Sermons on Hard Sayings:

The Good Shepherd

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Dec 1, 2013

He is calling us by name.

THE GOOD SHEPHERD. John 10:1-18. On the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles, Jesus offered those who will hear Him the gift of living water, also known as the Holy Spirit (John 7:37-39). Some time after this Jesus declared Himself to be the light of the world (John 8:12), and ratified this ...read more

Scripture: John 10:1-18

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

"i Am" Declarations Of Jesus - Sermon V - "the Door" Series

Contributed by Charles Cunningham on Aug 26, 2019

There are many "doors of discovery" in life, but only One leads to eternal life. There's no greater business to be in than that of helping someone discovers Jesus the Way to God, life, happiness, joy!

GREAT “I AM” DECLARATIONS OF JESUS Who was Jesus? You will recall that He himself asked that question of His closest followers. First, He asked them, “Who do folks say I am?” Then He asked them a pointed question, “Who do YOU say I ...read more

Scripture: John 10:9

Beauty And Poverty? Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Feb 26, 2022

This place of danger was called “the eye of the needle.”

Homily for Monday in 8th week Sir 17:20-24; Mk 10:17-27 In the ancient world, a world without weapons of mass destruction, the safest place to be when the Egyptians or Assyrians were roaming the Levant with their scythed chariots was a walled city. But every city has to have gates, so the gate ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:17-27, 1 Peter 1:3-9, Psalm 111:1-10

Denomination: Catholic

Is The Righteous Life Worth Living?

Contributed by Robert Bravo on Jul 1, 2007

Living righteous in an unrighteous world is hard. Well is it worth the effort?

Is the righteous life worth living? Malachi 3:13 - 18 (NIV) 13“You have said harsh things against me,” says the LORD. “Yet you ask, ‘What have we said against you?’ 14“You have said, ‘It is futile to serve God. What did we gain by carrying out his requirements and going about like mourners before ...read more

Denomination: Nazarene

Grumble Or Grow Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Apr 24, 2024

When life gets hard, don’t grumble; grow!

Several years ago (2009), Louis C.K. was on Conan O’Brien’s late-night talk show, where he described today’s entitlement culture. He said in our culture, “Everything's Amazing and Nobody's Happy.” Take a look (show Louis CK video). Louis talks about how he was on a plane that offered ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 15:22-27, Exodus 16:1-30, Exodus 17:1-7, Romans 8:28-29, James 1:2-4  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Finding Hope In Our Uncertainties Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on Dec 5, 2020

Hold on to hope when it's hard to cope.

Note: The idea for this series and the title for the sermon came from Outreach.com. How has 2020 been going for you? It’s been quite a year: a global pandemic, economic recession, unemployment, political division, cultural upheaval, racial tension, record wildfires, floods and Derecho. On top of ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:22-38

Denomination: Baptist

Stewardshp:the Collection

Contributed by Peter Loughman on Oct 28, 2006

stewarship sermon - stewardship is hard, but what is faith without risk?

It is some what surprising what an international outlook Paul has as he writes to the Church in Corinth. He mentions Galatia, Macedonia, Achaia, Ephesus, Jerusalem. Even though most of Paul’s readers had never left their own city they understood that they were part of a world wide church body in no ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 16:1-24

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Overtime Pay On The Mad Mouse

Contributed by John Beehler on Feb 5, 2004

It’s hard to trust and obey, but man, what a ride!

Overtime Pay on the Mad Mouse I had a job once working as an inventory control analyst in a factory. Like most factories, this one operated round the clock with 3 shifts. I was one of three analysts, 1 per shift. We worked the swing shift. 2 weeks on each shift. I liked 2nd shift, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 5:1-11

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Blessings In The Desert Series

Contributed by John Gullick on Feb 8, 2018

A sermon that attempts to encourage folk that even in hard times there is blessing.

Blessing in the desert. If you were travelling from Egypt to Palestine and you wanted to get there guided by google maps you wouldn’t go through the wilderness of Sinai. Sinai is 200 miles out of the way and when you are travelling with a whole nation it would seem strange doing such a major ...read more

Scripture: John 6:3-14, Psalm 78:5-15

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Hearing God In The Whispers Of Life

Contributed by Anthony Zibolski on May 26, 2020

There are many voices that make it hard to hear what God desires.

Hearing God in the whisper 1 kings 19 Prayer- Introduction- Good morning everyone, glad that you are joining us this morning and taking time to hear the Word. It is almost 6 weeks that our life has been turned on edge and our Normal has been disrupted. In a lot of ways, I think normal needs ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 19:1-5

Denomination: Nazarene

Confessions Of The Heart

Contributed by W F on Oct 31, 2004

Confession is hard, but if we believe the bible, then confession is good news.

1 John 1:9 “Confessions of the Heart” INTRODUCTION Are we basically good or basically bad? Hollywood religion is undecided. Basically good = Tarzan or Pocahontas. “Out there” there are still pristine societies to be discovered – deep in the jungles there exist tribes without sin – untainted ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 1:9

Denomination: *other

Fear And Worry

Contributed by Anthony Zibolski on Mar 25, 2022

This morning lets take a hard look at what scares us.

Fear and Worry Good morning everyone, welcome to online service- Let’s pray- Prayer- Father, thank you for Jesus- Thank you Father for your willingness to meet us where we are at and take us where we need to be. Thank you for your Holy Spirit that desires to guide and lead through life’s trials ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 17:5-8

Denomination: Nazarene

Enduring Slander

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Apr 9, 2014

It is hard to be mad at what someone said about you if it is true.

"Everybody is slandered even the good." - Robert E. Lee 1 Peter 3:14-16 14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; 15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:14-16

Denomination: Baptist

Speaking With Boldness Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on Nov 26, 2019

Be bold and don’t fold when hard times come.

Speaking with Boldness Acts 4:23-31 Rev. Brian Bill November 20, 2019 Last weekend we were encouraged to imitate the example of Peter and John in order to weather the waves of persecution that are headed our way. This was our main idea: We must keep speaking even when we’re told not to. We were ...read more

Scripture: Acts 4:23-31

Denomination: Baptist

Propagating A Family Like An Olive Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Dec 26, 2014

Raising a family is like building an olive orchard, and it is hard work.

Feast of the Holy Family (Sunday after Christmas) Thirteen Days of Christmas Since the family is the basic unit of society, the Church, and her Scripture, has much to say about it. Our psalm today uses agricultural metaphors for the family: the husband will eat the fruit of his hands, the wife ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 128:1-5

Denomination: Catholic