Sermons on Being Thankful In Suffering:

Why Does God Allow Tragedy And Suffering?

Contributed by Lee Strobel on Jul 23, 2012

Lee Strobel presents a message to a Colorado church shortly after the movie theater massacre in Aurora, Colorado.

It was the worst mass shooting in American history – 70 people shot by a gunman, 12 of them killed, while they were watching the midnight showing of a new movie just 21 miles from where we’re sitting. There are no words to describe the anguish being felt by those who are suffering today; our heart ...read more

Scripture: John 16:33

Denomination: *other

What's Going On When God's People Suffer?

Contributed by Timothy Darling on Mar 28, 2010

There are multiple spiritual dynamics to suffering that goes beneath the surface.

What's going on when God's people suffer? Holy Week is about suffering. It is specifically about the suffering of Jesus, but I believe it like the season of Lent is also about our own mortality. It is a time to reflect on our moral place in life and on the humanity of what we endure, waiting for ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:12-19

Denomination: Mennonite

Being Restored By God As We Serve

Contributed by Richard Schwedes on Jan 27, 2008

God is constantly at working preparing and restoring His servants. This sermon discovers what it means to be a servant of God.

If a friend of yours was to ask you what it means to be a servant of God, how would you respond? In our reading from Isaiah 49 God reveals some of the things about being one of his servants. Interestingly this reading is a prophecy spoken many years before Jesus was born on earth to help people ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 49:1-7

Denomination: Lutheran

The "be" Attitudes 04

Contributed by Guy Glass on Apr 8, 2023

This message continues the series by looking at "blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth."

THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT 04 THE BEATITUDES INTRODUCTION: I HOPE YOU HAVE BEGUNTO NOTICE FROM THE GIRST TWO BEATITUDES THAT WE HAVE LOOKED AT TOGETHER, IS THAT LIVING OUT THE SECOND ONE WAS A LITTLE HARDER THAN LIVING OUT THE FIRST ONE. AS WE HAVE ALREADY SEEN, THE BEATITUDES CAN BE SAID TO BE ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-5

Denomination: Baptist

What Does Suffering Say About God? Series

Contributed by Ross Anderson on Oct 25, 2005

The Bible sees hardship as God¡¦s loving discipline, which, as we submit to it, he uses to produce his character in our lives.

Turn in your Bibles to Hebrews 12. We¡¦ve been talking in recent weeks about suffering, seeking to make sense out of the trials and hardships we go through in life. To start us off, I want you to think about what one couple has gone through¡K Introduction: Video interview with a couple who ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:3-13

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Does God Ordain/Allow Evil And Suffering?

Contributed by Dr. Craig Nelson on Oct 12, 2022

Within the church, there is a belief that everything is under the direct sovereign control of God, therefore He ordains what satan and his minions do.

It is also believed that when people get sick or suffer horrible tragedies, it is the will of God because He "allowed/ordained" it. God is the Holy and transcendent one. He is sovereign, omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent and omnibenevolent. He knows all things past, present, and ...read more

Scripture: Romans 2:4, James 1:16-17, John 8:42-44, Ephesians 6:13-18

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

From Suffering Servant To "Yes Your Majesty"

Contributed by Joshua Bowers on Jun 21, 2001

The value of this sermon is to help the audiance understand why Christ came to earth as the lowly carpenter before he could be respected as the great "King of Kings"

Standing just in view of the steps of the bus that will take him to the infamous Paris Island is an eighteen-year-old young man with his mother, father and younger brother. The Marine band is playing the Marine’s Hymn and the Marine Honor Guard is standing at attention supporting the colors of the ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:10

Denomination: Church Of God

The Via Dolorosa – The Universality Of Suffering (5/12) Series

Contributed by Eduardo (Eddie) Fernandes on Jun 17, 2020

Suffering is universal. Everyone experiences it. None escape it. It is part and parcel of the human condition. Many Evangelicals love to focus on “health/wealth/blessings” forgetting to teach the other “side of the coin”. As such people are ill-equipped to deal with life’s many harsh blows.

Message by Pr. Eddie Fernandes Introduction Hold On Video (lights off…video begins…video ends…lights on…Eddie & Marta on stage) Hold on! How many of you need to take hold of God’s hand this morning because you are struggling? Life hasn’t been easy. Perhaps you’ve lost your job. Maybe the ...read more

Scripture: Mark 15:15-20

Denomination: Independent/Bible

A Life-Changing Approach To "Thanksgiving"

Contributed by Darryl Klassen on Oct 9, 2007

The day we celebrate "Thanksgiving" is significant but not nearly as significant as learning to live a thankful life. This "Thanksgiving" sermon teaches us to look at three aspects of life and "be thankful."

A LIFE-CHANGING APPROACH TO “THANKSGIVING” Are you one of those people who get stumped when the group leader asks everyone to share what they are thankful for? There are always the obvious things to be thankful for – food, a warm home, family. But you don’t want to sound simple-minded so you ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:15-17

Denomination: Mennonite

Why Does God Allow The Innocent To Suffer Series

Contributed by Derek Geldart on Feb 13, 2016

How can a loving God allow innocent people to be hurt? This sermon uses 7 pillars of truth about God as the foundation to give 7 Reasons why God Allows Suffering.

GOD’S NOT DEAD PART I Unbeliever’s Question: A God who allows horrible tragedies to happen to innocent people is not a god to worship. How can a loving God allow innocent people to be hurt so badly? Question 1 has been asked so frequently by non believers that I cannot imagine there ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 18:25

Denomination: Baptist

Being A Diverse But Christ Focussed Church

Contributed by Richard Schwedes on Jan 26, 2014

Being a Christian church means following Jesus command to make disciples of people of all nations, which means we will be a community of diverse people. We explore why this is important, what it means for us and how to live with differences in our church

There is something important for everyone in our congregation to think deeply about. Do you see differences as a blessing or a problem? How you answer this question is important, as it will influence how you live and act. It will influence how you be part of the church. The church in Corinth had a ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:10-18

Denomination: Lutheran

The "be" Attitudes 07

Contributed by Guy Glass on Apr 21, 2023

This message looks at the beatitude dealing with a pure heart. God encourages us to have a pure, not just a clean heart so that we can see him better.

MATTHEW 5:8 BLESSED ARE THE PURE IN HEART, FOR THEY WILL SEE GOD AS WE CONTINUE OUR SERIES ON THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT AND PARTICULARLY NOW THE BEATITUDES, WE ARE BROUGHT TO OUR TEXT TODAY WHICH CHALLENGES US TO HAVE A PURE HEAR. THIS STRUCK ME AS INTERESTING, BECAUSE WE ARE NOT ASKED TO HAVE A ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:8

Denomination: Baptist

The 7 Ways Jesus Suffered For Our Sin

Contributed by John Gaston on Feb 11, 2023

Jesus suffered in every aspect of his body: from the crown of his head to the soles of his feet. His face was wounded, His back was beaten, His side and heart were pierced, and even His eyes were blinded with trickles of blood. The seven ways He suffered atoned for the sins of the world.

SEVEN WAYS JESUS SUFFERED FOR OUR SIN Isaiah 53:3-5 INTRODUCTION A. HUMOR Why will all of the referees check their voicemail immediately after the Super Bowl? So they can hear someone say "no missed calls." B. TEXT 3 “He is despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 53:3-5

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Colossians 1:24 (The Sufferings Of Christ)

Contributed by David Smith on Nov 16, 2007

Christ still has more sufferings to complete, says St Paul. Really! I thought He died once for all upon the cross, and that was it? Apparently it’s not that simple!...

“And you, who once were estranged and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and irreproachable before him” This is Paul, writing in his one and only letter to the Colossians, and it’s all good ...read more

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Christ's Suffering (Psalm 22)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jan 14, 2026

Have we ever felt abandoned?

What about Jesus’ suffering is prophesied in the Hebrew scriptures? Let’s look at one such passage, Psalm 22. What did Jesus quote on the cross, right at the point of His death? Do we ever feel like this? My God! My God! Why have you abandoned me? Why are you so far from delivering me—from my ...read more

Denomination: Baptist