Sermons on Hard Situations:

The Secret Of Happiness

Contributed by John Lowe on Apr 18, 2013

Blessed is one of those religious words that are hard to translate into realistic terms. Perhaps the closest we can come is “happiness.” The psalmist says that the blessed person is the one who understands forgiveness. But we can’t understand the reality

August 25, 2006 The Secret of Happiness Scripture: Psalm 32, especially verse 1: Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 32:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

Gideon's Army Of 300 Unbeatable Men!

Contributed by Bala Samson on Jan 20, 2013

Don’t give up! Exhausted but still in pursuit caught my attention! Hard work is the key element that separates the genius from the ordinary! An indomitable spirit is needed to overcome discouragement, stress and pressure! Now don't take this impersonally!

Hot pursuit! Judges 8:4 “When Gideon came to the Jordan, he and the three hundred men who were with him crossed over, exhausted but still in pursuit.” Don’t give up! Exhausted but still in pursuit caught my attention! Hard work is the key element that separates the genius from ...read more

Scripture: Judges 8:1-10, Judges 7:1

Denomination: Pentecostal

Difficult Words

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Sep 10, 2021

The most difficult words that Jesus ever uttered are easy to understand but hard to do. Let’s see how they would solve some of humanity's biggest problems. Let’s examine the selfless life in Mark 8:27-38.

Prelude The most difficult words that Jesus ever uttered are easy to understand but hard to do. Purpose: Let’s see how they would solve some of humanity's biggest problems. Plan: Let’s examine the selfless life in Mark 8:27-38. The Anointed One Mark 8:29-30 “He said to them, ‘But who do you ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:27-38

Denomination: Baptist

Guarding Against Deception Series

Contributed by D. Dewaine Phillips on Jan 7, 2022

Once we cast a vision and begin laying hold of the Promised Land, we need to watch out for deceptive people; those who creep into the fold to snatch away our vision, and plunder our hard-earned spoils in an act of spiritual piracy.

Once we cast a vision and begin laying hold of the Promised Land, we need to watch out for dream catchers! Now, when I speak of dream catchers, I am not referring to the round wooden frame resembling a spider’s web, which was handcrafted by the Ojibwa tribe of Native Americans for the purpose of ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 9:3-15

Denomination: Baptist

What God Says About The Future I Series

Contributed by John Gaston on Mar 26, 2022

A hard-hitting message about Jesus coming that will bring people to the altars. God has told us what will happen in the future and warned us to be ready for His coming. Those who aren't ready will be left to face the Tribulation period.

WHAT GOD SAYS ABOUT THE FUTURE I Part 1: The Rapture INTRODUCTION A. HUMOR: “COMFORTABLE” 1. Two sisters inherited the family farm. They desperately needed a bull to breed with their heifers and they only had $600. 2. The brunette told her sister, "I’m going to go look at a bull-calf in ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, Revelation 7:9-10

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Sermon # 48 - No Room For Rebellion Series

Contributed by Andrew Dixon on Feb 12, 2025

Jonah’s heart was hard and right to the end he was not willing to accept God’s forgiveness and compassion that was extended to the people of Nineveh. Rebellion against God is sin and if there is such a sin in our lives, may we set it aside and walk in obedience to the Holy Spirit.

Today’s meditation is taken from Jonah 4:9, “But God said to him, "What right do you have to be angry about the plant?" Jonah replied, "I have every right to be angry—angry enough to die!"” (GNB) God spoke to Jonah who was annoyed and angry, and asked him if it was right on his ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 4:9, Psalm 32:9, Exodus 32:9-10, Psalm 95:10-11, Hebrews 3:8-10, Hebrews 3:11-15, Hebrews 4:1-2  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Other

The Great Confusion - Mark 8:27-34 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Nov 19, 2023

The question, “Who do you say I am” is important, but it’s not everything. Equally important is the question, “What does the way you listen to the hard words of Christ say about who you really believe he is?"

Mark 8:27 Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, "Who do people say I am?" 28 They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets." 29 "But what about you?" he ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:27-34, Matthew 16:13-24, Luke 9:18-23

Open-Minded To A Narrow Way? - Matthew 7:13-14 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Nov 16, 2024

The dominant religion of our culture is pluralism – no one goes to hell. Jesus tells us to enter the narrow gate because the more popular, less exclusive, less difficult road leads to hell, whereas the sparse, exclusive, hard road leads to life.

Matthew 7:13-14 Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. Introduction Pluralism Whatever you think about President ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:13-14

The Power Of Counting It All Joy

Contributed by Melvin Maughmer, Jr. on Jun 28, 2022

The human desire is to have every aspect of our life be smooth, so often we consider the hard times as God’s curse upon us or His punishment for our sin, rather than what they really are and that is opportunities to joyfully mature into Christlikeness.

The Power of Counting It All Joy By Bishop Melvin L. Maughmer, Jr. OPENING: - The human desire is to have every aspect of our life be smooth, without trials, tribulations, hard-times, disappointments, and sadness. Too often, we see trials in a negative light, or we assume that there is no way joy ...read more

Denomination: Apostolic

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

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

Our Victory Is Certain Series

Contributed by David Scudder on Feb 4, 2008

If anyone had ever had a reason to be afraid and discouraged it would have been Paul as we find him here in a Roman jail writing to one of his closest friends. How can we have a positive outlook when we are living in a negative situation?

Our Victory is Certain II Timothy 4:16-18 Purpose: To describe the commitment we should have to serving Christ. Aim: I want the listener to be inspired to stand up for Christ every day without wavering. INTRODUCTION: If anyone had ever had a reason to be afraid and discouraged it would have ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:16-18

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Building Friendships That Endure

Contributed by Joey Nelson on Sep 3, 2002

There’s a story in the Old Testament about two men and a misunderstanding over a well of water. Rest at ease, they handled their situation much more appropriately than our modern day examples handled theirs. They decided that they would build a long-term

INTRODUCTION SERMONIC THEME Introduction: There are many stories about people who get into fights and conflicts about crazy things and the terrible results. In Orlando, a 48-year-old man was shot to death by his wife after a fight over the satellite TV controls. In California, a man was stabbed ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 21:22-34

What Your Sin Looks Like To God

Contributed by Bruce Ball on Oct 15, 2007

What does God see when He looks down and sees the sin in our life? We assume that if we are okay with our sin, so is God, because He ’loves’ us and ’understands.’ A hard, but needed message. Text, outline & audio at www.sermonlist.com

A wealthy landowner was seated on his front porch one afternoon, when two young men came walking by. He asked them if they would be willing to chop wood for him at the rate of $15.00 per hour. He explained that he was throwing a big party for everyone at his job, and they needed extra ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:29

Denomination: *other

Favor In The Field Series

Contributed by Christopher Benfield on Jul 1, 2020

As Ruth gleaned in the field of one she had yet to meet, she was unaware of the providence of God regarding her situation. The Lord had led her to a place where she would be noticed by Boaz, the man who would serve as her Kinsman Redeemer.

Favor in the Field Ruth 2: 4-7 As I pondered these verses I was reminded what a difference a day can make. It is amazing how God can take what appears to be an ordinary or even uncertain circumstance and work it out for our benefit. Ruth had made the long journey from Moab to Bethlehem ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 2:4-7

Denomination: Baptist