Sermons on Hard Knocks:

Unbind Him And Let Him Go! (John 11:1-53)

Contributed by David Smith on Nov 7, 2007

Here’s a story that might seem hard to know what to do with. That’s OK. Even the disciples didn’t know how to handle this one! ...

“Unbind him and let him go!” These are the words of Jesus, recorded in John 11 - dramatic words that come at the climax of a dramatic story - the death and resuscitation of Jesus’ friend Lazarus. It is an extraordinary story. It’s filled with mysterious dialogues, doubting disciples, tears and ...read more

Scripture: John 11:1-53

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Jonah Is Us Series

Contributed by Ken Mckinley on Jul 11, 2013

This is the conclusion of our series in the Book of Jonah. This was a hard sermon that challenged our congregation to examine how we are like Jonah, and what we should do about it.

Jonah Concluded Text: Jonah 4:5 – 11 So we’re finishing up in Jonah today… I thought after last week I’d be done with it, but as I was re-reading it… just going over it one last time to see if the Lord would have me say any more on this book. I realized that I ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 4:1-11

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Man Is Basically Good Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Jan 18, 2009

Thought that might get your attention. The debate about the goodness of man rages, as does the arguments for the existence of God. Paul takes on both in this very hard hitting section.

How can you know you are dying unless someone tells you ‘you have a terminal disease’? How do you know you need to be set free unless someone tells you ‘you are a captive’? How can you tell something is wrong unless someone tells you what is right? That’s the essence of the rest of Romans 1. Before ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:18-32

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Mom: Wisdom Personified Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on May 8, 2010

If you want to be truly wise, then be like a mom. Be worthy like a mom. Work hard like a mom. Live well like a mom. Then you will be honored like a mom.

Some time ago, Peg Beukema of Nyack, New York, collected the responses of several elementary school children to some questions about moms. I got a kick out of reading them this last week, and I thought you’d enjoy them too, especially on this Mother’s Day. Why did God make mothers? • She’s ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 31:10-31

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Jonah Fleeing Series

Contributed by Maurice Mccarthy on Dec 14, 2010

This is a message about Jonah fleeing from the call of God. It is a message about how we should obey God, not only in the things we like, but also in the hard things.

Jonah fleeing from the call of God Last week we began a series of messages on the book of Jonah, and for the next several weeks we will continue in this great book and here are the topics we will be dealing with: Fleeing from the call of God Fleeing from Presence of God Floatin: Dealing with storms ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 1:1-17

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Church With Heart Problems - Ephesus Series

Contributed by Graham Kettle on Dec 4, 2010

No matter how hard or diligently we work for the Lord, ultimately if our heart strays from that first love, we are in danger. Yet He is faithful and is our rescuer.

THE CHURCH WITH HEART PROBLEMS - EPHESUS READING: Revelation 2:1-7 “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lamp stands: 2 I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:1-7

Denomination: Church Of God

But God

Contributed by Samuel Fulkerson on Oct 16, 2013

The other day I found myself in a negative/hard/bad ________________, but God made a way where there seem to be now way! And He will do it for you; just fill in the blank.

Quotes: “Identify your problems but give your power and energy to solutions.” Tony Robbins “You live longer once you realize that any time spent being unhappy is wasted.” Ruth E. Renkl “Things work out best for those who make the best of how things work out.” ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:1-9

Denomination: Pentecostal

Forgive Like Philemon

Contributed by Anthony Zibolski on Jun 10, 2015

Forgiving is easy to tell someone else but very hard for each one of us. Forgiving takes the power out of the hands of the offender and allows God to provide healing to you.

Forgive like Philemon Philemon 1-21 Introduction- This morning I want to talk to you about forgiveness. Right away we can think of many that should hear this message. But you are here this morning and God wants to speak to each one of us about forgiveness. When someone hurts you, you can ...read more

Scripture: Philemon 1:1-21

Denomination: Nazarene

Spiritual Leadership In The Home Series

Contributed by Vince Miller on Dec 30, 2018

Spiritual leadership in the home is one of our primary environments of leadership and by far the most challenging. It's often a hard topic for men to even talk about.

"There is no such thing as a self-made spiritual leader. A true leader influences others spiritually only because the Spirit works in and through him to a greater degree than in those he leads." J. Oswald Sanders "Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:7

Denomination: Baptist

Two Great Commandments, Love Your God And Love Your Neighbour. How Exactly?

Contributed by Gordon Mcculloch on Nov 30, 2016

How do you love God and you love your neighbour as yourself, neighbours you cannot stand. That is a hard question to answer, but that is what we are commanded to do.

This sermon was delivered to St Oswald’s, Maybole, Ayrshire, Scotland on the 4th November 2012; St Oswald’s is a Scottish Episcopal Church in the Dioceses of Glasgow and Dumfries. The readings for today are: Ruth 1:1-18 Psalm 146 Hebrews 9:11-14 Mark 12:28-34 Our text for ...read more

Scripture: Mark 12:28-34

Denomination: Episcopal

Broken/Fractured Be A Hope Giver

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Dec 14, 2016

Have we ever considered why the heavens seem to be brass (cold) and the earth iron (hard)? We must welcome the broken and fractured and bring them to an eternal hope.

BROKEN --- FRACTURED --- BE A HOPE GIVER... By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com WE HAVE BEEN CALLED TO REACH THE BROKEN-FRACTURE INDIVIDUALS AND BRING THE ANOINTING OF HOPE AND DELIVERANCE ... EVEN IN DIFFICULT TIMES... BE A HOPE GIVER. Deuteronomy 28:23 (KJV) And thy heaven that ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 28:23, Deuteronomy 4:16-28

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Amazing Faith

Contributed by Stephen Aram on Apr 19, 2022

It may be hard to find a place to put our faith in this modern world, but Jesus encountered a man who had amazing faith and we can learn from him.

I think we can all feel that right now our culture is really struggling to find faith. We talk about it in different ways. We talk about the need to restore family values. We talk about the need for spirituality. We may not talk about it, but I think we feel a need for a sense of purpose in ...read more

Scripture: Luke 7:1-10, Matthew 8:5-13

How To Be A Timothy - Philippians 2:22-24 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Jun 17, 2024

The preaching of the Word won’t have an effect on the hard, rocky, or weedy soil until someone gets down on the ground of that person’s heart and does some gardening.

Philippians 2:19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. 20 I have no one else like him, who takes a genuine interest in your welfare. 21 For everyone looks out for his own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. 22 But you know ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:22-24

"satisfied"

Contributed by John Huyser on Oct 1, 2024

True satisfaction is hard to come by for believers and unbelievers alike. Why is that? The second portion of Ruth 2 highlights the importance of God-gifted community as a means of realizing satisfaction.

When it comes to Bible texts, one method of detecting the heart of the text is to look for word repetition. Word repetition often reinforces a theme not to be missed. For example, in today's text, we have four word repetitions: Gleaning and Satisfied along with Barley and Field. ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 2:13-23

The Parable Shocks But Christ's Message Is Powerful

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Sep 16, 2025

The goal is to spread the message of Christ and His Church of the will of God to save all human beings. If the authorities are dragging us off to jail it’s hard to fulfill that mission.

Twenty-fifth Sunday in Course 2025 Reading today’s excerpt from the letter of Saint Paul to Timothy, you might get the impression that the goal of any church congregation is to “lead a quiet an tranquil life in all devotion and dignity.” That sounds like an average middle-class suburban lifestyle, ...read more

Scripture: Amos 8:4-7, Psalm 113:1-8, 1 Timothy 2:1-8, Luke 16:1-13

Denomination: Catholic