Sermons on Distant From God:

When God Is Distant -Psalm 22 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Apr 28, 2025

What can you do when God is far away? You cry out to him and receive no comfort, no strength, it just seems like your prayers bounce off the ceiling. That actually happened to Jesus, and when it did, he quoted a psalm that teaches exactly what to do in times like that.

Mark 15:34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"--which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Introduction What can you do when God is far away? You cry out to him and receive no comfort, no strength, it just ...read more

The Distant Disciple - Nicodemus

Contributed by Steve Wilson on Mar 16, 2016

Though it is difficult for us to relinquish control of our lives to this one who lived long ago (Jesus), it was even more difficult to do so when He walked on this earth. That was especially true for a prominent ruler of the Jews by the name of Nicodemus.

Introduction • Read John 3:12-16; 7:45-53; 19:38-42 • To you, I hope, Jesus of Nazareth is the Son of God, your Savior and your Lord. It is so wonderful that we live on this side of the cross and resurrection. Though it is difficult to relinquish control of our lives to this one who ...read more

Scripture: John 19:38-42

Denomination: Baptist

To The Distant Country And Back

Contributed by Michael Trask on Mar 19, 2007

The Prodigal went to "a distant country". "The Distant Country" is not a foriegn state, but rather a sinful state of mind....that leads to ruin. But there is a way back.

“There was a man who had two sons. the younger one said to his father, ‘father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. Not long after that, the younger Son got together all he had, set off for a distant country....” The “distant Country”. The young man ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-32

Denomination: Lutheran

Overcoming Spiritual Dryness (Part 1) Series

Contributed by Rev. Samuel Arimoro on Feb 12, 2025

Spiritual dryness is a state where a believer feels distant from God, experiences a lack of passion for prayer, worship, and Bible study, and struggles with a sense of emptiness in their faith journey.

OVERCOMING SPIRITUAL DRYNESS. (PART 1) By Rev. Samuel Arimoro Main Text: Psalm 63:1 "O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water." Supporting Texts: Isaiah 44:3 John 7:37-39 Ezekiel ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 63:1, Isaiah 44:3, John 7:37-39, Ezekiel 37:1-10, Revelation 3:15-16, Jeremiah 2:13  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Assembly Of God

What Do You See?

Contributed by Derek Geldart on Feb 11, 2019

The eye is a lamp unto the soul. What we think about, speak of and act upon matters. If our eyes are not focused on the kingdom of God then our souls will remain distant from God!

What do you See? Matthew 6:22-23 Online Sermon: http://www.mckeesfamily.com/?page_id=3567 “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:19-24

Denomination: Baptist

Not From A Distance Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Dec 14, 2014

God is not distant from us; in Christ, He is us, and He gives us the grace to forgive and be healed.

4th Sunday of Advent 2014 Extraordinary Form About a quarter century ago Bette Midler recorded a song by Julie Gold called “from a distance.” The idea behind the lengthy lyrics is that if you get far enough away from planet earth, it all looks green and blue and serene. You ...read more

Scripture: Luke 3:1-6

Denomination: Catholic

Time To Engage: "Distant Discipleship”

Contributed by Dennis Lee on Feb 2, 2025

Last time we met I introduced what I called being a secret disciple. Today, I’d like to introduce another type of disciple, one seen in the life of Peter, which I am calling, being a distant disciple. A distant disciple is one who follows Jesus, but at a distance.

Time to Engage: The Journey to Discipleship “Distant Discipleship” Luke 22:54-62 Watch on YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NnO8Qw29I6w As you probably know, we’re on the third word in the vision I believe God gave to us last year. And this new series takes us into the issue of ...read more

Scripture: Luke 22:54-62, Luke 22:31-32

Denomination: Foursquare

Friendship With God

Contributed by C Jordan on Jun 18, 2014

Everyone has the choice to either be friends with God or friends with the world. In this passage, James gives us seven characteristics of the person who is a friend of God.

JOURNEY THROUGH JAMES #6: FRIENDSHIP WITH GOD INTRO TO TOPIC: What are some of the most important things in your world? I am sure that most of you would say it is your friendships. Have you ever pondered what it means that we have the opportunity to become friends with God, the Creator of the ...read more

Scripture: James 4:1-17

Denomination: *other

What Jesus Is Doing When He Seems Distant Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Oct 18, 2019

Where is God when He seems distant?

- The Jews here had returned from Babylon to Jerusalem. They were surrounded by strong enemies and their attempts to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem had just gotten restarted. - Here we have eight night visions designed to encourage God’s people. As I noted last week, the theme of Zechariah can ...read more

Scripture: Zechariah 1:7-17

Denomination: Baptist

Though We Are Distant, We Are United!

Contributed by Damien Saylor on Apr 27, 2020

We are the body of Christ! There is no distance between us. There is no time that holds us. We stand united, & no matter what. We will be triumphant through Christ!

Sermon - though distant, we are united - I once again deliver a message to a small camera. - I can imagine your faces as I’m preaching. Just as I remember our members that have finished the race & are already in glory awaiting us. - With that, There’s a yearning that wells up within ...read more

Scripture: Romans 15:24-33

Denomination: Baptist

Do You Have The Fruit Of Repentance In Your Life?

Contributed by John Lowe on Feb 4, 2015

“Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?” He is talking to Pharisees and Sadducees, who were very religious but also very distant from God. Many of us here this morning could easily claim to be very religious, but if we are. . . .

25-Aug-05 Do You Have The Fruit Of Repentance In Your Life? Matthew 3:7-11 7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Therefore bear fruits worthy ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 3:7-11

Denomination: Baptist

A Plea For Action Series

Contributed by Joseph Marshall on Oct 9, 2022

his Psalm is a prayer in which God’s inaction confounds the Psalmist against the wicked. Therefore, he beseeches God to Arise (v. 12) and lifts up his hand. Hence we could call this psalm A Plea For Action. There are many lessons to be learned from it:

I. WHEN GOD SEEMS FAR AWAY (v. 1) A. There are times in the life of the godliest Christians during which God seems afar off and as if He is hiding. 1. A Christian should not doubt his salvation b/c he goes through such times. 2. This will be distressing for Christians. It is not troubling that we ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

But If From There PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Sep 25, 2023

God wants to be found and is always close to us, and we must continually seek a deeper relationship with Him through wholehearted pursuit.

Ladies and gentlemen, brothers and sisters, it's truly wonderful to see all of your smiling faces today as we gather to worship and seek the Lord together. Have you ever felt like God is distant or hard to find? Well, I have some incredible news for you today: God wants to be found and He is closer ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 4:29

Topics: God's Presence

When God Is Distant - Mark 15:34 And Psalm 22 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on May 30, 2024

What can you do when God is far away? You cry out to him and receive no comfort, no strength, it just seems like your prayers bounce off the ceiling. That actually happened to Jesus, and when it did, he quoted a psalm that teaches exactly what to do in times like that.

Mark 15:34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"--which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Introduction What can you do when God is far away? You cry out to him and receive no comfort, no strength, it just ...read more

Scripture: Mark 15:34, Matthew 27:46

Why Does Jesus Seem So Distant? Series

Contributed by Eric Ferguson on Jun 4, 2008

Sometimes finding God can be so difficult, and He seems so far away, but in reality, He’s around us all the time. There are some things however that can seem confusing at times

Opener Activity: Clap This game is a variation of the old faithful "Hot/Cold" game. One person is chosen to be "it" and asked to leave the room so they can’t hear or see what is going on in the room. Take about 1 minute and pick an action as a group for "it" to do when he/she returns. (A Jumping ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:20

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational