Sermons on Hard Truths:

A Lesson Hard Learned Series

Contributed by Mark Perryman on May 31, 2007

Let’s learn from the life of Jonah

INTRO: A minister, boy scout, computer expert were the only passengers on a small plane. Pilot came back to the cabin and said the plane was going down and there were only three parachutes and four people. Pilot: “I should take one because I have a wife and three small children” (took & jumped). ...read more

Denomination: Assembly Of God

A Rock And A Hard Place

Contributed by J. Curtis Goforth, O.s.l. on Sep 30, 2006

This sermon is for the 17th Sunday after Pentecost and addresses the need we all have to cut off from our lives the things which keep us from a deeper relationship with Christ.

“A Rock and a Hard Place” Sermon on Mark 9:38-50 Pentecost +17-B October 1, 2006 Rev. J. Curtis Goforth, O.S.L. 43If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. 45And if your foot ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:38-50

Denomination: United Methodist

The Hard Topic Of Divorce

Contributed by Daniel Sorensen on Oct 18, 2006

Combining Pastoral Care skills with the scripture on divorce allows us to meet the parishioner/seeker where they are, encourage them to be authentic with who they are, and bring themselves wholly to God. The next step would be be a refelection of God’s l

There is a group of new Pastors who are keeping in touch with one another this year via e-mail. We check-in and see how things are going. We talk about ideas for children’s sermons and compare life in the parish to what we learned in the classroom. It’s a helpful way to enter into a new ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:1-16

Denomination: Lutheran

Why Is This So Hard? Series

Contributed by Jake Kircher on Dec 28, 2005

Why is following Gopd so difficult sometimes?

***Tug-o’-war illustration*** • Start off with big kid and a small kid and tell them to pull the rope as far as he can • Slowly, continue to add people to oppose the big kid until he gives up As we continue to look at God’s call in our lives to go and change the world around us, I think this ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 10:16-25

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Rock Is The Hard Place

Contributed by Brett Thomasson on Feb 13, 2007

Our decision to share our faith can be built on shifting sands, or solid rock.

I’ve met folks who think that if Jesus walked among us today like he did back in Galilee, we’d be so much better off in our Christianity. How could we ignore him, they ask, if he was right here in front of us? Judging from the people who were right in front of him a couple thousand years ago, it ...read more

Scripture: Luke 6:39-49

Denomination: Methodist

Seeds On The Hard Path Series

Contributed by Eric Lenhart on Aug 13, 2010

Being hardened by life, or free in Christ.

Seeds on the Hard Path (Matthew 13:1-23) 1st in a series on: “The Parable of the Soils” Introduction: An old farmer who was about to die called his two sons to his bedside and said, "My boys, my farm and the fields are yours in equal shares. I leave you a little ready money but the bulk of my ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:1-23

Denomination: Church Of God

Integrity In Hard Times

Contributed by Rick Boyne on Aug 29, 2011

We must maintain holiness & righteousness even when the going gets rough.

Integrity in Hard Times August 28, 2011 Evening Service Immanuel Baptist Church, Wagoner, OK Rick Boyne Message Point: We must maintain holiness & righteousness even when the going gets rough. Focus Passage: I Samuel 21:1-15 Supplemental Passage: Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 21:1-15

Denomination: Baptist

Hard Work And Providence Series

Contributed by Christopher Lanham on Jun 18, 2011

It is funny how we think God should work. For some reason we seem to think that since God is the all-powerful, all-knowing, ever-present Creator of the universe – and anything else in existence – that he should do everything on a grand scale.

Hard Work and Providence Ecclesiastes 11:1-8 Cascades Fellowship CRC, JX MI June 5, 2005 I am going to tell you one of my favorite stories this morning because it illustrates perfectly how many of us think about the relationship between what we do and what God does. Many of you have probably ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 11:1-8

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Surviving Hard Times

Contributed by Akindele Opoola on Feb 11, 2011

Hard times are difficult times of life, a time that you hate to experience, not palatable with the flesh. A time it appears you don't know what you are doing. Everybody in life is bound to pass thru hard time. But as xtians we have antidotes against har

Surviving Hard times Gen 35: 15 -20 Hard times are difficult times of life, a time that you hate to experience, not palatable with the flesh. A time it appears you don't know what you are doing. Everybody in life is bound to pass thru hard time. But as xtians we have antidotes against hard ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 35:15-20

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Hard-Headed Followers

Contributed by Rick Boyne on Mar 8, 2011

Steadfastness is one thing; stubbornness quite another.

Hard-Headed Followers January 9, 2011 Evening Service Immanuel Baptist Church, Wagoner, OK Rick Boyne Message Point: Steadfastness is one thing; stubbornness quite another. Focus Passage: I Samuel 8:10-22 Supplemental Passage: 1Peter 2:9 But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 8:10-22

Denomination: Baptist

Blessings In Hard Times

Contributed by O. K. Neal on Feb 11, 2010

Can we survive the hard times?

Blessings in Hard Times Phil 4:6-7 STORY about Chinese farmer and horse, son’s leg, army “Good luck, bad luck, Who knows?’ It is a hard thing to determine What works for our good and what works for our detriment? Many things happen that we cannot know will help us I did not ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:6-7

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Making Hard Choices

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Oct 1, 2009

Today’s world is filled with energy-saving devices that make life easier, but there is something to be said for embracing life’s challenges. The apostle Paul found serving Christ hard, but he didn’t see it as a cause of discouragement. The goal was worth

Opening illustration: On September 12th, 1962, President JF Kennedy delivered a speech at Rice University in Houston, TX, about the difficult challenges facing the nation. He also shared his passion for the US to place a man on the moon. In balancing the needs of his people with the desire to ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:5-18

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Confidence For Hard Times

Contributed by Larry Finley on Jun 18, 2009

In the midst of America’s self inflicted hard times we as Christians can have Confidence

CONFIDENCE FOR HARD TIMES Micah 7:7-20 4/26/09 1. Judgment of the absence of God a. men clamor for God to be gone b. when He is – Hell breaks loose 2. We live in such a time a. separated from Gov. i. Barney Frank; Nancy Pelosi; ii. Gov. NY; Ill; & Seminole Charley 3. In Midst - we can ...read more

Scripture: Micah 7:7-20

Denomination: Baptist

Run Hard To The Finish

Contributed by Chew Chew on Aug 2, 2007

To challenge the students to make a decision to run right up to the finish and to encourage those that are dropping out of the race to come back right on.

Text: 2 Timothy 4: 6-8 Title: Running Hard to the Finish Objective: To challenge the students to make a decision to run right up to the finish and to encourage those that are dropping out of the race to come back right on. Introduction Before I began with the actual preaching of the word, I ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:6-8

Denomination: Pentecostal

It's Hard To Be Humble

Contributed by Eric Ledermann on Jul 23, 2002

Know the gifts which God has given you, these being three (purpose, prayer, and love) from a list of thousands, and go, do the work of God in your life, whatever God is calling you to do, always remaining humble in the presence of such extravagence.

HUMILITY: A pastor was asked to speak for a certain charitable organization. After the meeting the program chairperson handed the pastor a check. “Oh, I couldn’t take this,” the pastor said with some embarrassment. “I appreciate the honor of being asked to speak. You have better use for this ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:1-20

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed