Sermons on Hope In Suffering:

20. David Saves Keilah (1 Samuel 23) Series

Contributed by Dr. Bradford Reaves on Aug 27, 2025

“Why?” That tiny word rolls off our tongues with tears and trembling. Why the cancer? Why the betrayal? Why the silence of heaven when our world collapses? If you’ve ever whispered it in the dark night of the soul, you’re not alone—and you’re not unbiblical.

David Saves Keilah August 6, 2025 Dr. Bradford Reaves Crossway Christian Fellowship 1 Samuel 23:1-17 Introduction: Why Suffering? “Why?” That tiny word rolls off our tongues with tears and trembling. Why the cancer? Why the betrayal? Why the silence of heaven when our world collapses? If you’ve ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 23:1-17

Denomination: Brethren

Sustaining Grace Series

Contributed by Kevin Ruffcorn on Oct 16, 2008

The Lord moves in our lives and empowers us to live victoriously even in the middle of difficlut times and overwhelming obstacles.

2 Corinthians 12:7-10 “Sustaining Grace” INTRODUCTION These are troubled times. We thought things couldn’t get any worse as we watched gas prices skyrocket out of sight. We were wrong. The house of cards of a society run on credit and debt is tumbling down. The stock market is the most ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:7-10

Denomination: Lutheran

God's Healing Power Series

Contributed by Kevin Ruffcorn on Jul 6, 2017

The Psalmist has faced crisis situations in his life. Through all his troubles God has been with him, heard his prayers, and rescued him. The Psalmist praises the Lord for what God has done and now faces the future with a strong faith, courage and peace.

Psalm 30:1-12 “God’s Healing Power” INTRODUCTION As parents we all want to protect our children from threats, problems and harm. However, even if we are the greatest of helicopter parents we are unable to achieve this goal. Our children will encounter difficult times, failure and pain. This ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 30:1-12

Denomination: Lutheran

Job Summary

Contributed by Steven W. Satterfield on Jun 29, 2022

Chapters 1-42

Thanks to http://www.ccel.org/contrib/exec_outlines/job.htm for portions of this. Prologue - Job Is Tested (1-2) 1. Character and wealth; satan allowed to test Job 2. Job loses his health 3. Job’s lament / soliloquy The Great Debate: First Cycle Of Speeches (4-14) 4. Eliphaz: The ...read more

Denomination: Vineyard

Understanding What Paul Understood Series

Contributed by David Owens on Aug 8, 2016

In this sermon, we look at some of the difficulties that Paul faced and how he endured them by trusting in God. He understood that God would always be with him, and that although God would not remove the difficulties, God would enable him to overcome.

Introduction: A. M. Scott Peck’s 1978 best-selling book, The Road Less Traveled, opens with these words: “Life is difficult. This is a great truth, one of the greatest truths. It is a great truth because once we truly see this truth, we transcend it. Once we truly know that life is ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Invisible Gold

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Aug 5, 2008

Don’t give into life’s troubles. You may not see in them the rich potential of a strong faith, but it’s there. To have it developed is much more precious than gold! Faith-Testing Times Can Be Faith-Strengthening Times.

Opening illustration: In the 1980s, Northern Nevada was the site of a gold strike. The discovery would have been beyond the imagination of 19th century prospectors, for the gold in those western hills is virtually invisible. Even after being magnified 1,500 times, most of the particles remain ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:1-7

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Power For Pain - Philippians 3:10-11 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Feb 3, 2022

Paul's quest for power, partnership with Christ in the work of redemption by suffering with him, and being conformed to the pattern of his death

Philippians 3:10 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. Introduction It stands to reason that if you are living in God’s universe, ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:10-11

How To Undeceive A Desire James 1:15-17 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on May 13, 2021

The reason you sin is not desire. Jesus desired food but didn’t fall when tempted with food. The problem is not desire; it’s deceived desire. It’s a desire that is deceived about sin, about life and good days, and about God. This passage exposes those deceptions and the way to correct them.

How to Undeceive a Desire Suffering, Tests, and Temptation Part 9 James 1:15-17 12-7-2014 The reason you sin is not desire. Jesus desired food but didn’t fall when tempted with food. The problem is not desire; it’s deceived desire. It’s a desire that is deceived about sin, about life and good ...read more

Scripture: James 1:15-17

Comfort For The Brokenhearted - Matthew 5:4 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Jul 4, 2024

How can you find comfort from God in the midst of deep suffering? This message will help you understand what it looks like to be “sorrowful, yet always rejoicing” (2 Corinthians 6:10) by receiving God’s comfort in the midst of your suffering.

Matthew 5:1-12 Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them, saying: 3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 Blessed ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:4

Hard Times

Contributed by Jerry Cosper on Jun 1, 2022

Life is full of ups and downs. God wants us to always stay focused on Him when times or good or bad. Don’t give up on God, but don’t forget about Him either.

For the past few weeks we've been talking about things like betrayal, temptation, and the injustices in our lives. Today I want to group all of that together and just talk a little bit about hard times in general. Life is full of ups and downs. A star quarterback throws a game-winning ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 41:28-54

Denomination: Baptist

Week 3: Faith & Friends Series

Contributed by Daniel Habben on May 23, 2021

How can we encourage those who are suffering?

There was a study done in 2004 which found that the number of people without any close friends tripled since the last study in 1985. Nearly a quarter of the people surveyed said that they have no one in their life that they can confide in (America Sociological Review, June 1, 2006). We live in a ...read more

Scripture: Job 2:11-13, Job 4:4-9, Job 3:1-4, Job 3:11

Denomination: Lutheran

What Do We Do When Tragedy Strikes?”

Contributed by Michael Otterstatter on Aug 2, 2017

This section of God's Word shows us how two people responded to a tragedy. One example comes from a widow whose son died. The other comes from one of the greatest prophets in the Old Testament, Elijah.

At some point it will likely happen to most of us. For each of us it will be different and yet the same. It will leave us with tears in our eyes and pain in our hearts. We call them tragedies—something that seems to turn our lives upside down. Because we live in a world stained by sin these ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 17:17-24

Denomination: Lutheran

Week 6: Relax Under The Umbrella Of God’s Wisdom Series

Contributed by Daniel Habben on May 23, 2021

If you've ever travelled to a place where the culture was different than yours, you know how clueless you can feel. Job's "culture" was different than God's. It's no wonder he felt lost in the midst of his suffering...

How many of you have travelled to a place where the culture was noticeably different than yours? At times, didn’t you feel totally clueless? I’ve seen the bewildered look on American businessmen’s faces who came to Japan where I grew up. When meeting with a Japanese client for the first time, the ...read more

Scripture: Job 42:1-6, Job 41:1-5, Job 40:15-19, Job 40:2, Job 31:34-35, Job 31:21-22, Job 38:1-11, Job 41:7-11, Job 31:35-37  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Lutheran

Joy Filled Prisoner

Contributed by Rich O' Toole on Apr 2, 2024

Introduction to the Book of Philippians

Joy Filled Prisoner Philippians 1:1-2 Good morning. Everyone sees life through their unique perspective, because of the assumptions or expectations that give them their own opinion about a specific situation. However, having an unhealthy, ungodly, or unproductive mindset can adversely affect ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:1-2

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

To The Afflicted And Wounded

Contributed by Dove Inspirations on Jun 24, 2021

To you who is really suffering

Some people breeze through life without a care in the world. But others, trouble after trouble, disaster after disaster, failure after failure. They do everything that can be done, to no avail. They have been rained upon by life, to the extent that if you squeeze them, its double trouble upon ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 54:11