Sermons on Hard Lessons:

The Truth Can Be Hard

Contributed by John Hamby on Jan 16, 2017

John the Baptist confronts the people with the truth, that they need to repent.

“The Truth Can Be Hard” Luke 3:1-20 This morning you we are ...read more

Scripture: Luke 3:1-20

Denomination: Baptist

The Hard Side Of Christmas

Contributed by Michael Luke on May 29, 2016

Every instance of our lives is part of a greater spiritual conflict. The first Christmas was no exception.

Open There is the beautiful side of Christmas. It’s found in Luke's gospel. Luke’s account of the first Christmas is a love story set to music. There are angels coming and going. They’re singing and lighting up the sky. There are shepherds coming to visit. There is a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:9-20

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Facing Hard Times Series

Contributed by Dr. Lewis W. Gregory on Oct 28, 2015

When it comes to disasters and accidents there are 2 ways to look at it: Mans way or Gods way. Whatever the problem God has a solution. He is the Master fixer upper. But you must learn to cooperate with God so He can bring the total restoration.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the LORD” Isaiah 55:8. I. Reevaluating-Getting man’s perspective “He that answers a matter before he hears it, it is folly and shame unto him” Proverbs 18:13. A. Premature judgments B. Overreactions C. ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 55:8-9

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Hard Work And Providence Series

Contributed by Christopher Lanham on Jun 18, 2011

It is funny how we think God should work. For some reason we seem to think that since God is the all-powerful, all-knowing, ever-present Creator of the universe – and anything else in existence – that he should do everything on a grand scale.

Hard Work and Providence Ecclesiastes 11:1-8 Cascades Fellowship CRC, JX MI June 5, 2005 I am going to tell you one of my favorite stories this morning because it illustrates perfectly how many of us think about the relationship between what we do and what God does. Many of you have probably ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 11:1-8

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Seeds On The Hard Path Series

Contributed by Eric Lenhart on Aug 13, 2010

Being hardened by life, or free in Christ.

Seeds on the Hard Path (Matthew 13:1-23) 1st in a series on: “The Parable of the Soils” Introduction: An old farmer who was about to die called his two sons to his bedside and said, "My boys, my farm and the fields are yours in equal shares. I leave you a little ready money but the bulk of my ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:1-23

Denomination: Church Of God

Making Hard Choices

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Oct 1, 2009

Today’s world is filled with energy-saving devices that make life easier, but there is something to be said for embracing life’s challenges. The apostle Paul found serving Christ hard, but he didn’t see it as a cause of discouragement. The goal was worth

Opening illustration: On September 12th, 1962, President JF Kennedy delivered a speech at Rice University in Houston, TX, about the difficult challenges facing the nation. He also shared his passion for the US to place a man on the moon. In balancing the needs of his people with the desire to ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:5-18

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Sowing In Hard Places

Contributed by Maurice Mccarthy on Aug 6, 2012

SOWING BY ITS VERY NATURE IS ABOUT GETTING WHAT YOU WANT TO HAVE, NOT WHAT YOU ALREADY HAVE. You sow into dirt because you want strawberries. Three principles that show how hard sowing can be: The principle of death; delay; and the principle of deceit.

Sowing in Hard Places How many of you have heard a preacher somewhere tell you that you want to sow your seed into good soil so that you can receive a good harvest? Makes sense that we should sow our seed into the best soil possible doesn’t it? No farmer in his right mind sows seed into bad soil. ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 11:6

Denomination: Pentecostal

Unity Is Hard To Come By Series

Contributed by Davon Huss on Sep 6, 2014

A sermon on barriers to unity (adapted from Daniel Overdorf's book, Rediscovering Community, chapter 10 Graciously United, pages 308-314)

HoHum: Daniel Overdorf- A few years ago I visited a couple in their home. Both husband and wife had lived most of their lives apart from Christ and His church. Their marriage- a second marriage for both- had grown rocky. The 50 year old husband faced a frightening battle with cancer, and neither ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

That Story Is Hard To Swallow!

Contributed by Jimmy Haile on Sep 8, 2013

Maybe one of the reasons we don’t pray for our enemies or witness to them (The ones who have hurt us, talked about us, lied about us, been mean to us) is, because deep down inside, we are afraid that they will repent and God will forgive them instead of punish them!!

Jonah 4:1-11-But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he became angry. So he prayed to the Lord, and said, “Ah, Lord, was not this what I said when I was still in my country? Therefore I fled previously to Tarshish; for I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 4:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

Do Hard Things Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on Jan 22, 2022

If you want to know God's will, do the will of God you already know.

I finally came across a national church survey filled with good news from the pews! Here’s the headline from Christianity Today: “9 in 10 Evangelicals Don’t Think Sermons are Too Long.” This study also confirmed what I know to be true among the people of Edgewood: “They’d like to see more ...read more

Scripture: Acts 21:1-26

Denomination: Baptist

Hope For Hard Times Series

Contributed by Scott Maze on May 24, 2021

Here’s a helpful way to remember the word providence: PRO is “before” and VIDEO is to “to see.” He’s seeing life happen in advance. You can even hear the word “provide” in the word Providence. Even in the worst of times, God is working for His children’s good and happiness.

Our nation’s first President had a different way of looking at life and you could see it in his very first inaugural address. Had you been in the relatively small crowd to hear Washington’s Inaugural address some 230 plus years ago, you would have been surprised at how visibly nervous Washington ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Work Hard Serving Series

Contributed by Scott Maze on Jun 4, 2021

Christians are to display a willingness to be offended, disadvantaged, even abused without making a return, without requiring vengeance, without demanding an accounting – whether an apology, or punishment, or a repayment of some kind.

Today’s Big Idea: God Works Diligently on Our Behalf. “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: 11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:10-11, Psalm 121:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

A Hard Message Of Change

Contributed by John Bright on Jan 2, 2021

Sermon for the first Sunday of 2021

“A Hard Message of Change” Luke 3:7-9 A sermon for 1/3/21 Pastor John Bright Luke 3 “7 Then he said to the multitudes that came out to be baptized by him, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to ...read more

Scripture: Luke 3:7-9, 2 Corinthians 6:2, 2 Corinthians 5:17

Denomination: Methodist

Hard And Bitter Truths

Contributed by Wilson Oshorakpor on Jan 16, 2025

The church as an agent of moral and spiritual transformation is becoming lukewarm. Hard and bitter truths are no longer preached in many churches. The church must wake up and once again shake the world like the days of the Apostles.

TEXT: 2 Cor 7:8-10 (NLT) "I am not sorry that I sent that severe letter to you, though I was sorry at first, for I know it was painful to you for a little while. Now I am glad I sent it, not because it hurt you, but because the pain caused you to repent and change your ways. It was the kind of ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 7:8-10, 1 Corinthians 5:1-2

Denomination: Pentecostal

Prayer For Hard Times

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Aug 21, 2021

What kind of prayer is appropriate in hard times? Let’s see how prayer includes trust in God’s answer, especially during hard times, in Matthew 21:12-22 and Habakkuk 3.

What kind of prayer is appropriate in hard times? Let’s see how prayer includes trust in God’s answer, especially during hard times, in Matthew 21:12-22 and Habakkuk 3. House of Prayer Matthew 21:12-13 “And Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all those who were selling and buying on the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:12-22

Denomination: Baptist