Sermons on Hard Place:

Pursuit Of True Happiness Series

Contributed by Larry Turner on Jul 22, 2012

The world offers us fame, wealth, beauty, wisdom, and power to make us happy. But true happiness can only be found in one place.

Today we conclude our freedom messages. We’ve discussed our life in Christ and our freedom in Christ. Today I want to teach about our pursuit of happiness. What makes you happy? In a recent survey the most common themes of happiness were fame, wealth, beauty, wisdom, and power. Those ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:3-12

Denomination: Foursquare

Have We Been Called?

Contributed by Chris Swanson on Jan 20, 2023

Jesus has placed a call to people, but who and how many have actually answered? What has been our response, if any?

Have we picked up the Holy telephone or have we left the earthly answering machine on? Have we looked at the caller ID and just thought to ourselves that we will take the call later? Have we told the unholy secretary to hold all calls? Or have we responded, “Speak, for thy servant heareth” (1 ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:8-14

Denomination: Independent/Bible

"Taste And See… He's Sweet I Know.”

Contributed by Levi Wright on Jun 16, 2007

When you are going through trials and hard times in your life. Taste and See how Good and Sweet God is. Let the Lord take your trials, an make them inward, experimental trial of His Goodness.

Banner of Praise Ministries Mount Pleasant, South Carolina Rev. Dr.Levi Howard Wright, Pastor & Founder Subject: “Taste And See… He’s Sweet I Know.” Text: Psalm 34:1-10 “I will bless the Lord at all times; His praises shall continually be in my mouth. My soul ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 34:1-10, Psalm 34:8

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Responding With Forgiveness

Contributed by John Lowe on Sep 3, 2014

All of us would probably have to admit that when we have been mistreated, we find it hard to have a Christ-like mind and to express the forgiving Spirit of Christ toward those who have mistreated us.

4-24-05 Title: Responding with Forgiveness Text: Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Till seven times? Bible Reading: Matthew 18:21-35 21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:21-35

Denomination: Baptist

Have You Heard God's Calling? Have You Answered?

Contributed by Rev Ken Shedenhelm on Sep 13, 2013

God still appears to us, and He still calls us in many ways. While it is hard to hear Him calling above the din of the world's chatter, He is calling, and He is visible for those who have eyes to see.

In the earliest church, there wasn't a single member who had a financial need for long because, whenever a need arose, the wealthier members sold a piece of their land and gave the proceeds to the church. This ministry of grace (Acts 4) appears to have been commonplace... but the only man mentioned ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:6-10

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

You Can Remove Trash, Bugs & Weeds But How About Darkness?

Contributed by Doug Koehler on Mar 20, 2009

Children often want darkness removed because they fear what they cannot see. For adults the darkness is more of a friend. Jesus is the remover of darkness but the light of the world is still waiting for many to see it. Sometimes it is hard even for Christ

Open up the yellow pages and you can find a ton of listings that will remove pretty much whatever you want removed. There are ads for chimney sweeps to remove built up grime. There are people willing and able to remove insects, weeds, garbage, wallpaper, old fixtures, homes, cars and even bad ...read more

Scripture: John 3:14-21

Denomination: Lutheran

The Promise Of Heaven

Contributed by David Dewitt on Dec 1, 2001

Jesus has given us a wonderful promise that if we place our trust in Him that we will one day spend eternity in heaven.

The Promise of Heaven John 14:1-6 Introduction "One time it was my privilege to watch the ascent of a balloon. It was bound to the earth by many cords. As the process of filling it with gas began, it struggled to get free. The first line was cut, and immediately that side was lifted from the ...read more

Scripture: John 14:1-6

Denomination: Church Of God

Giving Birth To A Vision

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Apr 24, 2024

We need to be at the right place at the right time when God wants to give birth to the vision that He has already conceived in us.

Subject: Why did Joseph and Mary travel from Galilee to Judea when Jesus was to be born? Complement: To be registered/taxed and to be at the right place at the right time to give birth to Jesus. Idea: Joseph and Mary traveled from Galilee to Judea to be registered/taxed and to be at the right ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-7

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Have You Had A Desert Experience?

Contributed by Kelly Durant on Jun 4, 2016

So God’s Word from the beginning describes how his children literally have to move from one place to another, and often move into a desert place for some time for a purpose, and this begs this question, how does this relate to you and me in our life?

Have You Had A Desert Experience? Kelly Durant Luke 4:1 Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into[a] the wilderness 2. On the way home with our grandkids we had some hours to kill in the car and we were looking for things to do to ...read more

Scripture: Luke 4:1

Denomination: Salvation Army

Sheltered In Prayer; Released In Power

Contributed by Marty Baker on Jun 1, 2020

When you think about it, this is not the first time that the church was told to shelter in place. In the days following the resurrection of Jesus Christ, he gathered his disciples together and prepared them for what was coming. Then, Jesus said, “I want you to shelter in place in Jerusalem.”

Pentecost Sunday 2020 Sheltered in Prayer, Released in Power Dr. Marty Baker / May 31, 2020 Hello and welcome to Stevens Creek Church. I can’t tell you how much I have been waiting to say those words. I am so glad that you are here and isn’t this place beautiful? It has been ten weeks since ...read more

Denomination: Church Of God

Do This In Remembrance.

Contributed by Howard Strickland on Apr 23, 2022

We humans often have a hard time remembering things. Maybe your memory has gotten so bad that you figure that within a few years you’ll be able to hide your own Easter eggs.

Do This In Remembrance. Luke 22:7-13NLT A man was working in his backyard one day, when his neighbor began talking to him over the fence. He said, "Yeah, my wife and I went to one of those seminars yesterday, you know, where they teach you ways to improve your memory and such.” ...read more

Scripture: Luke 22:7-13, Genesis 12:1-4

Denomination: Pentecostal

Crowns You With Lovingkindness And Tender Mercies PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Oct 4, 2025

God meets us in our lowest places, lifts us with His grace, and restores us with lovingkindness, inviting us to live in grateful trust.

Have you ever felt like life lowered you into a pit and then took the ladder away? The walls are slick with worry, the floor is sticky with regret, and every echo from the past seems louder than hope. David knew that feeling. He wrote like a man who had mud on his boots and a song in his mouth. In ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 103:4

Topics: Goodness, Mercy

How Long? Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jan 12, 2013

When the child of God is hard-pressed by the wicked, a cry escapes the lips, "How Long?" Let the Christian know that God knows their trials, and that He shall, by His mighty hand, reveal His mercy and grace in His time.

“When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne. They cried out with a loud voice, ‘O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 6:9-11

Denomination: Baptist

The Discipline Of Prayer Series

Contributed by David Scudder on May 30, 2009

Since prayer is really just talking to God, then why is it so hard? Some of us have no problem spending a lot of time talking to other people? So why does it take so much effort to talk to God?

Purpose: To show that a false commitment to Christ will cause a lack of desire to pray. Aim: I want the listener to be sure that he is totally committed to Christ. INTRODUCTION: For many years medical science thought that ulcers were caused by stress and spicy foods. But, in 1979 two Australian ...read more

Scripture: Luke 13:22-35

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Peace: Ready, Set, Go

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Nov 27, 2010

Peace comes hard for some at Christmas. We must be open to what God wants to give, we must get down to what God wants us to be doing, and we must find meaning in our ordinary pursuits.

National Baptist Memorial Church, Washington, DC, Dec. 19, 2004 These are stressful days. There is too much going on. Too much work, too much to think about, too many demands. Stressful. We’d really like some peace, wouldn’t we? Just a moment or two of quiet – ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-20

Denomination: Baptist