Sermons on Personal Tragedy:

Triumph Over Trials Sermon V: Suffering By God's Servant For Our Redemption Series

Contributed by Charles Cunningham on May 13, 2020

In times like these, when folks are looking for someone who will give them hope, mature Christians look to the Lord God whose love and mercy are well known and whose redemption from their sufferings they can count on.

SUFFERING BY GOD’S SERVANT FOR OUR REDEMPTION - PROPHESIED AND EXPLAINED In the classic, “Alice in Wonderland”, the king says to the rabbit, “Begin at the beginning, and go on until you come to the end, then stop.” In our quest for answers to questions ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 53:2-12

What To Do When A Crisis Comes

Contributed by Gene Haraldsen on Nov 23, 2009

How we respond to the crises of life is crucial to spiritual health and effectiveness.

What To Do When A Crisis Comes I Samuel 30 How do you tend to respond to a Crisis? tragedy? bad news? One day not too long ago I was coming out of store and I saw a man getting out of his van who had no legs. He was transitioning to a wheel chair - apparently his legs had been amputated - perhaps ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 30:1-28

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Sin's Blood-Stained Progression

Contributed by Donald Whitchard on Jun 18, 2023

The tragic story of Cain and Abel did not have to happen if only Cain had controlled his emotions and listened to the counsel of God. Instead, we witness the first murder and the further progression of humanity's rebellion and wickedness.

In the first verses of Genesis 4, we are introduced to two sons of Adam and Eve, two attitudes of reverence towards God, one act of obedience, one act of defiance, a refusal to heed sound advice, and the horrendous consequences of rebellion. We witness remorse, selfish concern, and the gradual ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 4:1-15, Exodus 20:13, Numbers 32:23, Luke 12:2, 1 Corinthians 4:5  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Triumph Over Trials Sermon I: The Why Of Suffering Series

Contributed by Charles Cunningham on May 13, 2020

In times like these, suffering persists to the extent that we naturally ask why, so we turn for answers not to a politician, not to a physician, not to an attorney - we turn to the man who suffered for righteousness' sake.

IN TIMES LIKE THESE --- SUFFERING PERSISTS TO THE EXTENT THAT WE NATURALLY ASK WHY Soon after we were born into this world and began to take notice of all our surroundings we began to ask a toddler’s most irksome question: Why? Over and over again! No answer sufficed. ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:18-25

Triumph Over Trials Sermon Iv: Inexplainable Suffering Is Redeemable Series

Contributed by Charles Cunningham on May 13, 2020

In times like these, when answers are hard to come by and the extremity of pessimism has been reached, mature Christians renew confidence in the Lord God Almighty to redeem that which at the moment begs to be explained.

CHRISTIANS CAN BE CONFIDENT THAT INEXPLAINABLE SUFFERING IS REDEEMABLE Nothing hurts worse than the emotional experience of watching a child suffer . . . “being there” for someone whose loved one has committed suicide . . . holding the hand of a dying person ...read more

Scripture: Job 40:1-8, Job 42:1-6, Job 19:25

Triumph Over Trials Sermon Ii: For Making Things Better, God's Way Is Sure Series

Contributed by Charles Cunningham on May 13, 2020

In times like these, when folks are searching for answers to their frustrations and for a way out of the wilderness of despair, God's way is sure for making things better both now and forever.

IN TIMES LIKE THESE: FOR MAKING THINGS BETTER, NOW AND FOREVER, GOD’S WAY IS SURE After their fall from a state of perfection, with all the good things that go with living in paradise, God pronounced judgment on mankind --- Adam and Eve: “In sorrow thou shalt”. God did not, ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 58:6-7

Triumph Over Trials Sermon Vi: Take Refuge In The Comfort Of God Series

Contributed by Charles Cunningham on May 13, 2020

In times like these, when troubles overwhelm and even Christians find themselves at their wits' end, mature Christians decide to look upon their extremity as an opportunity to renew their trust in the Lord as their refuge.

WHEN TROUBLES OVERWHELM, CHRISTIANS TAKE REFUGE IN THE COMFORT OF GOD Perhaps you’ve heard it said, or you yourself have said, “I’m at my wits’ end”! In other words: “I’m so exhausted trying to figure out how to deal with problems and difficult situations that I don’t ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:3-11

Whose Fault Is It?

Contributed by Jerry Flury on Jan 19, 2010

Catastrophes happen. As Christians, we need to be careful when assessing the cause of tragedy. It is natural to ask, “Who or what is to blame when tragedy or disaster strikes?” Let us examine this issue.

Whose Fault Is It? Luke 13:1-5; John 9:1-3 When catastrophes or tragedies strike quite often we become like the disciples in John 9 when they met a man blind from birth. Their immediate reaction was that it was the judgment of God upon either this man or his parents. When the devastating ...read more

Scripture: John 9:1-3

Denomination: Baptist

"Dilemma’s And Decisions”

Contributed by John Hamby on Jul 2, 2018

The difference one person can make.

A Study of the Book of Esther “Dilemma’s and Decisions” Esther 4:1-17 The world has so many big problems, and they often seem ...read more

Scripture: Esther 4:1-17

Denomination: Baptist

Almost! (The Story Of A Man Who Almost Had It All)

Contributed by Kevin L. Jones on May 1, 2016

A sermon examining the tragedy of "almost" surrendering to Christ.

Almost! - (The story of a man who almost had it all) Mark 10:17-22 I read a story about a 62 year old man named William Hyatt. He was found in the Mojave Desert with his face and his hands buried in the sand seeking water. His car had broken down, and he had walked 22 miles through the Desert ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:17-22

Denomination: Baptist

God’s Unfailing Faithfulness

Contributed by Kerry Haynes on Sep 29, 2016

God is faithful through the worst calamaties of life. God's love always exceeds his judgment. In the midst of tragedy, we can look to him for hope. While sorrow may last the night, joy comes in the morning.

Lamentations 3:19-26 God’s Unfailing Faithfulness Have you ever had tragedy strike? Some of you have lost a loved one, a devastating blow for sure. Some may have lost a lot of money in the stock market. I know some who have lost a child or gone through a hurtful divorce or lost a job or ...read more

Scripture: Lamentations 3:19-26

Denomination: Baptist

A Tragic Beginning, A Tragic End

Contributed by John Lowe on Nov 19, 2014

But no doubt, he was not willing to admit that he was a sinner. No doubt it was hard for him to admit he was lost. Perhaps he was much like Cain in the Old Testament who wanted to make his own way. Perhaps he was much like Cain in the Old Testament.

A Tragic Beginning, A Tragic End February 28, 2006 Matthew 27:3-27:5 Tonight I want to share an unusual message (or lesson) with you, a message (or lesson) that comes out of Matthew Chapter 27. I’ll read verses 3, 4 and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 27:3-5

Denomination: Baptist

Disasters, Calamities And Evil In The World: Is God Asleep At The Switch?

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Mar 20, 2011

Our choice is to go through calamities and trials with God or without Him, but go through them we must. Still, it helps to understand what we can of the "whys and wherefores."

Disasters, Calamities and Evil in the World: Is God Asleep at the Switch? (topical) 1. As a pastor, one of my most challenging responsibilities is to comfort the grieving. People can suffer in horrible ways. 2.The earthquake & tsunami that hit Japan killed thousands and left lives in shambles. It ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:28

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Death Of A King And The Cost Of Disobedience (1 Samuel 31:1-13)

Contributed by Donald Whitchard on Sep 26, 2024

Saul, the first king of Israel, had been a good and godly man at the beginning of his reign, but his rejection of God's plans for his life and his refusal to walk with the LORD brought about his inevitable downfall and demise.

1 Samuel 31 records the death of King Saul and his three sons, including the man who was David's dearest friend, Prince Jonathan. When David heard of Saul's death at the hand of Israel's bitter enemy, the Philistines, there was no joy in his soul nor sense of relief from having been ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 31:1-13, 2 Samuel 1:17-27, Ezekiel 33:11, Hebrews 9:27, 2 Samuel 14:14  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Sign Language

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Sep 4, 2023

Each of these incidents is a sign from God reminding us that life is temporary but that God is eternal.

What’s the first thing you think of when you hear of falling towers and people dying? Right. Nine-eleven. And looking around on the web I found that even though this is the gospel passage for the third Sunday in Lent of Cycle C of the lectionary, by far the most sermons were written on this topic ...read more

Scripture: Luke 13:1-9

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed