Suffering Sermon Outline Template For Pastors

Point 1: God Is Present in Our Suffering

Scripture Options:

• Psalm 34:18 — "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."
• Isaiah 43:2 — "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you."
• Matthew 28:20b — "And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Teaching Notes: Start here because this is the first question your congregation asks when suffering hits: "Where is God?" Don't rush past the question. Acknowledge the silence people feel. Then anchor them in the truth that God's presence doesn't depend on our ability to feel it.

Use a concrete illustration — a parent sitting with a sick child through the night. The child may sleep through the worst of it and never know their parent was there. But the parent never left.

Application: Invite your congregation to name one area of suffering this week where they'll practice the discipline of acknowledging God's presence — even if they can't feel it yet.

Transition: Once we know God is present, we can ask the harder question — what is He doing in our pain?

Point 2: God Redeems Our Suffering

Scripture Options:

• Romans 8:28 — "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."
• Genesis 50:20 — "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives."
• 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 — "...the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God."

Teaching Notes: This is where you need to be careful. "God has a plan" can sound hollow when someone is in the middle of devastation. Lead with 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 — the most tangible promise. God comforts us so we can comfort others. That gives suffering a forward direction without minimizing the pain.

Joseph's story (Genesis 50:20) is powerful here because it shows redemption that took decades to unfold. Be honest with your people: redemption doesn't always come on our timeline.

Application: Ask your congregation to think of one past hardship that God used to grow them. Encourage them to share that story with someone who's currently suffering.

Transition: Knowing God is present and that He redeems our suffering gives us the foundation for the final step — endurance.

Point 3: God Equips Us to Endure

Scripture Options:

• James 1:2-4 — "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance."
• Romans 5:3-5 — "...we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope."
• 1 Peter 5:10 — "And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast."

Teaching Notes: James 1 is a text that needs pastoral care. "Consider it pure joy" doesn't mean suffering feels joyful. It means there's a purpose behind it you can't see yet — like an athlete who hates the workout but trusts the program.

Use Romans 5:3-5 as the progression: suffering ? perseverance ? character ? hope. Walk your congregation through that chain slowly. Each link is forged in fire.

Close with 1 Peter 5:10 — the promise that God Himself will restore. Not that we'll restore ourselves. Not that time will heal. God Himself steps in.

Application: Challenge your people to identify one "character trait under construction" in their current trial — perseverance, patience, compassion. Name it. Ask God to complete the work.

Bringing It All Together

Suffering isn't a topic you preach once and move on from. Your people carry it with them every Sunday. The best suffering sermons don't explain away pain — they meet people in it and point them toward a God who is present, who redeems, and who equips.

Customize this outline for your context. Swap in the scriptures that speak to where your congregation is right now. If you're looking for a complete multi-week framework, the From The Ashes sermon series kit includes sermon outlines, small group guides, and media assets — so you can focus on your people instead of your prep.

Explore the From The Ashes Kit

FAQs

What Bible verses are best for a sermon on suffering?

The most effective verses for suffering sermons include Psalm 34:18 (God's nearness), Romans 8:28 (redemption of pain), James 1:2-4 (purpose in trials), and 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (comfort that equips us to comfort others). Choose passages that match your congregation's current needs — acute crisis calls for presence-focused texts, while ongoing hardship benefits from perseverance passages.

How do you preach on suffering without sounding dismissive?

Start by acknowledging the pain before offering hope. Avoid jumping to "God has a plan" before sitting with the hurt. Use specific illustrations rather than abstractions. Say "I know some of you are carrying something heavy right now" before you say "God is working." Pastoral vulnerability — sharing your own struggles appropriately — builds the trust needed to deliver harder truths.

How long should a sermon series on suffering last?

A suffering sermon series typically works best as 3-4 weeks. Shorter doesn't give people enough time to process. Longer can start to feel heavy. Consider pairing it with small group discussion guides so your congregation can go deeper in community. Many churches find that a suffering series naturally leads into a hope or renewal series.