Sermons on Hardness:

Fasting The Hard Way

Contributed by Cameron Horsburgh on Nov 5, 2001

God isn’t as impressed with our pious religiosity as he is about the way we live our lives.

Now the Israelites had a problem. They practiced their religion faithfully, and they did everything that was expected, but God didn’t seem to be listening to them. What was the problem? This is a good question. And it’s an important question to ask ourselves as well. God, through his prophet, ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 58:1-9, Isaiah 58:9-14

Denomination: Holiness

"It's Hard To Be Humble" Series

Contributed by Robert Leroe on Jul 5, 2002

A. Humility (vs 1); B. Contentment (vs 2); C. Trust (vs 3)

“It’s hard to be humble” -Psalm 131, Pastor Bob Leroe, Cliftondale Congregational Church, Saugus, Massachusetts Outline: A. Humility (vs 1); B. Contentment (vs 2); C. Trust (vs 3) Introduction…some Country/Western theology I want to share a story I heard last week in our adult Sunday School ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 131:1-8, Psalm 131:1

Denomination: Congregational

Learning The Hard Way

Contributed by Sean Smuts on Jan 15, 2003

A Lesson on Forgiveness and repentance

Text: Psalm 51 Jim Smuts Subject: Forgiveness Theme: Divine Forgiveness "Learning The Hard Way" Introduction: Someone once said, "Forgiveness is like the violet sending forth its pure fragrance on the heel of the boot of the one who crushed it." Explanation: David’s sin ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 51:1-17

Denomination: Mennonite

Praying In Hard Times Series

Contributed by Ken Sowers on Dec 10, 2003

Learning to pray during the hard dry times of life.

Nov. 17 Praying in Hard Times Is God’s primary goal to make me comfortable or make me strong (comfort = make strong) - To mend my body or my spirit To whisk me out of every trial and danger or to walk by my side so I can discover how strong and good He is. Jeremiah in prison, David in the cave. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:8-10, James 1:5

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Praying The Hard Prayers Series

Contributed by Guy Caley on May 5, 2003

2d in the series "Patterns for Prayer." The disciples’ prayer in Acts 4:23 gives us a pattern for praying for boldness in the face of persecution.

Introduction Zig Ziglar story of boy that went with his mother to the old general store. He liked to sneak away from his mother and when no one was looking he would dip his finger into the large barrel of molasses. The storekeeper caught him doing this and decided to teach the boy a lesson. He ...read more

Scripture: Acts 4:23-31

Denomination: Assembly Of God

A Rock In A Hard Place

Contributed by Thomas Dibble on May 16, 2003

Have you ever found yourself battered and beaten by life? Well God is a rock in a hard place.

In a world adrift in moral chaos and drowning in the depths of deception, I am thankful that we have a rock in a hard place. There is no solid ground in this world. There is no place to safely establish your feet where they will not slip. But there is only unstable and unsure ground. Things are ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 33:21

Denomination: Pentecostal

Hard Sayings—wineskins Series

Contributed by Bruce Rzengota on Apr 10, 2003

UNDERSTANDING THE SIGNFICANCE OF THE NEW CLOTH AND THE NEW WINE AND WINESKINS IS AN IMPORTANT REMINDER OF OUR RELATIONSHIP TO CHRIST.

Hard Sayings—Wineskins Mark 2:21-22 INTRODUCTION Opening Statement: There are many literary forms used in the Bible. There is poetry, proverb, legal document, dramatic narrative, hymn, sermon, theological treatise, personal letter, and apocalyptic vision. And sprinkled into all of these genres are ...read more

Scripture: Mark 2:21-22

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Handles For The Hard Times Series

Contributed by Rich Young on Jan 18, 2001

First in a series of sermons for dealing with difficult times.

“Handles for the Hard Times” (Sermon #1) TEXT: I Thess 2 :17 - 3:5 INTRODUCTION · Army Chaplain had a sign on his door that said, “If you have troubles, come in & tell me all about them. If you don’t have troubles, come in & tell me how you do it.” · Regardless of who you ...read more

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Danger Of Hardness Of Heart Series

Contributed by Frank Lay on Sep 10, 2004

Are you in danger of hardening your heart to the precious truths of the gospel of Christ?

THE DANGER OF HARDNESS OF HEART Hebrews 3:7-19 How is your heart? I am not asking about the physical condition of your heart, but the spiritual condition. Sometimes we describe the experience of becoming a Christian as inviting Jesus to come into the heart. The Bible speaks of a troubled ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 3:7-19

Denomination: Baptist

The School Of Hard Knocks Series

Contributed by Victor Yap on Jun 13, 2004

David, Pt. 7 of 15

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

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

But Life Is Too Hard Series

Contributed by Christopher Roberts on Sep 13, 2002

Overall, Americans are “mostly” or “completely” satisfied with life despite having daily concerns. But sometimes life’s pressures burden us down. God wants us to know He is going to help us get back up

Please e-mail me with any comments or if you use any part of this at your church at Mail4ChrisR@aol.com. I would love to hear about it. God Bless! - Chris Series: “What To Do” See also I Don’t Know What To Do; But I’m Disappointed; But I Just Can’t Win; What You Need, God Has) Colossians ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 1:9-14

Denomination: 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

Rebirth: Hard Hat

Contributed by Peter Loughman on Oct 28, 2006

also 2cor 3:17-18 building a spiritual house

Hard Hat, Hammer, Boots, Sunglasses, An Old Pair Of Jeans – I’m ready to build. Last week we saw that w are building a Spiritual House. But before we can even build we need to have the Holy Spirit. Without the Holy Spirit, you cannot build a spiritual house. Jesus tells us we need to be spiritually ...read more

Scripture: Romans 6:1-11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Growing Up Is Hard Series

Contributed by Stephen Wright on Jul 10, 2005

Are we progressing in the faith or are we, like many of those Hebrew Christians: • dull of hearing • still need to be taught elementary truth • babies wanting milk, not solid food?

In the earlier chapters we have studied some wonderful passages about the Saviour’s divinity and humanity and His wonderful fitness to be our merciful and faithful High-priest. Now we are going to move on to some rather difficult or unpalatable passages. It is tempting to skip these, but they are ...read more

Denomination: Baptist