Sermons on Smyrna Means Suffering:

Carrying The Cross With Jesus

Contributed by Sajeev Painunkal, Sj on Apr 9, 2006

Jesus gave a new meaning to human suffering. Now a suffering person can look at the cross of Jesus and find comfort.

She was a Hindu; but all the same, an active member of the Students’ Christian Movement. Then the shocking news came that she was diagnosed with cancer. She was admitted in a hospital. When we went to see her, I expected her to be very bitter. At such a young age to get such a sickness! But ...read more

Denomination: Catholic

The Cistern Of Christ

Contributed by Filipe Remelgado on Jul 19, 2008

The suffering of the innocent and how God helps us through it.

Title: The Cistern of Christ. Text: Lamentations 3:52-57 Introduction: “Coca-Cola was the result of an accident. In 1886 a pharmacist named John Pemberton cooked up a medicinal syrup in a large brass kettle slung over an open fire, stirring it with an oar. When he was done, he figured he had ...read more

Scripture: Lamentations 3:52-57

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Real Meaning Of Christmas (Part 3) Series

Contributed by Denis O'callaghan Ph.d. ,th.d., D.d., D. Phil. on Dec 24, 2011

The Jews tried to keep Christ contained within their law, while the Greeks sought to turn Him into a philosophy; the Romans made of Him an empire; the Europeans reduced Him to a culture, and we Americans have made a business of Him. God may thunder His co

The "Real" meaning behind Christmas (Part 3) The seven sayings of Christ on the cross are seven windows from which we are able to look into the very heart and mind of God! Gentle Readers, The Third word that Christ spoke from the cross was The Word of Affection "Now there stood by the cross ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:28-29

Denomination: Independent/Bible

What Does It Mean To Be A Follower Of Christ?

Contributed by Gene Gregory on Jul 24, 2007

An examination of disciples and discipleship.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A FOLLOWER OF CHRIST? - Read Luke 9:23-25 What does it mean to be a follower of Christ? What does it mean to be a disciple? Does it mean that you’re going to get everything you want? Does it mean God will make you prosperous? Does it mean that you have to fulfill ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:23-35

Denomination: Baptist

The Via Dolorosa – The Universality Of Suffering (5/12) Series

Contributed by Eduardo (Eddie) Fernandes on Jun 17, 2020

Suffering is universal. Everyone experiences it. None escape it. It is part and parcel of the human condition. Many Evangelicals love to focus on “health/wealth/blessings” forgetting to teach the other “side of the coin”. As such people are ill-equipped to deal with life’s many harsh blows.

Message by Pr. Eddie Fernandes Introduction Hold On Video (lights off…video begins…video ends…lights on…Eddie & Marta on stage) Hold on! How many of you need to take hold of God’s hand this morning because you are struggling? Life hasn’t been easy. Perhaps you’ve lost your job. Maybe the ...read more

Scripture: Mark 15:15-20

Denomination: Independent/Bible

It Mite Not Mean What You Think It Means (Mark 12:38-13:2) Series

Contributed by James Jackson on Jun 29, 2020

What was the point of the famous story of the “Widow’s Mite?” We are familiar with the story. Today, we’ll look at the context, and see how it could change everything you think you know about this story..

This week I get curious about what was considered “the most quotable movie of all time.” Because there are certain movie quotes that work their way into our regular vocabulary, and we find ourselves applying them to all sorts of different situations. “Houston, we have a problem” is like that. ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Three Parables, One Heart: The Father's Love

Contributed by Rev. Matthew Parker on Jun 16, 2025

This exposition of Luke chapter 15 begins with a very personal story, highlighting how God even uses human frailty as a means to His grace.

Once upon a time, in the summertime, there was a 16-year-old young man struggling to find his way. His father held a particular secular and materialistic philosophy about life and making meaning in the world—something the young man had tried to embrace, but it ultimately left him feeling empty. ...read more

Scripture: Hosea 6:6, Micah 6:6-8, Luke 15:1-32

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

"What Being A Child Of God Means"

Contributed by Blake Carroll on Aug 31, 2001

The meaning of being God’s child.

Title: “What Being A Child Of God Means” Scripture: Galatians 4:4-7 Introduction: According to God’s Word, all born-again believers are born into the family of God as a child (John 1:12), but adopted as a son (Galatians 4:5). What does it mean to be a child of God? Being a child of God ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 4:4-7

Denomination: Baptist

The Purpose Of Man Series

Contributed by Vince Miller on May 30, 2018

One of the most popular questions you will get from men is "What is my purpose?" This question plagues men of all ages but what is the answer? Clearly, God designed men with a purpose in mind. Discover in this lesson, the purpose of man.

I've got to tell you, one of the big questions that I get from men - hands down it's the most asked question - is, "What is God's purpose for my life?" It doesn't matter if I meet a man in his 20's, or in his 80's. Every man asks this question, "What is God's purpose for my life?" I think it's one ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

"When Giving Everything Means Nothing"

Contributed by Ken Harris on Feb 4, 2007

The purpose of this sermon is to motivate the hearers to sincerely love one another from the heart.

“When Giving Everything Means Nothing” 1 Corinthians 13:1-13(KJV) 1 John 3:18 (KJV) 28 January 2007 U.S. Army Chaplain (MAJ) Ken Harris Presidio of Monterey (ORD Military Chapel) Monterey California, 93940 BIG IDEA: On God’s Love Scale, if two Christians weigh-in and one has all of his ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Advent Of Jesus Means The Advent Of Eden

Contributed by Daniel Habben on Dec 4, 2016

Jesus isn't just like an ambulance rushing to our rescue, he's also like a resort shuttle bus, for he is coming to take us to paradise.

Take a look at the two vehicles pictured on the screen. Which one is more like Jesus? The ambulance or the Disney-resort shuttle bus? On one hand since Jesus comes to rescue us from our sins and from eternal death, you could say that he’s like the ambulance. On the other hand Jesus ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 11:1-10

Denomination: Lutheran

The Unveiling Series

Contributed by Thomas Swope on Sep 23, 2011

A study of chapter 1 verses 1 through 20

Revelation 1: 1 – 20 The Unveiling 1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John, 2 who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 1:1-20

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

What Does The Resurrection Mean To Me?

Contributed by David Cramer on Sep 13, 2009

What is the resurrection mean to me?

The message; What Does the Resurrection Mean? First and foremost, Jesus was gone and the disciples were stressed. The disciples not only loved this man, they had been convinced that He was the Messiah, the One the prophets had said would come to rescue Israel from the hand of her oppressors ...read more

Scripture: John 16:20-22

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Suffering And The Human Condition: Where Was God? Series

Contributed by John Barry on Jun 12, 2009

The editor-in-chief of Bible Study magazine addresses the topic of suffering and God’s place in it and through it.

I was in a room close to 7:00 AM playing Jazz with my High School Jazz Band. We had band practice at 6:00 AM Monday to Friday mornings. (What kind of deranged person came up with that idea?) As I was sitting there at the drum set playing along half-asleep, the intercom began to come on and off. It ...read more

Denomination: *other

My Present Suffering And Future Glory Series

Contributed by Pat Damiani on Jan 3, 2019

The hurt of present suffering is far outweighed by the hope of future glory

NOTE: This is a manuscript, and not a transcript of this message. The actual presentation of the message differed from the manuscript through the leading of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, it is possible, and even likely that there is material in this manuscript that was not included in the live ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:18-25

Denomination: Baptist