Sermons on Overcoming Hardships:

Death Valley Days

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Mar 10, 2001

Ties together Israel’s disobedience during the Exodus, people’s failure to recognize Jesus when he came, and our own obliviousness to the warning signs around us. Lesson: Hardships aren’t for punishnment, it’s to point us to God.

Have any of you ever watched a movie or a TV show about a wagon train? You know, a column of Conestoga wagons, what they called prairie schooners, with the rounded canvas tent-tops? When I was young Westerns were the commonest sort of show, and everyone knew the conventions: The square-jawed ...read more

Scripture: John 3:14-21, Numbers 21:4-9

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Sufferings Of Life

Contributed by Vernon L Caruthers on May 20, 2006

Jesus had His Gethsemane and so will each one of His children. Yet, without those Gethsemanes, many times we do not pray and place our faith and our trust in Christ. There are BLESSINGS found in sufferings and hardships that cannot be found in the times o

Subject: The Sufferings of the Christain Life Scripture Reference: Luke 22: 44 ’And being in agony He prayed more earnestly: and His sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground." ------------------------------------------------------ --------- <>< <>< <>< -- <>< <>< <>< ...read more

Scripture: Luke 22:44

In The Setting Of Jeremiahs Sorrow

Contributed by Jessie Manuel on Mar 3, 2025

Jeremiah made prophecies during a period when Judah was threatened by invasion and moral decline; as a Jeremiah made prophecies during a period when Judah was threatened by invasion and moral decline; as a prophet he carried the weight of his people's wrongdoing and hardships.

I "Lets take a moment to read Jeremiah 12 verses 󠇁to 󠈜 together." "Lord Almighty When I come to You with my concerns Can we discuss Your ways? Why do the wicked seem to thrive? How can those who deceive be content? They flourish like planted trees, Growing and ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 12:1-4

Denomination: Methodist

Soldier On!

Contributed by Curt Cizek on Oct 14, 2007

We got through trials sometimes. Jesus said that we will have troubles in this life but that we should take heart because he has overcome the world. This was preached at a military chapel but it could easily be preached in a civilian church.

-We’re in a war! -I know that the people in the military get that – they’ve deployed to fight in it -Their families know it – because they’ve missed their loved ones while they’ve been fighting -If you are a retiree you know it – because you’ve been there before -But I don’t think the American ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:1-13

Denomination: Lutheran

Love Conquers All

Contributed by Jim Keegan on Nov 27, 2023

The love of God overcomes fear if we choose to open our hearts to its supreme reality. The greatest source of blessing and peace we can ever know is found in trusting in his love.

A pastor shared the story of going deep-sea fishing in Florida with his brother when their boat lost all of its electronics, including the communications and GPS functions. They were out of sight of land, and since it was an overcast day there was no way for them even to tell east from west. ...read more

Scripture: Mark 5:21-43, 1 John 4:16-18

Covenant Before Culture

Contributed by David Dunn on Sep 15, 2025

Marriage is God’s covenant design from creation, not a cultural contract, and only the new heart given by Christ can overcome hardness, restore faithfulness, and display His love to the world.

(The Case for Marriage) I. God’s Original Design Genesis 2:18–24 When the Pharisees asked Jesus about divorce, He did something simple and bold. He didn’t argue the law. He didn’t haggle over texts. He went back to the garden. He started at the beginning. He said, “From the beginning it was not ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 2:18-24, Malachi 2:4, Matthew 19:3-9, Matthew 5:27-28

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

The Three Places

Contributed by Andrew Dixon on Oct 1, 2025

In this journey of faith there are three places that we can find ourselves in – a place of bondage, a place of wandering or a place of promise. Each of us can introspect to see where we are and move forward in faith to reach the place of promise, to fulfill God’s purposes

Today’s meditation is based on Joshua 21:43, “So the LORD gave all of the land to Israel that he had promised to give their ancestors, and they took possession and settled there in it.” (ERV) The Lord gave the people of Israel the land that he had promised to their ancestors, and they duly took ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 21:43, Exodus 1:13-14, Deuteronomy 29:5-6, Exodus 14:10-11, Joshua 3:14-16, Matthew 11:28  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Other

Understanding What Paul Understood Series

Contributed by David Owens on Aug 8, 2016

In this sermon, we look at some of the difficulties that Paul faced and how he endured them by trusting in God. He understood that God would always be with him, and that although God would not remove the difficulties, God would enable him to overcome.

Introduction: A. M. Scott Peck’s 1978 best-selling book, The Road Less Traveled, opens with these words: “Life is difficult. This is a great truth, one of the greatest truths. It is a great truth because once we truly see this truth, we transcend it. Once we truly know that life is ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Secret Weapon Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Sep 11, 2016

On 9-11 our nation needed someone to tell us they understood our fears, our enemy and our future. It needed someone to say they had a plan to deal with our enemy and that together we would overcome. Essentially, that's what Revelation 4 is all about.

OPEN: Fifteen years ago, two of our families went on vacation. They went to NYC and had gone to see the sights and enjoy the pleasures of the city. But their plans were shattered in a moment’s time… along with the plans of millions of Americans across the nation. 19 evil men, with ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 4:1-11

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Paul’s List Of Thanks

Contributed by John Gaston on Nov 21, 2023

There are at least 5 areas that Paul thanked God about in his letters. Those are: salvation, Pentecost, power to overcome, believers, and the Lord’s Supper. Let's thank God for these!

PAUL’S LIST OF THANKS 1 Thess. 5:18 INTRODUCTION A. HUMOR 1. Did you hear about the Redneck who called Butterball’s Thanksgiving Turkey Talk-Line to tell the operator he’d cut his turkey in half with a chain saw and wanted to know if the oil from the chain would adversely affect the turkey. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Hate What Is Evil

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Nov 26, 2003

Too many people, in our age of tolerance, fail to realize the importance of hating what is evil. Here are twenty-six areas of evil we need to hate, flee from and overcome with good.

Hate What is Evil (Romans 12:9) Too many people, in our age of tolerance, fail to realize the importance of hating what is evil. Here are twenty areas that need to be identified in our personal life, relationships and activities that must be rooted out before we can "be holy as He is holy." ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:9

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Letter To The Church In Ephesus.

Contributed by Claude Alexander on May 2, 2020

I know your deeds, your hard work and perseverance . I know you cannot tolerate wicked men and you have tested those who claim to be apostles but. are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and endured hardships for my name and have not grown weary.” Rev. 2: 2-3 .

Letter to the church of Ephesians Revelation 2:1-20 The City of Ephesus was located on the western shore of Asia Minor what is now Western Turkey. . It was a seaport city. All trade coming by sea came through the city of Ephesus. The city boasted of its stadium and its tribute to the pagan god ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:1-7

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Rejoicing

Contributed by Lou Nicholes on May 25, 2005

In this passage Paul resumed the story that he left in 2:13, where he said he went to Macedonia to look for Titus. Though Paul still had many problems and hardships to face, he found comfort and joy in the ministry God had given to him.

THOUGHTS ABOUT THE PASSAGE: Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., was a member of the U.S. Supreme Court for 30 years. His mind, wit and work earned him the unofficial title of “the greatest justice since John Marshall.” At one point in his life, Justice Holmes explained his choice of a career by saying: ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 7:2-7

Denomination: Baptist

Why Does Belief Sometimes Come The Hard Way?

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Oct 18, 2000

Why do some people only trust God when they experience terrible hardships? In this passage we are given insights into how a governor of Cyprus was brought to Christ the hard way. His path to faith is symbolic of so many people who seem to prefer to learn

1. Why do some people only trust God when they experience terrible hardships? In this passage we are given insights into how a governor of Cyprus was brought to Christ the hard way. His path to faith is symbolic of so many people who seem to prefer to learn the most important lessons in life, ...read more

Scripture: Acts 13:4-12

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Paul’s Message Before Governor Felix Series

Contributed by Brad Beaman on Feb 9, 2022

We see that Paul is faithful to Jesus Christ in whatever his circumstance. He faced numerous attempts on his life. He was on trial and struck in the face. In all these hardships Paul remained steadfast and whenever he had the chance, he shared the gospel with Governor Felix.

The Background of Paul before Felix Here we find Paul in Caesarea standing before Felix the governor. Paul recently completed his third missionary journey and now he is beginning his Jerusalem to Rome ministry. Right before he went to Jerusalem, he stopped in Caesarea to visit Philip the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 24:10-21

Denomination: Baptist