Sermons on Practical Sense:

Obeying - Even When It Doesn't Make Sense Series

Contributed by Brian La Croix on Mar 30, 2011

Christmas message focusing on the obedience of Joseph and Mary in circumstances less than ideal in our information age.

Obeying – Even If It Doesn’t Seem to Make Sense The Lesson of Joseph and Mary Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38 December 12, 2010 NOTE: THE ME/WE/GOD/YOU/WE FORMAT IS FROM ANDY STANLEY'S BOOK, "COMMUNICATING FOR A CHANGE." Audio of this sermon can be heard at ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25

Denomination: Wesleyan

When Life Doesn't Make Sense

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Aug 12, 2019

This sermon deals with the struggle of doubt. we see the prosperity of the wicked and we wonder why they seem to be doing better than God's own children.

Intro -- The year was 1998… …on the evening of 2 September 1998, Swissair 111 departed New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport at 8:18 p.m. Eastern Time en route to Geneva, Switzerland. On board were 215 passengers and a crew of 14. This flight was popular with United Nations officials, ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Sometimes Leaving Makes More Sense Than Staying

Contributed by Ezekiel Ette on Sep 30, 2017

Indecision and False Hope is not from God, People talk about the good old days as an excuse to stop discovering the new. God has a plan for us even when we do not know the future.

A few years ago when we first started out fresh from college, we had many dreams. Some wanted to get more education and some talked about making money. Others wanted to live in the big city far away from their parents and some wanted to stay close to parents. Some were not comfortable with change ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 16:1-16

Denomination: United Methodist

When God Doesn't Make Sense Series

Contributed by James Wallace on Jun 16, 2021

Maybe the Lord didn't show up when you needed Him. Maybe there was absolute silence in response to your most desperate prayers. It's happened before, and to people Jesus loved dearly. What could account for Jesus' seeming uncaring response?

Boy, we live in some tumultuous times, don’t we? Earthquake and tsunami in Japan. A nuclear disaster there as a result. Uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt and Libya. Our nation involved in wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and now Libya. And wasn’t it only a few months ago that a huge earthquake ...read more

Scripture: John 11:1-46, 1 Peter 5:7, Romans 5:8

Denomination: Bible Church

When God Doesn't Make Sense Series

Contributed by James Wallace on Jul 10, 2021

Jesus' beloved friends had requested He come for their urgent need. But He didn't show up when He could have? What are we to think when God doesn't answer our prayers--there's only silence--and midnight passes?

Boy, we live in some tumultuous times, don’t we? Earthquake and tsunami in Japan. A nuclear disaster there as a result. Uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt and Libya. Our nation involved in wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and now Libya. And wasn’t it only a few months ago that a huge earthquake ...read more

Scripture: John 11:1-46, 1 Peter 5:7, Romans 5:8, Romans 8:32, Romans 8:28-29, 1 Thessalonians 5:18  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Bible Church

Making Sense Of Life Prt 1- The Problem Of Evil

Contributed by Brian Williams on Aug 14, 2023

The existence of evil is one of the most vexing challenges a Christian—or any person for that matter, must grapple with.

Making Sense of Life The Problem of Evil - Part 1 13 Aug 2023 When trying to reconcile the existence of a good and all-powerful God and the problem of evil, it can be a difficult conversation. One doesn’t need a Ph.D. in theology or philosophy to realize something is desperately wrong with the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 13:1-5

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Making Sense Of Life Prt 2: Human Suffering

Contributed by Brian Williams on Aug 20, 2023

How do we speak to our own hearts or to someone else who has suffered greatly, who, out of that suffering begins to doubt the nature of God?

Last week we spoke about the nature of moral and natural evil as we try to make sense of life. If there is a good, all-powerful, all-knowing God who created the world, why does evil also exist? In review, Augustine defined evil as: The absence or deprivation of good…the effects of evil tend to ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:18-23

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

When Life Doesn't Make Sense Series

Contributed by Jon Daniels on Jul 8, 2025

Based on Psalm 73 - Encourages hearers to remember that, when life doesn't make sense, God has the answers.

“WHEN LIFE DOESN’T MAKE SENSE” Psalm 73 FBCF – 7/6/25 Jon Daniels INTRO – The Psalms are a mirror for the soul. “Somehow the psalmists seem to have anticipated all our awe, desires, & frustrations” (Tremper Longman, How to Read the Psalms). Lots of different feelings & emotions found ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

El Roi: Making Sense Of God Seeing Us

Contributed by Jessica Linde on Jul 21, 2025

By looking at the story of Hagar and how she gives God the name El Roi ("God who sees"), this sermon’s ultimate goal is to highlight that God being able to see us is not an indication of Him wanting to surveil us; rather, it's an indication of His boundless compassion and mercy on us.

Who here has ever read George Orwell’s dystopian novel 1984? Or maybe seen the movie version of it with John Hurt…? Right, so for those of you who may not know (or need a refresher), Orwell published his work 1984 in the year 1949, and it’s really a speculation (perhaps a warning) of what the year ...read more

When God Doesn't Make Sense

Contributed by Pastor/Author: Terry Sisney on Nov 19, 2022

Most of us don't want to admit it, but more often than not God's instructions don't make sense. That's because God is not a sense God, he is a faith God. The question is... What do you do when God doesn't make sense?

Joshua 6:1-5 TLB - The gates of Jericho were kept tightly shut because the people were afraid of the Israelis; no one was allowed to go in or out. ² But the Lord said to Joshua, “Jericho and its king and all its mighty warriors are already defeated, for I have given them to you! ³?4 Your ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 6:1-5

Denomination: Pentecostal

Unconquerable-2

Contributed by Byron Sherman on Nov 19, 2019

2 of 4. Paul describes the reasons God's people are unconquerable! God's people have a telling disposition that betrays the fact that they are unconquerable. A disposition for being & remaining unconquerable is/shines thru...

UNCONQUERABLE-I—1Corinthians 4:1-18 Attention: *This first portion of 'Unconquerable'(points 1-4) was preached impromptu/‘off-the-cuff’(without definitive notes, points, or illustrations)—the following points(1-4) were distilled after being preached. Presented 11/10/2019am to: FBC ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:7-18

Denomination: Baptist

How To Put John 3:16 Into Practice Series

Contributed by Ricky Burke on Feb 18, 2001

This is the first sermon in a series called "The Seven Steps to Spiritual Health and Fitness."

Series: Seven Steps to Spiritual Fitness. Sermon #1 "How to Put John 3:16 into Practice." A few years ago the Surgeon General released a report on the Physical Fitness and Health of Americans. He said that most Americans are overweight and out of shape. And he stressed that the key to good ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16

Denomination: Baptist

Habit Number One: Practicing Spiritual Diligence Series

Contributed by Tom Dooley on May 14, 2001

This is the first of eight messages that focus on the spiritual growth of the believer.

January 4, 1998 Rev. Tom Dooley www.preachingtheword.com Eight Habits of Highly Effective Christians 2 Peter 1:1-10 Habit Number One: Practicing Spiritual Diligence Peter’s readers were living in an environment that was extremely hostile to cause of Jesus ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

Five Practical Ways To Show Love To Others Series

Contributed by Tom Shepard on Nov 2, 2006

This sermon shows the practical way that Ruth expressed her love to Naomi. 1. She stuck with her. 2. She adjusted to her. 3. She reached beyond her confort zone. 4. She offered encouraging words. 5. She put Naomi’s needs above her own.

Five Practical Ways To Show Your Love To Others A couple that had been married for 50 years sat reflecting one day. The wife said, “Things have really changed over the years. You used to sit real close to me. But you haven’t done that for a while.” “Well I can fix that.” said the man as he ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 1:16-17

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Intentional Faith Development - Five Practices 2 Series

Contributed by Spencer Homan on Nov 19, 2009

This sermon is based on the book by Robert Schnase, focusing on the second chapter - Intentional Faith Development.

Philippians 2:1-5 NIV If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3 Do ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:1-5

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed