Sermons on Life Is Hard:

Blessed Are The Persecuted Series

Contributed by David Swanger on Feb 27, 2013

Called to live a beatitude kind of life, the hard reality is anyone who lives out the first seven beatitudes is guaranteed at some point to experience the eighth.

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Jesus ends the beatitudes by saying “Blessed are those persecuted, reviled, and spoken against.” Would anyone care to get in “the blessed line?” Most of us prefer ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:10-12

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Who Can Stand? The Church!, Part 2 (Revelation 7:9-17) Series

Contributed by Garrett Tyson on May 21, 2023

A no-rapture, academically rigorous reading of Revelation. Life is hard now. It will be harder later, and Revelation prepares us to accept that, and to be faithful in tough times.

Last week, we worked our way through the first vision of Revelation 7, which describes the sealing of the 144,000, from the 12 tribes of Israel. I argued that this was a vision of the church. Israel, is the church. The church, is Israel. I gave a few arguments in support of this, but I left out ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 7:9-17

Spirituality For The Rest Of Us

Contributed by Paul Newell on Mar 18, 2008

We seem to make the whole "knowing God" thing much harder than God ever did? Life is hard, knowing God is what makes sense out of life.

Spirituality For the Rest of Us 2 Peter 3:18, “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” Intro: Why should following Jesus Christ be so “hard”? If I had a dollar for every time I’ve heard someone tell me: “Oh, Pastor Paul, it’s so haaarrrrdddd…” “Pastor, you ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 3:18

Denomination: Baptist

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

A Rock And A Hard Place

Contributed by J. Curtis Goforth, O.s.l. on Sep 30, 2006

This sermon is for the 17th Sunday after Pentecost and addresses the need we all have to cut off from our lives the things which keep us from a deeper relationship with Christ.

“A Rock and a Hard Place” Sermon on Mark 9:38-50 Pentecost +17-B October 1, 2006 Rev. J. Curtis Goforth, O.S.L. 43If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. 45And if your foot ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:38-50

Denomination: United Methodist

When Belief Is Hard Series

Contributed by Curry Pikkaart on Apr 16, 2015

Sometimes belief is just plain hard - just ask Thomas (a 1st person sermon)

“Getting Into Shape: When Belief Is Hard” John 20:19-31 I’m grateful you’re here today. Some of you are here because you want to hear what I have to say – you’re curious; some of you are here to check out what I have to say – you’re suspicious. ...read more

Scripture: John 20:19-31

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

David's Hard Heart

Contributed by Charles Andrews on Jan 1, 2004

David’s heart was hardened by sin. Only the death of his newborn son softened it. This sermon looks at three aspects of his son’s death and David’s reaction.

“David’s Hard Heart” Text: 2 Samuel 12:1-23 Introduction: Sin carries consequences! Some are immediate; others come much later in life and some last an entire lifetime. And, of course, any sin of which we do not repent and ask for forgiveness, carries with it the consequence of an eternity in a ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 12:1-23

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

It's Hard To Be A Believer

Contributed by Ian Biss on Jun 29, 2007

Proper attitude can make or break you.

It’s Hard to be a Believer. 01/01/06 One of the most interesting things about being a Christian is how easy it is to become one yet how hard it is to be a believer. When you make the decision to follow Christ, you soon find out that being a believer is tough. God shows you all the sin in your ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:14-30

Denomination: Grace Brethren

The Hard Way Home Series

Contributed by Paul Cull on Jun 12, 2005

The hard way home to God

The hard way home Part 3 of a series of 3 Hosea 14:1-9 The story is told of a man who was travelling in the wilder parts of Ireland. Eventually decided to return home to Dublin, but on the way, seemed to get lost. In due course he came across a likely looking local, and asked for directions. ...read more

Scripture: Hosea 14:1-9

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

The University Of Hard Knocks

Contributed by Ed Wood on May 26, 2007

Paul sat at the feet of Gamaliel and other great teachers of that day. But he learned far more from the UNIVERSITY OF HARD KNOCKS, for there he sat under God’s great teaching.

THE UNIVERSITY OF HARD KNOCKS 2 Corinthians 12:7-9 INTRO: There are many great universities in our land. Everyone knows about Harvard, Yale, and Princeton. In England there is Oxford University. But I want to tell you about another school. It has had more students and more graduates than any ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:7-9

Denomination: Baptist

Run Hard To The Finish

Contributed by Chew Chew on Aug 2, 2007

To challenge the students to make a decision to run right up to the finish and to encourage those that are dropping out of the race to come back right on.

Text: 2 Timothy 4: 6-8 Title: Running Hard to the Finish Objective: To challenge the students to make a decision to run right up to the finish and to encourage those that are dropping out of the race to come back right on. Introduction Before I began with the actual preaching of the word, I ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:6-8

Denomination: Pentecostal

Asked For A Hard Thing!

Contributed by Bala Samson on May 29, 2015

Great things don’t come easy, we’ve got to strive hard to attain them! Are you hearing please?Come on, be feisty, gutsy, dig in hard, and don’t give up!

Hard thing! 2 King 2:10” And he said, "You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it shall be so for you, but if you do not see me, it shall not be so." Hey friend, Great things don’t come easy, we’ve got to strive hard to attain them! Are you ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 2:1-10

Denomination: Pentecostal

Work Hard Serving Series

Contributed by Scott Maze on Jun 4, 2021

Christians are to display a willingness to be offended, disadvantaged, even abused without making a return, without requiring vengeance, without demanding an accounting – whether an apology, or punishment, or a repayment of some kind.

Today’s Big Idea: God Works Diligently on Our Behalf. “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: 11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:10-11, Psalm 121:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

Hard Work And Providence Series

Contributed by Christopher Lanham on Jun 18, 2011

It is funny how we think God should work. For some reason we seem to think that since God is the all-powerful, all-knowing, ever-present Creator of the universe – and anything else in existence – that he should do everything on a grand scale.

Hard Work and Providence Ecclesiastes 11:1-8 Cascades Fellowship CRC, JX MI June 5, 2005 I am going to tell you one of my favorite stories this morning because it illustrates perfectly how many of us think about the relationship between what we do and what God does. Many of you have probably ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 11:1-8

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Value Of Hard Work

Contributed by Kerry Haynes on Nov 13, 2016

Serving the Lord is a lifelong mission, although the nature of the work may change. God only holds us responsible for what we can do. Yet, if we pay attention, he will provide an opportunity to serve him every day in some way. (Great for Labor Day)

The Value of Hard Work 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13 Today we will focus on the cure for idleness, and here are my favorite thoughts on the subject: “Yesterday I did nothing and today I'm finishing what I did yesterday.” “If I won the award for laziness, I would send somebody to pick ...read more

Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13, 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12

Denomination: Baptist