Sermons on Hard Pressed:

Story Of Faith

Contributed by Joe Mack Cherry on Aug 20, 2015

A Christian's life is based on faith. Even the Apostles lacked it at times. This is hard to understand since they were eyewitnesses. We all have evidence that Jesus works in our lives today so when our faith is weak we are no different than them!

Story of Faith I. Matt. 14:22-33/Mk. 6:30-52/Luke 9:10-17/Jo. 6:1-15 A. Prelude to The Story 1. Prior to Jesus coming to His own hometown Mark tells us He had cast out the demon, Legion and raised a little girl from the dead. Upon arrival to Nazareth He teaches in the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 14:22-36

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Dare To Be Different

Contributed by Derrick Tuper on Jan 11, 2016

Change is difficult-it’s hard to sustain. There is much working against it so we need motivators and incentives to keep at it and stay the course. Daring to be differerent may not be easy but it's rewarding and it's what we're called to do as Christians.

DARE TO BE DIFFERENT 2nd Cor. 6:14-7:1 INTRODUCTION: As we roll into January we find ourselves being dedicated to making some changes-losing weight, eating better, exercising more; as well as making resolutions to be better people, manage our finances better, things like that. But, as we all know, ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Forewarned Is Forearmed Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Feb 1, 2016

Jesus warns his followers about hard times near at hand, in the current age, and in the future end times. Today we will look at the “then” and the “now.” Next time we will begin to address the “later.”

Forewarned is Forearmed (Mark 13:1-13) 1. A woman blogs, “Today, I learned that my daughter's gerbils are not afraid of the vacuum cleaner.” 2. That is not normal. All animals should be afraid of the vacuum cleaner. And all people should know how to spell it. One c, two ...read more

Scripture: Mark 13:1-13

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Are You Blaming The Messenger?

Contributed by Mark Aarssen on Jun 20, 2018

Those who are called to teach you do so knowing that we must give an account for what we pass on to you. For this reason I must cover the whole Bible including the parts that are hard to understand and that are ominous and disturbing. I have no choice.

Are you blaming the messenger? Deuteronomy 18:15-20 Luke 4:14-30 People react to God in a variety of ways. Some are enthusiastic and inquisitive while others have no interest what so ever and even deny the existence of God. What happened in the Gospel of Luke Chapter 4:14-30 is an account of ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 18:15-20, Luke 4:14-30

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Power Of Counting It All Joy

Contributed by Melvin Maughmer, Jr. on Jun 28, 2022

The human desire is to have every aspect of our life be smooth, so often we consider the hard times as God’s curse upon us or His punishment for our sin, rather than what they really are and that is opportunities to joyfully mature into Christlikeness.

The Power of Counting It All Joy By Bishop Melvin L. Maughmer, Jr. OPENING: - The human desire is to have every aspect of our life be smooth, without trials, tribulations, hard-times, disappointments, and sadness. Too often, we see trials in a negative light, or we assume that there is no way joy ...read more

Denomination: Apostolic

Responding To Spiritual Attacks Series

Contributed by D. Dewaine Phillips on Nov 18, 2021

There is an unseen war taking place around us at all times, and the devil is working hard against those who serve and obey the Lord. But God has warrior angels in His charge, and He sends His angels to guard us and help with the fight.

To fulfill the task of protecting us the angels fight against the devil and all our enemies, and carry out God’s vengeance. - John Calvin(1) In Billy Graham’s book Angels: God’s Secret Agents, there is the story of a missionary named John Paton who was stationed along with his wife in the New ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 6:8-23

Denomination: Baptist

Keys To A Wonderful Church Life - Part 3: Building On The Foundation Of God's Love Series

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Aug 30, 2021

God wants us to be... 1. Authentic and affectionate (vs. 9-10). 2. Humble and hard-working (vs. 10-11, 16). 3. Hopeful and helpful (vs. 12-13). 4. Sympathetic and same-minded (vs. 14-16).

Keys to a Wonderful Church Life Part 3: Building on the Foundation of God's Love The Book of Romans Romans 12:9-16 (Reading vs. 1-16) Sermon by Rick Crandall (Prepared August 30, 2021) BACKGROUND: *Most of us know that Romans 12 marks a big shift in the Book of Romans. In chapters 1-11, Paul ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:9-16

Denomination: Baptist

Difficult Words

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Sep 10, 2021

The most difficult words that Jesus ever uttered are easy to understand but hard to do. Let’s see how they would solve some of humanity's biggest problems. Let’s examine the selfless life in Mark 8:27-38.

Prelude The most difficult words that Jesus ever uttered are easy to understand but hard to do. Purpose: Let’s see how they would solve some of humanity's biggest problems. Plan: Let’s examine the selfless life in Mark 8:27-38. The Anointed One Mark 8:29-30 “He said to them, ‘But who do you ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:27-38

Denomination: Baptist

What God Says About The Future I Series

Contributed by John Gaston on Mar 26, 2022

A hard-hitting message about Jesus coming that will bring people to the altars. God has told us what will happen in the future and warned us to be ready for His coming. Those who aren't ready will be left to face the Tribulation period.

WHAT GOD SAYS ABOUT THE FUTURE I Part 1: The Rapture INTRODUCTION A. HUMOR: “COMFORTABLE” 1. Two sisters inherited the family farm. They desperately needed a bull to breed with their heifers and they only had $600. 2. The brunette told her sister, "I’m going to go look at a bull-calf in ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, Revelation 7:9-10

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Seeking God’s Guidance - Psalm 25 Part 5 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on May 27, 2025

Most of our anxiety in hard decisions is worrying about the outcome. But the real issue is pleasing God in the way you go about making the decision. If option A and option B would be equally pleasing to God, how important could the decision possibly be?

Psalm 25:4 Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths; 5 guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and I wait for you all day long. 8 Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in his ways. 9 He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his ...read more

Bring Out A Blind And Deaf People! (Isaiah 43:8-15) Series

Contributed by Garrett Tyson on May 17, 2024

God's (exilic) people are currently blind and deaf, which makes it hard for them to be good servants. God encourages them to change that-- to "acknowledge" and "trust" Him, and understand that God is He Who Remains.

My daughter is wrapping up a in interesting class right now on how to be an effective teacher for students with special needs. There are students who are disruptive. There are kids who struggle to focus, and learn. There are also kids who have disabilities, of one type or another. With these ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 43:8-15, Isaiah 42:16

The Great Confusion - Mark 8:27-34 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Nov 19, 2023

The question, “Who do you say I am” is important, but it’s not everything. Equally important is the question, “What does the way you listen to the hard words of Christ say about who you really believe he is?"

Mark 8:27 Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, "Who do people say I am?" 28 They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets." 29 "But what about you?" he ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:27-34, Matthew 16:13-24, Luke 9:18-23

Sermon # 48 - No Room For Rebellion Series

Contributed by Andrew Dixon on Feb 12, 2025

Jonah’s heart was hard and right to the end he was not willing to accept God’s forgiveness and compassion that was extended to the people of Nineveh. Rebellion against God is sin and if there is such a sin in our lives, may we set it aside and walk in obedience to the Holy Spirit.

Today’s meditation is taken from Jonah 4:9, “But God said to him, "What right do you have to be angry about the plant?" Jonah replied, "I have every right to be angry—angry enough to die!"” (GNB) God spoke to Jonah who was annoyed and angry, and asked him if it was right on his ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 4:9, Psalm 32:9, Exodus 32:9-10, Psalm 95:10-11, Hebrews 3:8-10, Hebrews 3:11-15, Hebrews 4:1-2  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Other

Jesus, You Want Me To Do What?! Series

Contributed by Tim Diack on Feb 13, 2012

Loving a neighbour can be hard enough, but loving an enemy? What was Jesus thinking? How do we respond when people treat us poorly, insult us, ridicule us, or set themselves up against us in our homes, our schools, our places of work and our communities

Jesus, You Want Me To Do What? – Matthew 5:43-48 - February 12, 2012 Series: Kingdom Life – A World Turned Upside Down #17 Picture this: Two shopkeepers were bitter rivals. Their stores were directly across the street from each other, and they would spend each day keeping track of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:43-48

Denomination: *other

Going Into Battle

Contributed by Mark Engler on Sep 28, 2017

But the church today isn’t living in power, it isn’t going into to battle and we have a hard time obeying Jesus. Even Christians dislike each other and sometimes even hate each other. Even Christians would rather do worldly things rather than Godly thin

Going Into Battle ME Not too long ago, when HBO had a free weekend I watched a war movie called Hacksaw Ridge. The movie is about Desmond Doss. Desmond wanted to help with the war, but he would not kill anyone, he wanted to be a medic and help the wounded. The movie is based on a true story. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 14:1-23, Luke 9:57-62

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ