Sermons on Surprised By Suffering:

John The Cactus Series

Contributed by Roshelle Brenneise on Aug 11, 2023

The fulness of time had come…. The “Hope of Nations” the “Messiah” was on His way. The announcement of that longed for event came in quite an unexpected way – the angel who had replaced Lucifer – the angel Gabriel - appeared to an old childless priest:

August 12, 2023 One Sabbath, after church, a mom asked her little girl what the picture she had drawn was supposed to be. It looked like a bunch of brown scribbles surrounding some kind of big green thing. The little girl said, “Well, this is the wilderness, and that’s John the Cactus.” Today, ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 40:3-5, Luke 1:5-7, Luke 1:68-79, Luke 3:7-9, Luke 7:17-23, Hebrews 12:1-3  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Strength Through Weakness (Part 1) Series

Contributed by Chris Anderson on Mar 14, 2024

Message 14 in an expositional series through Paul's "second" letter to the church in the ancient Greek city of Corinth where he defends his apostleship and corrects serious doctrinal errors within this young church.

Some of you may not know this about me, but I am in fact bi-lingual. I am fluent in English and sarcasm. And because that is true, I love the verses in 2 Corinthians 11:16-33, if you want to turn with me there this morning. We have been studying the book of 2 Corinthians together for a few months ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 11:16-33

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

How To Make A Difference Series

Contributed by Jason Jones on Jun 10, 2024

Jesus calls us to let our light shine; here, Paul calls us to walk in the light.

Background to passage: In this text we are reminded that we used to be darkness and now we are light. Jesus calls us to let our light shine; here, Paul calls us to walk in the light. I think he tells us some ways to do that, and I want to bring it down a little closer to where we live today. So, ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:7-14

Denomination: Baptist

Afraid To Ask - Mark 9:30-32 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Dec 29, 2023

What should you do when other people have control over some area of your life to your detriment?

Mark 9:30 They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, 31 because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, "The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise." ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 17:14-23, Luke 9:37-45, Mark 9:30-32

Be Careful When Advising People In God’s Will

Contributed by Samuel M on Jan 14, 2024

So many times, we have become like Job’s friends, who have not spoken the right words about or from God to our friends like Job who are suffering in God’s will. We have spoken Godly words, but some or all of these words are not from God.

And so it was, after the LORD had spoken these words to Job, that the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “My wrath is aroused against you and your two friends, for you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has.” Job 42:7 So many times, we have become like Job’s friends, who have ...read more

Scripture: Job 42:7

Unstrained Mercy Series

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Nov 24, 2022

None of us can forgive the wrongs done to someone else. We can, however, show mercy to anyone who is suffering - whether forgiveness is involved or not.

Every week it seems like there’s another new disaster. The 10 plagues that Moses visited on Egypt to convince Pharoah to free the Israelites almost pale in comparison. Talk about plagues? We hoped that 2021 would see the end of Covic19 but noooooo. And as if that weren’t enough, an earthquake ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:7

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

A Purpose Behind The Problem

Contributed by Chris Swanson on Nov 26, 2022

Our troubles should not lessen our faith. There is a purpose for the suffering. We should our troubles as opportunities to let the Lord's light shine through us.

Key verse (17) What good comes out of trials? This is the second letter from Paul to the believers in Corinth to defend his position as an apostle and to denounce false teachers who twisted the truth. • Paul reminds us that although struggles come, do not give up hope. • Our bodies are subject ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:6-17

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Bragging Rights Series

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Nov 28, 2022

Suffering is part of the process of changing us into people fit for the kingdom of God.

Everybody knows that Christians shouldn’t boast, right? Some people are so leery of boasting that they hide the gifts God has given them in the mistaken notion that God will be pleased with their humility. But that’s just as bad as seeking every opportunity to grab the limelight, because God can’t ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:1-11

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Socorro

Contributed by Craig Benner on Dec 26, 2022

El clamor para recibir ayuda.

¡Socorro! Salmo 109:26 Ayúdame, Jehová Dios mío; sálvame conforme a tu misericordia. El clamor a los cristianos dormidos. El ministerio está sufriendo por falta de ayuda. El porcentaje de cristianos trabajando en el campo misionero es cada vez un poco ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 109:26, Colossians 4:18, Titus 3:12

Denomination: Pentecostal

Choosing The Painful Will Of God Series

Contributed by John Oscar on Sep 10, 2018

How God uses the bad times to shape us into the image of Christ

Choosing The Painful Will of God CCCAG September 9th, 2018 Today I’m going to cover a difficult topic. (Title) Scripture- John 12:23-36 Intro: Today’s message will have a lot of build up before we get to the meat of the scripture we are focusing on, but please bear with me because it’s ...read more

Scripture: John 12:23-36

Denomination: Assembly Of God

The Reason For Stresses Series

Contributed by Ken Henson on Sep 23, 2017

Faithfulness to the Word of God truly results in blessings beyond all we would ask or think, but often results in the opposite of comfort and ease and temporal happiness.

I John, your brother, and partaker together in the stresses, and kingdom, and endurance in Jesus, was in the island named Patmos, because of the word of God, and the testimony of Jesus. v 9 Tribulation is thlipsis, a word used for the process of shaping an object under tremendous pressure. ...read more

Denomination: *other

Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For Series

Contributed by Mark Schaeufele on Aug 25, 2020

God has given us the hope of sharing in his glory even though we may have struggles in this life.

Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For Text: Rom. 8:18-30 Introduction 1. Video: Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For by U2 2. When this song came out back in the late 80’s I heard a lot of Christians complain. They said, “If the members of U2 are Christians, how can they say they haven’t ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:18-30

Denomination: Methodist

When God's Word Tests You

Contributed by Jeff Taylor on Jan 17, 2023

God's Word will always test you, especially in your darkest hour. Your darkest hour is conquered by your dream. A dream written down is a goal. A goal broken down into steps is a plan. A plan backed by divine action will conquer your darkest hour.

Turn to Psalm 105:17, as we talk today about when the Word of God tests you. God's Word will always test you, especially in your darkest hour. Listen closely. Your darkest hour is conquered by your dream about your future. A dream written down is a goal. A goal broken down into steps is a plan. ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 105:17

Denomination: Pentecostal

Blessings In Disguise

Contributed by Jim Keegan on Jan 18, 2023

Hand-in-hand with God’s blessing there is always testing to deepen our bonds of intimate love and trust. Those two forces work together for our good.

We see in this familiar passage two of the foundational stories of the Gospel: Christ’s blessing by God, followed very closely by his temptation. These are also the two universal realities of the spiritual life: both blessings and trials. After his baptism, Jesus saw the Spirit descending on ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:28

Winning Isn't Easy... But It's Still Winning! Series

Contributed by Michael Mays on Sep 11, 2021

Being Christians in this world isn't easy--Jesus told us so. And Satan's goal is to destroy us and his church. But Paul is going to unpack the promise from last week: "For me, to live is Christ; to die is gain."

I. Intro ??In his book Loving God, Charles Colson draws attention to an incident involving an Indiana judge named William Bontrager. Bontrager had to pass sentence on Fred Palmer, a decorated Vietnam veteran who was found guilty of burglary. The crime was caused partly by involvement with drugs ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:27-30