Sermons on Bad Things Happen:

Good Things Happen On The Sabbath

Contributed by Mari Larson on Jun 3, 2018

While we can agree with Jesus that "the sabbath is made for humankind and not humankind for the sabbath," we are wrong to disregard it.

In 1986, the good people of Bismarck, North Dakota, thought it was time to overturn or at least soften the blue laws which closed businesses on Sundays. Amid great controversy, Dayton’s Department Store, Target, and many stores and restaurants were to open at noon. Dayton’s and Target were both ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 5:12-15

Denomination: Lutheran

Jesus, The Good Shepherd

Contributed by Craig Condon on Feb 10, 2015

Jesus does not protect those he loves from bad things happening, but uses bad things to fulfill his plans for our lives. When we suffer, he is glad not because we are suffering, but because through suffering we have the chance to grow in faith.

A mother was once asked by a census-taker how many children she had. She replied, “Well, there’s Billy and Harry and Martha and…”. “Never mind the names,” the man interrupted, “Just give me the numbers”. The mother angrily replied, “They ...read more

Scripture: John 10:1-10

Denomination: Anglican

"The Good Thing About Bad Things" Series

Contributed by Jeffery Lindsay on Aug 11, 2001

Perseverance thru trial is God’s primary means of maturing his children.

“The Good Thing about Bad Things” James 1:1-4 I Introduction and Overview to the Letter of James In the foreward of his book, Inside Out, Larry Crabb writes this: “Modern Christianity, in dramatic reversal of its biblical form, promises to relieve the pain of living in a fallen world. The ...read more

Scripture: James 1:1-4

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Children’s Address

Contributed by None None on Aug 22, 2013

I have had a bad week! Everything I did went wrong. My car got a flat tyre… in the rain! My telephone got disconnected because I forgot to pay the bill. I was running late for everything. All of this made me really grumpy and to top it all off...

Materials: A few balloons, some filled with air, some with water Candle Match I have had a bad week! Everything I did went wrong. My car got a flat tyre… in the rain! My telephone got disconnected because I forgot to pay the bill. I was running late for everything. All of this made me really ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:9-16

Denomination: *other

And Justice Will Roar

Contributed by Douglas Phillips on Aug 28, 2001

Often times we ask the question "Why to bad things happen to good People?" Is there any justice in the world? This passage tells us that God will put up with injustice only so long, and then will roar in perfect judgment.

AND JUSTICE WILL ROAR AMOS 1:1 - 2:16 Introduction: One thing we are all interested in is justice. We seek justice in all aspects of our lives, at all times. We have sought justice from the earliest days of our youth. Do you remember the games we played as children? How many times have you ...read more

Scripture: Amos 1:1-16

Denomination: Baptist

Counsel For Troubled Christians

Contributed by Rodelio Mallari on Dec 12, 2010

People who are discouraged in life have always asked the familiar question, “Why do bad things happen to good people? Why do the righteous suffer? Why are they being deprived of good things in life while the wicked prosper?” When sad and terrible things

Intro: People who are discouraged in life have always asked the familiar question, “Why do bad things happen to good people? Why do the righteous suffer? Why are they being deprived of good things in life while the wicked prosper?” When sad and terrible things happen to the Christian, what should ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 37:1-9

Denomination: *other

Reversing Curses Series

Contributed by Jerry Owen on Aug 15, 2018

Sermon deals with 2 types of curses people can find themselves in. One is a spiritual curse that comes as a result of iniquity. The other is basically when bad things happen to good people and they are suffering through no fault of their own.

REVERSING CURSES 2 Kings 8:1-6 * Have you ever felt that, because of your past mistakes, that you are living under a curse? * Or maybe you feel that you have suffered for many years for something that wasn’t your fault? Something that was totally out of your control. Life has hit you really ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 8:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

Between Adversity And The Miracle

Contributed by David Spiegel on Mar 28, 2018

Chances are, at some point the adversity you face today as an individual has brought you to the place where you have asked yourself a form of this question. “Why does a good God let these bad things happen?”

Years ago, a large church I was on staff with at the time did a series called “Elephant in the Room” • Prior to the series, the church was polled to narrow down the top things that were on people’s minds that it seemed nobody wanted to address. • We even rented a live Elephant in a cage out front ...read more

Scripture: John 11:1-36

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Maybe The Worse Thing That Can Happen Is The Best Thing? Series

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Nov 18, 2014

Our Father has a plan and a purpose, we can get so upset we miss what God is trying to do. This too shall pass... Press on...

YOU CAN! THE DANGER OF MISSING MY PURPOSE? By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com I do this in 3 parts... INTRODUCTION: Do we realize good can come out of bad? Sometimes what appears to be a bad, terrible thing could be a good thing. In 1964 TERRESSA BELLISSIMO owned a little restaurant in ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:13

Denomination: Assembly Of God

John 9:25

Contributed by Rev. Randy Barker on Nov 22, 2014

john 9:25

Due to the large amount of sermons and topics that appear on this site I feel it is necessary to post this disclaimer on all sermons posted. my sermon ideas and illustrations are often taken from many sources including those at Sermoncentral.com, there could be instances where other ...read more

Scripture: John 9:25

Denomination: *other

Surviving In A World Of Pain

Contributed by Michael Stover on Sep 14, 2001

After the tragedy of terrorism we have suffered, our citizens will be struggling with how to cope. Three concerns will be why bad things happen, how do I keep my heart holy, and what can I do to help?

Face up to: I. Stark Reality (vs. 2-3, 5) A. Bad things DO happen to good people 1. The Psalmist expected them 2. John 16:33, “In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” 3. Matthew 5:45, “He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 27:1-9

Denomination: Baptist

When Relationships Sour Series

Contributed by Steve Bond on Aug 16, 2007

Without question many of our most painful chapters in life have to do with soured relationships. That’s why we’re considering this in our final message in our series "When Bad Things Happen to Good People."

Introduction A 104 year-old woman was being interviewed by a Christian reporter. The reporter asked the woman if it was easier or more difficult to live the Christian life the older you get. The lady thought for a moment and said, “Well, there is less peer pressure.” Some things may get easier ...read more

Scripture: Acts 15:36-41

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Widow's Oil

Contributed by Scott Ridout on Jul 2, 2009

This sermon focuses on the story of the Widow’s Oil from 2 Kings 4 and answers the questions: "Why do bad things happen to good people, where is God when they do, and what do we do when it happens to us?" Part of a series entitled "Seven".

We’re in a series called "Seven" learning unforgettable lessons from forgotten lives of the Old Testament. This week we are going to take a look at a woman who is having a very difficult time in her life. In fact I’m not sure things can get worse. If you have a Bible, turn to the passage in 2 ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 4:1-7

Denomination: Baptist

It's All So Simple Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jun 19, 2009

To the issue of why bad things happen to good people, Eliphaz’s answer is spiritually lazy and assumes that we can earn God’s favor. Job’s response is to have faith in a God who will ultimately accept responsibility for sin.

You and I are about to enter the realm of mystery together. I know of nothing which challenges the mind and the imagination quite so much as the mystery of human suffering. Why men and women should have to suffer physically or emotionally – that has never been answered completely. In recent weeks ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Holiness: The Hollow Inheritance Series

Contributed by Peter Loughman on Jan 21, 2007

The God who we find in the Bible, is the God of real life, not the God of our imagined Disneyfied Happy Ending Life. Nasty, bad things happen in life. Being holy is not looking good, its dealing with life God’s way.

What you believe will determine how you behave and your behavior reveals your true beliefs. We who have been involved in the church for many years read this Scripture about holiness and we say to ourselves…I know all about that holiness stuff, we say…Holiness is literally God separating us from ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:13-25

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational