Sermons on Faith In Hardship:

An Enemy Has Done This

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Sep 25, 2005

The parable tells four basic truths: 1. There seems to be injustice in the way the world works. 2. The evil in the world is the work of the evil one. 3. There is a reason God tolerates evil. 4. There is a day of reckoning coming.

Our country has been devastated in recent days by storms and floods. First it was Hurricane Katrina, and now Hurricane Rita. But they are not the only things we have faced as far as natural disasters in the world. Wildfires started by lightning, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, disease and plague, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:24-30

Denomination: Methodist

What Does 9.11 Make Of Us?

Contributed by Don Hawks on Sep 6, 2002

In spite of the tragedy, what “man meant for evil, God used for good”, thus how will Christians and American citizens be a part of the reshaping of culture since 9.11.01?

(Power Point available--email author) SLIDE 1 “WHAT DOES 9.11 MAKE OF US?” 8:30 with Video presentation (adapted from Leonard Sweet’s message on 9.11) Slide 2 “Night fell on a different world.” These are some of the first words President George Bush used to reflect on September 11, 2001. Slide ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 50:20, Romans 13:8-10

Denomination: Methodist

Why Me Lord?

Contributed by Gerald Albers on Mar 12, 2007

Where are you, Lord? Why can’t I find you when I need you? I’ve looked for you in my past, in my future, in my present; I’ve looked into the sky, in the bright lights, in the darkness; I can’t find you anywhere, God.

Job 1:1(Read) 1 There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job, and that man was blameless, upright, fearing God, and turning away from evil. (NAS) There is not a soul here today who has not at some point asked, Why? Why, Lord? Why me, Lord? Why did I lose my job? Why did I lose my loved ...read more

Scripture: Job 1:1

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Giant Sized Challenges

Contributed by Bob Joyce on Aug 17, 2007

Seeing our challenges from God’s perspective instead of our own.

Numbers 13, Joshua 14 Max Lucado, in his book, In the Eye of the Storm, opens his book with the story of Chippy the Parakeet. Chippy’s cage was being cleaned out one day by his owner when this particular event occurred. Chippy’s owner had the vacuum cleaner out...had the attachments removed...and ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 13:1-33

Denomination: Baptist

Doomsday Series

Contributed by Victor Yap on Dec 19, 2007

Crisis and Choice, Pt. 10 (Final)

DOOMSDAY (MARK 13) Christians are often confronted with apocalyptic, millennial and eschatological expectations whenever a disaster occurs. On the morning of 9/11, a relative called from overseas, asked if we were alright and eventually ended the call with a sigh and an exclamation: “This is the ...read more

Scripture: Mark 13:1-27

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Flood Assurance (Revised)

Contributed by Michael Hollinger on Dec 7, 2005

The question is not, "Why do bad things happen." The better question is, "Why were we spared." And the answer? Because we have a God who loves us!

Title: Flood Assurance Text: Luke 13:1-5, but it only makes sense in the context of Luke 12:54-57,1-9. FCF: We are all judged and worthy of death, but God be praised we have an advocate who pleads to give us more time. SO: I want my congregation to feel sympathy for the people of New Orleans, ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

How Do I Overcome The Anger From Suffering? Series

Contributed by Raymond Maurer on Jul 21, 2004

How do I overcome anger from suffering? 1.Accept anger as a normal emotion 2.Beware of anger from an incomplete perspective 3.Confess my anger to prevent sin 4.Put your arms around Jesus

Title: How Do I Overcome Anger from Suffering? Text: Job 6.1-9.35 Series: Job: The Mystery of Suffering (Job) Raymond Maurer, New Life Christian Church, Wixom, MI www.NewLifeWithGod.com. E-mail me if you would like the Power Point Slides (Ray@NewLifeWithGod.com). If you’re a Lakers fan I’m sure ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Purposeful Pathways

Contributed by Richard Tow on Apr 9, 2006

The Way God led these people is very instructive for us. It was a strange mixture of difficulty and divine intervention—both hunger and provision.

Purposeful Pathways Deut. 8:2-18[1] 1-16-05 Intro When was the last time you sat down with your family and just reflected upon your journey together up to this point in time? When was the last time you dug out the old photo albums and relived birthdays, vacations, graduations, etc. This May ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 8:2-18

Denomination: Charismatic

When Life Seems Unfair Series

Contributed by Victor Yap on May 1, 2002

911, Part Three

WHEN LIFE SEEMS UNFAIR (JOB 1:1-2:10) The year 2001 was a sad year for a family I had known for more than ten years. The family was a staunch Christian family and for four generations the tight-knit family had served tirelessly in church. The matriarch of the family was a widow and her two sons and ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Where Can I Find My Strength In Suffering? Series

Contributed by Ross Anderson on Oct 25, 2005

God does not always remove affliction, but uses it to reveal his power as we embrace our weakness.

We’ve been talking this month about suffering, because I know how many of you have been going through difficult things in recent times. (Let me say that if you want a copy of these 7 messages on “Making Sense of Suffering,” sign up on the tape request form on that little desk in the back corner.) ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:1-10

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

In A Better Place

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Apr 26, 2003

For Remembrance Sunday, when we honor the memories of those who have died in the previous year: Those who suffer loss go to a better place emotionally when they cast off unproductive patterns and allow themselves time to receive unconditional love. They

There is something we say to console ourselves when someone dies. It is a phrase I have heard over and over. We say,“I know she is in a better place.” My friend, my parent, my spouse has passed away, but it feels good to think of one truth: “He is in a better place.” By that, of course, ...read more

Scripture: Acts 18:1-23

Denomination: Baptist

Playing Ptifall: How We Get Into And Out Of Sinful States

Contributed by Justin Hatfield on Aug 8, 2001

Luke 15:11-16:1 By looking at the story of the prodigal son, we can see how we fall into sinful states, what it means to be in a siful state, and how we get out of the sinful states we are in.

“Playing Pitfall” “How we get into and out of sinful states.” When I was younger my family owned an “Atari,” how many of you remember those? It was great state of the art technology! You had this joystick and just one little button to mash. I thought it was great. Even ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Healing Choice Series

Contributed by Bob Hostetler on Jul 5, 2001

The first step in the process of healing, as revealed in John 5.

Healing the Hurts You Don’t Deserve: The Healing Choice Scripture Reading: John 5:1-9a Like so many things, you can’t comprehend it unless you see it with your own eyes. In central California, on the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, grows a kind of tree that is one of ...read more

Scripture: John 5:1-9

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

God's Message To A Nation Under Attack

Contributed by Matthew Rogers on Dec 10, 2001

Message for the Sunday following the attack of September 11, 2001.

September 16, 2001 INTRODUCTION We’ve wandered in a haze now for six days. Some fitting words for this week were sung several years ago by Bruce Cockburn, “Sometimes a wind comes out of nowhere and knocks you off your feet.” A wind has come out of New York and Washington, knocked us off our ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 137:7-8, Romans 12:19

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Beat Down? Series

Contributed by Greg Huguley on Jul 24, 2003

First in a series of sermons about the things in life that beat us down. Here we explore how other people beat us down and how we respond in a CHristlike and God-honoring way

LifeBeaters: Taking Back The Life God Promised You (Wk. 1, 7/13/30) Beat Down? 2 Corinthians 4:8-10,17 Introduction—What’s A Life Beater? Lifebeaters? The things in this life that beat you down. There are a lot of them you know, Things like worry, stress, depression, anger, guilt . . . They have ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:8-17

Denomination: Baptist