Sermons on Hardships:

Making Hard Choices

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Oct 1, 2009

Today’s world is filled with energy-saving devices that make life easier, but there is something to be said for embracing life’s challenges. The apostle Paul found serving Christ hard, but he didn’t see it as a cause of discouragement. The goal was worth

Opening illustration: On September 12th, 1962, President JF Kennedy delivered a speech at Rice University in Houston, TX, about the difficult challenges facing the nation. He also shared his passion for the US to place a man on the moon. In balancing the needs of his people with the desire to ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:5-18

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Healing For The Soul

Contributed by Sheila Crowe on Apr 14, 2009

Rest, Tell God all about it, Rediscover God, Develop an Others Orientation.

Police officer Ricky Orlowski was on patrol about 5 pm March 11 when he noticed a minivan with Illinois plates parked on a secluded street near a church and a school. “It’s not a real normal place for someone to sit and hang out, Orlowski said. The officer pulled the vehicle over when he saw it ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 19:1-18

Denomination: United Methodist

Hope Beyond Hopelessness

Contributed by Martin Holland on Nov 29, 2012

There comes a time in our lives when we feel hopeless but the truth of the matter is as Christians that is an impossibility.

Hope Beyond Hopelessness Lamentation 3:1-26 Jeremiah who is also known as the weeping prophet in great despair God uses to write his emotions. He lived among a society of people caused him to almost lose hope. See: Jeremiah 9:1-3 A people who knew not the LORD Mention: Jeremiah 7:16 God told him ...read more

Scripture: Lamentations 3:1-26

Denomination: Baptist

What's So Great About God?

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Dec 13, 2012

What’s so great about God? 1. He gives delight from disaster (vs. 12-20). 2. He gives triumph from the tomb (vs. 21-23). 3. He gives a heart to help others (vs. 24-26).

What’s So Great about God? Philippians 1:12-26 Sermon by Rick Crandall Grayson Baptist Church - August 5, 2012 *We say it in one of the first prayers we ever learn: “God is great.” -And He really is great! -We could talk about His greatness all night long. -And in these verses, ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:12-26

Denomination: Baptist

The Tragedy Of The Innocents

Contributed by David Simpson on Dec 16, 2012

A message in response to the tragedy of the school shooting in Connecticut and its relation to the killing of the innocent children of Bethlehem by Herod after the birth of Jesus.

Sermon Lanier Christian Church December 16, 2012 David K. Simpson The Tragedy of the Innocents Matthew 2:13-18 The unspeakable happened on Friday. Twenty Innocent children and six of their teachers, all women, were murdered. As the Connecticut governor said: "Evil visited this community." It ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:13-18

Denomination: Christian Church

The Mystery Of Pain And Suffering

Contributed by John Lowe on Dec 20, 2012

Christians have a problem with suffering that non-Christians don’t have. Christianity proclaims that God is love and that He loves the whole world. But, if this is true, why does He permit undeserved suffering?

May 1, 2003 Title: The Mystery of Pain and Suffering Text: “And Jesus answered and said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things?” Scripture Reading: Luke 13:1-5 Some people see no ...read more

Scripture: Luke 13:1-5

Denomination: Baptist

Fresh Fire: Will You Stand In Faith? Series

Contributed by Dean Courtier on Dec 28, 2012

Let's spend a little time thinking about God’s goodness and mercy to us during 2012. You know, the stuff that we asked Him to do, the stuff we prayed about, the things that we noticed Him doing and the things He did without us noticing.

Fresh Fire: Will you stand in Faith? Tonight we reach the end of our Fresh Fire series. We have spent a year considering who the Holy Spirit is, what He does in us and through us. I hope that this will be a year that will have been beneficial in your life. I hope that this is a year when you ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16-17

Denomination: Pentecostal

How To Stay Up In A Down Time

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Jan 6, 2013

1. Rush to the Lord for refuge (vs. 1-3 & 5). 2. Rejoice in the Lord (vs. 4) 3. Roll your cares on to the Lord (vs. 5). 4. Receive the Lord’s righteousness (vs. 5-6) 5. Rest in the Lord (vs. 7-9)

How to Stay Up in a Down Time Psalm 37:1-9 Sermon by Rick Crandall Grayson Baptist Church - Nov. 7, 2012 *Do you ever fret? -- Charles Spurgeon tells us that to “fret is to worry, to have the heart burn, to fume, to become vexed” (angry, irritated, agitated, annoyed). (1) *Anybody ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 37:1-9

Denomination: Baptist

We Matter

Contributed by Monty Newton on Jan 13, 2013

We matter because we are God's... God created, formed, ransomed and claimed us as his own.

Title: We Matter Text: Isaiah 43:1-7 Explain the parallelism in the lines of Hebrew Poetry… the first line makes an observation and the second line restates it in slightly different language. It serves as something of a double-whammy by making a point and then reinforcing that point. It ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 43:1-7

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Loving God Through Deep Distress

Contributed by Glenn Durham on May 14, 2008

God brings distress to us and us through distress that we might know his strength and salvation.

Scripture Introduction The second grade teacher showed a magnet to her class and illustrated its uses. The next day she gave a quiz with this question: “My full name has six letters. The first one is M. I pick up things. What am I?” Half of the students wrote, “Magnet.” The other half answered: ...read more

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Hard Times, High Hopes

Contributed by Greg Nance on May 25, 2008

Questions, questions, questions! Hard times make us seek answers. Jesus is the answer! Lift up your head in hard times and look for the Son of Man.

What kinds of questions do hard times make you ask? Think of one of the hardest times in your life; what question would you like answered? Take a note card from the pew in front of you. Write out your question. Hard times can confuse us and make us ask the wrong questions or expect wrong ...read more

Scripture: Luke 21:5-36

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Focal Point: Arise! Get Up!

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on May 29, 2008

So I have fallen and I can’t get up? We need a PLUMMET, a plumb line to find out how important it is to GET UP AND TRY AGAIN!

THE FOCAL POINT: ARISE --- THERE IS A TIME TO GET UP ---- By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com I do this in two parts. I went to Lowes and bought a PLUMMET, or a PLUMBLINE. I hold the plumb line and tell how important a plumb line is as one starts to build. A GREAT WORK CAN START WITH A ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:15-28

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Does God Care About Me

Contributed by Scott Kircher on Mar 22, 2009

looks at the disciples questioning God’s care in the storm and how the Lord does care for us and how we often experience many emotions during the storms of life and how we can express those to God and how he grows us.

Does God Care About Me? Mark 4:35-40 God cares enough to save you! Mark 4:35a Our Earthly Life is Temporary Our Eternal Life is Permanent God cares enough to grow you! Mark 4:35b-38 God cares enough to comfort you! Mark 4:39-40 Slide The world is sure getting to be a difficult place to live. Job ...read more

Scripture: Mark 4:35-40

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Standing In The Storm

Contributed by Daniel Austin on Apr 9, 2010

If you wish to stand in the storm, you will hear and obey; if you do not you will experience destruction.

Standing in the Storm 02/15/09 AM Text: Matthew 7:13-27 Reading: Matthew 7:24-27 INTRODUCTION This weekend brought a rare event to the San Diego area – weather! We experienced a rare powerful winter storm system that brought about weather about as wild as it gets in Southern California. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:13-27

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

When Discouragement Comes, Remember!

Contributed by Daniel Austin on Apr 17, 2010

When discouragements come remember who our God is and remember what our God does, for us and through us, and be encouraged.

When Discouragement Comes, Remember! 04/05/09 AM Text: 2 Corinthians 1:3-11 Introduction: It’s no secret to anyone here this morning that life can be hard! I know that everyone one of us has faced difficult times and felt the discouragement which at times can be so overwhelming. There are ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:3-11

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ