someone steps out ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 20:1-9, Numbers 35:1-34

New Wine And New Wineskins

Contributed by Samuel M on Jul 10, 2023

In a brewery, new wine is poured into new wineskins. After the wine has fermented for some time in the old wineskins, the old wineskins become dry, hard, and brittle.

“And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine bursts the wineskins, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But new wine must be put into new wineskins.” Mark 2:22 In a brewery, new wine is poured into new wineskins. After the wine has fermented for some time in the ...read more

Scripture: Mark 2:22

Opposing The Opposition

Contributed by Mark Aarssen on Sep 21, 2015

These are hard times for the churches across North America. We have the greatest message the world could ever hope to hear but people shut their ears and hearts to it. So what are we to do?

Opposing the opposition - Jeremiah 11:18-20 This week I was drawn to the book of Jeremiah. God called him to a difficult task at a difficult time. Jeremiah was calling out to the people of God but they wanted none of it. In fact they had enough of Jeremiah and planned to kill him because he ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 11:18-20, 1 Peter 4:16-19

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Finishing School

Contributed by Thomas Bowen on May 8, 2007

When a person is almost right. He needs finishing school to help with the details. Pricilla and Aquilla help Apollos.

Finishing School Acts 18:24-28 Last week Paul took off from Corinth leaving Silas and Timothy behind and traveled with Pricilla and Aquila. They arrived in Ephesus and Paul only stays a short time before he completes his journey which goes through Caesarea and Jerusalem. That loop ends the first ...read more

Scripture: Acts 18:24-28

Denomination: Congregational

A Family Kind Of Place

Contributed by Bob Joyce on Nov 5, 2010

God is keenly interested in children and in family life. God wants the family to be the true laboratory of life, where family members ... regardless of age ... live, learn, love and grow in the Christian graces.

The photo that was flashed across the country told the heartbreaking story of an American tragedy. A weary fireman held the limp, lifeless body of a little child. The little girl was killed in the bombing of the Federal Building in Oklahoma City in 1995. Her name was Baylee Almon, and she was ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:1-4, 1 Timothy 4:6-16

Denomination: Baptist

Seize The Day - Ephesians 5:16 & Colossians 4:5

Contributed by Ken Henson on Jan 11, 2015

to seize the day, we must Be Prayerful (follow God’s example!) Be Holy Be Wise Be Witnesses Be Thankful/musical

“The secret of a good sermon is to have a good beginning and a good ending; and to have the two as close together as possible.” George Burns Read Ephesians 5 Today we’ll focus on verses 15- 15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:1-20

Denomination: *other

Secrets Of The Dream Keepers

Contributed by John Gaston on Apr 30, 2013

Many individuals in Scripture received dreams from God that pointed to their potential great service or possibilities. Often these individuals experienced circumstances, for years, which contradicted God’s dream. What steps did they take to hold on & see

SECRETS OF THE DREAM KEEPERS Numbers 12:6 INTRODUCTION A. HUMOR 1. a. "Doctor, I really need your help", I said. "Every night for the past two weeks I’m dreaming about some rats playing football." b. "Here, take these pills tonight before you go to bed and you will be fine." c. "But can ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 12:6

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Become A Better Boaster

Contributed by Daniel Habben on Feb 2, 2014

Paul teaches us that we have something better to boast about than worldly wealth or smarts. We have Jesus!

The post-game interview was all the talk among football fans. Even in a league known for brash and swaggering athletes his words stopped viewers in mid-chew of their chicken wings to ask one another: “Did he just really say that?” I’m talking about the interview given by Richard ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:26-31

Denomination: Lutheran

The Reunion Of Saints

Contributed by Jonathan Meyer on Nov 7, 2016

On All Saints Day, we join in a family celebration made possible by our Triune God. All Saints Day is not a day of mourning the dead, but a day of celebrating the life we have in Christ, and a chance to look ahead at the joys before us!

Some kids were outside at recess playing on the school playground, as kids do. And, as kids do, they began teasing one another. But the thing is, kids, you know, when they’re teasing, don’t always have a good understanding of how far is too far. And so, these kids start to pick ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 3:1-3

Denomination: Lutheran

Joseph: A Dreamer In Prison Series

Contributed by Brad Beaman on Jun 12, 2022

Joseph did not need to wait until he was standing before Pharaoh and put in charge of the whole land. Faithfulness to God is always the right path. Joseph needed to trust God the whole time he was the forgotten prisoner. And he did!

There are so many aspects to the story of Joseph. He is the favorite son of the Patriarch Jacob. His brothers burn with jealousy and hatred toward him because his ten older brothers know he is the favored one of his father. The special ornamented coat Jacob gave Joseph made that evident. The Joseph ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 40:1-23, Genesis 41:1-56

Denomination: Baptist

It's Time To Grow Up! Part Iii

Contributed by James May on Dec 29, 2002

The last in a three part series on Spiritual Maturity.

IT’S TIME TO GROW UP Part 3 Spiritual Immaturity Instability in the Faith Ephesians 4:11-16, "And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:11-16

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Kids!

Contributed by Thomas Bowen on Aug 4, 2005

Kids can be agravating...They drive adults nuts Kids need safe homes and the church should be a safe place.

“Dad can I have a glass of water please?” “No, go to sleep.” “Dad, I’m thirsty, can I have a glass of water please?” “NO, go to sleep.” “Daaaad, I’m really thirsty. Can you get me a glass of water please?” “No, and if you ask once more I’ll spank you” (Silence) “Dad, when you come into spank me can ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:13-16

Denomination: Congregational