Sermons on Rocky Ground:

Let's Be Good Ground For Jesus

Contributed by Randall Long on Apr 4, 2020

This message uses Jesus' Parable of the Sower to encourage believers to face the obstacles that hinder us from spiritual growth in our lives.

ALL RIGHT, EVERYONE! PAY ATTENTION! THIS IS SOMETHING YOU NEED TO HEAR! Have I aroused your interest? Are you at least curious what I'm about to say that can justify such verbal arm-waving? Will you be upset (or at least disappointed) if I proceed to tell a story about some guy who has a ...read more

Scripture: Mark 4:3-9, Mark 4:13-20, Galatians 5:22

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Fifteenth Sunday In Ordinary Time, Year A- The Sower

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Jun 18, 2023

Even in the fruit-bearing hearers of the word there are gradations.

I saw a neighbor working in his front yard wearing a funny T-Shirt that said, “Sorry I Can't My Plants Need Me.” In today’s parable from Matthew, chapter 13, the seed is the Word of God (verse 20), and the ground is our hearts (verse 19). It all depends on what kind of soil a person is because ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:1-23

Denomination: Catholic

Rocky - Preparing For The Fight Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on May 5, 2003

Why did Jesus take His disciples to Caesarea Philippi? Why go to a pagan, idolatrous city to ask His disciples the most important question of His ministry?

OPEN: I read once the story of a young black man in the ghettos. He was fortunate in that he had both of his parents, and they struggled to make ends meet. But for his birthday that year they had scraped together enough money to pay for a brand new bicycle. A few days later someone stole it. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:13-28

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Faith For Rocky Waters

Contributed by Mary Erickson on Aug 14, 2023

A sermon for Lectionary 19 in the season following Pentecost, Year A

August 13, 2023 Rev. Mary Erickson Hope Lutheran Church Matthew 14:22-33 A Faith for Rocky Waters Friends, may grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and Christ Jesus our Lord. “Take heart, it is I.” How wonderful it must have been for the disciples to hear Jesus’ voice ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 14:22-33

Denomination: Lutheran

On The Ground Series

Contributed by Troy Richards on Dec 9, 2010

A look at Jesus' last few weeks of teaching.

-welcome back. I hope you all had a great Spring Break. -for the next two weeks we are going to look at what happened after Jesus rose from the dead. Most people, whether they believe in Jesus or not, have a pretty good handle on the Easter Story. They know what happened then. -but the funny thing ...read more

Scripture: John 21:15-19

Denomination: Methodist

Pathway Ground Series

Contributed by Jeremy Houck on Feb 19, 2003

A look at the Parable of the Sower

I believe that it is the work of the preacher to preach and teach things that will cause us to grow and stretch our belief and faith in God. I hope that in the time that God gives us to work together here in this community that I will be able to do just that. I want to challenge you, teach things ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:1-9

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Fertile Ground Series

Contributed by Mark Eberly on May 19, 2009

Jesus gives us four basic types of response to the message of God’s kingdom. Which type of ground most resembles your spiritual walk?

Parables of Jesus Fertile Ground Matthew 13:3-9; 18-23 May 17, 2009 As I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, this parable is the parable of parables. It is the certainly a huge key in understanding what Jesus is teaching about God’s kingdom and what God expects of us in response to the message that ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:3-23

Denomination: Church Of God

Rocky Iii - Ko'd Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on May 19, 2003

Peter is often depicted as a weak and unreliable disciple, but was that really his problem... or was there something else that lay behind his denials of Christ in the High Priest’s Courtyard?

OPEN: Nearly 30 years ago on October 30, 1974, Muhammad Ali and George Foreman squared off in the boxing ring in Zaire. Ali had dubbed it “The Rumble in the Jungle.” Foreman was heavily favored, and was considered to be the hardest puncher in heavyweight history. Foreman was fairly confident he ...read more

Scripture: Luke 22:31-62

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Rocky Iv - The Comeback Kid Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on May 25, 2003

Acts 4 presents Peter as a confident, powerful preacher of Christ... but not two months earlier he had been a cowering coward. What made the difference?

OPEN: In the 70’s there was runaway hit movie starring Sylvester Stallone, entitled "Rocky." Many people, including myself were unaware that the movie was based on a real life boxer named Chuck Werner - otherwise known as the Bayonne Bleeder (because he bled so easily and freely throughout his ...read more

Scripture: Acts 4:1-31

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

What Is Christian Spirituality

Contributed by Charles Scott on Jul 9, 2008

Spirituality is grounded in committed Christian living.

Trinity 8 Proper 10A What is Christian spirituality Isaiah 55:1-5, 10-13 Thus says the Lord: “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:1-23

Denomination: Anglican

How's Your Soil? Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Jan 10, 2010

Jesus presents a familiar story with a real spiritual punch - take a listen and figure out if you are rocky, weedy, pathy, or pliable. It may be more significant than you ever dreamed.

Last winter I collected bags of leaves as a covering and mulch for our garden. I got the bags from a street corner where someone had raked them off their lawn. I spread them around and was satisfied. Then in the spring when it was time to plant our beans, pumpkins, tomatoes, and cucumbers, a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:1-23

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Holy Ground

Contributed by John Nadasi on Apr 17, 2003

Easter Baptismal Service. The sermon leads us together to the empty tomb. In it we find God’s promises revealed. We are covenanted into that promise through our baptism.

John 20:1-18 Paonia United Methodist Church April 20, 2003 Death is an unpleasant subject. No matter how you look at it, There is nothing good about the idea of growing old and dying. I think I have told you before about the day that I became an “old people.” For those of you who have not ...read more

Scripture: John 20:1-18

Denomination: Methodist

No Middle Ground

Contributed by Bruce Ferris on Oct 13, 2003

I marvel at God’s forgiveness and His unchanging love when I fall – His is a forgiving love that is unconditional and not based upon your performance or your character but rather His holiness and righteous character. As Martin Luther discovered after a f

No Middle Ground Hebrews 5:12-6:9 "As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him; rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving...Colossians 2:6-7" I marvel at God’s forgiveness and His unchanging love ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Grounded In Grace Series

Contributed by Dan Morrison on Aug 8, 2002

Grace, it is exactly what man needs. And Paul writes to us and says," those who RECEIVE it shall reign in life.

Grounded in Grace Reason why this series is being preached There has been more response from this series than any other I have ever done in over 20 years of preaching. People are hungry to hear about the true grace of God. So far we have shared: 1. UNDERSTANDIING THE GRACE OF GOD. Its ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:17

Denomination: Baptist

Ground Zero Series

Contributed by Chris Talton on Sep 9, 2002

Ground Zero events change everything around us. Suffering is a reality, and suffering comes from the presence of sin in us and in our world. But with Jesus as our foundation, we can have forgiveness and security.

Sept. 8, 2002 Genesis 3:1 - 24 ¡§Ground Zero¡¨ INTRODUCTION I need you to do something for me this morning. Each of you should have received four slips of paper as you came in today. If you do not have these, please raise your hand, and an usher will get them to you. On these four ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 3:1

Denomination: Baptist