Sermons on Praying Hard:

Keep In Step With The Spirit Series

Contributed by Christian Cheong on Oct 8, 2012

Self-control is a Fruit of the Spirit. It is self in control by the Spirit of God. We need to acknowledge our need of God's grace. We need to watch and pray.

In the book, The Three Edwards, Thomas Costain described the life of Raynald III, a 14-century duke in what is now Belgium. Grossly overweight, Raynald was commonly called by his Latin nickname, Crassus, which means "fat." After a violent quarrel, Raynald's younger brother Edward led a ...read more

Scripture: Titus 2:11-14

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Living With The Enemy Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Oct 27, 2002

Jesus taught us to forgive our enemies... but I’d just as soon not, thank you. Why is it so important for me to forgive people who have worked so hard at being my enemies?

OPEN: Clarence Darrow, the famed criminal lawyer once joked: "Everyone is a potential murderer. I have not killed anyone - but I frequently get satisfaction out of obituary notices." APPLY: Now, why would we find that humorous? We find it funny because it comes so close to the truth. Of all the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 6:27-36

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Prayer & Witness Series

Contributed by Dean Courtier on Aug 19, 2004

Why should we pray? God knows how grateful we are! There is a big problem with this kind of attitude and then the issue becomes, Why pray at all? God knows all that we need! We may even quote our Lord when He said that God knows all that we need bef

PRAYER Colossians 4:1-6 (NIV) Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. Be wise in the way you ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 4:1-6

Denomination: Pentecostal

Prayer Focused Series

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Feb 7, 2013

The church and all of us Christians should be prayer focused within our lives. Business should never choke out our prayer life instead we should be committed to pray first. When we pray we discover God’s presence then we receive God’s power.

Series Summary: We are here! Thesis of the series: We are here in 2013 as a church and as Christian individuals to declare the message of Jesus and to bring in God’s heavenly harvest of souls. We are here to be the salt and the light of this world. Sermon 2: Prayer ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:10-14

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Garden Of Gethsemane – The Vitality Of Intercession (2/12) Series

Contributed by Eduardo (Eddie) Fernandes on Jun 17, 2020

Many don’t know how to pray. Prayer involves more than petition. When times get tough believers must fall to their knees before the throne of mercy with nobody else around. In the most terrifying week of His life Jesus retreated to pray. It was in Gethsemane where He won the victory, not on Calvary!

Introduction Slide 1 (title of series) For those who missed it, last week we began a 12 week adventure in the life of Jesus as we study what are called “The 12 stations of the cross.” In the last few weeks of the life of Jesus on earth we will study significant places He stopped at and what we can ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 26:36-41

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Ever Expanding Joy Series

Contributed by Steve Bond on Oct 29, 2007

The world is both a hard and a beautiful place. We may experience stratospheric highs in one season only to plunge into abyss. but we more often have to work our way through the regular ups and downs, and bumps of life.

Introduction There was once a farmer who began to look at his farm through critical eyes. Every place he looked on his farm he saw something wrong. So he decided to sell and move somewhere else. He contracted a realtor who came out to look things over. Then the realtor called to get the farmer’s ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:12-30

Denomination: Independent/Bible

To Live: Deliverance Series

Contributed by Mark Nichols on Aug 5, 2009

Paul has joy even when life is hard because he focuses on Deliverance! Either your difficult times will come to an end, or you will, but it’s a win/win situation...because Paul knows Christ!

TEXT: Philippians 1:12-30 TITLE: To LIVE: Deliverance SERIES: To Live TOPIC: Salvation OCCASION: Burnside Christian Church, June 28, 2009 PROP.: in order to receive deliverance, you must wait for the Lord…but continue to read His word, continue with your mission, understand God’s plans are ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:12-30

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Why Did Jesus Come To This Earth And A Die As A Common Criminal?

Contributed by Gordon Mcculloch on Dec 20, 2015

Why did Jesus come to this earth as a tiny baby, a die as a common criminal. What hope do we have for the future knowing that God himself was innocently crucified. This sermon is subtly hard hitting, giving hope for the future.

Note: The hymns "The sermon King" and "I cannot tell" to the tune Danny Boy are perfect for the sermon. Introduction One of the greatest yet strangest of stories in the bible is that of almighty God coming into this world and living as we do. ... And there is an even stranger story is that he did ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 10:5-10

Denomination: Episcopal

Looking For Leftovers Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jun 29, 2014

Can God supply all your needs? The Disciples struggled with that idea... and so do many of us. Why do we have such a hard time trusting God in this and how can we learn to believe Him more?

OPEN: I once read the true story of a family that was sitting down at the dinner table for their evening meal. But one of the girls wasn’t happy because they were having leftovers, and she complained about it. The dad was not happy about that and spent a few moments explaining to her ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:1-21

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

#3 - Is God Far Away? Series

Contributed by Darrell Stetler Ii on May 31, 2011

Is God far off? Why does it seem like He is? How should I act, pray, and live when it seems like God is far away?

#3 - Is God Far Away <ILLUS> Many of you remember where you were when you heard the news on 9/11? Many of you remember where you were when you heard the explosion on April 15th in OKC. In those kind of moments of chaos, so many people ask “Where is God?” This week, the world ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 10:1-16

Denomination: Holiness

Friendship 101

Contributed by Steve Shepherd on Oct 18, 2004

Things to do in preparation for a Friend Day service. 1- We must pray and believe 2- We must find and bring 3- We must befriend and listen

INTRO.- Math 101, English 101, Speech 101, History 101, etc.. You name it and it’s out there. But what we are talking about? 101 is a term when referring to an introductory course of some subject or the basic knowledge of some subject. Here is an example of what I would call Atheism 101. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:7-8

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Confident Prayer Series

Contributed by Jon Mackinney on Oct 24, 2003

What is it that keeps us from praying? What is it that has made prayer into a drudgery, a joyless discipline that fills us with guilt? It doesn’t have to be that way at all.

It’s strange that every time someone announces, like we have in the bulletin and up on the overhead and in the announcements, that we’re going to talk about prayer, we all get a little uncomfortable. You may notice in your bulletin that it says, "Leave your guilt bags at home." Because when we ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:1-12

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Jesus Practioners

Contributed by Rich Hadley on Dec 17, 2001

The Practicing (serving) Church is a: Philanthropic Church, Proclaiming Church,Persecuted Church, Protected Church, Praising Church, Praying Church, and aPowerful Church

(Excerpt from Peter Marshall—"Were you there") ("The [afternoon sun was sliding into its gentle decline] over the City of David. Already pilgrims, and visitors pouring in through [the north and south gates of the Temple; elbowing their way past those milling around in the grand court yards and ...read more

Scripture: Acts 4:23-32, Acts 3:1-6

Denomination: Holiness

Dealing With Failure Series

Contributed by Doug Johnston on Oct 5, 2001

When Saul made mistakes in judgment or sinned, he had the pattern of making things hard for himself by overlooking them or blaming others instead of coming back to the heart of the matter and doing the simple things God wants most.

And Saul answered, God do so and more also: for thou shalt surely die, Jonathan. 1 Samuel 14:44 30 Then he said, I have sinned: yet honour me now, I pray thee, before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD thy God. 31 So Samuel turned again ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Thy Kingdom Come: Still Blind And Mute Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Sep 10, 2001

Praying for the Kingdom to come is an awesome responsibility, for some of us remain blind and mute despite Jesus’ healing, criticizing those who are different and causing divisions.

Our backyard is heavily populated. It is home to birds and bugs, to snails and occasional snakes, and most of all, our backyard is populated with moles. The turf is home to those burrowing creatures, moles. I have the twisted ankle to prove it, thanks to sinking in one of the burrows. Our ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 12:22-32

Denomination: Baptist