Sermons on Hard Pressed:

Superlatives Of The Easter Story

Contributed by Chuck Sligh on Apr 20, 2014

It's hard not to use superlatives when discussing the Easter story. In this story we see...1) the darkest hour in all scripture; 2) the biggest discovery in all scripture; and 3) the loveliest word in all scripture (for one of it's characters).

Superlatives of the Easter Story Chuck Sligh April 20, 2014 (A PowerPoint presentation is available for this sermon upon request at chucksligh@hotmail.com). TEXT: Please turn in your Bibles to John 20. INTRODUCTION Illus. – A little boy had a tendency to exaggerate things in order to get ...read more

Scripture: John 20:1-16

Denomination: Baptist

Seven Steps To Forgiving Someone Who Really Hurt You

Contributed by Glynda Lomax on Feb 10, 2018

Forgiving someone who hurt you is hard work. It is easier to stay wounded and go around talking bad about them. It is easier to let bitterness put down roots and let our hearts get hardened, but Jesus said to forgive...

A preacher tells the story of inviting a guest lecturer to speak to a counseling class he was teaching and asked him to specifically discuss the topic forgiveness. He told a powerful story from his own life that day to illustrate his point that we should forgive. His brother had many struggles, ...read more

Denomination: Charismatic

No Whiners

Contributed by Robert Butler on Oct 3, 2019

Hard times come to Christians because our reactions in bad times, may be inspire others to turn to the Lord and seek forgiveness. Just as Jesus was a witness to the world through his suffering, we can be a witness and draw closer to him in ours.

There is a popular TV show called “Survivor.” It’s been on TV now for over 20 seasons. It’s syndicated all over the world. The show thrives on showing how individuals adapt to group dynamics and societal rules changes through horrendous conditions in the hope of receiving the big prize at the end. ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 12:1-16, Romans 11:23

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Agony In Gethsemane Series

Contributed by Christopher Benfield on Oct 31, 2018

It is hard for us to comprehend the dual nature of Christ - being fully God and fully man. As He endured the agonies of Gethsemane, His humanity cried out regarding the physical suffering, while His deity cried out regarding the sin and separation.

Agony in Gethsemane Mark 14: 32-42 As we continue to follow Jesus on this faithful night, His impending betrayal and crucifixion are drawing closer with each passing moment. Supper had ended, and along with the eleven, Jesus made His way from Jerusalem toward the Garden of Gethsemane. As they ...read more

Scripture: Mark 14:32-42

Denomination: Baptist

Does Your Life Speak Well Of God? Romans 15:1-13 (Lesson)

Contributed by Ronnie Miller on Nov 27, 2011

I believe a lot of times the reason it's hard to witness to others is because they have had a bad experience with a Christian before. Maybe in a business deal or a friend backslid after trying to get their friend to come to Christ...and they were thinkin

11-27-2011 Does your life speak well of God? Romans 15:1-13 I believe if our life speaks well of God then it must be spoken well of by others. We should be spoken well of by church members, co workers, friends, family members...because when we represent Jesus we are to be Christ like. We may just ...read more

Scripture: Romans 15:1-13

Denomination: Baptist

Generosity In Giving Series

Contributed by Dennis Davidson on Apr 19, 2012

People who believe that the whole earth & every thing in it belongs to their Lord (Ps. 24:1) readily recognize that the resources of their own lives, which, no matter how hard they toiled and how judiciously they spent, were utterly dependent on God's gra

Proverbs 11:24–26 GENEROSITY IN GIVING [2 Kings 4:1–7] Proverbs offers practical instructions on the use of money, although sometimes it's advice we would rather not hear. It is more comfortable to continue in our habits than to learn how to use money more wisely. Money is ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 11:24-26, Proverbs 11:24-28

Denomination: Baptist

The Yearning Of God

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Mar 20, 2013

We hear stories like that & shake our heads in dismay. It is hard to realize that there are millions living in such superstition & fear. You see, we have been taught that God is love – that He knows & loves each of us...

MELVIN M. NEWLAND, MINISTER RIDGE CHAPEL, KANSAS, OK One day, almost 4,000 years ago, God spoke to a man named Abram, who was later called Abraham, & said to him, “Leave your country, your people & your ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 12:1-3

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Labouring In The Lord

Contributed by Rev. Duraimony Dickson on Sep 5, 2020

Be steadfast and allow God and His work to be the number one priority in your life. There will be times when we may feel discouraged after working hard for God, but the Lord says, “labor is not in vain.” All your work is written in the eyes of the Lord.

Laboring in the Lord “Therefore, my brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” - I Corinthians 15:58 Sometimes in life, we have a hard time getting others to understand our message! A group of clergies were ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:9

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Happiness In Sorrow Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 11, 2021

Blessed are those who mourn is just too clear, and Luke makes it even more clear when he writes, "Blessed are you who weep now for you shall laugh." This is so clear and obvious that it is hard to understand.

The soloist asked the visiting preacher what his subject was. She wanted to follow up with an appropriate message in song. When he hesitated she told him to never mind, she would listen and select something appropriate. When he concluded his sermon she sang, "Sometime, Somewhere, We'll ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:4

Guardrails Part 5 Guard Your Heart

Contributed by Rick Gillespie- Mobley on Mar 26, 2018

This is part 5 in our series Guardrail adopted from Andy Stanley's series. The message is written from a Palm Sunday viewpoint and deals with why the Pharisees had hard hearts toward Jesus. We all need to protect our hearts.

Guardrails Part 5 Guard Your Heart Proverbs 4:23-27 Luke 19:28-40 How many of you have ever had a crush on somebody and thought they were the greatest, but when you finally got to know the person, you didn’t think they were all that after all. As a matter of fact, you were surprised that ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 4:23-27, Luke 19:28-40

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Marijuana Use: Willingly Walking Into Bondage

Contributed by Terry Frazier on Feb 1, 2014

What's really behind the movement in America to legalize marijuana? Why do we want to sanction people being put into bondage to a substance and in a broader sense sin? This is very troubling as Christians seem to be having a hard time standing against sin

A couple of weeks ago I preached a message on the Christian views on legalizing marijuana in America. If you’ll recall, I wasn’t very supportive of the idea. The notion that we can legalize sin and somehow make state sanctioning of sin a good thing despite the fact that legalizing ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 4:9-11

Denomination: Baptist

The Christmas Blues, As Witnessed By Joseph

Contributed by Gordon Mcculloch on Jan 3, 2014

When Christmas is all over and done with, life will return to normal; what ever normal is these days but if you think that is hard for us, look at Mary and Joseph, after the Nativity, the part we choose to ignore with Roman soldiers and dead babies.

Title: The Christmas Blues, as witnessed by Joseph Keywords: Joseph, Holy Innocents, “Christmas 1 Year A RCL” Word Count: 2723 This sermon was delivered to St John's in Girvan and St Oswald’s in Maybole, Ayrshire, Scotland on the 29th December 2013: (both are ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:13-18

Denomination: Episcopal

What Kind Of Spirit Do You Have

Contributed by Melvin Maughmer, Jr. on Feb 2, 2021

One of the greatest hindrances you will encounter in your Christian walk is that of the religious spirit. Religious spirits endeavor to interfere with the free flow of the Holy Spirit in our lives. They can be hard to discern simply because they are religious; they are pious, even hyper-spiritual.

What Kind of Spirit Do you Have? By Bishop Melvin Maughmer OPENING: - One of the greatest hindrances you will encounter in your Christian walk is that of the religious spirit. Religious spirits endeavor to interfere with the free flow of the Holy Spirit in our lives. They can be hard to discern ...read more

Denomination: Apostolic

God Is Our Help In Sorrow

Contributed by Thomas Andrufski on Feb 3, 2021

We all go through difficult times in this world. Quite often it is hard to see the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel. But trust me, or should I say trust the Lord. He will be there with you all the way through the journey of your trial.

Isaiah 35:10 (KJV) And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. We all go through difficult times in this world. Quite often it is hard to see the proverbial ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 35:10, John 16:20, Psalm 34:18, Isaiah 51:11, John 14:27, 1 Thessalonians 4:13, Revelation 21:4  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Church Of God

Growing In The Lord Committed To Serve

Contributed by Kelvin Mckisic on Jun 25, 2023

We need to understand that when we are committed to serve we are put in the position of a servant. Some of us may find that hard to do or be, but if we want to grow in the Lord we have to be: 1) a servant, 2) committed to that service.

Growing in the Lord Committed to Serve Deuteronomy 10:12 And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, We need to understand that when we are ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 10:12, Matthew 6:24, Galatians 1:10

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ