Sermons on Suffer Affliction:

How Can God Be Good? Series

Contributed by Sherm Nichols on Mar 31, 2021

First in a series based on questions that we received from people in the Church. This message deals with the question of the morality suffering

Question to be asked: I’m a bit confused. Why does everyone just say that God is good and ignore some of things He seems to approve? He lets evil and suffering go on in the world. He ordered a lot of people to be killed. And then there’s the whole concept of hell. Why would a God who is good ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Jumping To Conclusions Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 1, 2021

The friends of Job explained life's sufferings, and specifically Job's sufferings, as very simple and obvious. They said there is no mystery here at all. It is clear as a bell that suffering is God's judgment on the sinner. Job is suffering, therefore, Job is a sinner.

There is a poem that I have enjoyed for many years, but I could never see how it could be used in a sermon, until I began to study the friends of Job. I want to share it with you, for it both describes them, and gives us insight into why they could be so wrong when they were so often right. It is ...read more

Here Comes Trouble Again! # 2b

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Apr 6, 2022

In the previous sermon, we established that one of the things that distinguishes us from each other is the way we conduct ourselves when troubles come our way.

When the good times come, we all respond basically the same way. For example, when someone asks us HOW WE ARE, all of us just give them a big smile and we say, “GREAT!” In the difficult times, we can see the difference in people. When the difficult times come and you ask them HOW THEY ARE. . . • ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 37:18-28

Denomination: Baptist

Here Comes Trouble Again! # 2a

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Apr 6, 2022

When things are going right for MOST of us, folks ask us how we are and we give them a big smile and say that things are GREAT!

Our differences are revealed, not during our GOOD TIMES, but during the BAD TIMES in our lives! One thing we all seem to do during the DIFFICULT TIMES in life is to turn to our friends for sound advice. Most of the time when we do this what we get is not good sound advice, but a lot of RHYMES ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 37:18-28

Denomination: Baptist

Watch Out And Take Heed.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Apr 25, 2022

The bookends to this excerpt of Scripture underline the need to be on our guard.

WATCH OUT AND TAKE HEED. Mark 13:9-23. 1. Testimony and Martyrdom. Mark 13:9-13. Jesus warned His disciples that they would face arrests, persecution, interrogation by the synagogue authorities, imprisonment, arraignment before kings and governors – and all because they bore His name. ...read more

Scripture: Mark 13:9-23

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Not What They Had Planned

Contributed by Mary Erickson on May 2, 2022

A sermon for the 3rd Sunday of Easter, Year C

May 1, 2022 Hope Lutheran Church Rev. Mary Erickson Acts 9:1-6; John 21:1-19 Not What They Had Planned Friends, may grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and Christ Jesus our Lord. Saints Peter and Paul. Both men are full of zeal. They will both be instrumental in the ...read more

Scripture: John 21:1-19, Acts 9:1-6

Denomination: Lutheran

Jacob-When He Had To Deal With Losses Series

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on May 15, 2022

Jacob had his share of blessings but he also endured a number of losses. This message gives some glimpses of what he endured and how he dealt with these situations.

Introduction: Jacob had to deal with bad things as well as good things during his earthly journey. He thought he had received the paternal blessing as well as the birthright but he lost as much, if not more, than he gained because of this. Now Jacob is going to experience a number of “hits”. 1 He ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

I Give You My Peace

Contributed by Mark A. Barber on May 19, 2022

True peace only comes from Jesus and only to those who believe on Him. This is a peace that allows us to have peace in the midst of trials.

I Give You MY Peace John 14:23-29 It was a confusing time. Jesus with the disciples had come to Jerusalem. They had seen the joyous crowds a few days earlier on Palm Sunday, Their expectations of the disciples that Jesus would immediately take charge and set up the Messianic Kingdom and take the ...read more

Scripture: John 14:23-29

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Joseph: Rejected But Respected Series

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Aug 11, 2022

The life of Joseph, son of Jacob, is one of the most interesting in the Bible. This message is mostly a summary of his life, from slave to sovereign to sustainer. Don't we all wish there were more Josephs!

Introduction: What comes to mind when you think about Joseph, son of Jacob? Many of us, including me, tend to think first of his “coat of many colors” and his dreams. That’s true, but that’s only part of the story. In fact, Joseph spent several years away from his family in a foreign land, rising ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 37:25-28, Genesis 41:38-45

Denomination: Baptist

Do Not Be Ashamed Of Christ Series

Contributed by Freddy Fritz on Aug 25, 2022

2 Timothy 1:13-18 shows us several ways Christians guard against being ashamed of Christ.

Introduction John MacArthur tells the story that during the Boxer Rebellion in China (1899–1901), extreme nationalist Chinese fomented a campaign of terror against officials of foreign governments, Christian missionaries, and even Chinese Christians. After they surrounded a certain mission ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:8-12

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

How To Undeceive A Desire James 1:15-17 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on May 13, 2021

The reason you sin is not desire. Jesus desired food but didn’t fall when tempted with food. The problem is not desire; it’s deceived desire. It’s a desire that is deceived about sin, about life and good days, and about God. This passage exposes those deceptions and the way to correct them.

How to Undeceive a Desire Suffering, Tests, and Temptation Part 9 James 1:15-17 12-7-2014 The reason you sin is not desire. Jesus desired food but didn’t fall when tempted with food. The problem is not desire; it’s deceived desire. It’s a desire that is deceived about sin, about life and good ...read more

Scripture: James 1:15-17

Week 3: Faith & Friends Series

Contributed by Daniel Habben on May 23, 2021

How can we encourage those who are suffering?

There was a study done in 2004 which found that the number of people without any close friends tripled since the last study in 1985. Nearly a quarter of the people surveyed said that they have no one in their life that they can confide in (America Sociological Review, June 1, 2006). We live in a ...read more

Scripture: Job 2:11-13, Job 4:4-9, Job 3:1-4, Job 3:11

Denomination: Lutheran

Week 4: Rethinking A Quid Pro Quo Kind Of Faith (Sermon Adapted From Pete Metzger) Series

Contributed by Daniel Habben on May 23, 2021

Do we think that goes owes us for what we do for him?

Quid pro quo. Do you know what that Latin phrase means? It translates literally as “this for that.” Conversationally, we might say, “I scratch your back, you scratch mine.” For example, if I head out on vacation and ask my neighbor to take my garbage to the curb while I’m away, it’s perfectly ...read more

Scripture: Job 21:7-9, Job 21:13-15, Job 21:17, Job 31:1-4, Job 31:7-8, Job 31:21-28, Job 13:19-25, Job 29:2-6  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Lutheran

Week 5: Trusting That Our Advocate And Redeemer Lives Series

Contributed by Daniel Habben on May 23, 2021

Even Job's faith suffered. What kept him going? God's grace.

The human body is amazing. Take your bones for example. Did you know that ounce for ounce human bone is stronger than steel? Apparently, one cubic inch of bone can withstand the weight of five standard pickup trucks! But if that’s the case, why can a simple fall from a bike or a stomp from a horse ...read more

Scripture: Job 3:23-26, Job 7:13-16, Job 16:18-21, Job 19:7-11, Job 19:13-14, Job 19:17, Job 19:21-27  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Lutheran

Week 6: Relax Under The Umbrella Of God’s Wisdom Series

Contributed by Daniel Habben on May 23, 2021

If you've ever travelled to a place where the culture was different than yours, you know how clueless you can feel. Job's "culture" was different than God's. It's no wonder he felt lost in the midst of his suffering...

How many of you have travelled to a place where the culture was noticeably different than yours? At times, didn’t you feel totally clueless? I’ve seen the bewildered look on American businessmen’s faces who came to Japan where I grew up. When meeting with a Japanese client for the first time, the ...read more

Scripture: Job 42:1-6, Job 41:1-5, Job 40:15-19, Job 40:2, Job 31:34-35, Job 31:21-22, Job 38:1-11, Job 41:7-11, Job 31:35-37  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Lutheran