In Preaching Articles: "suffering"

The Pastoral Heart And Inevitability Of Suffering

By SermonCentral .com on Oct 6, 2022

"The forces of American culture are almost all designed to build the opposite worldview into our people’s minds. Maximize comfort, ease, and security. Avoid all choices that might bring discomfort, trouble, difficulty, pain, or suffering. Add this cultural force to our natural desire for immediate gratification and fleeting pleasures, and the combined power to undermine the superior satisfaction of the soul in the glory of God through suffering is huge."

Scripture: Hebrews 9:27, 2 Timothy 3:12, Acts 14:22, 1 Corinthians 15:19, John 15:20, Matthew 13:44, Psalm 34:19, Matthew 19:26  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Teaching, Perseverance, Preaching, suffering, glory of God, faithful preaching, Purpose of Preaching, Satisfied in Christ, preaching, teaching  (view more)  (view less)

Are You Willing To Be Hated For Preaching The Gospel?

By SermonCentral .com on Aug 13, 2020

Tailoring your message to fit the audience is good planning. Changing the content of the gospel is something else entirely.

Scripture: John 15:18, Mark 13:13

Tags: Persecution, Gospel, Preaching, suffering, Hatred  (view more)  (view less)

Though You Slay Me

By SermonCentral .com on Jun 21, 2022

For Shane Barnard, it came in the hospital room at the passing of his father. When the doctor informed Barnard and his mother that his father was dead, the flood of pain and shock came. As Barnard held his mother to comfort her, he says, as she wailed, she sang softly underneath her breath, the words of Job 1:21, "He gives, he takes, blessed be the name of the Lord."

Scripture: Philippians 3:10, John 6:66-67, Job 1:21

Tags: Worship, Perseverance, suffering, Surpassing Worth

It Happened To A Church Family In Sutherland Springs, Texas

By Brandon Cox on May 30, 2024

Mourning with those affected by the devastating events that took place last Sunday in Sutherland Springs, Texas.

Scripture: Philippians 3:10, 2 Corinthians 1:3-5

Tags: pain, Hope, suffering, Texas, Pain  (view more)  (view less)

5 Ways To Make Your Preaching More Practical And Relevant

By Rick Ezell on Jan 31, 2025

Use these methods to practically reach people suffering from real hurts, problems, doubts, fears, and anxieties gnawing at their faith.

Scripture: Acts 17:16-34, Romans 10:4

Tags: Preaching, Culture, Self, Relevance, audience, application, preaching, culture  (view more)  (view less)

"I Felt My Soul Rejoice”: The Christ-Centered Happiness Of David Brainer

By Randy Alcorn on Nov 12, 2022

"If a young man without modern medicine and dying of an excruciating disease could make choices that brought him happiness in Christ, surely we can too."

Tags: Missionary, Hope, hope in Christ, eternal perspective, Joy in Suffering, Delight in the Lord, Joy in Christ, enduring suffering  (view more)  (view less)

Lord, Keep Me Desperate

By SermonCentral .com on Jan 15, 2022

From Genesis to Revelation, we find a consistent element present in the lives of persevering saints of God. And it is captured in this brief sentence in Psalm 119:67: “Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word.”

Scripture: Luke 11:13, Genesis 50:20, Romans 8:28, 2 Samuel 11:1-27, Jude 1:24, Psalm 119:67, 2 Corinthians 12:7, 1 Samuel 20:3, Psalm 7:1-2, 2 Corinthians 12:7-9, 1 Samuel 26:10-11  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Thorns, Prosperity, suffering, affliction, God's mercy  (view more)  (view less)

When Things Don't Change

By Matt Wade on Feb 2, 2022

The cold winter of depression or anxiety isn't forever, because seasons do change. No, not because our pain disappears, but because we have been here before and we made it out.

Scripture: Jeremiah 29:11-13

Tags: leadership, Anxiety, Depression, pain and suffering, Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

Does Your Soul Have A Backbone?

By Lance Witt on Aug 7, 2023

Over the last few years my single most consistent prayer has been for spiritual courage.

Tags: suffering, Courage, People pleasing, intimacy with Christ

The Weight And Joy Of Being A Pastor: Loneliness

By Josh Reich on Oct 9, 2021

If you talk to any pastor or his wife and ask them about friends, more than likely you will get a sad, longing look.

Tags: Counselor, Loneliness, Prayer General, Suffering Loneliness

Why I Love The Psalms

By Dr. W. Robert Godfrey on Aug 10, 2022

The Psalms teach us how to express our emotions to God in all the circumstances of our lives.

Scripture: Psalm 23:1, Psalm 56:8

Tags: Psalms, Emotions, suffering, Intimacy With God, soul care, Psalms of David  (view more)  (view less)

Hope And Perspective When We’re Dealing With Doubt

By Randy Alcorn on Dec 3, 2022

"In times of doubt, difficulty, and trials, our fundamental beliefs about God and our faith are revealed. So how can Christians find faith in the midst of doubt? How can they trust God’s plan when their lives seem out of His control, and prayers seem to go unanswered or, sometimes it feels, even unheard?"

Scripture: Romans 10:17, Romans 8:28, Ephesians 1:11, 2 Timothy 3:16, Job 23:10, Isaiah 43:2  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: doubt, Perseverance, suffering, tragedy, Promises of God, Genuine Faith, Test of Faith, sovereignty of God  (view more)  (view less)

9 Points For Preaching On The Problem Of Evil

By Norman Geisler on Jan 22, 2025

The topic of evil offers many onramps to preaching powerful sermons and proclaiming the gospel. Dr. Norman Geisler offers insight for preaching and pastoral conversations.

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:15, 1 Timothy 3:6, Colossians 4:6

Tags: Apologetics, Evil, Satan, suffering, tragedy, Difficulties, problem of evil, Apologetics God, Sin General, Trials  (view more)  (view less)

Dealing Hope In The Darkest Of Nights

By Dave Furman on Jan 20, 2022

God delivered me from the darkness of despair through my friends and family as they shared their hope with me. I’m not talking about a shove-it-in-your-face kind of “sharing.” They didn’t try to explain all my problems away or attempt to explain all of God’s intentions for my suffering.

Scripture: Job 2:11-13

Tags: Jesus, Hope, friendship, Depression