Sermons on Times Of Hardship:

Generosity PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Oct 21, 2025

God’s grace empowers joyful generosity, enabling believers to give willingly and abundantly, even in hardship, as an expression of trust and partnership in God’s work.

Friends, welcome. Some of us walked in today with a full heart and a thin wallet. Others with a strong budget and a weary soul. God sees both. And right in the middle of our ordinary lives—with bills to pay, kids to raise, parents to care for, and newsfeeds that rattle the nerves—God offers a grace ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 8:1-4

Topics: Generosity, Giving

Grace By Association - 1 Peter 4:12-16 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Feb 2, 2025

The gospel is about grace by association - receiving favor from God solely because of association with Christ. And that involves suffering.

1 Peter 4:12 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice to the degree that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:12-16

Ready. Set. Go! Series

Contributed by Gordon Pike on Sep 26, 2021

Suppose that the Lord Jesus chose this very moment to return. Would you be ready? Our objective as Christians is not merely to be included in the Rapture but to bring as many people with us as we can. My eternal hope and my ongoing prayer is that neither you nor I get “left behind.”

One day a pastor was flying home from a speaking engagement. During the flight he observed one of the pilots flirting and chatting it up with one of the women flight attendants. He also noticed that the pilot was wearing a wedding ring and the flight attendant was not. As he watched the couple ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:51-52, John 14:2-4, 2 Thessalonians 2:8, Matthew 24:38-42, Matthew 24:6-8, 2 Thessalonians 2:4, Revelation 3:10, Matthew 26:31-33, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: United Methodist

The Fifth Seal: Prayers For Vengeance

Contributed by Jm Raja Lawrence on Feb 7, 2025

In Revelation 6:9-11, the cries of the martyrs remind us that God sees every injustice. Their plea for vengeance isn’t about revenge—it’s about God’s righteous judgment and His perfect timing.

The Fifth Seal: Prayers for Vengeance Revelation 6:9-11 Introduction The book of Revelation unveils the mysteries of God’s divine plan for the end times. Each seal that the Lamb opens reveals a part of this divine unfolding. When we reach the fifth seal in Revelation 6:9-11, we encounter a scene ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 6:9-11, Psalm 79:5-6, Luke 18:7-8, Acts 7:54-60, Revelation 6:11, Romans 12:19, Ecclesiastes 3:17, 2 Peter 3:9, Revelation 3:5, 2 Timothy 4:8, Romans 8:18, Matthew 24:13, Hebrews 10:36, Hebrews 12:2, 1 Peter 4:12-13, 2 Thessalonians 1:6-7, Deuteronomy 32:35, Psalm 64:7-9, Psalm 79:10, Genesis 6:3, Daniel 9:27, Matthew 24:21, Revelation 7:14, Matthew 24:8, Isaiah 34:8  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Surviving Persecution And Affliction PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Oct 14, 2025

Following Christ means embracing sacrifice and perseverance, trusting God’s presence and strength through hardship, and finding lasting hope and purpose in Him alone.

If you’ve ever watched a seasoned craftsman at work—hands steady, eyes kind, voice calm—you know the comfort of a good example. He doesn’t rush. He doesn’t grandstand. He lets you stand nearby, sleeves rolled up, and learn the rhythm of the work. That’s how Paul speaks to Timothy in this passage. ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:10-12

Topics: Satisfaction, Christ

"Unlikely Enemies"

Contributed by Kevin Smith on Jan 10, 2006

This is part one in a two part sermon dealing with the hardships of family, dysfunctionalysm, and learning to forgive even your most unlikely enemies, your own blood.

Matthew 10:34-42 You may be seated in the presence of the Lord. Verse 36 in the text says, "And a man’s enemies will be those of his own household." "A man’s enemies will be those of his own household." Mmmm, mmm I feel God in here already. (Sigh) This word on today is by no means going to be an ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 10:34-42

Denomination: Pentecostal

God Suffered?!

Contributed by Efren V. Narido on Mar 15, 2006

Is it possible for the Great Creator to suffer? Could He – the Most Delightful Being whom we can savor the unspeakable joy – suffer hardship, pain, or sorrow?

“For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God. But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:19-24

Denomination: Baptist

If God Is So Good, Why Do I Hurt So Badly?

Contributed by Brian Bill on Apr 29, 2019

The God of the whirlwind took on human flesh and came to die on the cross. The mystery of suffering and sin should always take us to the Savior.

If God is So Good, Why Do I Hurt So Badly? Rev. Brian Bill April 27-28, 2019 Play video called, Questions. We all have questions, don’t we? For the next four months, Lord willing, we’ll be addressing questions you’ve heard people ask. Sometimes inquiries are from those who don’t yet know ...read more

Scripture: Job 38:1

Denomination: Baptist

Christmas All Year Long!

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Dec 23, 2018

Wouldn't it be wonderful if we actually started to practice the things we hear & sing about at Christmas time? Wouldn't it be wonderful if we would take the spirit of Christmas with us all through the year?

MELVIN M. NEWLAND, MINISTER RIDGE CHAPEL, KANSAS, OK (This is a shorter and somewhat revised version of one of my earlier sermons: "Holding On to Christmas.") TEXT: Matthew 2:13-23 ILL. I imagine ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:13-23

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Fourth Sunday In Ordinary Time- The Real Meaning Of "blessed Are The Poor In Spirit.”

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Dec 22, 2022

The other, more important meaning, is that there will be a coming reversal of circumstances for those who are unfortunate, the marginalized, the abused, those who live in poverty, so these beatitudes are not just virtues to attain in this life.

Dear Abby, the popular advice column in the newspaper still published today with authorship changes, once received a letter that describes the "if only" attitude: "It was Spring, But it was Fall I wanted, the colorful leaves and the cool dry air. It was Fall, but it was Winter I ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12, Matthew 5:3

Denomination: Catholic

For Jesus' Love 16 Leadership Traits

Contributed by Dr. Gale A. Ragan-Reid on Nov 11, 2017

God’s indiscriminate love bears all---for HIS love carried the burdens---hardships of all through Christ Jesus, his only begotten Son.

FOR JESUS’ LOVE 16 Leadership Traits By Dr. Gale A. Ragan-Reid (October 15, 2017) “So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. ...read more

Scripture: John 21:15-17

Denomination: Friends

Final Advice

Contributed by Kenneth Anthony on Dec 31, 2006

St. Paul offers Timothy some final advice before his earthly departure. Christian consistency, the ability to endure hardship, mission, and heavenly reward are discussed.

Final Advice ILLUSTRATION: A man was on the practice golf course when the club pro brought another man out for a lesson. The pro watched the fellow swing several times and started making suggestions for improvement, but each time the pupil interrupted with his own version of what was wrong and ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:5-8

Denomination: Orthodox

No Matter What Your Stinking Problem Is, Get Up Again Anyway

Contributed by Pat Cook on Sep 2, 2003

We need not let hardships and difficulties keep us down, because we serve a God that can bring life from death, bringing glory to Himself.

John 11:1-44 - No Matter What Your Stinking Problem is, Get Up Again Anyway Sir Alexander Mackenzie is a Canadian hero. An early fur trader and explorer, he accomplished a magnificent feat when he led an expedition across Canada from Fort Chippewyan on Lake Athabasca to the Pacific Ocean. His ...read more

Scripture: John 11:1-44

Denomination: Baptist

Put Your Trust In A Good God

Contributed by Christian Cheong on Mar 15, 2005

Despite hardship and having to run for his life, David kept his faith in a good God and prayed for deliverance. His experience can be ours too, today.

For a believer, no ’dead end’ is really a dead end. It is so only from man’s point of view. If we believe in God, then we must believe that He can still make a way. Matt 19:26 - Jesus: "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." Isa 43:19 - See, I am doing a new thing! ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 3:1-8

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Letter To The Church At Ephesus Series

Contributed by Alan Hamilton-Messer on Jun 22, 2014

The seven churches described in Revelation 2-3 are seven literal churches at the time that John the apostle was writing Revelation. Though they were literal churches in that time, there is also spiritual significance for churches and believers today.

The letter to the Church at Ephesus Reading Revelation 1:9-11 & 2:1-7 Most Christians today will accept that we are approaching the time when Jesus will return to this Earth. Many prophecies concerning this event have happened, and the present state of the world confirms that something drastic ...read more

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed