Sermons on hard sayings:

Handles For The Hard Times Series

Contributed by Rich Young on Jan 18, 2001

First in a series of sermons for dealing with difficult times.

“Handles for the Hard Times” (Sermon #1) TEXT: I Thess 2 :17 - 3:5 INTRODUCTION · Army Chaplain had a sign on his door that said, “If you have troubles, come in & tell me all about them. If you don’t have troubles, come in & tell me how you do it.” · Regardless of who you ...read more

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Hope In The Hard Times Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Oct 7, 2007

Do you go through difficult trials that don’t seem to have any way out? So did Naomi, but God showed his love and an alternative she hadn’t thought of, like he does with us.

Ruth was written in perhaps the 2nd half of the 12th century, making it contemporary with Jephthah and Samson of Judges 11 and following. This is important because if you didn’t know that you’d think there’s no way the events could take place concurrently with Judges. Judges is filled with ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 1:1-22

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

A Lesson Hard Learned Series

Contributed by Mark Perryman on May 31, 2007

Let’s learn from the life of Jonah

INTRO: A minister, boy scout, computer expert were the only passengers on a small plane. Pilot came back to the cabin and said the plane was going down and there were only three parachutes and four people. Pilot: “I should take one because I have a wife and three small children” (took & jumped). ...read more

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Says Who? Series

Contributed by Andy Stanley on Sep 18, 2009

The second in a series of messages on the topic of an invisible "unseen" world that impacts our visible world. This sermon focuses on authority, submission, and rebellion.

Get the logos, graphics, and videos Andy used to preach this message. Visit www.andystanleysermons.org. Rebellion equals freedom. We didn’t actually know how to say it like that, but that’s the premise from which we operated from the time we were about 12 or 13 years old, right? It just made ...read more

Scripture: Romans 13:1-7

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Say What!?!

Contributed by Josh Foster on Feb 19, 2014

We may not understand all of what Jesus says ~ or see where He’ll take us, as we continue to walk with Him; but, the point is, do we trust Him with our life and with our heart?

Walkin’ with Jesus: Say What!?! Scripture Text: Mark 8.31-38 INTRODUCTION Did you hear about the high school basketball team that showed exceptional sportsmanship? A couple of weeks ago, the two-teams suited-up to play. …The problem-was that one of the key-players ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:31-38

Denomination: Nazarene

"Hard To Learn Lessons"

Contributed by Dennis Deese on Aug 10, 2002

There are many hard to learn lessons in the Christian life.

"HARD TO LEARN LESSONS" Dr. Dennis Deese - Fan The Flame Ministries, Inc. EZEKIEL 24:15-27 ETS: Ezekiel and the Jews had to learn some hard to learn lessons ESS: There are many hard to learn lessons in the Christian life. Introduction: The August 1992 Hurricane Andrew left more than 50,000 ...read more

It's Hard To Be Humble

Contributed by Eric Ledermann on Jul 23, 2002

Know the gifts which God has given you, these being three (purpose, prayer, and love) from a list of thousands, and go, do the work of God in your life, whatever God is calling you to do, always remaining humble in the presence of such extravagence.

HUMILITY: A pastor was asked to speak for a certain charitable organization. After the meeting the program chairperson handed the pastor a check. “Oh, I couldn’t take this,” the pastor said with some embarrassment. “I appreciate the honor of being asked to speak. You have better use for this ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:1-20

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Learning The Hard Way

Contributed by Sean Smuts on Jan 15, 2003

A Lesson on Forgiveness and repentance

Text: Psalm 51 Jim Smuts Subject: Forgiveness Theme: Divine Forgiveness "Learning The Hard Way" Introduction: Someone once said, "Forgiveness is like the violet sending forth its pure fragrance on the heel of the boot of the one who crushed it." Explanation: David’s sin ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 51:1-17

Denomination: Mennonite

Fasting The Hard Way

Contributed by Cameron Horsburgh on Nov 5, 2001

God isn’t as impressed with our pious religiosity as he is about the way we live our lives.

Now the Israelites had a problem. They practiced their religion faithfully, and they did everything that was expected, but God didn’t seem to be listening to them. What was the problem? This is a good question. And it’s an important question to ask ourselves as well. God, through his prophet, ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 58:1-9, Isaiah 58:9-14

Denomination: Holiness

The Religious But Hard-Hearted Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Jan 2, 2007

If God does not soften ones heart, one may dabble with religion, but one will never find a saving relationship with the true God.

The Religious But Hard-Hearted (Exodus 8:20-9:12) 1. What if God was politically correct? Imagine this: Moses was sitting in the Egyptian ghetto. Things were terrible. Pharaoh wouldn’t even speak to him. The rest of the Israelites were mad at him and making the overseers even more irritable than ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Why Is It So Hard?

Contributed by Duane Smith on Apr 15, 2007

This message is meant to bring us face to face with the problem of sin and encourage us to go to Christ for freedom and victory!

WHY IS IT SO HARD? Proverbs 13:15 INTRODUCTION: A. Over the past few months I have heard quite a few people tell me that life is hard 1. Life, Why is it so hard? a. Is the over arching principle of life found in 1 Cor 10:31 hard to understand - Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 13:15

Denomination: Baptist

Cracking The Hard Seedcoat Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Mar 24, 2013

The hard surface of our hearts must be scarified or we cannot grow and we cannot bear fruit.

Wednesday of Holy Week 2013 Seeds 3 [Preacher: You should have a bluebonnet seed or other seed and either sandpaper or vinegar.] We come to what we might call the last day of the triduum before the Great Triduum, and to the moment Church tradition calls “Spy Wednesday.” This is the ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 50:4-9

Denomination: Catholic

Integrity In Hard Times

Contributed by Rick Boyne on Aug 29, 2011

We must maintain holiness & righteousness even when the going gets rough.

Integrity in Hard Times August 28, 2011 Evening Service Immanuel Baptist Church, Wagoner, OK Rick Boyne Message Point: We must maintain holiness & righteousness even when the going gets rough. Focus Passage: I Samuel 21:1-15 Supplemental Passage: Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 21:1-15

Denomination: Baptist

That Story Is Hard To Swallow!

Contributed by Jimmy Haile on Sep 8, 2013

Maybe one of the reasons we don’t pray for our enemies or witness to them (The ones who have hurt us, talked about us, lied about us, been mean to us) is, because deep down inside, we are afraid that they will repent and God will forgive them instead of punish them!!

Jonah 4:1-11-But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he became angry. So he prayed to the Lord, and said, “Ah, Lord, was not this what I said when I was still in my country? Therefore I fled previously to Tarshish; for I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 4:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

Work Hard Serving Series

Contributed by Scott Maze on Jun 4, 2021

Christians are to display a willingness to be offended, disadvantaged, even abused without making a return, without requiring vengeance, without demanding an accounting – whether an apology, or punishment, or a repayment of some kind.

Today’s Big Idea: God Works Diligently on Our Behalf. “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: 11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:10-11, Psalm 121:1-8

Denomination: Baptist