Sermons on Hard:

Shattered Dreams Series

Contributed by Glenn Durham on Jan 11, 2011

God shatters dreams which leave us short of full joy even if fully satisfied.

Scripture Introduction In literature, a tragedy ends with a negative or sad outcome, a comedy with a happy one. Macbeth is a tragedy; Much Ado About Nothing, a comedy. From a literary view, Ruth is a comedy – the characters pass through difficulty (even heartbreak) to end with joy and hope. The ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 1:1-5

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Workers In The Vineyard

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Sep 18, 2011

A look at all of us who work in the vineyard and our attitude in our work.

I can remember as a boy riding with my Dad into the downtown area, in my hometown of Indianapolis, Indiana, and seeing a crowd of men standing on a certain street. There were so many of them that there did not seem to be any room left to walk on the sidewalk. I asked my father what they were ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:1-16

Denomination: Methodist

Greed Series

Contributed by Tim Smith on Oct 8, 2011

Americans do not go to church any more: they have switched religions; they now attend the Temple of Greed!” We didn’t invent greed. Greed has been around as long as there have been people, and stuff to lust after. In every era of human history, there have

Greed Proverbs 28:25, Luke 12:15, Philippians 4:12, 2 Corinthians 9:6 Several men were in the locker room of a health club after exercising. Suddenly a cell phone on one of the benches rings. A man picks it up and the following conversation ensues: 
Hello?" "Honey, It's me." "Hi!" "Are you ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:15

Denomination: Methodist

Christian Basketball

Contributed by Robert Sickler on Jan 4, 2010

We are Christians on the basketball court of life and how well we play depends on how well we conquer sin in our lives.

CHRISTIAN BASKETBALL ILLUSTRATION I love to watch my grandchildren play basketball and I try very hard to seldom miss a game. My enjoyment does not come from them being superstars or because their team is always in first place. I enjoy the game because I love my grandchildren; I love seeing ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 4:8

Denomination: Christian Church

Persecution Makes Perfect Series

Contributed by James Jack on Jan 8, 2010

Like Paul, we must be prepared to suffer to present others perfect in Christ

Colossians 1:24 – 2:5 Richard Wurmbrand was a Christian pastor in Romania in the middle of the communist era. In 1945 there was great conference run by the communists where one by one the church leaders of Romania got up and pledged allegiance to Stalin and the communist system. Although ...read more

Denomination: Anglican

Producers Of A Hostile Environment-3 Series

Contributed by Byron Sherman on Jan 20, 2010

Part 3 of a 7-part sermon. The Apostle Paul, revealed to Timothy that a hostile(antagonistic) environment will characterize the last days. But why ? A hostile(antagonistic) environment is produced by, a Distortion of….

PRODUCERS OF A HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT-III—2Timothy 3:1-9 Need: We live in a country of great corporate & personal wealth. Why do people/things seem to be getting worse with times? Why is the world getting worse/colder/violent? I’m gonna fix ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:1-9

Denomination: Baptist

Ruth Scene 1 Series

Contributed by Sean Harder on Feb 6, 2013

It appears that this little book was a small beacon of hope that would lead ultimately to Jesus through the line of King David. The three main characters are a bitter older Israelite widow who finds her way home, a redeemer, and a gentile woman who shows

50 cents for anyone who can tell me what book comes before or after the book of Ruth. The book of Ruth sits in a very interesting place in Biblical history. It is this tiny little book that sits between the dark ages of Israel during the period of the judges, when the nation was about as apostate ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 1:1-22

Overcoming Spiritual Deception Series

Contributed by Mark Hall on Feb 18, 2013

Overcoming Spiritual Deception

OVERCOMING SPIRITUAL DECEPTION Last Sunday we listened to Jesus powerful words regarding the signs of the times. In His confrontation with the religious leaders, Jesus condemned their lack of spiritual insight to recognize the signs of their times regarding the coming of the Messiah and what God ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:5-12

Denomination: Independent/Bible

These Bricks Won't Break Me

Contributed by J. R. Mcentyre on Feb 21, 2013

The test of life can be burdensome, but thru it all we must not allow troubles to break our faith!

These bricks won’t break me! Exodus 5 :1 And afterward Moses and Aaron went in, and told Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness. 2 And Pharaoh said, Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 5:1-8

Denomination: Pentecostal

Doing The Holy Hug Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Feb 4, 2013

The "holy kiss" was a common way to show love and acceptance in the early church. What was that "kiss" intended to accomplish for God and how can we (who often don’t do that) accomplish the same goals?

OPEN: For the next 4 weeks, we’re going to be looking at what the Bible says about kissing (pause). You know, the Bible is just FULL of kissing. There are stories where sons kiss their fathers. Friends kissing friends/ brothers kissing brothers. People kissing false idols. Kissing between a woman ...read more

Scripture: Romans 16:3-16

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Bible Study Series

Contributed by Troy Richards on Dec 9, 2010

A five week series looking at why we do the things we do at church. Part five focuses on why we should be a part of a Bible Study.

[KING OF THE HILL VIDEO] -this is it! I know it seems like we’ve been talking about this series for a long time, but this is the last week of it. Hopefully, by the end of tonight you will understand why we do what we do here at Fire & Water. If someone were to come up to you and ask you ...read more

Scripture: Luke 11:28

Denomination: Methodist

“"God’s Plans” Are Always Bigger" Than Your Circumstances

Contributed by Charlie Roberts on Apr 25, 2013

He who began a good work in you, will be faithful to complete it. It may not look like it right now, But God is not moved by the way things look, in our lives, He is moved by our faith!

“"God’s Plans” Are Always Bigger" Than Your Circumstances! Mark 4:35-41 MSG 35-38. Late that day he said to them, “Let’s go across to the other side.” They took him in the boat as he was. Other boats came along. A huge storm came up. Waves poured into the boat, ...read more

Scripture: Mark 4:35-41

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Grace For The Beginning Series

Contributed by Tim Smith on Oct 21, 2012

Grace for Methodists is understood as a three-stage process: prevenient grace, justifying grace, and sanctifying grace. That being said, we need to understand that grace is just that, grace. Prevenient grace, justifying grace and sanctifying grace are not

Grace for the Beginning of the Journey Ephesians 2:1-10 John Wesley started the Methodist movement after having an encounter with the Holy Spirit in his small group Bible study when his heart as he described it was “strangely warmed.” From that point on, Methodism made significant ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:1-10

Denomination: Methodist

Manna - Waking Up To Reality Series

Contributed by Peter Loughman on Apr 5, 2008

Getting through dry times, is not done by the use of your wits, your education, your determination, or the power of positive thinking. Getting through dry times requires a supernatural solution.

So, I get a call late one night, it is the sister of a good friend of mine – she never calls. There is a long pause after I answer. Then a little chit chat, then quickly comes the news: A childhood friend of mine, her sister, has just died of lung failure, she was only 38. I’m floored. I’m not sure ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 16:1-36

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Life Is Like A Motorcycle

Contributed by Denn Guptill on Aug 10, 2008

Wrote this message for a "Bring Your Bike to Church Day" friend event

Life is a Bike (This was written for our annual Bring Your Bike to Church Day) As you can tell from the video and from some of the rides out front there are all kinds of motorcycles. Some are really nice and cost a lot of money and some are just basic transportation. But they are all ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 20:1-9

Denomination: Wesleyan