Sermons on Hard Soil:

Being Fruitful Series

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on May 8, 2005

Nature teaches us that if you are going to be fruitful, you have to: 1. Have your roots in good soil. 2. Have a healthy trunk and branches. 3. Have fertilization.

A wealthy businessman, who was well known for being ruthless and unethical, told Mark Twain that before he died, he wanted to make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. He said that when he got there he wanted to climb to the top of Mount Sinai, where Moses received the Ten Commandments, and there read ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:15-23

Denomination: Methodist

Three Ways To Hinder Your Spiritual Growth Series

Contributed by Hal Seed on Oct 3, 2008

The Parable of the Soils describes four ways to respond to God. Three of them hinder spiritual growth. In this parable Jesus is saying, "You must take responsiblity for your personal spiritual growth."

[This sermon is contributed by Hal Seed of New Song Church in Oceanside, California and of www.PastorMentor.com. Hal is the author of numerous books including The God Questions and The Bible Questions. If you are interested in The Bible Questions Church-wide Campaign, please visit and watch Hal’s ...read more

Scripture: Luke 8:1-15

Denomination: Baptist

The Tilling Of The Heart Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Jun 4, 2006

How is the soil of your heart? Are you ready to receive what God has to say? Learn what true repentance means and doesn’t mean in the ministry of John the Baptist.

Let me say first of all that I am not the gardener in our family - that’s my wife. I am the assistant gardener. But I have learned a thing or two over the years. One is that without adequate soil preparation your garden will not grow plants, it will simply grow seedlings that will be eaten by ...read more

Scripture: Luke 3:1-38

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Sowing Of Seeds

Contributed by Johnny Small on Aug 17, 2004

Who are the characters in the parables and what each represents.

Sowing of Seeds Jesus taught the people using parables. He told short stories using terms that the people were familiar with. These short stories also caused the people to think and to try to reason what Jesus was telling them. Just like today some people were too lazy or too busy to stop and ...read more

Scripture: Mark 4:2-20

Denomination: Baptist

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

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

Why Following Jesus Is Not Easy

Contributed by Paul Decker on Jul 8, 2002

We follow Jesus (no matter how hard it is!).

WHY FOLLOWING JESUS IS NOT EASY John 6:60-71 S: Discipleship Th: Following Jesus Pr: WE FOLLOW JESUS (no matter how hard it is). ?: Inductive KW: Turns TS: In the recorded incident of John 6:60-71, we will find six turn of events of what it is like to follow Jesus. The _____ turn ...read more

Scripture: John 6:60-71

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

Keys To Steadfastness

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Jun 11, 2001

Many people proclaim their loyalty but steadfast people are hard to find.

Keys to Steadfastness (Acts 21:1-14) 1. Paul’s steadfastness serves as an inspiration and a challenge for any person who contemplates just settling for second best. ILlustration:Consider the postage stamp: Its usefulness consists in the ability to stick to one thing till it gets there. Josh ...read more

Scripture: Acts 21:1-14

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

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

Me, Myself And I

Contributed by Brian Matherlee on Dec 9, 2009

I am the reason it’s hard to follow God.

ME, MYSELF AND I Why it’s Hard to Follow God Sunday, July 26, 2009 Pastor Brian Matherlee We borrowed a GPS for our vacation. We were going to visit DJ and Heather Williams in Louisville and John and Carol Hawkins in Galesburg, Illinois. These two places were unfamiliar and we were grateful to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:24-26

Denomination: Wesleyan

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

The Mirror Of Correction Series

Contributed by Vera Hughes on Feb 20, 2008

It is easy to correct others and give advice, but hard to correct ourselves.

Self-correction – making the necessary corrections on the inside based on the Word of God. The greatest task the believer will ever have to do is to correct ourselves. Self correction makes us better witnesses for the Jesus Christ; enrich our lives in our home, church, fellowship with saints, and ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 1:5-10

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Lamentations 3

Contributed by Gareth Harron on Mar 10, 2008

Why life is hard and why its OK to say so.

Sunday 9th March 2008 Lamentations 3:19-33 Evening- Magheralin DISCLAIMER Sermons are the fruit of prayerful reflection- having studied the text, commentaries and other people’s interpretation. Any use of particular phraseology or similarity with other people’s work which has not been duly ...read more

Scripture: Lamentations 3:19-33

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Nothing Is Impossible With God

Contributed by Dr. Casey Adams on Oct 11, 2018

This message posses the question "Is there anything too hard for God?"

I. "THE THINGS WHICH ARE IMPOSSIBLE WITH MEN ARE POSSIBLE WITH GOD" A. This decisive pronouncement by our Lord came as God's answer to the disciples’ question: 1. Said they, "Who then can be saved?" - Luke 18:26 2. The question of the disciples came when they had listened to the conversation ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:14-17, 1 Corinthians 2:2, Galatians 6:14, John 15:1-15, John 5:40, John 14:6, Philippians 4:13, Philippians 2:12, Colossians 1:20, Romans 5:1, Ephesians 2:11-14, 2 Peter 1:2-8, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Isaiah 35:3, Hebrews 12:12, Exodus 24:3, Exodus 19:8, Romans 10:1-3, John 15:5, Romans 7:24, Jeremiah 13:23, Luke 17:20, Matthew 19:16-22, Luke 18:26, Luke 18:27, Matthew 1:21  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist