Sermons on Hard:

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

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

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

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

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

Seeking God’s Guidance - Psalm 25 Part 5 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on May 27, 2025

Most of our anxiety in hard decisions is worrying about the outcome. But the real issue is pleasing God in the way you go about making the decision. If option A and option B would be equally pleasing to God, how important could the decision possibly be?

Psalm 25:4 Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths; 5 guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and I wait for you all day long. 8 Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in his ways. 9 He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his ...read more

Walking Through Life With Jesus Christ Series

Contributed by Rick Crandall on May 10, 2024

We have to... 1. Learn the truth about the Lord (vs. 17-21). 2. Change our spiritual clothes (vs. 22-28). 3. Receive God's renewal in our lives (vs. 23).

Walking through Life with Jesus Christ Ephesians 4:17-28 Sermon by Rick Crandall Series: The Book of Ephesians (Prepared May 10, 2024) BACKGROUND: *Remember that the Apostle Paul was a prisoner in Rome when he wrote four letters. Three were sent to churches, and one was to a Christian friend. All ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:17-28

Denomination: Baptist

Survivor: What Am I Doing Here Series

Contributed by Mark Milioni on Jan 11, 2001

Imagine going through life without ever getting it. You think you have an idea, you work and strive but life is hard and things just don’t work. Have you ever thought, what am I doing here?

Imagine going through all the work and effort of Survivor and not winning. Same with Olympics. Imagine going through life without ever getting it. You think you have an idea, you work and strive but life is hard and things just don’t work. Have you ever thought, what am I doing here? What am I ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 45:5-8

Denomination: Baptist

How To Stop Strife Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on May 21, 2003

Nehemiah has to put down his hard hat and turn his attention from the construction of the wall to the walls that were being put up between his workers. While their external enemies helped to rally the people, internal conflict threatened to divide and de

How to Stop Strife As we continue in our series through the Book of Nehemiah, we’ve learned that Nehemiah confronted a different challenge in each chapter: • In chapter one, he was faced with a personal challenge. When he heard about what was happening in Jerusalem, he sat down and wept and then ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 5:1-19

Denomination: Baptist

In The Sinew That Shrank..." By Dr. E. Winson Butler

Contributed by Winson Butler on Aug 4, 2004

The strength of a man consists in finding out the way God is going and going that way! Jacob learned the hard way. Had he followed God without reservation, he may not of walked with a limp for the rest of his life. Let’s examine the story together!

Introduction Going God’s way is not only the best way but the only way! It’s when we look back we say, "I wish I had followed God..." Jacob knew the feeling too well. A person is never what he ought to be until he is doing what he ought to be doing. Jacob was neither. In other words it took a bit ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 32:31-32

Denomination: Baptist

Can We Ignore God Without Consequence?

Contributed by Jason Pettibone on Mar 23, 2004

Noah built the ark in the open plain, far from the sea, surely attracting derision. It was hard work that required sustained effort over years and years time. But he BELIEVED and OBEYED God as a result of his faith. God honored that faith by providing a m

Can We Ignore God Without Consequence? We return to the book of Beginnings this morning. Our text is drawn from one of the most well-known stories in the Bible, found in Genesis 6 through 9. The account of Noah. With apologies to David Letterman, here’s a Top Ten list of lessons learned from ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 6:1-8

Denomination: Assembly Of God

The Heart Of Followership

Contributed by Robert Garrett on Apr 11, 2005

God’s people encounter things that are indeed very hard to handle. We come upon situations daily that we struggle especially in regard to our relationships. Jesus looks for five main qualities in the hearts of his disciples as he called them to followe

INTRO. Many times in life we encounter things that are indeed very hard to handle. We come upon situations daily that we struggle especially in regard to our relationships at work, school in our homes and even here in God’s church family. Often we are placed in situations where we are not in ...read more

Scripture: Luke 5:1-11

Denomination: Baptist