Sermons on Toil And Hardship:

Comfort

Contributed by Lou Nicholes on Apr 6, 2005

Have you ever wondered, why do the righteous suffer? In various portions of Scripture we find that suffering is the result of Adam’s original sin which plunged the human race into misery. However, in this portion of Scripture Paul teaches us why it is n

THOUGHTS ABOUT THE PASSAGE: One night while conducting an evangelistic meeting in the Salvation Army Citadel in Chicago, Booth Tucker preached on the sympathy of Jesus. After his message a man approached him and said, “If your wife had just died, like mine has, and your babies were crying for ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

Taming The Giants In Your Life

Contributed by Robert Garrett on Apr 11, 2005

When we encounter difficult situations or giants they try to discourage, defeat, and steal the joy out out of our living. There are four principles that we can gain from the story in I Samuel 17 that can help tame the many giants in our lives.

INTRO.Don’t you just love to hear a good story? I think everyone loves a good story. Where is the best place to go to get a good story?? Movies or TV! Name some of your favorite movies or TV shows. There are a couple big differences between these movies and tv shows and the stories we find in ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 17:38-47

Denomination: Baptist

Suffering

Contributed by Lou Nicholes on Apr 12, 2005

. This section is one of three sections in II Corinthians devoted to a listing of Paul’s sufferings. Paul was not afraid of suffering because he knew that God controls trials, and God uses trials for His own glory.

THOUGHTS ABOUT THE PASSAGE: Driving through Texas, a New Yorker collided with a truck carrying a horse. A few months later he tried to collect damages for his injuries. “How can you now claim to have all these injuries?” asked the insurance company’s lawyer. “According to the police report, at the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:7-18

Denomination: Baptist

Still Small Voice

Contributed by Scott Bradford on Apr 13, 2005

This sermon is about listening to the voice of God foillowing a national tragedy or disaster such as a Tsunamii.

Illustration: Someone sent me an e-mail this week entitled "Thanks for your e-mails in 2004". It wasn’t really in response to my e-mails, but deals with the volumes of e-mails that are passed from person to person. Here’s what the thank you letter says: (4) "Thanks to everyone who sent me such ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 19:7-18

Denomination: United Methodist

Overcoming Depression

Contributed by Trae Durden on Apr 13, 2005

Four steps to overcome depression like Elijah.

Overcoming Depression 1 Kings 19:4 Introduction: A. Illus. Debbie Downer - Jingle: "You’re enjoying your day, everything’s going your way Then, along comes Debbie Downer! Always there to tell you about a new disease A car accident or killer bees. You’ll beg her to spare you, "Debbie, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 19:4-16

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Growing Through Trials

Contributed by Don Jaques on Apr 14, 2005

God uses trials in our lives to strengthen our faith and to bring us to maturity. When trials come we should keep the long view and remember He has our best in mind.

Growing Through Trials 1 Peter 1:3-9 April 9/10, 2005 Don Jaques MAIN POINT: God uses trials in our lives to strengthen our faith and to bring us to maturity. When trials come we should keep the long view and remember He has our best in mind. INTRO: It’s the time of year when the lawns are all ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:3-9

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

When Failure Is A Step Toward Success Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Nov 29, 2006

Sometimes it must get worse before it gets better; short-term failures can be steps to long term and greater successes. We must aim toward a long term vision, not merely achieving short-term goals.

When Failure is A Step Toward Success (Exodus 5:1-7:13) 1. Misunderstanding can lead to creativity. "Bell was inspired to start development of the telephone when he read an account, written in German, describing an invention which he thought had the function of a telephone. After demonstrating ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

A Walk Through The Garden Series

Contributed by Sherm Nichols on Nov 30, 2006

A visit to Gethsemane to learn from Jesus the way to face life’s times of crisis with power that comes from God and to take that into our next hard time

1. Title: A Walk Through The Garden 2. Text: Matthew 26:36-56; Mark 14:32-52; Luke 22:39-53; John 18:1-12 3. Audience: Villa Heights Christian Church, AM crowd, March 26, 2006, 1st in the 4 part series “Walk To The Cross” 4. Objectives: -for the people to examine the actions of Jesus at ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 26:36-56

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

What To Do With A Bum Knee Series

Contributed by Sherm Nichols on Nov 30, 2006

To develop a more finely-tuned attitude toward hardships and to develop a plan that will help to regularly grow through events that stretch us

1. Title: What To Do With a Bum Knee 2. Text: Hebrews 12:4-13 (12:3-29) 3. Audience: Villa Heights Christian Church, AM crowd. September 17, 2006, in the series “Nothing Better Than The Best” 4. Objectives: -for the people to understand how difficulties are used by God for our good; what a right ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:4-13

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

When Trouble Does A Double Take

Contributed by T. Michael Crews on Dec 2, 2006

An Exposition of 1 Sam. 26

When Trouble Does a Double Take 1 Sam. 26 Are familiar with the expression “déjà vu”? The phrase is French and literally means, “already seen”. Déjà vu describes the feeling that what is happening to you at this moment has happened to you before. (Repeat). When you feel as if life is doing a ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 26:1-25

Denomination: Baptist

It’s Time To Tear Down The Gates Of Hell

Contributed by Rodney Johnson Sr., on Dec 10, 2004

The Sermon assures of victory over the forces of evil.

In our text, Jesus used the terms gates and hell to refer to the powers of evil forces and the physical death. Jesus taught his followers that they were to confront the gates of hell. Christ spoke these words in Caesarea Phillippi, a pagan city that was filled with moral corruption. History ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:18

Denomination: Baptist

God's Tests

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Jun 1, 2006

Why do you think God administers tests in our lives? Tests from God always have a spiritual purpose and a spiritual growth process for us in our faith walk with the Lord.

“God’s Test!” On the lighter side of life: Three old men were at the doctor’s office for a memory test. The doctors said to the first old man, “What is three times three?” “Two-hundred seventy four,” he replied. The doctor said to the second man, “it’s your turn. What is three times three?” ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 22:1-18

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Comfort Comfort My People

Contributed by Jay Winters on Jun 5, 2006

A different kind of sermon - going back and forth between a reading of Isaiah and illustrative sermons that bring the text to the listner’s reality.

Special instructions - "quoted" material should be read by one reader and is the text of Isaiah 40. Material beginning with numbers can be split up amongst different readers or read by the pastor/sermon deliverer. “Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.” 1Isaiah is an old man now. His ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 40:1-11

Denomination: Lutheran

What Can The Righteous Do?

Contributed by Tony Skaff on Jun 9, 2006

If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do? What should he do, knowing it is a test?

1stBBC What can the righteous do? Psa 11:1-7 To the choirmaster. Of David. In the LORD I take refuge; how can you say to my soul, "Flee like a bird to your mountain, for behold, the wicked bend the bow; they have fitted their arow to the string to shoot in the dark at the upright in heart; if ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 11:1-7

Denomination: Baptist

Help God, I Hurt

Contributed by Bradford Robinson on Jun 9, 2004

We all hurt. This sermon looks at how two different people with two different hurts came both came to Jesus and had thier hurts healed.

Dear Preacher, I am a member of your audience and I sit before you in silent desperation. I am a mother of a good Christian teen-age girl who just told me that she is pregnant. I am a husband whose marriage is falling apart and no matter what I do I can’t seem to stop it. I’m a child who has ...read more

Scripture: Luke 8:40-56

Denomination: Methodist