Sermons on Hard Pressed:

Don’t You Dare!

Contributed by James Stophel on May 22, 2014

It is hard to resist a dare. Why even Eve was dared by the devil in the garden. Perhaps what is needed is the right type of dares.

Don’t you Dare! 1st Peter 5:8 – Genesis 2 Don’t you dare!! How many of us this morning have ever heard that phrase! I would about guarantee that most of us have heard that….or even use that…… at one point of our life. I would even add that there is something ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:8

Denomination: Baptist

3 Things Sin Will Always Do.

Contributed by Greg Carr on May 3, 2011

We live in a world in which sin is prevalent. Samson learned the hard way three things sin will always do.

You might not know this but I am a Chicago Cubs fan. The Cubs have not won a World Series since 1908 when they beat the Detroit Tigers. So there are a lot of joke about the losing ways of the Cubs. One of those jokes makes a good introduction to this message. A Cubs fan passed away and ...read more

Scripture: Judges 16:4-21

Denomination: Pentecostal

A Roll Up Your Sleeves Kind Of Love.

Contributed by Howard Strickland on Feb 12, 2023

According to therapist, Dan Wile, “Marriage takes sacrifice, hard, work, and the ability to put up with disappointments and cope with frustration.”

A Roll Up Your Sleeves Kind Of Love. 1 Corinthians 13:1-8aNLT A recent e-mail asked readers to reflect on the following questions: Name the five wealthiest people in the world. Name the last five Heinemann trophy winners. Name the last five winners of the Miss America contest. Name ten ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:1-8, 1 Corinthians 15:58

Denomination: Pentecostal

Laying On Of Hands Series

Contributed by Brady Boyd on Nov 10, 2022

It’s hard to be offended at someone who has laid their hands on us, prayed over us and blessed us.

1st Timothy Laying on of hands November 13, 2022 1st Timothy 4:12-14 NIV Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. 13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 4:12-14, 2 Timothy 1:6-7, 1 Timothy 5:20, 1 Timothy 2:8

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Talking Religion

Contributed by Stephen Aram on Apr 14, 2022

Many of us have a hard time talking with others about our faith. Jesus gives us a good example.

“1 One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and his disciples began to pick some heads of grain, rub them in their hands and eat them. 2 Some of the Pharisees asked, `Why are you doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?' 3 Jesus answered them, `Have you never read what David did when ...read more

Scripture: Luke 6:1-5, Matthew 12:1-8, Mark 2:23-28

Becoming A Single-Tongued People (James 3:1-12) Series

Contributed by Garrett Tyson on Jun 12, 2022

The power of the tongue, the dangers of the tongue, and the necessity of controlling the tongue. If this is hard, asking God for wisdom is the key (James 1:4).

Let's begin today by reading from James 3:1 (and a part of verse 2): (1) Not many of you, teachers, should become, my brothers, knowing that greater/more intense judgment we will receive. (2) For in many ways, we all stumble. One of the highest callings, for the building up of God's ...read more

Scripture: James 3:1-12

Why Worry?

Contributed by Steve Kinnard on Feb 2, 2019

It’s hard to be full of joy when everything is wrecking, But if you keep your JOY everything will work out

Why Worry YOU CAN Be Happy (PROVERBS 17:22) ILLUS: Alarm clock didn’t go off A case of the depressed blues is headed your way You’re late for work, have a flat tire, try to take wife’s car it wont start she left the lights on, Get the jumper cables jump it off, in a hurry, Blue light special ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 17:22

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Burden Of The Cross

Contributed by Gerald Roberts on Feb 27, 2021

The cross of Christ is hard and difficult, but Jesus asks us to deny yourself, lose yourself, and take up our cross.

Mark 8:31-38 The Burden of the Cross • It used to be that we could carry our own suitcase and sometimes they were heavy • . Now, we have wheels on the suit cases even back packs have wheels to make it easier. • When I was at my last appointment we did a Cross walk from Gazebo to The ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:31-38

Denomination: Methodist

He Knows The Way

Contributed by Numeriano P. Galgo, Jr on Oct 25, 2020

Our spirits faint when life gets hard. Can we trust the Lord when there seems to be no way out?

Sermon No. 13 HE KNOWS THE WAY By: Atty. Numeriano P. Galgo, Jr. October 25, 2020 Tagum City, Philippines attyborgegalgo@gmail.com Part I. A. Greetings B. Overview of the message The message this morning is about God’s leading in times when we do not know which way to go. When we are at the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 142:3

Denomination: Free Methodist

The Christmas X-Files- Christmas Just Ain’t Christmas Without The Son Of God

Contributed by Chuck Brooks on Oct 8, 2020

Jesus is hard to find today because He is systematically being "X'd" out of Christmas.

The Christmas X-Files Today we find ourselves looking into a time in the life of Jesus that He is missing. (Luke 2:40 NKJV) And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him. (Luke 2:41 NKJV) His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:40-45

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Wash Your Hands! Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Oct 10, 2020

Everything that Jesus does, or that people do to Jesus, gives Him an opportunity to teach or preach to us hard-skulled folks.

Tuesday of the 28th Week in Course 2020 Wash Up! I’m pretty certain that somewhere in this wide Catholic world there is a smart-Alec youngster who hears this Gospel and mouths off to mom: “Jesus didn’t wash up before dinner. Why do I have to do that?” In these days of almost overdone attention to ...read more

Scripture: Luke 11:37-41, Galatians 5:1-6, Acts 9:1-9

Denomination: Catholic

Why Are We Told To Wait For God?

Contributed by Chris Swanson on Jan 11, 2023

Waiting for something to happen is hard to do. But there is a purpose for waiting. Can Christians learn to wait without having a negative attitude?

Have you actually taken the time to notice how many fast-paced things are in our society now? You can stroll through any grocery store or convenient store and see all the ‘instant’ items that are for sale. There is instant coffee, instant tea, soup, grits, oatmeal, potatoes, milk, instant internet ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 40:1-4

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Response Of God's Heart To Humbleness In Kings And Chronicles

Contributed by Charles Wall, Jr. on Aug 24, 2005

Would you love to see God as active in your life as you read about Him being in people’s lives in the Bible.

We read frequently in the Bible of God moving and even doing miraculous things in the lives of people and nations. We read these biblical stories with excitement as we observe God being so active in their lives. And yet here in modern times, at the beginning of the 21st century, we tend to think ...read more

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

02 Joy In Adversity Series

Contributed by Seth Lawson on Feb 17, 2025

Bottom Line: Joy flourishes when Christ is exalted, even in the face of hardship.

Last week, we began a new series through Paul’s letter to the Church at Philippi. The Book of Philippians shows what it means to live with defiant joy. And here’s what I mean by that: “defiant joy” is a joy that stands firm regardless of what life throws our way. Even in his imprisonment, Paul ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:12-30

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Exalt Christ In Everything Series

Contributed by David Welch on Feb 8, 2018

Second in a series on Philippians where Paul reveals the axis on which his whole life revolves -- Exalting Christ in everything.

REVIEW Given the extended use of the terms “joy” and “rejoice” in four short chapters (12), joy appears to be a central focus of Paul’s letter to the Jesus followers living in the Greek city of Philippi. That is interesting given considerable space also dedicated to the subject of suffering. My ...read more

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance