Sermons on Grief:

Gird Yourselves And Lament

Contributed by Mike Bryant on Feb 22, 2021

As Joel addresses a nation brought to its knees by a locust plague, he leaves us with a plan for surviving overwhelming disaster in our own lives. Broad outline borrowed from "The Day of Disaster," a sermon by W. Maynard Pittendreigh.

I) In Joel 1:1-3, God through His prophet addresses a people faced with absolute calamity. A) He asks, “Has anything like this happened in your days, or even in the days of your fathers?” (NKJV). He says that the nation faces a crisis greater than any seen in generations (“or even in the days of ...read more

Scripture: John 11:35, 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, Philippians 4:6-7, Ecclesiastes 7:2-4

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Multi Ethnic Bereavement

Contributed by Davon Huss on Apr 30, 2017

I wrote this for a counseling class. It contains three parts: 1) Bereavement in religion 2) Bereavement in ethnic groups 3) Applications for pastoral and clinical counselors.

To be used of the Lord to help those grieving is both satisfying and humbling. My personal prayer is that more mourners will be drawn to the gospel of Jesus Christ. The Gospel of Christ is the only thing that can bring true and lasting comfort. Jesus said, “Blessed are those that mourn, for they ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 61:1-3, Matthew 5:4

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Coping With The Holidays

Contributed by Davon Huss on Nov 19, 2016

This information was put together for a workshop on "Coping with the Holidays" (Adapted from the book, "The Empty Chair: Handling Grief on Holidays and Special Occasions" by Susan J. Zonnebelt-Smeenge and Robert C. De Vries)

HoHum: Start with some family information: I grew up in a tight knit family spending my Sunday afternoons after church with all my extended family at my grandparent’s house. I am the eldest grandchild and my grandfather spent a lot of time with me growing up. I had trouble reading so before ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 138:8

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Christian Peace

Contributed by Davon Huss on Sep 18, 2016

Let's talk about the Christian concept of peace, then the negative emotions of upset and how to deal with them (Material adapted from book by Robert Roberts called Spiritual Emotions, chapter on peace)

HoHum: Two painters were commissioned to paint a picture of peace. The first chose for his canvass a scene of tranquillity of a still lake among beautiful far off mountains. The second threw across his canvass a thundering waterfall with a fragile little tree suspended over the foam. There at ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Replacement

Contributed by Brad Stone on Jan 1, 2023

Just as the ram was the replacement for Isaac, we have to remember that Christ is the replacement for each of us in terms of our punishment, sin & He will replace our griefs, worries, fears & dread with His spirit if we will allow Him to.

The Replacement Genesis 22:13-14 I. The Replacement for our Punishment “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” Isa. 53:5 We deserved nothing short of death for our sin. ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 22:13-14, Isaiah 53:5, John 1:29

Denomination: Baptist

How To Handle Your Guilt Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Jan 22, 2019

Many today want to put aside any mention of shame as inappropriate. Paul, though, speaks of godly sorrow and worldly sorrow. What's the distinction and how can sorrow be a good thing?

SMILEY RELIGION: “God wants me to be happy.” - 2 Corinthians 7:8. - Today so many presume that God’s job is to make them happy. The only way they think about God is that He is there to answer our prayers and bring good things into our lives. - Biblical ideas like carrying your cross, losing ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 7:8-11

Denomination: Baptist

Why Do You Cry? Series

Contributed by Ken Henson on Jul 15, 2018

I think God wants to have soft hearts-the ability to grieve, to be hurt, to be wounded, and, thereby, to become a source of healing, just as Jesus bought our healing through the tearing of His flesh.

REVELATION CHAPTER 5 1. And I saw in the right hand of Him sitting on the Throne a book (biblion) written on the outside and inside, sealed with seven seals 2. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a big (mega) voice 3. “Who is worthy to take the book and loose its seals?” and no one was able ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 5:1-4

Denomination: *other

Mourning To Morning: Yes—it’s Ok

Contributed by David Dunn on Sep 5, 2025

Life leaves us with memories—some warm us, and some wound us. If we spend our time looking back, we risk missing the new thing God is doing right in us.

— THE PROBLEM: WHY WE KEEP LOOKING BACK Life leaves us with memories. Some of them warm us. Some of them wound us. And some of them quietly shape us long after the moment has passed. Most of us don’t notice how much time we spend replaying our lives. We replay conversations we wish had gone ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:13-14, Isaiah 43:18-19

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

The Beauty Of Repentance

Contributed by Robert Sickler on Feb 3, 2016

We can never maintain a right relationship with Jesus without a repentance that comes from Godly grief.

Beauty of Repentance Illustration – Affluenza Under almost all circumstances, if a person receives a conviction for vehicular manslaughter, due to drunk driving, that person will receive a lengthy prison sentence. This was not the case, however, for 16 year old Ethan Couch, who is a young ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 3:8

Denomination: Christian Church

Living Hope Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Mar 17, 2021

Jesus is alive, so be sure and be glad. Be sure of a glorious future and be glad even in times of grief today.

Several years ago, Health and Human Services sent a letter to a resident of Greenville County, South Carolina. The letter said, “Your food stamps will be stopped, effective March, because we received notice that you passed away. May God bless you. You may reapply if your circumstances change.” (S. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:1-12, Hebrews 11:1

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Comforting Words Of God PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Sep 28, 2023

To provide comfort and understanding in times of grief and loss, emphasizing the promise of eternal life through belief in Jesus.

Good morning, brothers and sisters. How great it is to be gathered here, surrounded by a family of faith, in both bright days and dark hours. Today, we're diving into one of those challenging topics that touches every one of us at some point in our journey - bereavement, grief, loss. It's tough, ...read more

Scripture: John 11:25-26

Topics: Comfort, Christ

A Touch From The Risen Lord

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Apr 26, 2003

Three barriers to faith - grief, fear and doubt were each dealt with by a special touch from the Risen Lord

A Touch from the Risen Lord The bodily Resurrection of Jesus Christ is a central pillar of the Christian faith. St. Paul summed up the Christian faith like this: For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: i) that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, ii) ...read more

Scripture: John 20:19-31

Denomination: Anglican

Death: When Ignorance Is Not Bliss

Contributed by Daniel Habben on Nov 16, 2009

What you don’t know about death will lead to unecessary grief, or even worse, unending pain.

In her mind it had gone well. She had hit all the notes. She had expressed them with passion. And she felt certain that she had connected with her audience that night. But what did the critics think of her performance? She resolved not to buy the newspaper the next morning – ignorance is ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Denomination: Lutheran

Our Living Hope Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Apr 26, 2011

Jesus is alive, so be sure and be glad today. Be sure of a glorious future, and be glad even in times of grief today.

Judy Packard of Lake Leelanau, Michigan, talks about the time her neighbor, visiting the Holy Land, sent a letter describing the beautiful gardens. Her 6-year-old mused, “I wonder if he saw the rose.” “What rose?” Judy asked. “You know,” said her child, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:1-12

Denomination: Evangelical Free

"Write The Vision, Sing The Lord’s Song”

Contributed by Amiri Hooker on Oct 4, 2025

The exiles in Babylon sat by the rivers and wept. They hung up their harps, because to sing felt like betrayal of their grief.

Title: “Write the Vision, Sing the Lord’s Song” Texts: Habakkuk 1:1–4; 2:1–4, Psalm 137 Introduction / Background The exiles in Babylon sat by the rivers and wept. They hung up their harps, because to sing felt like betrayal of their grief. They asked, “How can we sing the Lord’s song in a ...read more

Denomination: United Methodist