Sermons on Hard:

Joy In Hard Times

Contributed by Stephen Smarowsky on Feb 10, 2009

“Christians are like teabags. You don’t know how strong they are until you put them in hot water.”

Joy in Hard Times (James 1:2-8) (v2) “Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials…” - James is telling us to CONSIDER it joy when we encounter various trials. - CONSIDER is different then BE. - We are not going to be joyful when we are struggling in the midst of a ...read more

Scripture: James 1:2-8

Denomination: Baptist

Sowing In Hard Places

Contributed by Maurice Mccarthy on Aug 6, 2012

SOWING BY ITS VERY NATURE IS ABOUT GETTING WHAT YOU WANT TO HAVE, NOT WHAT YOU ALREADY HAVE. You sow into dirt because you want strawberries. Three principles that show how hard sowing can be: The principle of death; delay; and the principle of deceit.

Sowing in Hard Places How many of you have heard a preacher somewhere tell you that you want to sow your seed into good soil so that you can receive a good harvest? Makes sense that we should sow our seed into the best soil possible doesn’t it? No farmer in his right mind sows seed into bad soil. ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 11:6

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Need For Hard Teachings Series

Contributed by Scott Burr on Nov 19, 2012

Jesus, Himself, did not shy away from teaching hard truths. He was never worried that the crowds would quit coming if He preached truths that were hard to accept. Rather He used those teachings to qualify those who called themselves His disciples.

“On hearing it, many of his disciples said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?” Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this offend you? What if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! The Spirit gives life; the ...read more

Scripture: John 6:60-66

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Hope In The Hard Times Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Oct 7, 2007

Do you go through difficult trials that don’t seem to have any way out? So did Naomi, but God showed his love and an alternative she hadn’t thought of, like he does with us.

Ruth was written in perhaps the 2nd half of the 12th century, making it contemporary with Jephthah and Samson of Judges 11 and following. This is important because if you didn’t know that you’d think there’s no way the events could take place concurrently with Judges. Judges is filled with ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 1:1-22

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

The School Of Hard Knocks Series

Contributed by Victor Yap on Jun 28, 2008

David, Pt. 7

THE SCHOOL OF HARD KNOCKS (1 SAMUEL 30) When my wife and I sold our old house, like most homebuyers, we had to sell our old house before we could afford a new one. At that time, interest rates were down and house prices were rising, so the time was right to buy and sell. Selling our old house was ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 30:1-31

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Consistency Is Hard Work

Contributed by Matthew Morine on Oct 30, 2007

Want to make the congregation grow? Here is the solution to the problem. It is not talent, effort, or programs, it is a lack of consistency.

CONSISTENCY IS HARD WORK TEXT: 1 CORINTHIANS 15:58 THEME: CONSISTENCY IS THE KEY FOR GROWTH Every morning I try to get up at 6:00am to go to the gym to work out. I have been doing this in Waynesboro for the last 3.5 years. The key in working out is consistency. You have to get up every day ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:58

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

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

Worship In The Hard Times Series

Contributed by Tim Patrick on Jul 8, 2009

Discover what it means and how to worship God during the hard times of life.

Are you able to worship God in the hard times? This is one of the most difficult tasks of the faith life. It is easy to worship God when the sun shines bright. It is easy to worship God when the bills are paid. It is easy to worship God when things are going well. What about during the hard times? ...read more

Scripture: Job 1:20-21

Denomination: Baptist

It’s Not Hard

Contributed by Jerry Flury on Apr 11, 2010

Often, people say, “If God would only speak audibly telling me what He wants me to do life would be so much easier.” God wants us to do His will, nothing more, nothing less, and nothing else. But realize that knowing and doing God’s isn’t that hard.

It’s Not Hard Deuteronomy 30:11-20 Introduction: As the golfer approached the first tee, a hazardous hole with a green surrounded by water, he debated if he should use his new golf ball. Deciding that the hole was too treacherous, he pulled out an old ball and placed it on the tee. Just then he ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 30:11-20, Deuteronomy 30:11-14

Denomination: Baptist

Lord It Is Hard To Be Humble

Contributed by Thomas Bowen on Nov 25, 2007

Revival only comes when someone is ready, a person, a church a community.

O Lord It’s Hard to be Humble 2 Chronicles 7:14-7:14 We are picking up with last Sunday’s topic and talking about revival this morning. As we said last week, Revival does not come by design. God can not be manipulated to send revival. A revival is not about saving souls or converting ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 7:14

Denomination: Congregational

Facing Hard Times Series

Contributed by Dr. Lewis W. Gregory on Oct 28, 2015

When it comes to disasters and accidents there are 2 ways to look at it: Mans way or Gods way. Whatever the problem God has a solution. He is the Master fixer upper. But you must learn to cooperate with God so He can bring the total restoration.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the LORD” Isaiah 55:8. I. Reevaluating-Getting man’s perspective “He that answers a matter before he hears it, it is folly and shame unto him” Proverbs 18:13. A. Premature judgments B. Overreactions C. ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 55:8-9

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Hope For Hard Times Series

Contributed by Scott Maze on May 24, 2021

Here’s a helpful way to remember the word providence: PRO is “before” and VIDEO is to “to see.” He’s seeing life happen in advance. You can even hear the word “provide” in the word Providence. Even in the worst of times, God is working for His children’s good and happiness.

Our nation’s first President had a different way of looking at life and you could see it in his very first inaugural address. Had you been in the relatively small crowd to hear Washington’s Inaugural address some 230 plus years ago, you would have been surprised at how visibly nervous Washington ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Work Hard Serving Series

Contributed by Scott Maze on Jun 4, 2021

Christians are to display a willingness to be offended, disadvantaged, even abused without making a return, without requiring vengeance, without demanding an accounting – whether an apology, or punishment, or a repayment of some kind.

Today’s Big Idea: God Works Diligently on Our Behalf. “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: 11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:10-11, Psalm 121:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

Hard Questions Answered

Contributed by Mark Aarssen on Jun 20, 2018

In John Chapter 3 Jesus points us to the Prophetic Record that maps out Palm Sunday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday. In this golden chapter of the Bible Jesus lays out the path of salvation for Nicodemus and for the rest of us.

It Was No Secret Numbers 21:4-9 John 3:10-21 Luke 18:31:33 This week marks the fourth week in Lent as we travel with Jesus toward His passion and glory. At this time Jesus is preparing the Disciples for what lies ahead, namely His arrest, torture and crucifixion. After three years of ministry ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 21:4-9, John 3:10-21, Luke 18:31-33

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Hard To Believe, But True!

Contributed by David Owens on Apr 29, 2014

The resurrection of Jesus is hard to believe, but it is true. And being true, it makes a real difference in our lives.

A. One day an associate minister was teaching a class of second-graders about the resurrection when one student asked, “What was the first thing that Jesus said right after He came out of the grave?” 1. Well, this was a question of great theological importance, and the associate ...read more

Scripture: Mark 16:1-20

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ