Sermons on Soft And Hard Hearts:

Stubbornness Is As Iniquity And Idolatry

Contributed by Steve Klein on May 18, 2015

While no serious Christian would overtly condone idolatry, we do something just as bad by allowing stubbornness to rule our hearts or the hearts of others.

Intro: Would you condone idolatry? Have you ever known anyone to casually admit to idolatry? What if you were talking to a friend who is a Christian one day about character flaws and he said something like, “Well, I know I’ve got a problem with idolatry” or “I’ve ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 15:1-26

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

How Hard Is Your Tongue?

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Aug 15, 2016

Are you trying to break bones of resistance or break relationships?

Pro 25:15 By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone. Ouch! This smacks pretty much all of us. Sometimes it takes real patience when dealing with someone that is not of like persuasion, especially politicians. Note we are to speak with a soft tongue. I have been ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 25:15, Proverbs 15:1-2

Denomination: Baptist

Rizpah, A Mother Who Stood Her Ground

Contributed by Philip Harrelson on Oct 2, 2015

This is a Mother's Day message that encourages mothers to work hard at their calling to raise their children.

RIZPAH, A MOTHER WHO STOOD HER GROUND TEXT: 2 Samuel 21:10 2 Samuel 21:10 KJV And Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth, and spread it for her upon the rock, from the beginning of harvest until water dropped upon them out of heaven, and suffered neither the birds of the air to rest on them ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 21:10

Denomination: Pentecostal

Sermon # 20 - A Repentant Heart Series

Contributed by Andrew Dixon on Oct 25, 2024

Jonah was brought to the depths and after being battered in the belly of a big fish, Jonah repented and turned back to God. Rebellion is detrimental to us and only those who repent and get back to God can fulfill His purposes for their lives.

For this study and meditation we will read, Jonah 1:17, “When Jonah fell into the sea, the LORD chose a very big fish to swallow Jonah. He was in the stomach of the fish for three days and three nights.” (ERV) When Jonah disobeyed God, and voyaged in the opposite direction to the place God bid him ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 1:17, Jonah 2:1, Psalm 119:144, Judges 16:21, Judges 16:27, Luke 15:15-17, Luke 15:13, Proverbs 20:20-21, Judges 16:28  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Other

Rebirth: Hard Hat

Contributed by Peter Loughman on Oct 28, 2006

also 2cor 3:17-18 building a spiritual house

Hard Hat, Hammer, Boots, Sunglasses, An Old Pair Of Jeans – I’m ready to build. Last week we saw that w are building a Spiritual House. But before we can even build we need to have the Holy Spirit. Without the Holy Spirit, you cannot build a spiritual house. Jesus tells us we need to be spiritually ...read more

Scripture: Romans 6:1-11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

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

The School Of Hard "Nots"

Contributed by Ryan Davis on Sep 27, 2005

You may have heard of people coming through the school of hard Knocks, but as I look through the word of God, I find some “NOT’s” that are hard for some people to swallow.

THE SCHOOL OF HARD "NOTS" TITUS 3:3-8 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of ...read more

Scripture: Titus 3:3-8

Denomination: Baptist

Fasting The Hard Way

Contributed by Cameron Horsburgh on Nov 5, 2001

God isn’t as impressed with our pious religiosity as he is about the way we live our lives.

Now the Israelites had a problem. They practiced their religion faithfully, and they did everything that was expected, but God didn’t seem to be listening to them. What was the problem? This is a good question. And it’s an important question to ask ourselves as well. God, through his prophet, ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 58:1-9, Isaiah 58:9-14

Denomination: Holiness

"Hard To Learn Lessons"

Contributed by Dennis Deese on Aug 10, 2002

There are many hard to learn lessons in the Christian life.

"HARD TO LEARN LESSONS" Dr. Dennis Deese - Fan The Flame Ministries, Inc. EZEKIEL 24:15-27 ETS: Ezekiel and the Jews had to learn some hard to learn lessons ESS: There are many hard to learn lessons in the Christian life. Introduction: The August 1992 Hurricane Andrew left more than 50,000 ...read more

Learning The Hard Way Series

Contributed by Bob Hunter on Nov 7, 2005

Are you the type of person who learns things the hard way? King Nebuchadnezzar was a slow learner. Contemporary sermon with solid practical outline. Use it in series.

Nebuchadnezzar: Learning the hard way Daniel Ch. 4 Intro: Have you ever wondered why some people choose to learn things the hard way? King Nebuchadnezzar was that type of person. Nothing came easy for him. He was a perpetural slow learner when it came to spirituality. If given the choice ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 4:1-37

Denomination: Holiness

It's Hard To Be Humble

Contributed by Eric Ledermann on Jul 23, 2002

Know the gifts which God has given you, these being three (purpose, prayer, and love) from a list of thousands, and go, do the work of God in your life, whatever God is calling you to do, always remaining humble in the presence of such extravagence.

HUMILITY: A pastor was asked to speak for a certain charitable organization. After the meeting the program chairperson handed the pastor a check. “Oh, I couldn’t take this,” the pastor said with some embarrassment. “I appreciate the honor of being asked to speak. You have better use for this ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:1-20

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Adam- Falling Hard Series

Contributed by Craig Cramblet on Aug 21, 2006

From perfection to corruption, the temptation and fall of mankind changes everything.

Adam: Falling Hard Genesis 3 “I hate sin when I see what it does to human beings. I hate sin most when I see what it did to Christ! It turned His fair face into a bruised and bloody thing. When sin did that to the Son of God...how can you ever play with it again?” -Ian MacPherson Sad but ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 3:1-24

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

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

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