Sermons on Hard Pressed:

In The Sinew That Shrank..." By Dr. E. Winson Butler

Contributed by Winson Butler on Aug 4, 2004

The strength of a man consists in finding out the way God is going and going that way! Jacob learned the hard way. Had he followed God without reservation, he may not of walked with a limp for the rest of his life. Let’s examine the story together!

Introduction Going God’s way is not only the best way but the only way! It’s when we look back we say, "I wish I had followed God..." Jacob knew the feeling too well. A person is never what he ought to be until he is doing what he ought to be doing. Jacob was neither. In other words it took a bit ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 32:31-32

Denomination: Baptist

Will Anything Really Change?

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Dec 2, 2010

Revised from an earlier message for a church making a major turn in direction and leadership. Change is hard for us, for some of us fear change, some of us do not think change is real. But God is able and willing to complete what He begins among us.

Bethesda First Baptist Church, Bethesda, MD, September 19, 2004 Will anything really change? I mean, really?! So often change is only apparent, and not real. So often we tinker with things, but we do not really change them. We lack the will to change things, really. We lack the imagination ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:1-21

Denomination: Baptist

Come Out Of Your Cave

Contributed by James May on Aug 10, 2011

Like Elijah, we often find ourselves in a cave of hardness, coldness and perhaps even spiritual and emotional depression. We listen for the voice of the Lord, but he often speaks in ways that we aren't expecting. God wants us to come out of that cave an

Come Out of the Cave August 10, 2011 By Pastor James May The Prophet Elijah was a man of God like none other described in the Bible. He did mighty exploits for the Lord, and saw the hand of God move to perform great miracles at Elijah’s word. At his word alone, God stopped the rain for 3 ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 19:11-13

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Whatever Happened To Sin?

Contributed by Jerry Flury on Sep 12, 2010

Preachers once preached against sin and God’s people felt the weight of guilt and shame for their sin. In our world today we have a hard time finding someone willing to admit to sinning. The question must be asked “Whatever has happened to sin?”

Whatever Happened to Sin? 1 JOHN 3:1-4 Introduction: President Calvin Coolidge was well-known for being a man of few words, reticent, and straight to the point. There’s a story that after attending church one day, someone apparently asked him what the preacher had preached about. “Sin,” Mr. ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Three Simple Rules (Part Three) First, "Do No Harm" (Conclusion) Series

Contributed by Carl Greene on Jul 4, 2008

Based upon the book "Three Simple Rules" "A Wesley Way of Living" by Rueben P. Job. This third in a multi part series continues and concludes our examination of the first of the three rules. "Do No Harm." Sounds simple, easy to understand, hard to prac

Three Simple Rules A Wesleyan Way of Living Based on the book of the same name by Ruben P. Job REVIEW OF LAST WEEK We are exploring John Wesley’s “Three Simple Rules” Do no harm, Do Good and Stay in love with God. Last week we began with “Do no Harm.” We remembered the response of Jesus when ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:13-15

Denomination: Methodist

Change Management Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Mar 30, 2009

Many of us have a hard time managing change. But God is the change management expert of all time. He uses a special secret to help bring about change that is just awesome and answers some basic problems we have with living life here.

Chapter 8 of Romans is all about how to live a life dedicated to loving and serving God while living in a fleshly body in a world opposed to Him and facing an enemy bound and determined to thwart your efforts and God’s to change you from your image into His. Seems like the cards are stacked ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:18-30

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Finding Peace In The Midst Of The Storm Series

Contributed by Richard Goble on Mar 20, 2008

It’s hard to know what to do when the storms of life come our way. In Peter’s attempt to walk on the water we discover some valuable principles that will help us face those storms while giving glory to our Lord.

Title: Finding Peace In The Midst Of The Storm Series: God Uses Broken Vessels Text: Matthew 14:22-32 Introduction Tom Dooley was a young doctor who organized hospitals, raised money, and literally poured out his life in the service of the afflicted peoples of Southeast Asia. Here was a man ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 14:22-32

Denomination: Baptist

Dealing With Montezuma's Revenge Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Mar 9, 2014

God tells us to rejoice when the world persecutes us and makes people give us a hard time about our faith. Why on earth would I want to rejoice? What possible advantage could my being persecuted do for God?

OPEN: Next week Ryan and Trisha Seybold will be here to present their new ministry at Show Low, Arizona where they’ll be managing the American Indian Christian Mission (AICM). It’s a ministry to the Navajo and Apache tribes in that area and they’ve done a great job there for a ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:12-19

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Godly Dads

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Jun 13, 2012

Being a good father or mother is one of life’s most important privileges. But being a father or mother is also one of life’s most difficult responsibilities. It is easy to become a biological father, but hard to become a really good father. Some of you we

Opening illustration: Play a video on imitation. Introduction: Now in this text of Scripture Paul compares himself to a father of the Corinthian believers. He was not their biological father, but he was a spiritual father to them. He was instrumental in bringing them to faith in Christ. Through ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 4:14-21

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Laziness Vs Diligence Series

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Dec 5, 2012

Thesis: The writers of this ancient wisdom literature inspired by God try to convey the message to us of “Don’t be lazy be diligent!” In other words “Make a commitment to work hard at being all God wants you to be!”

Series: Practical Proverbs Thesis: The primary message of Proverbs is “Get wisdom or act and look like a fool!” Sermon 1 & 2: Wise vs foolish We learned that wisdom is God given not manmade but foolishness is manmade not God given. We learned that wisdom is given by God to us so that we ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 6:6-11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Parting Of The Sea Series

Contributed by Bob Marcaurelle on Mar 9, 2016

The 10th message. This parting of the red sea shows how God often brings us into hard situation to strengthen us for life's battles and to teach us to look to Him. It also shows how the lost and the saved will by separated when Jesus comes in Judgment.

Moses 10 THE PARTING OF THE SEA (Ex. 14:1-15:21) From Sinai to Canaan C. The Salvation 1 5. The Crisis At The Sea 1) The Preparation 14:1-4 2) The Pursuit ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

A Tragic Beginning, A Tragic End

Contributed by John Lowe on Nov 19, 2014

But no doubt, he was not willing to admit that he was a sinner. No doubt it was hard for him to admit he was lost. Perhaps he was much like Cain in the Old Testament who wanted to make his own way. Perhaps he was much like Cain in the Old Testament.

A Tragic Beginning, A Tragic End February 28, 2006 Matthew 27:3-27:5 Tonight I want to share an unusual message (or lesson) with you, a message (or lesson) that comes out of Matthew Chapter 27. I’ll read verses 3, 4 and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 27:3-5

Denomination: Baptist

Family Comes From The Heart Of God

Contributed by Stephen Aram on Aug 31, 2019

It can be hard to understand what God is like, but Genesis tells us that we are created in God's image and we know that God is love. When we love our families and others, we experience something important of what God is like.

Open your bulletins and look at the two Bible verses at the top of our worship liturgy for today, in the box that says, “Words to Ponder.” We have all heard those two verses many times before, but I want to be sure you understand some amazing things in them this morning. Could we read them ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:14-19, Genesis 1:26-27

Love Bears All Things

Contributed by Roger Hasselquist on Jan 5, 2026

People can be difficult. They can get on your nerves. They can be hard to bear. So what are you going to do with this verse that says if you are going to practice the kind of love God wants to see in each of our lives, you will bear all things?

Alba 1-4-2026 LOVE BEARS ALL THINGS I Corinthians 13:7 I Corinthians 13:7 continues to define love the way God sees it, and gives it. In this verse the phrase “all things” is stated four times. The first thing in this list says that love, “bears all things”... A minister was speaking about ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:7

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Sign You're Looking For

Contributed by Paul Dayao on Oct 5, 2025

This sermon warns against seeking signs from a hard heart, highlighting the hypocrisy of being able to interpret worldly things while being blind to spiritual truth, and ultimately points to Christ's resurrection as the only sign we truly need for faith.

Introduction Have you ever found yourself at a crossroads, desperately asking God for a sign? "Lord, if you want me to take this job, let the phone ring in the next ten minutes." "God, if this is the person I'm supposed to marry, have them wear a blue shirt tomorrow." We ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:1-4

Denomination: Baptist