Sermons on Hard Rock:

Love People, Use Things

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jan 31, 2009

Thanksgiving Eve sermon 1989: We have a hard time giving up our attachment to things material. We do need to feel, however, that what we use makes a difference for someone -- a way to love them.

When we read that the city of Washington is going to get everybody out of an infamous homeless shelter by Christmas, because that shelter is no longer fit for human habitation, we have a variety of reactions. Some react at the thought that we still have not come very far at settling the issue of ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 3:1-13

Denomination: Baptist

To Live: Deliverance Series

Contributed by Mark Nichols on Aug 5, 2009

Paul has joy even when life is hard because he focuses on Deliverance! Either your difficult times will come to an end, or you will, but it’s a win/win situation...because Paul knows Christ!

TEXT: Philippians 1:12-30 TITLE: To LIVE: Deliverance SERIES: To Live TOPIC: Salvation OCCASION: Burnside Christian Church, June 28, 2009 PROP.: in order to receive deliverance, you must wait for the Lord…but continue to read His word, continue with your mission, understand God’s plans are ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:12-30

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

You Can Remove Trash, Bugs & Weeds But How About Darkness?

Contributed by Doug Koehler on Mar 20, 2009

Children often want darkness removed because they fear what they cannot see. For adults the darkness is more of a friend. Jesus is the remover of darkness but the light of the world is still waiting for many to see it. Sometimes it is hard even for Christ

Open up the yellow pages and you can find a ton of listings that will remove pretty much whatever you want removed. There are ads for chimney sweeps to remove built up grime. There are people willing and able to remove insects, weeds, garbage, wallpaper, old fixtures, homes, cars and even bad ...read more

Scripture: John 3:14-21

Denomination: Lutheran

The Dandelion Paradox Series

Contributed by Keith Broyles on Oct 10, 2007

What is a dandelion? To some it is a flower, to some it is a vegetable, and to some it is a weed. It is hard for us to know the difference. If we uproot the dandelion we may be causing damage. If we uproot what we think are weeds in our churches and c

Last Sunday as we were looking at the Parable of the Sower I told you about moving in to a new parsonage at Lovelady and with that new parsonage came a new yard. One of the men in the congregation, the chair of the board, thought that the lawn needed to have grass so he bought Bermuda grass seed ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:24-30

Denomination: Methodist

Ever Expanding Joy Series

Contributed by Steve Bond on Oct 30, 2007

The world is both a hard and a beautiful place. We may experience stratospheric highs in one season only to plunge into abyss. but we more often have to work our way through the regular ups and downs, and bumps of life.

Introduction There was once a farmer who began to look at his farm through critical eyes. Every place he looked on his farm he saw something wrong. So he decided to sell and move somewhere else. He contracted a realtor who came out to look things over. Then the realtor called to get the farmer’s ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:12-30

Denomination: Independent/Bible

What God Has Predestined For Your Life In 2003-Shall Be! Series

Contributed by Carolyn Malaika Foster-Brooks on Oct 26, 2002

The last two years have brought a lot of pain and devastation to the lives of many Christians and non-believers. Many ask the question, "Why Me?" This sermon is designed to answer those hard questions and yet offer hope for tomorrow!

Evangelist Carolyn Malaika Foster-Brooks The Ministry of S.A.R.A.H. Lyons, Georgia PRAYER: Lord, once again I want to praise Your Holy name and tell you thank You! For you have brought me through the fire and the rain, the calm and the storms of life; though sickness, good health, heartache, ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 6:10-12, Psalm 32:8

Denomination: Baptist

Dealing With Failure Series

Contributed by Doug Johnston on Oct 5, 2001

When Saul made mistakes in judgment or sinned, he had the pattern of making things hard for himself by overlooking them or blaming others instead of coming back to the heart of the matter and doing the simple things God wants most.

And Saul answered, God do so and more also: for thou shalt surely die, Jonathan. 1 Samuel 14:44 30 Then he said, I have sinned: yet honour me now, I pray thee, before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD thy God. 31 So Samuel turned again ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

If Something Is Worth Doing... Series

Contributed by Pat Cook on Sep 5, 2003

Jesus’ 4 thoughts on prayer: 1) we should pray constantly, persistently and fervently 2) but prayer is hard work 3) yet prayer taps into God’s power 4) so prayer is a reflection of our faith.

Luke 18:1-8 – If Something is Worth Doing… Dear God, So far today I’ve done all right. I haven’t gossiped, I haven’t lost my temper, I haven’t been greedy, grumpy, nasty, selfish or over-indulgent. I’m very thankful for that. But in a few minutes, God, I’m going to get out of bed, and from then ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

Looking For Leftovers Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jun 29, 2014

Can God supply all your needs? The Disciples struggled with that idea... and so do many of us. Why do we have such a hard time trusting God in this and how can we learn to believe Him more?

OPEN: I once read the true story of a family that was sitting down at the dinner table for their evening meal. But one of the girls wasn’t happy because they were having leftovers, and she complained about it. The dad was not happy about that and spent a few moments explaining to her ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:1-21

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Are You In The Position To Receive?

Contributed by Charlie Roberts on Sep 3, 2012

Sometimes we're on a need to know basis, but we need to realize and trust that, if He knows, that’s all we need to know and that’s where the hard part comes in,

Are you in the position to receive? So lift your hands and praise the Lord, for He is good, and His mercy endures forever! (Psalm 106:1)  Hebrews 13:15 15. Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 13:15

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Peace: Ready, Set, Go

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Nov 27, 2010

Peace comes hard for some at Christmas. We must be open to what God wants to give, we must get down to what God wants us to be doing, and we must find meaning in our ordinary pursuits.

National Baptist Memorial Church, Washington, DC, Dec. 19, 2004 These are stressful days. There is too much going on. Too much work, too much to think about, too many demands. Stressful. We’d really like some peace, wouldn’t we? Just a moment or two of quiet – ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-20

Denomination: Baptist

He Bravely Pursues The Flying Midianites

Contributed by John Lowe on May 1, 2019

The men of Midian would be hard-pressed to go back into Canaan for any reason because now they feared Gideon’s God; since they must have figured out by now that the annihilation of the entire host of Midian was the work of Jehovah.

Chapter 29 He Bravely Pursues the Flying Midianites [Judges 8.10-12] Scripture 10 Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor with their army, about fifteen thousand men, all who were left of all the army of the people of the East; for there had fallen a hundred and twenty thousand men who drew ...read more

Scripture: Judges 8:10-12

Denomination: Baptist

He Bravely Pursues The Flying Midianites

Contributed by John Lowe on May 1, 2019

The men of Midian would be hard-pressed to go back into Canaan for any reason because now they feared Gideon’s God; since they must have figured out by now that the annihilation of the entire host of Midian was the work of Jehovah.

Chapter 29 He Bravely Pursues the Flying Midianites [Judges 8.10-12] Scripture 10 Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor with their army, about fifteen thousand men, all who were left of all the army of the people of the East; for there had fallen a hundred and twenty thousand men who drew ...read more

Scripture: Judges 8:10-12

Denomination: Baptist

Living In His Presence During Difficult Times

Contributed by Mark Aarssen on Jun 19, 2018

Life is crushingly hard and so often it presents burdens our hearts are unable to bear in our own strength. The key truth is that God is with us through it all. We are not alone even as we walk through the darkest valley.

Living in His Presence during Difficult Times Psalm 23:1-4 Philippians 4:13 As our summer break began a young family suffered the sudden and unexpected death of their infant daughter. Such loss is unimaginable to comprehend. All of our hearts were broken by this news and we are at a loss to ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 23:1-4, John 14:15-17

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Not What We Expected

Contributed by Mark Aarssen on Jul 9, 2018

Opposition to the Good News of Jesus Christ is nothing new. The first 12 pastors were instructed how to deal with it. Think long and hard how you respond to the message of the Good News as there are consequences depending on your reaction.

Not What We Expected Mark 6:1-13 Jesus said that; ““A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.” “He was amazed at their lack of faith.” Mark 6:4 Sometimes people think they know you. They think they know your family and your family ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 55:1-3, James 5:13-16, Mark 6:1-13

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed