Sermons on Praying Hard:

Witness To Resurrection

Contributed by Mark Aarssen on Jun 20, 2018

Have had your hopes and dreams absolutely destroyed before your eyes? Such loss is entirely devastating and seems absolutely unbelievable at the time. It is hard enough when it happens to you as an individual but more so for a group. Jesus Restores Us

Witness to Resurrection Luke 24 1 Corinthians 15 Peace be with you Have you ever lost faith? Have you ever had your hopes and dreams absolutely destroyed before your eyes? Maybe for you it was losing faith in someone you loved. All that trust and mutual investment in relationship torn ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:9-10, John 20:19-20

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

God Brings Down The Proud Series

Contributed by Reuben Bredenhof on Apr 10, 2022

In the church's fear and struggle, feeling hard-pressed and helpless, she can be encouraged. We know that the proud of the earth will not endure forever. The violent will not prevail. God is on his throne: He is the great judge and our faithful Saviour.

The world has seen many cruel tyrants and dictators. Sometimes these powerful men live out their days to the fullest, enjoying all the glories of their position right to the end, then dying in comfort. But many end in humiliation and defeat. The great Napoleon spent his last years in exile on a ...read more

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

New Beginnings—it’s Not Clichés.

Contributed by Howard Strickland on Sep 16, 2020

God waits to give us a new beginning, a fresh start. Maybe we're in the middle of a year, a hard year--the year 2020. However, COVD won't have the final say. God will.

New Beginnings—It’s Not Clichés. Lamentations 3:21-26NKJV Jeremiah was a man whose message of repentance was rejected, and despite his earnest prayer for his people, he was to witness the children of Israel being sold into slavery.. the city of God being destroyed and the Temple of the Lord ...read more

Scripture: Lamentations 3:21-26, 2 Corinthians 10:4-5, Philippians 4:8

Denomination: Pentecostal

Compensation (Exodus 22)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Aug 28, 2024

God's old covenant contains many things hard to understand. Do we judge God by our corrupt society's standards or humble seek to understand? Let's look at Exodus 22.

When we look at the laws under the old covenant, are we tempted to think that some were too harsh and some were amazing? Do we judge God by our society’s corrupt standards? Or, do we humbly seek to learn? Let’s look at Exodus 22. What compensation was a thief to pay? Was there something similar to ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

From The Pit To The Promise

Contributed by Jeff Taylor on Jan 28, 2023

All of us will go through the pit at some point. All of us will at some point go through hard times. We will go through the valley. But for every pit, for every valley, there IS a way out that leads to the very promise of God!

Here are things to remember when you get in the pit. First, intolerance of your condition creates your future. Say that with me. Intolerance of your condition creates your future. The problem is some start looking for ways to get accustomed to the pit. You read books on how to adjust to darkness. ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 45:1-8

Denomination: Pentecostal

Open Tomb, Closed Case Series

Contributed by Ken Mckinley on Apr 26, 2025

In our cynical world today, it's hard to trust anyone. All the institutions have been shown to be engaged in fraud, lying, and deception. But we can trust the Word of God and the God who gave us that Word.

Open Tomb, Closed Case Text: John 20:1-29 So we just celebrated the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. And like I said last Sunday, it’s the most amazing event in all of human history. So even though we’re going to be back in John’s Gospel this morning, we’re right at the point ...read more

Scripture: John 20:1-29, Romans 1:1-4, 1 Peter 1:3, 1 Corinthians 15:14

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Self-Control - 2 Peter 1:6 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Mar 9, 2025

Imagine how much better your life would be with more self-control. Why is it so hard? Elite athletes who are unbelievers often outshine most Christians in this area—how can that be, if it’s a fruit of the Spirit?

2 Peter 1:5 For this very reason, having made every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control. Introduction I want to start with this question: in Peter’s list of virtues in 2 Peter 1:5-7, why isn’t verse 5 enough? By the end of v.5 you ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:6

Open-Minded To A Narrow Way? - Matthew 7:13-14 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Nov 16, 2024

The dominant religion of our culture is pluralism – no one goes to hell. Jesus tells us to enter the narrow gate because the more popular, less exclusive, less difficult road leads to hell, whereas the sparse, exclusive, hard road leads to life.

Matthew 7:13-14 Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. Introduction Pluralism Whatever you think about President ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:13-14

Psalm 55 Title: When Sorrows Like Sea Billows Roll Series

Contributed by John Lowe on Jan 21, 2021

If we have been tempted to give up, to run away from our problems, then this is the psalm for us. Most of us have been where David was in this psalm—hard pressed by circumstances that are partly our own making but which have gotten beyond our control.

Home Lessons October 9, 2015 Tom Lowe PSALM 55 Title: When Sorrows Like Sea Billows Roll (To the chief Musician on Neginoth, Maskil, a Psalm of David.) Theme: A Cry of Faith in the Time of Antichrist Psalm 55 (KJV) 1 Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 55:1-23

Denomination: Baptist

Are You Ready For A Miracle? Series

Contributed by Tim Smith on Oct 19, 2009

Ever been between a rock and a hard place? Ever seen the dark circumstances around you and been afraid and frustrated, doubting whether God might intervene? Many of us have experienced the uncertainty of these days and allowed fear to invade our hearts an

Are You Ready for a Miracle? Isaiah 7: 1-14 Two men made their way to the city’s edge one day. One was quite young, only 20 years old, but with an awesome responsibility on his shoulders.
The other was more mature. He’d been around for a while and seen a few things. As they walked, he tried ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 7:1-14

Denomination: Methodist

Familiarity Breeds A Feeling Of Contempt And Worthlessness.

Contributed by Gordon Mcculloch on Nov 22, 2016

Being a preacher in the town where I was brought up is hard. Yes I was no angel, but my bad reputation still stands as I am constantly reminded. We have all moved on, even Jesus, who had this problem as well.

This sermon was delivered to St Oswald’s, Maybole, Ayrshire, Scotland on the 8th July 2016; St Oswald’s is a Scottish Episcopal Church in the Dioceses of Glasgow and Dumfries. The readings for today are: 2 Samuel 5:1-5, 9-10 Psalm 48 2 Corinthians 12:2-10 Mark 6:1-13 Prayer: In ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:1-13

Denomination: Episcopal

Stronger And Stronger

Contributed by Bala Samson on Oct 14, 2020

God’s Word, God’s ways are passé today, it’s all about how smart, astute, skilled, hard-working, computer- savvy, experienced and technically trained you are, very few rely on God and church for success in their life.

Stronger and stronger 2 Samuel 3:1”There was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David. And David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul became weaker and weaker.” When God starts pouring down His blessings on you then you need a giant vessel, such would be the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 3:1

Denomination: Pentecostal

Keys To Communicating Change As Shown By Jesus

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Oct 18, 2000

Jesus prayed and relied on the Holy Spirit for every change. Even at the times of Christ’s greatest popularity He knew that only the Spirit produces lasting change

Illustration:Everything continues in a state of rest unless it is compelled to change by forces impressed upon it. Issac Newton, First Law of Motion. Quote: Few people change on their own. Only the Spirit of God working through the word of God given by the people of God produces Godly changes. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:17-38

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

6 Marks Of An Intercessor Series

Contributed by Wah Lok Ng on May 10, 2002

Abraham’s intercession for Sodom is a classic example of how we should pray. God was willing to spare Sodom for 10 godly people because Abraham interceded.

6 MARKS OF AN INTERCESSOR By Ng Wah Lok Text : Gen 18:16-33 Introduction. In Genesis 18, we see Abraham interceding for Sodom which was due for destruction because of her sins. Because of Abraham’s intercession, God was willing to spare Sodom if Abraham could find 10 righteous people there. ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 22:30-31, Genesis 18:16-33

Denomination: Charismatic

The Prayer Of Jabez

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Jan 8, 2001

Jabez prayed a model prayer that God would bless him, increase his territory, place his hand upon him and keep him from evil.

“Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, ‘Because I bore him in pain.’ And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, ‘Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep ...read more

Scripture: 1 Chronicles 4:9-10

Denomination: Methodist