Sermons on Try Harder:

The Fruit Of The Spirit "Gentleness" Series

Contributed by Sean Harder on Dec 4, 2009

Now we deal with gentleness, which is actually from the same root word as kindness, to be useful. However there are many more uses of the word in the Greek that have slightly different meaning like mildness, meekness, suitableness, and humility.

Begin by reading the Magnificat Luke 1 verses 46-49 and then Luke 2:13-19. I find that passage gives me a sense of the peacefulness and gentleness of the night of Christ’s birth. There’s no better display of gentleness in the Bible than Mary when she found out she was pregnant, and then gave ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23

Here Comes The Bride Series

Contributed by Sean Harder on Nov 19, 2008

God has a clear design for marriage, and our way is not working.

“Here Comes the Bride!” (Genesis 2:18-25) Pastor Sean Harder November 2, 2008 Let me start with a brief true story called “Head of Household”. Irritated by the 1971 Canadian census form defining the husband as the Head of the household, I wrote in the space marked Householder comments: “In this ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 2:21-25

In The Shadow Of Bulls & Goats Series

Contributed by Sean Harder on Aug 23, 2012

Before Christ gave up his life as a sacrifice for the sins of the world, there was a system that God put into place through Moses that resembled what was to come in Christ. This system of sacrificing animals and shedding blood was the people’s effort to g

Today we begin a short series on what I believe may be the best chapter of the bible in terms of explaining exactly what Christ has done, because it puts in the historical perspective of why sacrifices were necessary in the first place. You can read more about the old covenant in chapter 9. That ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 10:1-10

The Seven Bowls Series

Contributed by Sean Harder on Dec 24, 2010

The description of the seven bowl judgments from John's perspective.

I the apostle John after witnessing the conquerors in heaven singing the song of Moses and the Lamb, looked, and the sanctuary of the tent of witness in heaven was opened. Out of this the Lord’s tabernacle, came the seven angels with the seven plagues. These angels were clothed in pure, ...read more

"I Am Gifted" Series

Contributed by Sean Harder on Mar 5, 2014

What is Christ’s gift? Well it’s the spoils of his victory over sin and death. We know that he has all authority in heaven and on earth, he has inherited all of creation. So the measure of his gift is unlimited.

“I Am Gifted” (Eph 4:1-16) One of my best friends when I was growing up played hockey with me. We did everything together. Played army at construction sites, floor hockey in his huge basement, tobogganed on the hill behind his house, rode dirtbikes, went to the same school. He ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-16

"Jesus Came To Deliver Us"

Contributed by Sean Harder on Jan 7, 2014

Jesus came to deliver us.

Jesus Came to Deliver Us (Col 1:11-20) Jesus came to overcome darkness. He had victory over evil and death. Jesus came to overcome blindness. He was the truth and he told the truth about God. By illuminating the darkness of the world we are now able to see the truth when we believe in Jesus as ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 1:11-20

You Are Invited

Contributed by Sean Harder on Aug 23, 2013

This sermon is for those unbelievers who have a warped view of God, but it’s also for believers who have not experienced the abundant life that being a Christian can offer.

A.W. Tozer once wrote, “What first comes to your mind when you think about God is the most important thing about you”. Many people have been turned off of God and church and Christians by some of what gets popularized from the Old Testament. They think that God is a cruel, genocidal, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 22:1-14

Perplexed Peter Series

Contributed by Sean Harder on Nov 8, 2013

I want to start today by reading the eighth verse of Acts chapter 1. The disciples were listening to Jesus just before he was about to ascend into heaven. No doubt eager Peter was up at the front when Jesus gives his great commission.

There was a man in Boissevain who was paralyzed in a farm accident and was bedridden for the last 8 years. This guy just came to town late last week out of nowhere and healed him. The formerly paralyzed man obviously started walking around town and being a small town just about everyone saw him ...read more

The New Temple Series

Contributed by Sean Harder on Apr 12, 2013

Author and teacher Kay Arthur warns: "If you do not plan to live the Christian life totally committed to knowing your God and to walking in obedience to him, then don't begin, for this is what Christianity is all about. It is a change of citizenship, a c

There's an article on Time magazines website. It begins: "Religion can be a source of comfort that improves well-being. But some kinds of religiosity could be a sign of deeper mental health issues." The article quotes a clinical psychologist who states, "Religion is related to the child having a ...read more

Come Holy Spirit Series

Contributed by Sean Harder on Sep 6, 2013

Acts is a continuation of the Gospel of Luke. Luke's 1st letter describes the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. This being his 2nd letter, he describes the beginnings of the church after Jesus ascends to heaven and sends the Holy Spirit

Why do we need the Holy Spirit? Do we have the Holy Spirit living in us? Do we want the Holy Spirit living in us? You are not saved unless you do you know. Romans 8:9 “But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in ...read more

To Forgive Is Divine

Contributed by Sean Harder on Jun 19, 2009

Pride and dishonesty are the main obstacles to forgiveness. But you will never be free if you refuse to forgive. You really don’t have a choice.

“To Forgive is Divine” (Matthew 18:21-35) Pastor Sean Harder April 26, 2009 As we look at Scripture today, the themes of humility and honesty are at the forefront of the first half of Matthew 18, and forgiveness in the second half appears to be a product of these virtues. Therefore pride and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:21-35

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas - The Line Of Adam Series

Contributed by Sean Harder on Jun 25, 2009

I remember the first time I heard a sermon on this chapter, and I was wondering, how are we going to stay awake through this one?

“It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas - The Line of Adam” (Genesis 5:1-32) I remember the first time I heard a sermon on this chapter, and I was wondering, how are we going to stay awake through this one? I had glossed over it a few times and really didn’t think it served any purpose except ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 5:1-32

Sodom & Gomorrah Pt. 2 “a Tale Of Calamity” Series

Contributed by Sean Harder on Feb 17, 2010

How does God choose who He gives mercy to? God saves and God judges, and their is consequence for sin even if we are saved.

How does God choose who he shows mercy to? Watching the events in Haiti over the last couple of weeks, you hear of many survivors who have had limbs amputated, others who died quickly and painlessly, still others who slowly and painfully passed away, and then a fellow was pulled out two weeks after ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 19:12-29

The Always God Series

Contributed by Sean Harder on Mar 18, 2010

God is always what we need when we need Him. He always restores and he always provides.

Restoring a relationship can be a very difficult thing. Whether it be a completely severed relationship, restoring a marriage after infidelity or an affair with pornography, or even just after a regular argument. If you can boil it down to three things that need to happen to restore a relationship ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 21:22-34

"Savior" Series

Contributed by Sean Harder on Nov 1, 2012

We are saved in Christ, but we are also judged as Christ followers and will have to give an account before God. Because we are saved we can be the light of the world and the salt of the earth. Not to get saved, but because we are saved. If you struggle wi

Create – judge – save or redeem. You could say, create – evaluate – change. That is the creative process whether you are God or human. I think of the process I go through in creating a sermon. I write it out, I judge whether it conforms to certain criteria I have as to whether it will serve the ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 1:13-23