Sermons on Penal Sufferings:

When We Are Haled Before The Magistrate--Now What?

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Oct 13, 2022

If we deny Christ and His divine authority and eternal power, then we will be denied by Christ at the judgement, and face an eternity of suffering and radical aloneness.

Saturday of 28th Week in Course 2022 Today’s Gospel has been misused far more times than it has been used by Christians facing martyrdom by the power of some civil or religious authority. What Jesus seems to intend in His challenge to us disciples is that when we are haled, or hauled, before ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:8-12, Ephesians 1:15-23

Denomination: Catholic

A Modern-Day Reflection On Job's So-Called Comforters Or Friends. Series

Contributed by Shaila Touchton on Jan 31, 2025

In the biblical account of Job, we find a poignant example of how friends can sometimes exacerbate our suffering instead of alleviating it.

In the biblical account of Job, we find a poignant example of how friends can sometimes exacerbate our suffering instead of alleviating it. Job's three friends, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, came to comfort him in his time of need, but instead, they ended up criticizing and judging him (Job ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 22:39

Impact Of Worship

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Apr 25, 2024

When sinners are thus converted, they will love and honor those whom they before despised and hated and will seek to lessen the suffering they before desired to increase.

Opening illustration: While worshiping with our mentors in Tharmaid during a meeting at an underground church, we encounter a woman who was possessed with evil spirit. What transpired during the worship time was a powerful move of God’s deliverance for that woman. Introduction: Some strange things ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:25-31

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Job's Death Wish PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Oct 30, 2023

This sermon explores Job's response to suffering, examining his painful predicaments, his perplexing questions, and his pursuit of purpose amidst pain.

Good morning, dear family in Christ. I am so grateful to stand before you today, to share in the warmth of our fellowship, and to delve into the profound depths of God's Word together. Today, we are going to be examining a portion of Scripture from the book of Job, a book that speaks to the human ...read more

Scripture: Job 3:11-13

Topics: Painful Life, Want To Die

The Hope Within PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Oct 31, 2023

This sermon explores the hope found in Jesus Christ, its triumph over suffering and sin, and our responsibility to share this hope with gentleness and respect.

Good morning, church family! It's so great to see all your smiling faces today. You know, I've been pondering something that John Newton once said. He wrote, "Our righteousness is in Him, and our hope depends, not upon the exercise of grace in us, but upon the fullness of grace and love in Him, and ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:15

Topics: Hope, Sharing

Show Brotherly Love PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Dec 26, 2023

This sermon encourages Christians to persevere in faith, embody brotherly love, righteous suffering, and heart service to God, as guided by Apostle Peter's teachings.

Welcome, beloved, to this gathering of hearts and souls, united in our shared love for our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We gather here, not as strangers or mere acquaintances, but as a family, bound by the divine love that transcends human understanding. Each of us brings a unique story, a unique ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:8-15

Topics: Enduring, Brother

The Seven Churches: Smyrna PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Sep 26, 2025

Jesus knows our suffering, calls us to courageous faithfulness amid trials, and promises eternal life to those who endure with Him.

Some of us walked in today with hearts that feel threadbare. Bills stack up. Doctors call back. Friends pull away. Tears fall in the dark, and worries pace the floor at 3 a.m. You wonder, Does Jesus see this? Does He know my name? Does He care about my pain? Smyrna asked the same questions. They ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:8-11

Topics: Smyrna, Church, Persecution

Message 8 - 1 Thessalonians Chapter 5 – Persecution, Discipline And Tribulation; What’s The Difference? – Part 2 (Verse 9) Series

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Dec 30, 2022

What is the difference between God’s wrath and God’s discipline? We look into tribulation, persecution and discipline, and look at 4 reasons Christians can have difficulties. Remember this – godly living produces persecution. Trees standing against the wind have the strongest trunks.

MESSAGE 8 - 1 THESSALONIANS CHAPTER 5 – PERSECUTION, DISCIPLINE AND TRIBULATION; WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE? – PART 2 (Verse 9) REVISION FROM PART 1 We have been examining 1Thessalonians 5:9 and looking at the wrath of God. This is our focus verse again for Part 2 of the study on this verse – ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:9, 2 Timothy 3:12, John 3:36, Hebrews 12:5-11, Psalm 119:67-68, Psalm 119:71, Psalm 25:18, Psalm 22:24, 2 Timothy 2:3-5, Romans 5:2-5, Matthew 5:10-12  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Christmas - The Cries Of Christmas

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Oct 10, 2001

It’s Christmas time, & all kinds of sounds remind us of that - bells ringing, choirs singing, & music filling the air. But in the midst of all the joyous sounds there are other sounds - sounds of anguish & grief.

MELVIN M. NEWLAND, MINISTER RIDGE CHAPEL, KANSAS, OK (Revised: 2021) THE CRIES OF CHRISTMAS or DO YOU HEAR WHAT I HEAR? TEXT: Matthew 2:13 18 PP #194BW A. This month has been filled with the sounds of Christmas - bells ringing, choirs singing, & ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:13-18

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

At His Feet (Sharing Her Woes) Series

Contributed by Scott Bayles on Mar 24, 2012

This three sermon series focuses on Mary at the feet of Jesus. In John 11, Mary is at His feet sharing her woes. Expository and alliterated, custom PowerPoint is available if you e-mail me.

AT HIS FEET (Sharing Her Woes) Scott Bayles, pastor Blooming Grove Christian Church: 3/25/2012 Ladies, when was the last time your husband gave you a really good foot massage? If it’s been a while, I’m going to help you a little, okay. In the past couple of weeks, I’ve learned ...read more

Scripture: John 11:1-44

Denomination: Christian Church

God In The Garden

Contributed by Mark A. Barber on Mar 18, 2017

Was Jesus in the Garden at Gethsemane a theophany?

God in the Garden Luke 22:39-53 Today is the day we celebrate Palm Sunday. It is a day which we celebrate with children waving palm branches and shouting “Hosanna.” It is a joyful experience. And it should have been when Jesus the Messiah came to Jerusalem. Indeed, there was a lot of joy. But when ...read more

Scripture: Luke 22:39-53

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Quitters Club Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Jun 28, 2018

Don't give up your hope in Christ, because He is your only hope. Don't risk punishment by quitting. Don't waste your pain by quitting, and don't miss the promise by quitting.

On a drizzly Saturday afternoon three years ago (early 2015), seven people gathered around a high-top table at Busboys and Poets, a restaurant in Washington D.C. They were united by a single cause: to chuck it all. It was the inaugural meeting of The Quitter Club. Tagline: “Let’s give up on our ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 10:26-39

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Christians Find Glory In Unlikely Places

Contributed by Daniel Habben on Mar 22, 2015

Christians Find Glory In Unlikely Places 1) Glory in death; 2) Glory in service

If you had to buy milk and eggs, would you go to a sports store? If you wanted to eat a big juicy hamburger, would you stop by a sushi restaurant? No. A sports store is an unlikely place to find groceries, and a sushi restaurant is an unlikely place to sink your teeth into a meaty hamburger. What ...read more

Scripture: John 12:20-33

Denomination: Lutheran

Really Live! Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Jan 27, 2016

Do you want real joy in the face of any adversity? Then pursue the advancement of the Gospel and the exaltation of Christ above anything else.

Maria Brunner's husband was unemployed, so she supported their three young children by cleaning other people's houses. However, even without a job, her husband managed to run up quite a number of unpaid parking tickets. The bill totaled nearly $5,000. Mr. Brunner kept the tickets a secret from his ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:12-26

Denomination: Evangelical Free

An Ominous Note

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jan 30, 2016

"Except you repent, you shall all likewise perish!" Without the mercy and help of God, the cry goes forth a second time: "Cut it down!"

AN OMINOUS NOTE. Luke 13:1-9. There has been an ominous note ringing in the Gospel of Luke ever since Jesus set His face like a flint, determined to go to Jerusalem (Luke 9:51). This was the turning point of Luke’s Gospel, and has implications both for Jesus Himself (Luke 13:33), and for those ...read more

Scripture: Luke 13:1-9

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational