Sermons on Hard Rain:

The Paradoxical Sayings Of Jesus: Lose Your Life To Save It Series

Contributed by James Wallace on Jul 30, 2018

Perhaps Jesus' most challenging saying of all is that to save your lives we must be willing to lose it for His sake and the Gospels. We explore what this really means practically, and whether Jesus meant for it to be literally true.

The Paradoxical Sayings of Jesus Lose Your Life to Save It Mark 8:31-39 We continue in our summer series on the paradoxical sayings of Jesus. Jesus said a number of things which violate common sense, and seem to be impossible with regard to all the realities we face in this world, and would not ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:31-38

Denomination: Bible Church

Caleb Series

Contributed by Gordon Pike on Jan 21, 2020

Such a small word … just three letters … b-u-t. A small word that we use a hundred times or more a day. “But” … it’s a word that can have dire consequences. Imagine getting hard labor for 40 years for one word … “but” … “b-u-t” … and not just for you but for your whole family too.

When I was growing up in upstate New York, in the summer we would go to swim in an icy glacial lake called “Green Lake.” Deep … almost 200 feet deep … and crystal clear. You could drop a quarter in it and tell if were heads or tails when it hit the bottom. And cold!! They had two diving ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 14:6-9, Numbers 13:17-20, Numbers 13:27-30, Numbers 13:32-33, Numbers 14:1-4, Numbers 14:34, Numbers 14:22, Numbers 14:9-10, James 1:2  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: United Methodist

Do We Have A Vision?

Contributed by Ronald Crandall on Jan 7, 2003

Often times challenging people to have a vision is the challenge. Causing them to see what and where God wants to take them is sometimes hard. When you are preaching about vision and people look at you like you are out there... Ya mean you want me to have

Do we have a vision? My life is but a weaving Between my Lord and me I cannot choose the colors He worketh steadily Off times He weaveth sorrow And I in foolish pride Forget He sees the upper And I the underside Not till the loom is silent And the shuttles cease to fly Shall God unroll the ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 54:1-5, Habakkuk 2:2-3

Denomination: Pentecostal

How To Have The Favor Of God In Your Life

Contributed by Ray Searan on Feb 21, 2007

Have you ever noticed how hard we work at trying to get another person’s approval? People have an instinctive desire to have another person’s approval. We long to have the approval of our neighbors and friends. A child desires the approval of his or her p

Text: Galatians 3:9-14 (AMP) Introduction: Some time ago The Wisconsin State Journal surveyed Vice Presidents and Personnel Directors of the nation’s largest corporations for their most unusual experiences interviewing prospective employees. Their stories included the following: • A job ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 3:9-14

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Dying To Self

Contributed by Joe Rowland on Feb 2, 2009

Have you ever found it hard to give to what you want to do? Most people will do what they want and forget what the Word of God says to do. We have to learn to die to self. We need to learn to walk in the Spirit that we do not fulfill the lust of the flesh

Dying To Self 1 Peter 4:1-4 1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; 2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:1-4

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Our Great Mission

Contributed by Mark Haines on Dec 5, 2008

Humans tend to one of two extremes when we look at the problems plaguing this world. One extreme declares, “We can solve these problems. We can clean up this mess if we all work hard enough.” The other extreme cries out in despair, “We will never solve

Introduction: “Before you were born, God planned this moment in your life. It is no accident that you are [here this morning]. God longs for you to discover the life he created you to live – here on earth, and forever in eternity.” Citation: Rick Warren, The Purpose Driven Life, © 2002, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:18-20

Denomination: Wesleyan

The Blame Game

Contributed by Joe Rowland on Sep 1, 2008

A lot of times we blame Satan for all of our problems but the true problem is not him it is you who did it. A lot of times we cause the messes that we go through because of disobedience. Hard aches come our way nothing seems to go right and we automatic

The Blame Game Revelation 12:7-12 7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, 8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 12:7-12

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Four Life Changing Words Series

Contributed by Tim Diack on Aug 22, 2012

Sin is easy to see in someone else's life but it's often hard to see it in our own. Simon the Pharisee thinks he's righteous in God's eyes when what he really needs to see is the reality of his own sin that he might discover what the woman weeping at Jes

Four Life Changing Words - Luke 7:36-50 - July 15, 2012 Series: Forgiven For Forever - #1 (Baptism Service) I very much appreciate that passage we just heard from the book of 2 Chronicles. Those words are a call to humbleness and holiness, to righteousness and revival. The occasion was the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 7:36-50

Denomination: *other

God’s Version Of Labour Relations

Contributed by Craig Condon on Nov 24, 2015

If we start asking ourselves who deserves to be forgiven, we soon find out that the answer is no one. No matter how hard we work, we can’t be “good enough.” The good news of the Gospel is that what can’t be obtained by good works,

A poor man walking in the forest felt close enough to God to ask, “God, what is a million years to you?” God replied, “My son, a million years to you is like a second to me.” The man then asked, “God, what is a million dollars to you?” God replied, “My ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:1-16

Denomination: Anglican

The Double-Anointing

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Jan 7, 2015

How did Elisha receive the double portion? He asked for it. He was totally focused, committed and sold out to it. And, he received it! How bad do you want it? Where are you in your spiritual journey today? Are you hard after God?

Opening illustration: In 1937, missionaries were forced to leave southern Ethiopia because of World War II. They had reached the remote area of Wolayto only in 1928. Nine years later, there were only 48 converts, and they experienced brutal persecution because of their faith. Tears flowed on both ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 2:1-14

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Fragrant Offering - Part 1

Contributed by Dan Cormie on Oct 28, 2013

Do tend toward bitterness? Are you preoccupied with how hard and unfair life can be, do you see the blessing of others and feel envious or sad or maybe even angry? If I am a bitter person; how do I stop being that way - can I stop?

Dakota Community Church Ephesians 58, Grace at Work 28 October 27, 2013 A Fragrant Offering 1 Ephesians 4:31-5:2 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in ...read more

Denomination: Mennonite

Five Essentials For Finding Peace.

Contributed by Chad Bolfa on Aug 31, 2010

We want peace in this life, we now it is hard live in this life without peace, and in the scriptures, we are promised peace, so the question is how do we get it, how do we find peace in this life, tonight I believe the apostle Paul from this passage of sc

Five Essentials for finding Peace. Philippians 4:1-9 Introduction You ask people and they will tell you, the thing that they believe to be an absolute life essential, something that they don’t want to live without is peace. When a husband and wife are not getting along, they will say ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:1-9

Denomination: Baptist

Christ Is Still Risen!

Contributed by Jonathan Kruschel on Oct 12, 2020

How does Jesus take the sting out of death? Life is still hard and losing a loved one is sad. How does Easter help? No matter what you're going through Easter doesn't change. Christ is still and always will be risen from the dead!

This Easter is unlike any that I’ve ever experienced and I’m guessing that I’m not alone in feeling that way. This is a rather strange Easter morning. The church is empty. Your normal family gatherings have likely been cancelled or postponed. You likely watching this worship service by ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:54-57

Denomination: Lutheran

Jesus And Giving Series

Contributed by K. Edward Skidmore on Nov 11, 2020

Today we will turn to examine what Jesus had to say about giving. And we will ask what giving looked like to Jesus. The passage in Luke 14:15-33 is considered one of the "Hard Sayings of Jesus". And indeed, it takes a bit of explanation to make sense of it.

Jesus and Giving Text: Luke 14:15-33 Luke 14:25-33 (NIV) 25 Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: 26 "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters--yes, even his own life--he cannot be my ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:15-33

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Treasure In Clay Jars

Contributed by Chuck Gohn on Jul 16, 2022

This sermon focuses on Paul's words to the Corinthians to remind them (and us) that even in the midst of pain and persecution (i.e, being hard pressed on every side), they carry within them the knowledge of God through Christ that can help them be victorious over any situation.

Good morning. Did anybody get to see the exhibit down at the Heinz Center called The Vatican Splendors? In case you were not able to see it, today is the last day and then it is going to move on. It was a traveling show across the United States that hit four or five cities where they took ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:6, John 1:18

Denomination: Christian Church