Sermons on Hardships:

What Are You Doing Here?

Contributed by Beth Garrod-Logsdon on Aug 11, 2009

God twice asks Elijah, "What are you doing here?" This is a good question for us to be asking ourselves - why have we come into the presence of God... even if, like Elijah, we are suffering from burn-out and trying to escape the craziness of life.

What Are You Doing Here? 1 Kings 19:1-15 One of my new favorite devotional books is titled: An Eclectic Almanac for the Faithful. And I have to admit, I only picked it up at first because of its intriguing title. However, it has become a storehouse of prayer fodder and ideas for contemplation. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 19:1-15

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Rowing But Not Going

Contributed by Richard Cook on Aug 25, 2009

Sermon to encourage people who seem to be working very hard but don’t seem to be getting very far; we’ve gone farther than we think, TOO far to turn back now.

ROWING BUT NOT GOING Mark 6;45 -52 Mark 6:45 And straightway he constrained his disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side before unto Bethsaida, while he sent away the people. 46 And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray. 47 And when even was come, the ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:45-52

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Perspective From Prison Series

Contributed by Jason Jones on Nov 4, 2009

Exposition of Philippians 1:12-14 in light of Acts 28:30 about Paul’s experience in prison in Rome and God’s redemption of the situation

Text: Acts 28:30, Philippians 1:12-14, Title: Perspectives on Prison, Date/Place: NRBC, 11/8/09, AM A. Opening ill: talk about the movie The Apostle, about the closing moments singing in prison, Dave Ramsey B. Background to passage: Our text tells us that Paul spent another two years in a Roman ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:12-14

Denomination: Baptist

Consider Your Ways Series

Contributed by Jim Drake on Feb 15, 2010

When the calendar turns to a new year, many of us take the time to reflect on the past. We think about the good times and the difficult times we have been through. We think about opportunities we might have missed or things we might have done better. That

Here we are at the beginning of a new year. At the Watchnight service, we talked a little bit about resolutions. I don’t know whether you make resolutions or not, but what I do know is that you have probably done some reflecting on the past year. That what we do when the calendar turns. ...read more

Scripture: Haggai 1:1-15

Denomination: Baptist

What Do We Do When Control Is Taken Away?

Contributed by Doug Koehler on May 2, 2009

We like to be in control, some of us need to be in control but, when that control is taken away by sinful man or others, we need to look to the one who is always in full control.

Acts 4:23-33 I suspect that most all of the conflicts and battles of life boil down to issues of control. Republicans want control of the congress and Democrats don’t want to give it up. Israelis want to control Palestinians and Palestinians resist. Sunnis and Shiites fight for control of Iraq. ...read more

Scripture: Acts 4:23-33

Denomination: Lutheran

Pressure Proves... Series

Contributed by Selvan John on Jun 6, 2009

Pressures of life is the factor that would prove whether we stand firm for God or compromise.

Pressure Proves… Greetings in Jesus name! This morning I want to share something important and very relevant and that every one of us go through every day and that is PRESSURE. Our lives are full of pressure – pressure from work, pressure from family, pressure from friends, pressure from children, ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 32:1-35

Denomination: Pentecostal

"A Fearless Walk Through A Dangerous Valley.”

Contributed by Dennis Selfridge on Jun 6, 2009

Going through some valleys with His protection

Psalm 23: The clock is my dictator, I shall not rest. It makes me lie down only when exhausted. It leads me into deep depression, it hounds my soul. It leads me in circles of frenzy for activities’ sake. Even though I run frantically from task to task, I will never get it all done, for my “ideal” ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 23:4

Denomination: Wesleyan

"Lessons From Mt. Eddy"

Contributed by Andy Grossman on Aug 31, 2010

Spiritual lessons from climbing a mountain

“Lessons From Mount Eddy” September 5, 2010 Isaiah 65:17-25 "Behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in what I will create, for I will create Jerusalem to be a delight ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 65:17-25

Denomination: Holiness

Love Trumps Rules Series

Contributed by Kevin Ruffcorn on Sep 8, 2010

We are sorely tempted to institute rules that limit our ability to love. In God's kingdom love always trumps rules.

Luke 13:10-17 “Love Trumps Rules” INTRODUCTION It is amazing to me that a brief story of a diminutive, hunchbacked woman who came into contact with Jesus in a small synagogue in an isolated village in Galilee over two thousand years ago can have such a tremendous impact on our ...read more

Scripture: Luke 13:10-17

Denomination: Lutheran

Ain't Your Day

Contributed by Bo Dunford on Feb 17, 2009

Some days just don’t go the way they should.

JOB 1:6; 13; 2:1; 3:1 “AIN’T YOUR DAY” A) Story of an Indian lying in the middle of the road with his ear pressed to the ground! * The Indian was mumbling these words: “Truck, Chevy truck, Chevy pick up truck, large tires, man driving, German shepherd in front seat .......” * “Loaded with ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

To Live Is Christ Series

Contributed by Guy Mcgraw on Mar 12, 2009

Paul displayed an attitude which rose above his hard circumstances.

TO LIVE IS CHRIST Philippians 1:20-30 Two elderly women were out driving in a large car and both could barely see over the dashboard. As they were cruising along they came to an intersection. The stoplight was red but they just went on through. The woman in the passenger seat thought to herself "I ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:20-30

When It Rains On The Just

Contributed by Darin Gary on Jul 21, 2010

Does God will evil upon His own? Does He cause evil things to punish us?

When It Rains on the Just (Matthew 5:43-48) “You have heard that it was said: ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:43-48

Denomination: Wesleyan

Prune Till You Bloom

Contributed by Thomas Miller on Dec 30, 2004

Most believers think that God is mad at them, when it’s only His loving hand that strips away the dead works of flesh to reveal the fruit that will never perish

Prune until you bloom I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch that doesn’t bear fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit He prunes so that it will be even more fruitful, (John 15:1-2). Most believers think that God is mad at them, when ...read more

Scripture: John 15:1-2

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Thorns Of Life

Contributed by Bill Butsko on Jul 9, 2006

The thorns of life are many, but the grace of God is sufficient in our weakness.

Text: “…a thorn in the flesh was given to me…” (2 Corinthians 12:7) What is a thorn? The American Heritage Dictionary says that a thorn is a modified branch in the form of a sharp, woody spine. It can cause sharp pain, irritation, or discomfort. How many of you have ever been struck by a ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:2-10

Denomination: Christian Church

A Word In The Wilderness

Contributed by Cleavon Matthews Sr. on May 11, 2008

God’s word transcends our wilderness experiences.

A WORD IN THE WILDERNESS Psalm 63:1-11 By Cleavon Matthews December 9, 2007 INTRODUCTION The seasons of life are transitory moments. The video recordings of our migration are captured on the memory sticks of our mind. Our personal narrative is no fable or fairy tale. We are not living a ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 63:1-11

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ