Sermons on Suffering Refines:

1 Secret Series

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Feb 5, 2013

We can find the “1 Secret” to contentment for:1) A Contented Person Is Satisfied with Little (Phil. 4:11), 2) A Contented Person Is Independent from Circumstances (Phil. 4:12) and, 3) A Contented Person Is Strengthened by Divine Power (Phil. 4:13)

Philippians 4:11-13. [11] Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. [12] I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. [13] ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:11-13

Denomination: Other

“life Can Be Hard”

Contributed by John Hamby on May 5, 2014

Response to the 2014 Tornado.

“Life Can Be Hard” 2 Corinthians 1:3-11 First let me say, I feel like I’m ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:3-11

Denomination: Baptist

Peter's Description Of The Victorious Christian Life. Series

Contributed by Stuart M Guthrie on Aug 9, 2012

Today we talked about living the Victorious Christian life, by showing our desire for the Attitude of Jesus, showing our desire for Gods will and showing our desire for the eternal hope.

1 Peter 4:1-6 (Peter’s description of the victorious Christian Life) August 7, 2012 Introduction: Prayer: Well I hope that you all had a wonderful week and I hope that as we look at this passage this morning that you would be ever the better. We have been studying through 1 Peter now for ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:1-6

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Handcrafted By God

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on May 17, 2012

Is God bending, shaping, or polishing me right now? What’s my attitude: Am I thanking and praising God, or am I complaining about the process? Trials are intended not to provoke us but to prove us. See the present from the perspective of the future. Look

Opening illustration: The Steinway piano has been preferred by keyboard masters such as Rachmaninoff, Horowitz, Cliburn, and Liszt—and for good reason. It is a skillfully crafted instrument that produces phenomenal sound. Steinway pianos are built today the same way they were 140 years ago when ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:8-18

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Dialogue With Faithful Judaism Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Mar 19, 2016

We must always remember that the Church's first mission was to the Jews, the brothers and sisters of Jesus.

Thursday in the Octave of Easter Joy of the Gospel As we bask in the warm light of the Resurrection, we hear again the stories of the reaction given by various Jewish groups to the Passion, death, Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus. We do this for another forty days, and actually fifty up until ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:35-48

Denomination: Catholic

What We Learn From Creation's Groanings Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Oct 21, 2017

The sorrow we experience as we witness the devolution of culture creates a longing for Heaven and for Christ.

“I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:18-25

Denomination: Baptist

To Bring You To God

Contributed by Gaither Bailey on Feb 23, 2012

Sermon for the first Sunday in Lent, Year B

I Peter 3: 18 – 22 / To Bring You To God Intro: 2 inexperienced hunters went hunting in the woods. The game warden had warning them that they might get lost said that if the got lost to shoot 3 shots in rapid succession. They did get lost. One said to the other, “You’d ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:18-22

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

“in Times Of Loss” Series

Contributed by Dave Mcfadden on May 28, 2013

What does god want us to know in times of loss?

We read in this passage how Isaiah saw a vision of the Lord and heard the voice of the Lord. The circumstances surrounding this experience was the death of Isaiah’s king and friend, Uzziah. We learn about king Uzziah in 2 Chronicles 26. Uzziah was a good king, until he allowed pride to make ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 6:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

20. David Saves Keilah (1 Samuel 23) Series

Contributed by Dr. Bradford Reaves on Aug 27, 2025

“Why?” That tiny word rolls off our tongues with tears and trembling. Why the cancer? Why the betrayal? Why the silence of heaven when our world collapses? If you’ve ever whispered it in the dark night of the soul, you’re not alone—and you’re not unbiblical.

David Saves Keilah August 6, 2025 Dr. Bradford Reaves Crossway Christian Fellowship 1 Samuel 23:1-17 Introduction: Why Suffering? “Why?” That tiny word rolls off our tongues with tears and trembling. Why the cancer? Why the betrayal? Why the silence of heaven when our world collapses? If you’ve ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 23:1-17

Denomination: Brethren

Why Do Bad Things Happen To Good People? Series

Contributed by Kyle Gray on May 20, 2009

This question needs to be reversed if we are to find an answer.

Why do bad things happen to good people? Why suffering? 9/11 Katrina, friends going through extremely difficult times. Why would God allow this? What benefit is evil and suffering? What is the point? God does not exist for our human happiness. God exists because God exists. We’re funny as ...read more

Scripture: John 9:1-41, John 9:1

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

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

Week 1: Why Bad Things Happen To Good People Series

Contributed by Daniel Habben on May 23, 2021

Did you know that your life is like a can of shaving cream? A label on the side of such a can says: “Warning: contents under pressure; don’t throw into fire.” (Walther Prince) It doesn’t matter who you are—young, old, rich, poor, sick, healthy—each one of us is under pressure...

Did you know that your life is like a can of shaving cream? A label on the side of such a can says: “Warning: contents under pressure; don’t throw into fire.” (Walther Prince) It doesn’t matter who you are—young, old, rich, poor, sick, healthy—each one of us is under pressure. We face peer ...read more

Scripture: Job 1:1-22

Denomination: Lutheran

The Joy Of Trials Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 15, 2023

The Pulpit Commentary calls this verse THE STRANGE PARADOX, and truly they are right, for what can be more paradoxical than being happy about the things that make you sad?

THE JOY OF TRIALS Let me share with you the different ways our text is translated to give you a broad view of what we are dealing with. First, we will look at some of the context of the verse. JAMES 1:2-4, "2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, [a] whenever you face trials of ...read more

Scripture: James 1:2

The Lord Whom We Seek Series

Contributed by Troy Borst on Mar 20, 2024

Jesus is the clear image of God Almighty who refines our souls and cleans our sin.

MINOR PROPHETS MAJOR MESSAGE: THE LORD WHOM WE SEEK MALACHI 2:17-3:5 INTRODUCTION… Mr Incredible and Tricycle Kid The man is hunched over in his powder blue aging car that is way too small for his incredibly large frame. He barely fits. He is dejected and unhappy and unfulfilled and all of the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:1-17

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Helps Of Our Hurts Series

Contributed by David Owens on May 23, 2016

This sermon is based on Chapter 7 in Charles Swindoll's book: Paul: A Man of Grace and Grit. The sermon addresses Paul's thorn in the flesh and the role of suffering in our lives.

A. One day a teacher was getting her Wednesday night children’s class started. 1. She asked if anyone had any prayer requests. 2. One girl asked that they pray for her because school would soon start and she was going to a new school this year. 3. Another girl asked that they pray for her ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:1-9

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ