Sermons on Rocky Ground:

Tilling Up The Mind

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Feb 6, 2012

How open are you to the words of Jesus? Many of us are so hardened that His words bounce off, for others the past, present and future make our minds unable to process His thoughts. Today we examine the pliability of our minds.

Puzzles can be fun or extremely frustrating. Some people look at the pieces of a puzzle poured out on a table and have no idea what to make of it. They pick up a piece or two and nothing seems to make sense. They can’t see the whole picture and they aren’t willing to work it out. But ...read more

Scripture: Mark 4:1-20

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Principles To Being Sold Out

Contributed by Dave Kinney on Sep 14, 2007

At times we have to strip ourselves of the stiff and wooden qualities and disrobe ourselves of the contentment and complacency that strangles our devotion to holiness and boldness.

Romans 1:13-17 There’s no doubt about Paul - he was sold out for Christ! He could not have accomplished such a life of faith without this trait! A verse that stands out regarding being sold out for God is... Matthew 6:33 “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness...” The word “seek” ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:13-17

Denomination: Baptist

Elijah - Character Development Series

Contributed by Mike Hullah on Oct 23, 2007

For a believer to have authority they need to be people of character. Elijah was an ordinary man like us fashioned into an extraordinary man by God. This sermon covers the basis of Elijah’s contrasting character in the days he lived an example to us.

THE ELIJAH CHURCH CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT 1 Kings 17:1 And Elijah the Tishbite, of the inhabitants of Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the LORD God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, except at my word.” James 5:17-18 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:2

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Be 100 Times More Fruitful Series

Contributed by Nate Herbst on Apr 12, 2010

The parable of the sower tells us about the good soil that produced a 30, 60 or even 100 fold crop but warns about the thorns that choke that out; this message is an encouragement about experiencing freedom from all that keeps us from bearing fruit.

Thorns
 Lots of scripture - good soil - The point is life, growth and making a difference!
 The parable of the sower is found in Mt.13, Mk.4, Lk.8. Mt.13:1-8 reads like this, “That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. Such large crowds gathered around him that he ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

"How To Walk Wisely In The World” Series

Contributed by Dave Mcfadden on Aug 19, 2019

As we pass through this world on our way to heaven, witnessing should be a priority for the Christian.

As Paul speaks about the Christian’s walk in this world, he tells us we need to walk wisely. We do this, he says, by taking advantage of every opportunity to give a verbal witness for Jesus. Why should witnessing be a priority for believers as we are living in this world? Two reasons: Reason #1: ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 4:5-6

Denomination: Baptist

Why We Can't Stay Here

Contributed by Lt Gareth Macdonald on Jun 20, 2014

Looking at the Transfiguration and Peter's remark - it is good for us to be here. Why our Church must move forward to be what God calls us to be.

The Transfiguration – Matthew 17: 1 - 13 As an introduction to the message, here is a little background to the transfiguration. I was not fully aware of what it was and what it meant so just in case I am not the only one, here is that background. This is one of the most important, yet one of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 17:1-13

Denomination: Salvation Army

Fruitfulness In The Midst Of Great Pressure Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Oct 30, 2013

How do we have a fruitful life - one filled with joy amidst the pressures of this age? These five psalms of assent give us clues as to how God blesses in the midst of pressure.

Last time we talked about the first five of the Songs of Ascent. They mostly had to do with pilgrims journeying from far away lands, anxious to get away from people who put down the truth of who God is and come into God’s presence in Jerusalem. This time we will see the next five psalms, ...read more

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

The Extravagant Sower

Contributed by Mary Erickson on Jul 17, 2023

A sermon for the season after Pentecost, Year A, Lectionary 15

July 16, 2023 Rev. Mary Erickson Hope Lutheran Church Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 The Extravagant Sower Friends, may grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and Christ Jesus our Lord. Farming techniques have come a long way. To begin with, the equipment: Modern tractors are ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:1-23

Denomination: Lutheran

Just A Stone's Throw Away

Contributed by Rick D Brackett on Oct 11, 2006

The sermon deals with the adulterous woman but the emphasis is placed on forgiveness and restoration.

“JUST A STONE’S THROW AWAY!” ILLUSTRATION There was a man that told his friend that they had dismissed their pastor. His friend asked, why? The man said, “Because he told us we we’re going to hell.” The friend asked, “What does your new pastor say?” The man said, “He says we’re going ...read more

Scripture: John 8:1-11

Denomination: Church Of God

Condition/Position

Contributed by Ronald Sweatt on Oct 13, 2006

Don’t let your present condition keep you from your position in Christ.

2 Sam 9:1-8 (KJV) 1 And David said, Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may shew him kindness for Jonathan’s sake? 2 And there was of the house of Saul a servant whose name was Ziba. And when they had called him unto David, the king said unto him, Art thou Ziba? And he ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 9:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

There Is Hope

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Dec 5, 2004

We have hope because of: 1. Who we are. 2. Whose we are. 3. Where we are.

On November 21, 1943, Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote a letter to his fiancee, Maria von Wedemeyer, while he was imprisoned by Hitler during World War II. In the letter, he talked about a spiritual lesson he was learning from his life as a prisoner. He wrote: “A prison cell, in which one waits, hopes, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 12:14-21

Denomination: Methodist

Threshing Series

Contributed by Paul Basehore on Oct 13, 2015

Sometimes things that hurt are those things that cause the most good in our lives.

Last week we started our new series on baking bread with the harvest. We learned that in order to make bread, we need to follow four steps: harvest , threshing, grinding into flour, and finally combining with other ingredients to bake into bread. We also learned, more importantly, that the time for ...read more

Scripture: Luke 3:16-17, Matthew 7:16-20, Romans 5:6-8, Romans 3:23-24, Proverbs 27:17  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Lessons From Jeremiah – Part 10 – Two Treacherous Sisters Polluted The Land Series

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 3, 2024

The heart of God yearned for repentance and Israel's return from idolatry. Israel was carried away in judgement, and Judah did not learn. It was so joined to idolatry that God kept likening it to an adulterous wife He would receive back if the nation repented. Faithless, treacherous Judah.

LESSONS FROM JEREMIAH – PART 10 – TWO TREACHEROUS SISTERS POLLUTED THE LAND PART 10 - Jeremiah 3:5 – 3:13 CHAPTER 3 [A]. TREACHEROUS ISRAEL INFLUENCED TREACHEROUS JUDAH TO IDOLATARY {{Jeremiah 3:6-7 Then the LORD said to me in the days of Josiah the king, “Have you seen what FAITHLESS ISRAEL ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 3:6-7, Jeremiah 3:8-10, Jeremiah 3:11-13, Matthew 11:21-24

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Exiled To Patmos

Contributed by Rich Middleton on Feb 9, 2008

Learning From Our Isle Patmos Experiences

This morning we are going to study the time and circumstances when John got his big revelation. There is plenty to be learned and come away with by studying this text together today. Let’s read Revelation 1:9-10 I. Do You Believe That Anything Happens By Accident So here John is exiled to the Isle ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 1:9-10

Denomination: Pentecostal

When The Way Gets Rough, Turn To Jesus!

Contributed by Bob Phillips on Jun 2, 2014

Try to remember that no matter what Satan, the world, or this life throws at you, turn to the one who can see you through it all, and never give up on his promise to never leave or forsake you.

There is a saying that “When the going gets tough, the tough get going”. Job could have been the one who started that saying. He truly bore more grief and pain than we can imagine. Vs 2: Even today is my complaint bitter: my stroke is heavier than my groaning. Vs 3: Oh that I knew ...read more

Scripture: Job 23:2-10

Denomination: Baptist