Sermons on Rocky Ground:

Veteran's Day

Contributed by Dean Rhine on Nov 12, 2012

Veteran's Day sermon

Veteran’s Day 2012 - 2 Samuel 23 Take your bibles this morning and turn with me to the book of 2 Samuel, chapter 23. As a boy, I loved watching war movies -- whether it was John Wayne or Battle of the Bulge or the Dirty Dozen or one of my favorites, The Great Escape. A generation before ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 23:8-12

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Anxiety Is A Downer

Contributed by Derrick Tuper on Nov 14, 2016

Last week I shared Prov. 12:25, "An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up." As I focused on the later part of the verse last week, today I want to focus on the beginning part of the verse. So, let's look at the subject of anxiety.

ANXIETY IS A DOWNER INTRODUCTION: Last week I shared Prov. 12:25, "An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up." in regards to shining our light. Light warms and so therefore a kind word warms a person's heart. As I focused on the later part of the verse last week, today I ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 12:25

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Prayer For The Church

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Jan 21, 2015

The church and our nation don't seem to be in a good spot and need much prayer. The church in Ephesus was in a similar spot and Paul knew that they needed prayer desperately. Have we been focusing on praying for the church in our nation?

Opening illustration: A friend told me about a neighbor who years ago spent most of his spare time planting trees. The man seldom watered the young trees because he thought that too much watering spoiled them. (He came from the “no pain, no gain” school of plant care.) Pampered trees, ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:14-19

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Don't Let The Green Grass Fool You

Contributed by Rodney V Johnson on Aug 22, 2016

This message is about how we can get so caught up looking at and desiring something that someone else has that we fail to walk in the blessings that God has already given us.

Don’t Let The Green Grass Fool You Scriptures: Psalm 1:1-3 Introduction The title of my message this morning is “Don’t Let The Green Grass Fool You!” Some of you are old enough to remember the song with this title. Let me read the first verse of this song to you: ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 1:1-3

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Learning From God's Providence

Contributed by Charles Scott on Jun 22, 2017

Jesus learned obedience by the things He suffered. Similarly, St. Paul learned from the Christ that he had persecuted, the things he would suffer as He followed the Christ. Living the Christ life, we will see how suffering aids in redemption.

Trinity 2 2017 Learning from God’s Providence The Collect O LORD, who never failest to help and govern those whom thou dost bring up in thy stedfast fear and love; Keep us, we beseech thee, under the protection of thy good providence, and make us to have a perpetual fear and love of thy holy ...read more

Scripture: 3 John 3:13, Luke 14:6

Denomination: Anglican

God Made A Farmer - A Funeral Message For A Farmer

Contributed by Jeff Strite on May 17, 2020

A funeral message for a farmer based upon the homespun homily by Paul Harvey - "God Made A Farmer"

(This funeral message was built around Paul Harvey’s homespun homily on farmers entitled “God Made A Farmer” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRDaPEaDJ7E. The funeral home played Paul’s Harvey’s speech just before the message) God made a farmer. In Genesis 2:8 & 15 we read that “… God planted ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 2:8, Genesis 2:15

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Plan, The Nut And The Pearl

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Feb 1, 2019

God has a plan for each person. Do we desire God's plan. Sometimes God uses negative situations to accomplish his plan.

THE PLAN, THE NUT AND THE PEARL By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com ...read more

Scripture: Zechariah 4:10, Jeremiah 29:11

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Resurrecting And Restoring Your Lost Gifts

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Apr 25, 2024

Many believers have heard the call of God, have sensed His grace on the unique giftings and talents in their lives.

INTRODUCTION: The church's potency and influence is contingent on the saints of God operating in the full potential of the giftings and talents God has endowed them with. By the same token, the church will remain weak and ineffective if God's people are discouraged, unintentional and poor ...read more

Scripture: Acts 7:20-22

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Building Up In The Word Of God Series

Contributed by Rev. Duraimony Dickson on Mar 19, 2021

Building a mighty wall for the Lord is not the end of your task. Build up your faith. Build up your family life. And build up all those who are around you.

Building Up in the Word of God “And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. Then all the people answered, “Amen, Amen!” while lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground.” - Nehemiah 8:6 The story of Nehemiah and Ezra is divided into ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 8:6

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Fundamental Gratitude Series

Contributed by Lanny Smith on Nov 23, 2021

Life has felt "blah" for the past year and a half. We've got pandemic fatigue. What do we do about it?

Fundamental Gratitude Living a Life of Thankfulness / General Thanksgiving / Genesis 8   • Several conversations and forums talking about a sense of fatigue, lack of interest in favorite activities, “flat, blah.” • Some research uncovers what psychologists are calling “pandemic fatigue.” It’s ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 8:13-16, Genesis 8:20, Philippians 4:6, 1 Timothy 4:4, Colossians 3:17  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

"sown To Rise: The Seed Of Resurrection"

Contributed by Dr. Jerry Hulse on Mar 27, 2024

The Grain of Wheat parable reveals the transformative power of sacrifice, resurrection, and divine rewards. It highlights Jesus' mission and acts as a guide for believers, encouraging them to embrace a life characterized by selflessness and obedience while strengthening their faith.

SCRIPTURAL REFERENCES (John 12:24) "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit." [25] He that loveth his life shall ...read more

Scripture: John 12:24, Ephesians 4:9-10, Matthew 16:24-26, 1 Corinthians 15:35-38, Philippians 3:20-21, Romans 6:4  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

When Life Doesn't Make Sense

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Aug 12, 2019

This sermon deals with the struggle of doubt. we see the prosperity of the wicked and we wonder why they seem to be doing better than God's own children.

Intro -- The year was 1998… …on the evening of 2 September 1998, Swissair 111 departed New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport at 8:18 p.m. Eastern Time en route to Geneva, Switzerland. On board were 215 passengers and a crew of 14. This flight was popular with United Nations officials, ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Call Of Moses Series

Contributed by Rev. Dr. Andrew B Natarajan on Aug 31, 2019

God called Moses for the highest lifestyle. The call narrative is very interesting and enlightening. There is no age limit for the call. Living for God on the earth is important than doing some thing on God's name. Personal life precedes programs.

Exodus 3:1-12 Introduction: The account of call and commission of Moses comes to us in the book of Exodus through Yahwistic and Elohistic sources. It is placed between the states of the oppression and liberation of Israel. Let us meditate the call of Moses. Exodus 3:1-4 GOD’S CALL TO MOSES Now ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 3:1-12

Denomination: Methodist

Staying Anchored In A Shaking World

Contributed by Jeffrey Sims on Sep 5, 2025

What is Jesus Calling us to do when the world is out of control

Feel free to use the personal illustrations, change them to fit anyway you like.. Picture this: you’re working a shift as a firefighter. The call comes in—a house fire with flames showing. As you roll toward the scene, you know that people are depending on you to help bring control to the ...read more

Scripture: Mark 13:1-8

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Evil Kings Gone (2 Kings 9)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jul 20, 2025

Will evil national leaders eventually lose out? Can we wait on the Lord? Let's look at 2 Kings 9.

Do we trust in human political leaders or God? Will God eventually put a permanent end to evil human governments? Let’s look at 2 Kings 9. How did Jehu become anointed as the tenth king of Israel? Elisha the prophet called one of the sons of the prophets, and said to him, “Put your belt on your ...read more

Denomination: Baptist