Sermons on Hard Soil:

Balancing The Books Series

Contributed by Curry Pikkaart on Jul 20, 2011

No matter how hard we try, we cannot seem to balance out the scales of good and evil in our lives. We need help.

“Between the Lines: Balancing the Books” Romans 3:21-31 It never fails. I get the checkbook balanced and then it doesn’t agree with my computer budget program. Or I get the computer totals balanced and it doesn’t agree with the bank statement or my checkbook. It is so ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:21-31

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Forgive? Who Me?

Contributed by Scott Carmer on Jan 31, 2005

We desire, and expect God’s forgiveness when we ask. But it is so hard to offer that forgiveness to others when they sin against us.

Forgive? Who Me? Matthew 18:21-35 I remember this story about a famous person in American history, and for the life of me, I can’t remember who it was. Anyway, this person was asked one Sunday afternoon about the worship service he attended that morning. “What did the preacher preach about?” ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:21-35

Denomination: Methodist

Settling Series

Contributed by Pat Cook on May 16, 2005

3rd in long series on Joshua. This is about the temptation to settle in, to give up when it gets hard, to accept less than the best.

Joshua 1:12-18 – Settling In an old Peanuts cartoon, Lucy demanded that her brother Linus change TV channels and then threatened him with her fist if he didn’t. "What makes you think you can walk right in here and take over?" asked Linus. "These five fingers," said Lucy. ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 1:12-18

Denomination: Baptist

Going Through The Fire

Contributed by Dennis Jones on Feb 16, 2003

Sometimes we feel like we are going through a lot of unnecessary hard times. Some people like to say they are going through the fire.

Sometimes we feel like we are going through a lot of unnecessary hard times. Some people like to say they are going through the fire. My bible tells me that God will be there for me any time any place. Even in the middle of the fire like He was for Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. Open with ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 3:1-6, Daniel 3:12-17

Denomination: Pentecostal

Back To The Basics Series

Contributed by Pat Cook on Sep 16, 2003

A topical sermon introducing the series of "loving others". Sincerely loving others is God’s plan for us, no matter how hard it can be.

Romans 12:9 – Back to the Basics Frank was setting up a sundial in his yard when his neighbor Tom asked, “What’s this for?” Frank stopped to explain, “The sun hits that small triangular spike and casts a shadow on the face of the sundial. Then as the sun moves across the sky, the shadow also ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:9, Matthew 5:48

Denomination: Baptist

Proverbial Wisdom

Contributed by Steve Shepherd on Jun 1, 2001

Much of God’s wisdom can be found in the book of Proverbs. Two subjects covered are: 1- Hard work 2- Drinking and drunkenness.

PROVERBIAL WISDOM INTRO.- Proverbial wisdom. I want to share some of God’s wisdom from the book of Proverbs, but first let me share some good quips and quotes or words of wisdom from man. - It’s all right to be dumb, but it’s stupid to make a career out of it. - Ignorance is not the problem. ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 14:23

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Mercy Mandate Series

Contributed by Jefferson Williams on Jul 30, 2020

Why is it so hard sometimes to display mercy? Is it possible that we don’t understand how much mercy has been given to us?

The Jesus Manifesto: The Mercy Mandate Matthew 5:7; Luke 10: 25:37 Chenoa Baptist Church Pastor Jefferson M. Williams 8-19-18 The White Helmets In Syria, the biggest fear is being buried alive. During the war, planes would drop barrel bombs filled with TNT and shrapnel on apartment buildings ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:7, Luke 10:25-37

Denomination: Baptist

Do You Really Think This Covid Catastrophe Is The Worst? Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on May 16, 2020

Listen to the Spirit saying in our hearts, “you think this is hard to bear? You have not yet begun to feel the effects of sin in your world.”

Tuesday of the 6th Week of Easter 2020 Most of the time we go about our lives without anything big troubling them. In fact, most days we could, if we wished, live our lives as if nothing will ever trouble them. The lack of huge events from outside our own will as we go from day to day means that ...read more

Scripture: John 16:5-11, Acts 16:22-34

Denomination: Catholic

Choose To Conquer.

Contributed by Howard Strickland on May 24, 2020

Conquering is a choice. It’s a big choice, it’s a choice with bumps in the road. Paul commanded Timothy to endure hardness as a good solider.

Choose To Conquer. Romans 8:35,37 Conquering is a choice. It’s a big choice, it’s a choice with bumps in the road. Paul commanded Timothy to endure hardness as a good solider. Listen fully to Paul’s plea to Timothy—2 Timothy 2:3-5NKJV You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:35, Romans 8:37, 2 Timothy 2:3-5

Denomination: Pentecostal

Celebrating In Sorrow Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Mar 6, 2014

As we get ready for the Lord's Table, we must prepare ourselves, because hard times are ahead. Even so, we can be grateful.

Several years ago, in a small-town church in upstate New York, a well-loved pastor who had been there for 35 years retired. He was replaced by a young pastor just starting out in ministry. The young man had a great desire to do well, but after just a few weeks he began to perceive that the people ...read more

Scripture: Mark 14:12-26

Denomination: Evangelical Free

I Want Some Patience—now! Series

Contributed by David Dykes on Sep 5, 2013

A discussion of three important truths about patience: What it is, why it's so hard to have, and how you can display it.

INTRODUCTION We’ve come now to the fourth fruit of the Spirit, Patience. Remember, there is one fruit, and it has nine flavors. We read about the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23 which says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23

Denomination: Baptist

For Those In Peril On The Sea, Our Forgotten Seafarers & The Sailor Society

Contributed by Gordon Mcculloch on Jul 8, 2018

This is a sermon for the Sailor Society, a charity responsible for looking after our seafarers, those almost forgotten by society, those who live a hard life.

This sermon was delivered to Holy Trinity in Ayr, Ayrshire, Scotland on the 8th July 2018; Holy Trinity is a Scottish Episcopal Church in the Dioceses of Glasgow and Dumfries. Matthew 25:31-46 Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in you sight. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:31-46

Denomination: Episcopal

The King Wants To See You

Contributed by Michael Stark on May 14, 2021

Christians, especially, must always remember those who have stood with them, honouring their memory and the kinship they have shared during hard times.

“David said, ‘Is there still anyone left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?’ Now there was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was Ziba, and they called him to David. And the king said to him, ‘Are you Ziba?’ And he said, ‘I am your servant.’ And the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 9:1-13

Denomination: Baptist

The Wounded Lamb: Tela' Series

Contributed by Justin Steckbauer on Jan 30, 2022

“Comfort, comfort my people,” says your God. “Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and announce to her that her time of hard service is over"

40 “Comfort, comfort my people,” says your God. 2 “Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and announce to her that her time of hard service is over, her iniquity has been pardoned, and she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.” 3 A voice of one crying out: Prepare the way of the Lord in ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 40:1-11

Denomination: Salvation Army

Leading Like A Warrior Chief Or A Shephard, A Sermonette On Balance Series

Contributed by Andrew Moffatt on Jun 19, 2024

How hard do you push your team? What are they up for, what can they cope with, what are their requirements and what are yours?

The time I spent praying about this short message brought this to mind. In the weekend I had the opportunity to preach on Genesis 33, which is about when Jacob and Esau catch up after a good time apart, the main theme of that sermon was about reconciliation and that “Mighty is the God of the one ...read more

Denomination: Salvation Army