Sermons on Purpose In Suffering:

The Suffering Saint

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Mar 16, 2022

Make no mistake about it, SAINTS and SINNERS in this life suffer. Some who promote “Easy-Believism” in order to win converts to the Lord, paint a picture of the Christian life as a fairy tale.

You accept the Lord and live happily ever after. But that is not true. SAINTS, like the SINNERS in this life have their share of suffering. • We may not suffer for the same reasons they suffer, but we suffer • Many times for the SAINTS and the SINNERS, the sufferings come from bad decisions they ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 38:1-15

Denomination: Baptist

Firm In Suffering Youth Sermon

Contributed by Youth Sermons on Sep 5, 2023

As believers, we are called to stand firm in our faith despite suffering. We can find strength in our faith and the support of our fellow believers.

Hey guys! Today, we're into 1 Thessalonians. This letter was written by Paul to a group of Christians in Thessalonica who were having a really hard time because they were being picked on for their faith. You know, being a Christian wasn't easy back then. They had to deal with a lot of hate from ...read more

Topics: Endurance, Spiritual Strength, Hope Amidst Pain, Faithful Suffering

Firm In Suffering Premium Sermon

Contributed by PRO Premium on Oct 9, 2023

This sermon will explore how to maintain unwavering faith and rejoice amidst suffering and persecution, drawing lessons from Paul's letters to the church in Thessalonica.

Welcome back church! We’re excited to have you here today as we continue in our series from 1 Thessalonians. As a brief recap, 1st and 2nd Thessalonians were some of the first “epistles” or letters to be written by Paul, and the church in Thessalonica was one of the churches established by Paul ...read more

Topics: Suffering, Unwavering Faith, Perseverance

Sermon Series: 1st Thessalonians

The Suffering Servant Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Oct 24, 2024

When your life crashes, bow before Jesus as your Sovereign Lord, believe in Jesus, who was scorned, bank on His substitutionary sacrifice; then benefit from His victory and success.

Marla Kiley, from Denver, Colorado, tells the story of an accounting department of a large insurance company. They were working on year-end reports when their computers crashed. So they put in an emergency call to a systems analyst, who arrived three hours later. He was late, because when he first ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 52:13-15, Isaiah 53:1-12, John 1:14, John 12:37-38, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Matthew 27:12-14, Romans 5:8  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Why Suffering? Series

Contributed by John Bright on Mar 1, 2025

Working through 1 Peter using consecutive expository preaching. Teaching sheet included at end of text.

“Why Suffering?” 1 Peter 3:17-22 Pastor John Bright 1 Peter 3 “17 For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. 18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:17-22, 2 Timothy 3:16, 1 Timothy 4:16, Luke 24:50-51, Acts 1:9, Revelation 5:6-7, Genesis 6:1-4, 2 Peter 2:4  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Methodist

Suffering To Setup Series

Contributed by Sean Dees on Apr 1, 2025

Suffering is not a sermon topic we use much. It doesn't draw crowds or entice us to support the church. We fail to warn believers that there will be times of suffering. Suffering is something we all have to endure in our walk with the Lord.

Suffering to Setup Exodus 1:7-14 Ex 1:7 And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them. (8) Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph. (9) And he said unto his people, Behold, ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 1:7-14

The Suffering Of The Innocent Series

Contributed by William Baeta on Apr 9, 2025

“Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”. (Luke 19:38)

Our theme for today’s sermon is ‘the suffering of the Innocent’. Throughout the ages many people have asked the question ‘why do the innocent suffer?’ This question can only be adequately answered in the case of the Messiah because of the many revelations about His birth, life, death, and ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 50:4-9, Philippians 2:5-11, Luke 19:28-40

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Rejoice In Suffering!? PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Nov 22, 2023

This sermon explores how suffering is an integral part of Christian life, serving as a tool for spiritual growth and deepening our relationship with Christ.

Good morning, my dear brothers and sisters in Christ! It's a joy to be with you all today, standing together in the house of the Lord, united by our shared faith and love for our Savior. You know, it's not always sunny skies and smooth sailing on this voyage of faith we're all embarked upon. There ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:1-5

Topics: Growing In Christ, Suffering

What Is Our Mission?

Contributed by Timothy Craver on Sep 2, 2008

Looks at how Jesus was faithful to His mission and how we are to do the same.

Let me pose a hypothetical situation to you this morning: Let’s say I was to make an offer to you. I would offer to give you two free plane tickets to anywhere in the world. Would you take it? Well, there’s one catch – what if I didn’t tell you where you were going before you got on the plane? ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:21-28

Denomination: Brethren

The Paradox Of Pain

Contributed by Bill Sullivan on Sep 17, 2015

We rejoice in our sufferings, because God uses them in our lives and has a purpose for our good and His glory

The Paradox of Pain TCF Sermon October 13, 2013 There is a Calvin and Hobbes comic strip that sums up what life often feels like, and I think even for us as a fellowship, it describes at least part of our experiences in the past few years. It’s a series of panels, each depicting a scene ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:3-5

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

My Struggles Are All About God Series

Contributed by David Owens on Jan 31, 2022

Do our struggles and suffering have a reason or a purpose? God can use our struggles and suffering to bring Him glory. But we must make our struggles all about God, and not about us.

A. As I meditated on suffering and struggles this week, these ideas came forth in my mind: Suffering is paradoxical. Suffering is bad and good. Suffering is painful and helpful. Suffering is confusing and enlightening. Suffering isolates and builds community. Suffering may lead to death or ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:27-30, Psalm 50:15, 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, Philippians 1:12-14

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Thorn In My Side

Contributed by Lanny Smith on Jul 8, 2021

We can be thorny people at times, saying "I just can't take it anymore." Paul tells us that's a good thing.

A Thorn In My Side 2021 Summer Series / 2 Corinthians 12:2–10   • [VIDEO] • [IMAGE] Sand spurs. Bane of kid existence. • Sometimes we look and feel like we’ve been rolling around in a field of thorns. • We can be “thorny people.” • We get to the point where we say, “I just can’t take it any ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:2-10, Mark 8:35, Philippians 2:6-11

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Bringing In The Kids Series

Contributed by Jason Jones on Sep 20, 2010

Exposition of Heb 2:10-18 regarding the purposes of Christ's incarnation and death

Text: Hebrews 2:10-18, Title: Bringing in the Kids, Date/Place: NRBC, 9/19/10, PM A. Opening illustration: Erika going out to get the kids and they are in their winter coats and rain boots, but in characteristic fashion, she doesn’t tell them what she thinks. B. Background to passage: after ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 2:10-18

Denomination: Baptist

The Servant Suffers - He Is Forsaken Series

Contributed by Buffy Cook on Jan 18, 2015

Sixth in a 12 part series examining THE most important week in all of history: The Passion Week, when Jesus fulfilled Mark 10:45. The Servant Arrives: He Is Forsaken. Our Lord's agony - the context, severity, source, purpose & our response to His agony.

The Passion Week of Christ: A Study from the Book of Mark Week 6: The Servant Suffers - He Is Forsaken Mark 14:32-42 I. Introduction A. We're continuing in our Passion Week series. We last found Jesus and His disciples in the Upper Room partaking of an Unforgettable Passover meal during ...read more

Scripture: Mark 14:32-42

Denomination: Baptist

For This Purpose I Have Come Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Dec 1, 2018

The Advent series this year explores the instances when the Master spoke of the purpose in His coming. This is the first message in this Advent series as Jesus spoke of the purpose of His coming.

“‘Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? “Father, save me from this hour?” But for this purpose I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name.’ Then a voice came from heaven: ‘I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.’ The crowd that stood there and heard it said that it ...read more

Scripture: John 12:27-36

Denomination: Baptist