Sermons on Toil And Hardship:

A Model Encourager

Contributed by Mike Bryant on Jan 13, 2024

In 1 Thes 2:13-3:13, Paul gives us a wonderful model of an encourager, demonstrating the many ways in which we can encourage one another.

I. Acts 17 gives us an account of Paul’s preaching of the gospel in Thessalonica. A. During his Second Missionary Journey, having just been arrested on false charges, beaten, jailed, and run out of town in Philippi, Paul and his companions came to Thessalonica. There he very quickly converted ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:32-40, 1 Thessalonians 2:13-20, 1 Thessalonians 3:1-13

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Stormy Seas

Contributed by Derrick Tuper on Apr 28, 2023

The bible is full of exciting stories. Some of them involve tumultuous weather on the open seas. In Acts 27, Paul was on a ship headed for Rome. They were hoping to make it to Crete and winter there. But their smooth sailing became incredibly rough.

STORMY SEAS Acts 27:13-44 The bible is full of exciting stories. Some of them involve tumultuous weather on the open seas. We have the story of the violent storm that threatened the lives of the Apostles while Jesus was asleep. They woke him and Jesus quieted the storm. There's the story of ...read more

Scripture: Acts 27:13-44, Philippians 2:3-4, Acts 28:30-31

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Mountaineer's Psalm

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Jul 5, 2025

Where do we look for solace in times of grief or hardship. And with whom do we share our joy when God blesses us.

Introduction Thank you for inviting me to take your festival service today (in Skillington - the church where Revd Charles Hudson was vicar from 1859 to 1865) My interest comes from a former vicar here - Revd Charles Hudson (4th October 1828-14 July 1865). Charles was born in Park Street in ...read more

Denomination: Anglican

Why Me, Lord?

Contributed by Mike Dubose on Jun 10, 2002

Why does God allow so much hurt and pain in the world? What’s His reason? How can bad things work for the good? I have an answer...

Why Me, Lord? Romans 8: 28 – 31 June 9, 2002 You know it’s going to be a bad day when you wake up in the hospital all broken & bruised and your insurance agent tells you that your accident policy covers falling of the roof… but not hitting the ground… Or, when you call Suicide ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:28-32

Denomination: Methodist

The Shelter Of The Most High

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Dec 30, 2000

God may have purposes of which we may not be aware and if he permits it, he can use it.

When our girls were growing up we could not afford to take a vacation at resorts or hotels, so from the start we decided to camp. I remember our first major purchase of a cabin-style tent from Sears. It was luxurious with a place for a bunk-bed cot for the girls and a large air mattress for us. ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 91:1-16

Denomination: Methodist

Paul's Response To False Accusations

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Jun 11, 2001

How to avoid over reacting to false accusations

Paul’s Response to False Accusations (Acts 21:27-40) Illustration:Statistics and Stuff What really makes people satisfied with their lives? Amazingly, the secret may lie in a person’s ability to handle life’s blows without blame or bitterness. These are the conclusions of a study of 173 men who ...read more

Scripture: Acts 21:27-40

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Cry For Deliverance

Contributed by Daniel Olukoya on Jun 11, 2001

Are you serving God in rigour and hard bondage? It is time to cry on to the Lord for deliverance!

THE CRY FOR DELIVERANCE "And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigour: and they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in mortar, and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field: all their service, wherein they made them serve, was with rigour" (Exodus ...read more

Scripture: Obadiah 1:17, Luke 4:18

Denomination: Pentecostal

A New Creation

Contributed by Steven Kellett on Mar 10, 2002

God takes that which is dark, formless and void and creates new and wonderful life.

Sitting in her car - on a dark road just outside of town, a young high school girl looks at her life. This is what she sees: „Y I am overweight „Y I have no friends „Y My future holds no promise As she slides the bullet in the chamber of her father¡¦s 38 revolver, she thinks; "It¡¦s no use - ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 1:1-31, Genesis 1:1-5

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

"God...i Have A Problem"

Contributed by Alan Chandler on Jan 28, 2002

Facing a problem or challenge? Here is God’s 5 step strategy for working through it!

"God…I Have a Problem" Acts 1: 12-26 January 27, 2002 I) Intro A) Find current illustration of a problem that people are familiar with. 1) From the illustration make the connection that we all have problems to deal with B) Recap (See notes from Sermon titled Change is Constant) 1) Jesus ascended ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:12-26

Denomination: Methodist

Cajuns, Prophets, And Persian Kings: God's Servants To Bless His People

Contributed by Eloy Gonzalez on Nov 3, 2002

Pentecost 22: Trials, persecutions, and the most difficult moments in life are used by God to deliver us from greater harm and to bless us.

A few nights ago I was sitting in the living room working on the computer. While checking my email, a pop-up ad for Classmates.com appeared. Classmates.com is an Internet company that stores graduation and reunion information for schools and military units. For some reason I decided to look up ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 45:1-7

Denomination: Lutheran

Counseling During Human & Spiritual Crisis

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Aug 19, 2001

Counseling During Human & Spiritual Crisis

Counseling During Human & Spiritual Crisis "To work out our problems we need to add love, subtract hate, multiply good, and divide between truth and error." Introduction - Imagine if you are faced with the loss of your family, home, and health all in the same week, what would you feel like? Add ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 15:19-23

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Wayfaring Strangers Part 4, " Gloom , Despair And Agony On Me" Series

Contributed by Randy Edwards on Mar 2, 2018

Part 4 of our verse by verse study of 1 Peter

Wayfaring Strangers A study of 1 Peter Part 4 “Gloom, despair and agony on me” I know I may be dating myself when I used the words Gloom, despair and agony on me But many of you recognize this term from the television show Hee Haw (Show youtube clip of Hee Haw) This is funny But it is ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:6-7

Denomination: Baptist

In God's Hands Through Trials SermonCentral

Contributed by SermonCentral on Sep 10, 2023

Regardless of our struggles, we must always remember and believe that we are securely held in God's hands.

No matter what we go through, it is comforting to know and believe that we are still in the hands of the Lord. Life brings troubles, setbacks, pain, loneliness, disappointments, and sickness, but through it all, we can find solace in knowing that we are still in the hands of the Lord. Well, being ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 18:1-6

Topics: Faith, Overcoming Hardships

Marchemos!

Contributed by Alfredo Serrano on Feb 17, 2003

Como podemos seguir adelante mientras las pruebas nos invaden? Dios nos dice: Marcha! Yo estoy contigo.

"MARCHEMOS" Éxodo 14 A. Uno de los eventos significativos del A. T. es el milagro de abrir el Mar Rojo para que el pueblo atravesara en tierra seca. 1. Esto fue un milagro muy impresionante. (Breathtaking!) 2. Todo milagro bíblico es grandioso, pero ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 14:1-31

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

If It Ain't One Thing It's Another!

Contributed by Spencer Miller on Mar 9, 2003

The testing of our faith.

We live in a world full of trouble and problems, there are problems after problems. Not many of us can truly say "I don’t have any problems" Job even said it himself, "Man born of a woman but for a few days and full of trouble. But Job goes on to reason that since his days on earth are already ...read more

Scripture: Job 1:1-20

Denomination: Baptist