Sermons on Hardships:

It's All So Simple Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jun 19, 2009

To the issue of why bad things happen to good people, Eliphaz’s answer is spiritually lazy and assumes that we can earn God’s favor. Job’s response is to have faith in a God who will ultimately accept responsibility for sin.

You and I are about to enter the realm of mystery together. I know of nothing which challenges the mind and the imagination quite so much as the mystery of human suffering. Why men and women should have to suffer physically or emotionally – that has never been answered completely. In recent weeks ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Check The Map Series

Contributed by Rob O'neal on Jul 7, 2009

In the a downturn we may need to check the map carefully and find out where we really are and find that there are more reasons to rejoice than we know.

Sometimes it helps to check the map. The people of the ancient Roman city of Herculaneum lived at the bottom of a mountain. They loved the mountain, because they believed it was a place where gods dwelt. The land was fertile, and the harbor was good, so the city prospered and grew. Then in 62 and ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:18-29

Denomination: Congregational

Wrestling With God

Contributed by Carl Greene on Jul 18, 2009

Jacob wrestles with God and names the place "Peniel," meaning "face of God". Each of us needs our own "Peniel," a place to meet God. God gives us such a place, the Holy Bible.

OPENING Talk about the courage to suffer: A first-grade teacher seated her students in a circle. She asked them what they wanted to be when they grew up. One by one, each child got up and announced, "I’d like to be a nurse like my mother," or "I want to be a banker like my father," or "I want to ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 32:22-31

Denomination: Methodist

In All Things God Works For The Good

Contributed by David Mende on Jul 21, 2009

God works for our good not just in some things but in ALL things! This verse was fulfilled in the lives of Joseph, Esther, and Jesus. I would be delighted if you could rate this sermon and give brief feedback.

In All Things God works for the Good Rom 8:28 – “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” (KJV) Rom 8:28 – “And we know that in all things GOD works for the good of those who love him, who have been called ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:28

Denomination: Assembly Of God

What Are The Five Biggest Problems Of Life And Does God Really Care?

Contributed by Larry Moyer on Aug 5, 2009

God not only cares, but when you are rightly related to God, you have the answer to the five biggest problems of life. This message examines Psalm 23 and explains how when the LORD is your shepherd, it’s enough.

I am no different from anybody else here. And the proof of that is that there are times I feel like looking at people and saying the same seven words you do. They are, "Sometimes I wonder if you really care." Now obviously there are times I feel like saying that more than others and there are some ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 23:1-6

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

God Can Make You Secure Series

Contributed by Glenn Arellano on Jul 17, 2008

In facing challenges of life, we become secure and strong once we know there will be people who will support us to go though with us in tough times. God wants to be with us and more than that He wants to lead us into victory with every tough situation tha

We all need someone to stand with us especially in situations that are challenging and difficult to handle. We need assurance that in everything we do there will be people who will support us and motivate us no matter what happens. The need for a companion makes us confident because it gives us ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 48:35

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

The Potter’s Hand Series

Contributed by Barry Edmondson on Feb 5, 2011

God – the Master Potter – knows how to take the mistakes of life and reform it into something beautiful.

Text: Jeremiah 18:1-6 God doesn’t make mistakes. In 1502, in Florence, Italy there was a large block of marble given to a church in Santa Maria, the church immediately hired who they thought was a professional to sculpt this enormously huge piece of rock. The man was a professional and soon ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 18:1-6

Denomination: Pentecostal

"God Is With Us"

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Jun 2, 2010

Jesus reaches out to us saying, “Don’t cry. It really will be alright,” and if we are willing-- if our eyes are open to God’s never ending presence among us, if we look for Him in the dim and mist of our confusion, hurt and pain--we will see that He is ri

Luke 7:11-17 “God is with Us” By: Ken Sauer, Pastor of East Ridge United Methodist Church, Chattanooga, TN What is it that you most dread in this upcoming week, month or year? Maybe it’s something that you know is going to happen, like a traumatic move to a new house, school, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 7:11-17

Denomination: United Methodist

Rise Up! Series

Contributed by T.j. Conwell on Jun 23, 2010

Study of the book of Isaiah, Chapter 8. Will we take the energy, and obey the Lord’s command, to RISE UP and take a stand against sin? (Ref: Isaiah 8:9-10)

Rise up! Isaiah 8:9-10 Introduction - Last time in Isa. 7, the key to this chapter was God telling us NOT to worry - If you remember because of the threat of war they were ready to give up - Because the enemy had come knocking, the people feared & doubted God - The key for us is to be encouraged ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 8:9-10

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Why Should We Be Thankful

Contributed by Ron Theis on Jul 8, 2010

As Christians, in spite of the outlook of our personal lives or the world around us, there are always these constants we can be thankful for and rejoice in.

WHY SHOULD WE BE THANKFUL? INTRO: We Christians are a weird lot! A. The world does not understand us…sometimes we don’t even understand us! 1. We live our lives (or we should) swimming upstream. a. We live in direct opposition of how most people think we should live. b. We do the ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 6:1-4

Denomination: Baptist