In Sermon Illustrations: "Pain And Suffering"

Writer & Speaker Joni Erickson Tada Was Paralyzed ...  PRO

Contributed by Steve Malone on Apr 5, 2001

Writer & speaker Joni Erickson Tada was paralyzed from the neck down in a diving accident. In her book Secret Strength, Joni wrote about facing temptation. I was in my late 20’s, single, and with every prospect of remaining so. Sometimes lust or a bit of fantasizing would seem so inviting and so ...read more

Scripture: Luke 5:18-26, Luke 5:1-7

Tags: Prayer Hardship, Sin General, Temptation Resisting

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

In A Story That Appeared In The New Yorker Cnn ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 28, 2003

In a story that appeared in the New Yorker CNN founder Ted Turner was suicidal after the breakup of his marriage to Jane Fonda and losing control of Turner Broadcasting. Turner told the magazine that his marriage to Fonda broke up partly because of her decision to become a Christian. Turner is a ...read more

One Of My Favorite Songs Right Now Is A Song By A ...

Contributed by Matthew Sickling on Jun 5, 2009

One of my favorite songs right now is a song by a man named Jeremy Camp. It’s entitled "There will be a Day." I want to share the first verse and chorus with you in closing today. It goes like this: I try to hold on to this world with everything I have But I feel the weight of what it brings, ...read more

Tags: Heaven

Denomination: Baptist

The Cast Of Your Misfortune!" 1 Peter 5: 1-10 ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Oct 19, 2004

“The Cast of Your Misfortune!” 1 Peter 5: 1-10 Key verse(s): 9: “Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kin do sufferings.” One of the loneliest times in anyone’s life is when suffering strikes and it puts you into ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:1-10

Tags: Endurance, God In The Hardships

Denomination: Lutheran

In His Medical Practice, Dr. Richard Swenson Sees ...  PRO

Contributed by Mary Lewis on Aug 3, 2003

In his medical practice, Dr. Richard Swenson sees a steady stream of hurting people coming into his office. He claims that a majority of them suffer from a chronic ailment which has reached epidemic levels in our country. Do you know what it is? SARS, maybe? Or AIDS? The disease Dr. Swenson is ...read more

Tags: Fulfillment, Finding Fulfillment, Guilt

Denomination: Baptist

Branded  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 14, 2003

BRANDED Phillip Keller wrote in his book “A Shepherd Looks at the 23rd Psalm,” about buying his first thirty sheep. He wrote: “Each shepherd has his own distinctive earmark which he cuts into one of the ears of his sheep. In this way, even at a distance, it is easy to determine to whom the sheep ...read more

Tags: People In Acts, Jesus Christ, Jesus Teachings

Three Times A Month, Jermaine Washington And ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 15, 2005

Three times a month, Jermaine Washington and Michelle Stevens get together for what they call a “gratitude lunch.” With good reason! Washington donated a kidney to Stevens, whom he described as “just a friend.” They met at work where they used to have lunch together. One day Michelle wept as she ...read more

Tags: Lord's Supper

So With This Power And Promise Of Prayer, What's ...

Contributed by Richard Francis on Jun 23, 2007

So with this power and promise of prayer, what’s gone wrong? Why is the world still in this mess, why is there so much hurt, so much pain, why does the Church seem to be on the back foot, receding not growing? We have the first aid kit, we have the solution. But we don’t use it. Its like having a ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Do We Have That Fire In The Belly To Carry Our ...  PRO

Contributed by Austin Mansfield on Sep 18, 2007

Do we have that fire in the belly to carry our cross when things get tough? The other day (Thursday), I met a Marine Sergeant who is recuperating from wounds he received about 14 months ago. The explosion damaged multiple vertebrae, his left hip, and parts of his legs. His entire left side ...read more

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

When I Was About 27 Years Old I Developed An ...

Contributed by Andy Beech on Mar 29, 2008

When I was about 27 years old I developed an abscess in a rather embarrassing area of the body. Consequently I tried to keep quiet about it hoping it would go away by natural means. Eventually the abscess got to such a size that the pain was intense and I was finding it difficult to walk. So I ...read more

Denomination: Methodist

Phantom Guilt

Contributed by Larry Wilson on Jul 9, 2010

PHANTOM GUILT Amputees often experience some sensation of a phantom limb. Somewhere, locked in their brains, a memory lingers of the nonexistent hand or leg. Invisible toes curl, imaginary hands grasp things, a "leg" feels so sturdy a patient may try to stand on it. For a few, the experience ...read more

Tags: Guilt

Denomination: Baptist

I Was Fortunate To Grow Up In A Home Where My ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jun 22, 2004

I was fortunate to grow up in a home where my father was both a loving and disciplining presence. I guess I would have to say that if there is anything I really remember about my dad is this, he possessed a presence unlike any other person in my life. To me he was always larger than life. He ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 16:1-12

Tags: Father's Day, Parenting

Denomination: Lutheran

A Beautiful ...

Contributed by Curry Pikkaart on Aug 26, 2010

A Beautiful Prayer “I asked God to take away my pain. God said, ‘No. It is not for me to take away, but for you to give it up.’ I asked God to make my handicapped child whole. God said, ‘No. His spirit is whole, his body is only temporary.’ I asked God to grant me patience. God said, ‘No. Patience ...read more

Tags: Trust

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Our Tongues Get Us Into Trouble

Contributed by Rodelio Mallari on Dec 12, 2010

OUR TONGUES GET US INTO TROUBLE The classic movie, "A Christmas Story," is a nostalgic look at growing up in Gary, Indiana, through the eyes of a boy named Ralphy. One scene depicts a school recess in the middle of winter. Two boys surrounded by their classmates argue whether a person’s tongue ...read more

Tags: Tongue

Denomination: *other

God's Love

Contributed by David Ward on Jan 23, 2006

Frederick Buechner in "The Magnificent Defeat": ß “The love for equals is a human thing—of friend for friend, brother for brother. It is to love what is loving and lovely. The world smiles. ß The love for the less fortunate is a beautiful thing—the love for those who suffer, for those who are ...read more

Tags: Christian Love

Denomination: Baptist

Picture A Scene From The Old West, Sometime In ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 17, 2006

Picture a scene from the Old West, sometime in the 1870s. Weary cowboys in dusty Levi’s gather around a blazing campfire after a day on the open range. The lonely howl of a coyote counterpoints the notes of a guitar as the moon floats serenely overhead. Suddenly a bellow of pain shatters the night, ...read more

Tags: Evangelism How To

C.s. Lewis Is Portrayed In The Movie Shadowlands ...

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Apr 19, 2005

C.S. Lewis is portrayed in the movie Shadowlands as a man struggling with doubts about God. Shadowlands is about his life and reveals the awful ordeal he had to go through with his wife dying of cancer: I discovered these thoughts on the internet about this movie: 1. Jack’s grief was intense. His ...read more

Tags: Assurance Of Salvation

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Leave Your Guilt Behind—communion Meditation  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 3, 2002

LEAVE YOUR GUILT BEHIND--COMMUNION MEDITATION In their book Fearfully and Wonderfully Made, Dr. Paul Brand and Philip Yancey write: "Amputees often experience some sensation of a phantom limb. Somewhere, locked in their brains, a memory lingers of the nonexistent hand or leg. Invisible toes curl, ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness General, Forgiveness For Others, God's Forgiveness

Pearl

Contributed by Bala Samson on Jun 23, 2020

From where do you get pearls? Have you wondered? Do they grow on trees? Can they be found under earth? No…no… Pearls come from a living sea creature: the oyster. Rare, gorgeous round jewels that are not found under the sea, inside the oysters. How is the pearl produced inside the pearl? A ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:45

Tags: Transformation, Seeking, Pearls

Denomination: Pentecostal

Kelly Willard Was The Solo Voice In Many ...

Contributed by Paul Wallace on Nov 21, 2007

Kelly Willard was the solo voice in many Maranatha Music Songs in the 80’s. She recorded 10 solo albums for her Lord. But in 2004 her world fell apart. Her marriage of 29 years ended in divorce, her parents died, and her 18 year old daughter Haylie committed suicide after battling severe ...read more

Denomination: Wesleyan