Sermons on Run Hard:

A Rock And A Hard Place

Contributed by J. Curtis Goforth, O.s.l. on Sep 30, 2006

This sermon is for the 17th Sunday after Pentecost and addresses the need we all have to cut off from our lives the things which keep us from a deeper relationship with Christ.

“A Rock and a Hard Place” Sermon on Mark 9:38-50 Pentecost +17-B October 1, 2006 Rev. J. Curtis Goforth, O.S.L. 43If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. 45And if your foot ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:38-50

Denomination: United Methodist

The Hard Topic Of Divorce

Contributed by Daniel Sorensen on Oct 18, 2006

Combining Pastoral Care skills with the scripture on divorce allows us to meet the parishioner/seeker where they are, encourage them to be authentic with who they are, and bring themselves wholly to God. The next step would be be a refelection of God’s l

There is a group of new Pastors who are keeping in touch with one another this year via e-mail. We check-in and see how things are going. We talk about ideas for children’s sermons and compare life in the parish to what we learned in the classroom. It’s a helpful way to enter into a new ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:1-16

Denomination: Lutheran

The Religious But Hard-Hearted Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Jan 2, 2007

If God does not soften ones heart, one may dabble with religion, but one will never find a saving relationship with the true God.

The Religious But Hard-Hearted (Exodus 8:20-9:12) 1. What if God was politically correct? Imagine this: Moses was sitting in the Egyptian ghetto. Things were terrible. Pharaoh wouldn’t even speak to him. The rest of the Israelites were mad at him and making the overseers even more irritable than ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Joy In Hard Times

Contributed by Stephen Smarowsky on Feb 10, 2009

“Christians are like teabags. You don’t know how strong they are until you put them in hot water.”

Joy in Hard Times (James 1:2-8) (v2) “Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials…” - James is telling us to CONSIDER it joy when we encounter various trials. - CONSIDER is different then BE. - We are not going to be joyful when we are struggling in the midst of a ...read more

Scripture: James 1:2-8

Denomination: Baptist

Confidence For Hard Times

Contributed by Larry Finley on Jun 18, 2009

In the midst of America’s self inflicted hard times we as Christians can have Confidence

CONFIDENCE FOR HARD TIMES Micah 7:7-20 4/26/09 1. Judgment of the absence of God a. men clamor for God to be gone b. when He is – Hell breaks loose 2. We live in such a time a. separated from Gov. i. Barney Frank; Nancy Pelosi; ii. Gov. NY; Ill; & Seminole Charley 3. In Midst - we can ...read more

Scripture: Micah 7:7-20

Denomination: Baptist

Blessings In Hard Times

Contributed by O. K. Neal on Feb 11, 2010

Can we survive the hard times?

Blessings in Hard Times Phil 4:6-7 STORY about Chinese farmer and horse, son’s leg, army “Good luck, bad luck, Who knows?’ It is a hard thing to determine What works for our good and what works for our detriment? Many things happen that we cannot know will help us I did not ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:6-7

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Worship In The Hard Times Series

Contributed by Tim Patrick on Jul 8, 2009

Discover what it means and how to worship God during the hard times of life.

Are you able to worship God in the hard times? This is one of the most difficult tasks of the faith life. It is easy to worship God when the sun shines bright. It is easy to worship God when the bills are paid. It is easy to worship God when things are going well. What about during the hard times? ...read more

Scripture: Job 1:20-21

Denomination: Baptist

Change Comes Hard

Contributed by Richard White on Oct 10, 2008

Gleaned from several sermons on sermoncentral, we see change as necessary but we are slow to do so.

Outline to Learning to Change Acts 10:1-48 It has been said that only wet babies like to be changed, even then they are not that excited about it. Illustration: Henry Ford and William Knudsen Conclusion: Even though he was considered a genius, he did not like change. Sometimes change is ...read more

Scripture: Acts 10:9-43

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Why Is This So Hard? Series

Contributed by Jake Kircher on Dec 28, 2005

Why is following Gopd so difficult sometimes?

***Tug-o’-war illustration*** • Start off with big kid and a small kid and tell them to pull the rope as far as he can • Slowly, continue to add people to oppose the big kid until he gives up As we continue to look at God’s call in our lives to go and change the world around us, I think this ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 10:16-25

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Lord It Is Hard To Be Humble

Contributed by Thomas Bowen on Nov 25, 2007

Revival only comes when someone is ready, a person, a church a community.

O Lord It’s Hard to be Humble 2 Chronicles 7:14-7:14 We are picking up with last Sunday’s topic and talking about revival this morning. As we said last week, Revival does not come by design. God can not be manipulated to send revival. A revival is not about saving souls or converting ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 7:14

Denomination: Congregational

The Rock Is The Hard Place

Contributed by Brett Thomasson on Feb 13, 2007

Our decision to share our faith can be built on shifting sands, or solid rock.

I’ve met folks who think that if Jesus walked among us today like he did back in Galilee, we’d be so much better off in our Christianity. How could we ignore him, they ask, if he was right here in front of us? Judging from the people who were right in front of him a couple thousand years ago, it ...read more

Scripture: Luke 6:39-49

Denomination: Methodist

Praying In Hard Times Series

Contributed by Ken Sowers on Dec 10, 2003

Learning to pray during the hard dry times of life.

Nov. 17 Praying in Hard Times Is God’s primary goal to make me comfortable or make me strong (comfort = make strong) - To mend my body or my spirit To whisk me out of every trial and danger or to walk by my side so I can discover how strong and good He is. Jeremiah in prison, David in the cave. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:8-10, James 1:5

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Seeds On The Hard Path Series

Contributed by Eric Lenhart on Aug 13, 2010

Being hardened by life, or free in Christ.

Seeds on the Hard Path (Matthew 13:1-23) 1st in a series on: “The Parable of the Soils” Introduction: An old farmer who was about to die called his two sons to his bedside and said, "My boys, my farm and the fields are yours in equal shares. I leave you a little ready money but the bulk of my ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:1-23

Denomination: Church Of God

It’s Not Hard

Contributed by Jerry Flury on Apr 11, 2010

Often, people say, “If God would only speak audibly telling me what He wants me to do life would be so much easier.” God wants us to do His will, nothing more, nothing less, and nothing else. But realize that knowing and doing God’s isn’t that hard.

It’s Not Hard Deuteronomy 30:11-20 Introduction: As the golfer approached the first tee, a hazardous hole with a green surrounded by water, he debated if he should use his new golf ball. Deciding that the hole was too treacherous, he pulled out an old ball and placed it on the tee. Just then he ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 30:11-20, Deuteronomy 30:11-14

Denomination: Baptist

Making Hard Choices

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Oct 1, 2009

Today’s world is filled with energy-saving devices that make life easier, but there is something to be said for embracing life’s challenges. The apostle Paul found serving Christ hard, but he didn’t see it as a cause of discouragement. The goal was worth

Opening illustration: On September 12th, 1962, President JF Kennedy delivered a speech at Rice University in Houston, TX, about the difficult challenges facing the nation. He also shared his passion for the US to place a man on the moon. In balancing the needs of his people with the desire to ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:5-18

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational