Sermons on Toil And Hardship:

Our Surprising God Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Aug 26, 2008

Isn’t life based solely upon the laws of nature and cause and effect? Most of the time, yes -- but sometimes God surprises us.

Our Surprising God (Acts 3:1-10) 1. This week has been a rough, depressing week for many people. 2. Keith & Aimey Williams were through an awful ordeal… 3. Last week, a teenager in our community committed suicide after losing a brother a year ago in an accident… 4. Hundreds of Engineers and White ...read more

Scripture: Acts 3:1-10

Denomination: Independent/Bible

I Went To The Enemy's Camp (And I Took Back What He Stole From Me)

Contributed by John Butler on Aug 30, 2008

Learn from the promises in the word about the promise of recovery of all that the enemy has stolen!

*******Sermon Outline******* I Went To The Enemies Camp... Sing-I went to the enemy’s camp and I took back what he stole from me! I took back what he stole from me! I took back what he stole from me! I went to the enemy’s camp and I took back what he stole from me! He’s under my feet! He’s under ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 30:1-31, 1 Samuel 30:30-31, 1 Samuel 30:1

Even Great Faith Struggles With Hard Truths

Contributed by Paul Carlson on Feb 6, 2009

Job illustrates the answer to, "what is reality".

Even Great Faith Struggles with Hard Truths! Job 14 Scripture Introduction: Please turn with me to Job 14. Have you ever experienced a run in with reality? The reality that life is tough and no matter what you do it remains tough… Have you noticed that your body is decaying and you can’t stop ...read more

Scripture: Job 14:1-22

Denomination: Baptist

Facing The Giants: Faith To Face Your Impossibilities Series

Contributed by Michael Catt on Aug 28, 2006

In the movie, Facing the Giants, the team thought the playoffs were impossible, but Coach Taylor challenged them to believe God. What causes us to give up on the seemingly impossible?

Sherwood Baptist Church has one of the most dynamic media ministries of any church in America. They have produced Facing the Giants, arguably the best feature-length movie ever made by a local church. It’s a God-glorifying, excellently created sports film in the tradition of Hoosiers, Remember ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 3:1-17

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

When Shipwreck Threatens Series

Contributed by Wes Richard on Nov 26, 2007

Scripture offers three anchors when life is headed for shipwreck

Last Tuesday, I began preparing this sermon. During that day, three people experiencing shipwreck came sailing into my life. Let me tell you about one of them. His name is Bill. I decided to replace the broken door on the church storage shed while the weather was still warm and was crossing ...read more

Scripture: Acts 27:20-25

Denomination: Brethren

The Benefits Of Turning To God - Job Chapter Twenty Two Series

Contributed by Tom Shepard on Nov 30, 2007

A study into Job chapter twenty two.

Outline for Job 22 - Does Man’s Goodness Affect God? (verses 1-4) Job Is Accused (verses 5-11) Troubles For The Wicked (verses 12-20) The Benefits Of Turning To God (verses 21-30) Eliphaz will speak again. 1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said: 2 "Can a man be profitable to God, ...read more

Scripture: Job 22:1-30

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

It's A Good Hurt

Contributed by Brian Matherlee on Sep 4, 2008

A message on the good that can come from suffering.

IT’S A GOOD HURT 2 Corinthians 1:3-11 Wednesday, August 27, 2008 Pastor Brian Matherlee I recall a “Far Side” cartoon that has a cowboy filled with arrows and he says to his partner, “It hurts Clem….but it’s a good hurt.” What good can come from suffering? 1. God is the Father of compassion and ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:3-11

Denomination: Wesleyan

Shaking Philippi Series

Contributed by Jason Jones on Oct 1, 2008

Exposition of Acts 16:25-40 regarding the Philippian Jail events

Text: Acts 16:25-40, Title: Shaking Philippi, Date/Place: NRBC, 10/5/08, AM A. Opening illustration: One sunny Sunday morning, Henry Jones awoke to find his wife standing over him, shaking him by the shoulder. "You have to get up," she urged. "We have to get ready for church.” "I don’t want to go ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:25-40

Denomination: Baptist

Prevailing Prayer

Contributed by Eyriche Cortez on Oct 15, 2008

In times of crisis, we are to express the positive through our words and works so that we enjoy the peace of God.

In times of crisis, like what we are experiencing right now, we usually hear, “Why worry when you can pray?” Prayer allows us to prevail over these trying times. But, frankly, we tend to worry more than pray. One of my favorite verses in the Bible on prayer is Philippians 4:6-9. “Do not be anxious ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:6-9

Denomination: Baptist

Sufferers On Trial Series

Contributed by Victor Yap on Dec 19, 2007

Crisis and Choice, Pt. 1

SUFFERERS ON TRIAL (LUKE 13:1-5) On the day the terrorists struck New York and Washington D.C., I received an e-mail from a friend that hinted strongly that America was under attack for forsaking God. Two days later, Jerry Falwell commented harshly: “I really believe that the pagans, and the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 13:1-5

Denomination: Independent/Bible

One Thing I Know Series

Contributed by Victor Yap on Dec 19, 2007

Crisis and Choice, Pt. 2

ONE THING I KNOW (JOHN 9) One embarrassing game day, after giving up nine home runs in a row, Charlie Brown cried out in despair, “What can I do?!!” He complained to his catcher, “We’re getting slaughtered again, Schroeder. I don’t know what to do. Why do we have to suffer like this?” Schroeder ...read more

Scripture: John 9:1-39

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Choice And Consequences Series

Contributed by Victor Yap on Dec 19, 2007

Crisis and Choice, Pt. 3

CHOICE AND CONSEQUENCE (GEN 3:1-15) The mythical story of the Pandora's Box tells of how Greek god Zeus’ plotted to ruin man, seal his fate and cause suffering on earth. Zeus created the beautiful Pandora, sent her to humans and gave her a mysterious chest or box, along with a warning not to ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 3:1-15

Denomination: Independent/Bible

When Life Seems Unfair Series

Contributed by Victor Yap on Dec 19, 2007

Crisis and Choice, Pt. 4

WHEN LIFE SEEMS UNFAIR (JOB 1:1-2:10) The year 2001 was a sad year for a family I had known for more than ten years. The family was a staunch Christian family and for four generations the tight-knit family had served tirelessly in church. The matriarch of the family was a widow and her two sons and ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Lord Of All The Earth Series

Contributed by Victor Yap on Dec 19, 2007

Crisis and Choice, Pt. 5

THE LORD OF ALL THE EARTH (ISAIAH 40:15-24) One day a man goes to a pet shop to buy a parrot. The assistant takes the man to the parrot section and asks the man to choose one. The man asks, “How much is the yellow one?” The assistant says, “$2,000.” The man is shocked and asks the assistant why ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 40:15-24

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Origin And Destiny Of Evil

Contributed by Victor Yap on Dec 19, 2007

Crisis and Choice, Pt. 7

THE ORIGIN AND DESTINY OF EVIL (EZEKIEL 28:11-19) The biggest winner after the events of 911 did not show up to claim the prize. Oddly, people stop noticing, blaming or challenging him once a war or disaster breaks out. He is not a Taliban official, an Al-Qaeda fighter or a suicide bomber. George ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 28:11-19

Denomination: Independent/Bible