Sermons on Hard Soil:

Forewarned Is Forearmed Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Feb 1, 2016

Jesus warns his followers about hard times near at hand, in the current age, and in the future end times. Today we will look at the “then” and the “now.” Next time we will begin to address the “later.”

Forewarned is Forearmed (Mark 13:1-13) 1. A woman blogs, “Today, I learned that my daughter's gerbils are not afraid of the vacuum cleaner.” 2. That is not normal. All animals should be afraid of the vacuum cleaner. And all people should know how to spell it. One c, two ...read more

Scripture: Mark 13:1-13

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Dare To Be Different

Contributed by Derrick Tuper on Jan 11, 2016

Change is difficult-it’s hard to sustain. There is much working against it so we need motivators and incentives to keep at it and stay the course. Daring to be differerent may not be easy but it's rewarding and it's what we're called to do as Christians.

DARE TO BE DIFFERENT 2nd Cor. 6:14-7:1 INTRODUCTION: As we roll into January we find ourselves being dedicated to making some changes-losing weight, eating better, exercising more; as well as making resolutions to be better people, manage our finances better, things like that. But, as we all know, ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Familiarity Breeds A Feeling Of Contempt And Worthlessness.

Contributed by Gordon Mcculloch on Nov 22, 2016

Being a preacher in the town where I was brought up is hard. Yes I was no angel, but my bad reputation still stands as I am constantly reminded. We have all moved on, even Jesus, who had this problem as well.

This sermon was delivered to St Oswald’s, Maybole, Ayrshire, Scotland on the 8th July 2016; St Oswald’s is a Scottish Episcopal Church in the Dioceses of Glasgow and Dumfries. The readings for today are: 2 Samuel 5:1-5, 9-10 Psalm 48 2 Corinthians 12:2-10 Mark 6:1-13 Prayer: In ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:1-13

Denomination: Episcopal

Looking For The Honey Or "Sweetness In Bitter Times”

Contributed by Luther Sexton on Feb 26, 2019

You and I know that honey is perhaps the sweetest thing that nature can produce; and a rock is one of the hardest things in nature. So, here we have sweetness coming out of hardness. This is one of God’s promises, and you should claim it for yourself.

LOOKING FOR THE HONEY “Sweetness in Bitter Times” Psalm 81:16 “He should have fed them also with the finest of the wheat: and with honey out of the rock should I have satisfied thee.” Most travelers who have visited Palestine in summer have had their attention directed to the abundance of honey, ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 81:16, Psalm 34:8, Matthew 6:11

Denomination: Pentecostal

Forgivable & Unforgivable Sin? Series

Contributed by James Wallace on Aug 13, 2018

Jesus talked about a sin that was unforgivable, or unpardonable. What is the unpardonable sin? Is it possible that a believer can commit it? Let's do some hard thinking about what Jesus said in Matthew 12:30-32 and what the book of Hebrews says.

The Paradoxical Sayings of Jesus: Forgivable & Unforgivable Sin? Matthew 12:30-32 This morning we consider another of Jesus' paradoxical statements: "Therefore I say to you, any sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven people, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven. 32 Whoever speaks ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 12:30-32, Hebrews 6:1-7, Hebrews 3:12-15

Denomination: Bible Church

Are You Blaming The Messenger?

Contributed by Mark Aarssen on Jun 20, 2018

Those who are called to teach you do so knowing that we must give an account for what we pass on to you. For this reason I must cover the whole Bible including the parts that are hard to understand and that are ominous and disturbing. I have no choice.

Are you blaming the messenger? Deuteronomy 18:15-20 Luke 4:14-30 People react to God in a variety of ways. Some are enthusiastic and inquisitive while others have no interest what so ever and even deny the existence of God. What happened in the Gospel of Luke Chapter 4:14-30 is an account of ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 18:15-20, Luke 4:14-30

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

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

Keys To A Wonderful Church Life - Part 3: Building On The Foundation Of God's Love Series

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Aug 30, 2021

God wants us to be... 1. Authentic and affectionate (vs. 9-10). 2. Humble and hard-working (vs. 10-11, 16). 3. Hopeful and helpful (vs. 12-13). 4. Sympathetic and same-minded (vs. 14-16).

Keys to a Wonderful Church Life Part 3: Building on the Foundation of God's Love The Book of Romans Romans 12:9-16 (Reading vs. 1-16) Sermon by Rick Crandall (Prepared August 30, 2021) BACKGROUND: *Most of us know that Romans 12 marks a big shift in the Book of Romans. In chapters 1-11, Paul ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:9-16

Denomination: Baptist

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

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

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

Responding To Spiritual Attacks Series

Contributed by D. Dewaine Phillips on Nov 18, 2021

There is an unseen war taking place around us at all times, and the devil is working hard against those who serve and obey the Lord. But God has warrior angels in His charge, and He sends His angels to guard us and help with the fight.

To fulfill the task of protecting us the angels fight against the devil and all our enemies, and carry out God’s vengeance. - John Calvin(1) In Billy Graham’s book Angels: God’s Secret Agents, there is the story of a missionary named John Paton who was stationed along with his wife in the New ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 6:8-23

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

Bring Out A Blind And Deaf People! (Isaiah 43:8-15) Series

Contributed by Garrett Tyson on May 17, 2024

God's (exilic) people are currently blind and deaf, which makes it hard for them to be good servants. God encourages them to change that-- to "acknowledge" and "trust" Him, and understand that God is He Who Remains.

My daughter is wrapping up a in interesting class right now on how to be an effective teacher for students with special needs. There are students who are disruptive. There are kids who struggle to focus, and learn. There are also kids who have disabilities, of one type or another. With these ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 43:8-15, Isaiah 42:16