Sermons on Hard Message:

Mom: Wisdom Personified Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on May 7, 2014

Do you want to be truly wise? Then be worthy like a mom. Work hard like a mom. Live well like a mom, and find honor like a mom. To put it simply: Trust and obey your mother’s God.

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? ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 31:10-31

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Evil

Contributed by Stephen Belokur on Nov 1, 2013

Are we able to defend the faith taught in the Scriptures when a non-believer challenges us on the hard issues? What do we say, how do we respond when asked why the Lord allows evil and the resulting suffering?

Deuteronomy 30:19-20a “This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. “Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 30:19-20

Denomination: Nazarene

Witness To Resurrection

Contributed by Mark Aarssen on Jun 20, 2018

Have had your hopes and dreams absolutely destroyed before your eyes? Such loss is entirely devastating and seems absolutely unbelievable at the time. It is hard enough when it happens to you as an individual but more so for a group. Jesus Restores Us

Witness to Resurrection Luke 24 1 Corinthians 15 Peace be with you Have you ever lost faith? Have you ever had your hopes and dreams absolutely destroyed before your eyes? Maybe for you it was losing faith in someone you loved. All that trust and mutual investment in relationship torn ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:9-10, John 20:19-20

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Transitioning Well Series

Contributed by Kerry Haynes on Feb 11, 2018

Change or transition is hard, but we can face it bravely and powerfully with God's help. The transition in leadership from Elijah to Elisha reminds us to pay attention, to seek the Holy Spirit's filling, and to bravely take up the task given us.

2 Kings 2:1-15 Transitioning Well Prophets with a Purpose – Week 5 Today we’re finishing up a five-week series looking at various Old Testament Prophets and what they have to say to us. Little Samuel reminded us that God still speaks if we are listening. Jonah reminded us that all people matter to ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 2:1-15

Denomination: Baptist

Where Knowledge Begins Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 2, 2021

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. We have made it clear that fear means reverence, and the Lord means Jehovah, but the hard part is still ahead. What does it mean that the attitude of reverence toward the one true God is the beginning of knowledge?

A millennium and a half ago Diogenes said, "The foundation of every state is the education of its youth." Both ancient and modern philosophers have recognized that education is basic to the making and keeping of any great and strong nation great and strong. Lowell said, "It is in ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 1:7

Stewards Of The Mysteries

Contributed by Charles Scott on Aug 14, 2016

Paul doesn’t describe himself as a clergyman. He describes himself as servant and steward. The servant role indicated hard lowly work. The steward role was carefully administering the Gospel mystery: God in Christ reconciling the world to Himself

2014 ADVENT 3 stewards of the mysteries I Corinthians 4__1 The Collect. O LORD Jesus Christ, who at thy first coming didst send thy messenger to prepare thy way before thee; Grant that the ministers and stewards of thy mysteries may likewise so prepare and make ready thy way, by turning the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 4:1-7

Denomination: Anglican

Do You Love Me More Than These Series

Contributed by Dr. Jerry N. Watts on Dec 13, 2014

In the same way Jesus checked out the heart of Peter, He speaks to us to check us out. While we are hard on Peter for the denial, the personal question is how many times & in what ways have we denied Jesus?

“Do You Love Me More Than These?” John 21:15-17 • Nelson Price is right on point when he makes this statement, “JESUS CHRIST often endures our embarrassing abuse, denial, and betrayal only to come back compassionately to restore us to an even more meaningful love ...read more

Scripture: John 21:15-17

Denomination: Baptist

In God We Trust?

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Jan 9, 2021

To serve God we need a holy respect and absolute trust. In dark nights of hard trials do we run to God or do we run away from him? Let us study some trust verses in the Bible.

IN GOD WE TRUST? By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com OUR MONEY SAYS: IN GOD WE TRUST, is this a valid conclusion? There are several things that can seldom be recovered. A stone that is thrown, a word after it is said, a missed opportunity, wasted time, trust after it is lost. WHAT IF? ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:28, Psalm 20:1, Psalm 146:3, Jeremiah 17:7-9

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Real Men Do Cry

Contributed by Paul Green on Mar 13, 2022

The Apostle Paul is renowned for being a woman-hating, doctrine-making, emotionless, rock hard, ice cold; Gospel preaching machine, but in reality he was a man who was never very far away from a good cry for the sake of the Gospel.

In our reading this morning the Apostle Paul is writing to the church he had planted in Philippi and he says, ‘Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do. For, as I have often told you before and now ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 6:6, Psalm 56:8, John 11:35, Luke 19:41-44, Hebrews 5:7  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Giving Thanks For Thankless Things

Contributed by Derrick Tuper on Nov 20, 2017

It's not hard to be thankful for obvious things like God, our families or our health, but what about things that might not be obvious like food, shelter and clothing? And then there are the things that we wouldn't be thankful for at all...but should be.

GIVING THANKS FOR THANKLESS THINGS It's not very hard to be thankful for obvious things like our families, our health, or the blessings that come into our lives. But what about the things that we might not think of so easily, like the roof over our head, the clothes on our back and the food in our ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:3-5, James 1:2-4

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Pray For God's Compassion Series

Contributed by John Dobbs on Nov 9, 2019

We do not see sin the way God does. We see sin as desirable, fun, enticing - something really hard to resist. God sees sin as an insult to His holiness, a rejection of His righteousness, and intolerable to his presence.

PRAYING FOR SPIRITUAL AWAKENING PRAY FOR GOD’S COMPASSION Hosea 1-11 Introduction We do not see sin the way God does. We see sin as desirable, fun, enticing - something really hard to resist. God sees sin as an insult to His holiness, a rejection of His righteousness, and intolerable to his ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Compensation (Exodus 22)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Aug 28, 2024

God's old covenant contains many things hard to understand. Do we judge God by our corrupt society's standards or humble seek to understand? Let's look at Exodus 22.

When we look at the laws under the old covenant, are we tempted to think that some were too harsh and some were amazing? Do we judge God by our society’s corrupt standards? Or, do we humbly seek to learn? Let’s look at Exodus 22. What compensation was a thief to pay? Was there something similar to ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

From The Pit To The Promise

Contributed by Jeff Taylor on Jan 28, 2023

All of us will go through the pit at some point. All of us will at some point go through hard times. We will go through the valley. But for every pit, for every valley, there IS a way out that leads to the very promise of God!

Here are things to remember when you get in the pit. First, intolerance of your condition creates your future. Say that with me. Intolerance of your condition creates your future. The problem is some start looking for ways to get accustomed to the pit. You read books on how to adjust to darkness. ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 45:1-8

Denomination: Pentecostal

Self-Control - 2 Peter 1:6 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Mar 9, 2025

Imagine how much better your life would be with more self-control. Why is it so hard? Elite athletes who are unbelievers often outshine most Christians in this area—how can that be, if it’s a fruit of the Spirit?

2 Peter 1:5 For this very reason, having made every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control. Introduction I want to start with this question: in Peter’s list of virtues in 2 Peter 1:5-7, why isn’t verse 5 enough? By the end of v.5 you ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:6

You Have Heard It Said – Divorce Series

Contributed by Guy Glass on Aug 14, 2023

This message is probably one of the hardest messages I have ever had to both prepare for and preach. I am sure this message will be accepted by some and criticized by others. My goal was to be true to where the Scripture took me and the conclusions of that study

THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT YOU HAVE HEARD IT SAID – DIVORCE MATTHEW 5:31–32 “IT HAS BEEN SAID, ‘ANYONE WHO DIVORCES HIS WIFE MUST GIVE HER A CERTIFICATE OF DIVORCE.’ 32BUT I TELL YOU THAT ANYONE WHO DIVORCES HIS WIFE, EXCEPT FOR MARITAL UNFAITHFULNESS, CAUSES HER TO BECOME AN ADULTERESS, AND ANYONE ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:31-32, Malachi 2:14-16, 1 Corinthians 7:10-15, Ephesians 5:22-28

Denomination: Baptist