Sermons on Hardness Of Heart:

Losing To Live: The Paradox At The Heart Of Following Jesus Series

Contributed by Dean Courtier on Jan 12, 2026

In a culture that prizes comfort, Jesus calls us to the cross. In a society addicted to convenience, Jesus calls us to costly obedience. In an age of self-expression, Jesus calls us to self-denial.

Losing to Live: The Paradox at the Heart of Following Jesus – Mark 8:35 (NLT) Introduction: The Great Reversal We live in a world obsessed with self-preservation. Protect your brand. Build your platform. Secure your future. Save your life at all costs. From social media profiles to pension ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:34-36, Mark 8:35, Proverbs 14:12, Galatians 5:24, Philippians 3:8, John 10:10, Romans 6:11, 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, Romans 15:13  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

Shepherds After God’s Own Heart

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Nov 6, 2025

A message addressing pastors and leaders during a pastoral/leadership conference.

INTRODUCTION: Beloved brothers and sisters in Christ, fellow laborers in the vineyard of the Lord—what a joy it is to gather in this sacred assembly. This leadership banquet is not merely a meeting of minds, but a convergence of hearts called by God to shepherd His people. Today, I want to speak to ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 3:15

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

"change Your Heart And Life"

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Jan 17, 2023

A sermon about making the decision to follow Jesus.

“Change Your Heart and Life” Matthew 4:12-23 Have you ever heard of the elephant seal of Argentina? Well, apparently they exist. And soon after giving birth to her seal pup, the mother seal will leave the pup on the shore to go feed in the waters off the coast. After feeding, the mother ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:12-23

Denomination: United Methodist

Guard Your Heart (February 13, 2022)

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Mar 11, 2022

Judahs’ sins were engraved on the tablets of their hearts (Jeremiah 17:1). What sins would be engraved on our hearts? Their sin was idolatrous because they were putting faith in mere mortals rather than God. How are we any different today?

GUARD YOUR HEART Text: Jeremiah 17:5 - 10 Jeremiah 17: 5 - 10 Thus says the LORD: Cursed are those who trust in mere mortals and make mere flesh their strength, whose hearts turn away from the LORD.  (6)  They shall be like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see when relief comes. ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 17:5-10

Denomination: United Methodist

Great Is Thy Faithfulness Series

Contributed by Ralph Andrus on Nov 24, 2014

God is faithful even in the hard times

- A lesson Israel learned during their wilderness journey was that God’s provision of manna for them was on a morning by morning basis. - They could not survive on old manna nor could it be stored for future use (Exodus 16:19–21) - Great Is Thy Faithfulness. - Thomas Chisholm, who ...read more

Scripture: Lamentations 3:22-24

Denomination: Baptist

The Parable Of The Rich Fool

Contributed by Mark A. Barber on Mar 19, 2018

Parables are easy to understand but hard to live.

The Parable of the Rich Fool Luke 12:13-21 There is nothing like a simple store to illustrate a point. We gravitate to storytellers, and Jesus was a master of the story, in particular the parable. They are stories from everyday life. This makes them easy to understand. One does not need to go into ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:13-21

Denomination: Independent/Bible

A Messiah Who Helps Keep Us Focused Series

Contributed by Mark Schaeufele on Oct 23, 2010

Jesus teaches us to focus on what is really important.

A Messiah Who Keeps Us Focused Text: Matt. 15:1-20 Introduction 1. Illustration: [Children have] a great need to know where behavioral boundaries are and who has the courage to enforce them. Years ago, during the early days of the progressive-education movement, an enthusiastic theorist decided ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 15:1-20

Denomination: Methodist

Captivating Series

Contributed by Greg Lindsey on Mar 8, 2020

Jesus Came To Rescue You. He cares about more than what you have done. He cares about what has been done to, said to, and said about you. Not just forgiveness but healing, redemption and restoration is available too.

ILLUST> In the movie Shall We Dance, John Clark is middle aged Chicago estate lawyer who loves his family and his wife Beverly but their combined hectic lives and schedules have left him feeling unfulfilled and empty. Like we talked about last week he is a man who has lost heart. So he decides ...read more

Not Everyone!

Contributed by Russell Brownworth on Jun 2, 2008

This sermon is a simple, evangelistic appeal based on the Lord’s division between those who are accepted and those who are rejected on judgment day.

21“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. 22On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many deeds of power in your name?’ ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:21-29

Denomination: United Methodist

Doing The Difficult Thing

Contributed by Jay Robison on Aug 1, 2006

Why does it have to be so hard? Doing the most important things in life is often hard. God knows that and will help us!

DOING THE DIFFICULT THINGS March 5, 2006 Jay Davis Robison MATTHEW 16:21-28 Have you ever asked yourself Why does it have to be so hard?? Why does marriage have to be so hard? Raising Kids so hard? Why is being honest, losing weight, growing in Christ so hard If doing right is the right thing, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:21-28

Denomination: Baptist

"choosing To Forgive"

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Jul 13, 2021

A sermon about the hard work of forgiveness.

“Choosing to Forgive” Matthew 18:21-35 Ever have one of those days, months or years when nothing seems to go right? I mean, it’s like, no matter what you do somebody is mad at you. And you really are trying as hard as you can, but it only seems to make things worse. What do you ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:21-35

Denomination: United Methodist

Watching Your Words Series

Contributed by Mark Opperman on Apr 13, 2010

God wants our words to be a source of blessing to Him and to those around us.

Watching Your Words James 3:1-12 Intro: James has already mentioned the need to watch what we say. In the first chapter of James he said James 1:19 “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.” Also, James 1:26 “If anyone considers himself ...read more

Scripture: James 3:1-12

Denomination: Assembly Of God

An Imperfect King (2 Samuel 3)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Apr 30, 2025

Was David very imperfect but had one important quality? Let's look at 2 Samuel 3.

Did David continue his legacy of faith? Was he a man with large faults, but even larger faith? Let’s look at 2 Samuel 3. Did David feel entitled to take more wives? Is polygamy selfish, where wives lack a husband’s exclusive companionship? Is narcissistic privilege a problem with human ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

The Breastplate Of Righteousness: Compassion Over Truth Series

Contributed by Troy Borst on Jan 26, 2023

Watch out for the flying dart of the evil one that would tell you to have compassion and ignore God’s will and His truth. Put on the breastplate of righteousness.

THE ARMOR OF GOD AND THE LIES OF THE ENEMY The Breastplate of Righteousness: Compassion Over Truth Ephesians 6:10-18 #armorofGod INTRODUCTION 1 Last week Kristian did a fantastic job of introducing us to the breastplate of righteousness and the scheme of the Devil that encourages us to “follow ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-18, John 8:3-11

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The War Within Series

Contributed by Rick Pendleton on Feb 6, 2013

Explanation of the war that goes on in each of us, and how we can win

The War Within Romans 7:15-25 I want to do more but I do less ... I want to be better and wind up being worse... I want to reach higher but just fall lower. Sound familiar??? It is hard for me to picture Paul, the great apostle, writer of half of the New Testament, preacher, missionary, martyr ...read more

Scripture: Romans 7:15-25

Denomination: Baptist