Sermons on Surprised By Suffering:

God’s Purpose In Our Pain Series

Contributed by Chris Anderson on Mar 11, 2023

Message 1 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.

One of our pastors shared a story with me Thursday about a bittersweet moment that he experienced on Wednesday as he attended the funeral visitation of the mother-in-law of one of our former staff members. I wasn’t able to travel to the visitation myself but I have genuinely been praying for his ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:1-11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Joseph Series

Contributed by Rev. Dr. Andrew B Natarajan on Nov 1, 2025

Genesis 50:20 sums up its moral of the story: “Even though you intended to do harm to me, God intended it for good, in order to preserve a numerous people, as he is doing today.” The purpose of Joseph’s life was “the saving of many lives”.

AMC, 02.11.2025 Text: Genesis 41:36-47 Theme: The Holy Man: Young Adult Joseph   Greetings: The Lord is good and His love endures forever.   Introduction: The story of Joseph was so exciting and inspiring for Holiness. Joseph's account is primarily found in Genesis chapters 37-50. ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 41:36-47

Denomination: Methodist

Faith Futures At Record High - 1 Peter 1:7-9 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Nov 28, 2024

Probably the most worn-out prayer there is, is that one-word reaction we always have when we suffer, “Why? Why is this happening?” Peter gives us the answer.

1 Peter 1:6 In which you rejoice, a little while, if necessary, you may be grieved in multifaceted trials, 7 in order that the proof of your faith (more precious than gold, the perishing through fire, but proved), it may be found toward praise and glory and honor in the revelation of Jesus Christ, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:7-9

The Glory Of The Story - 1 Peter 1:10-12 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Nov 29, 2024

Why did the prophets search their own writings? Did they not understand what they wrote? If that's the case, what were they trying to communicate when they wrote it?

The prophets searched Scripture to find out what kind of era it would be when the Messiah would suffer and then be glorified. But they were told that it was not for them to know. We get to participate in this glorious kingdom in the Church (why would a Christian prefer the world to the Church?). ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:10-12

Why Do Bad Things Happen To Good People?

Contributed by Christi Campione on Dec 19, 2024

The deep philosophical question that many Christians have asked. After this teaching, no one will be left wondering why and will be equipped to minister to others who ask this question.

Download Sermon PDF for easy reading: https://myprayernotebook4life.wordpress.com/sermon-pdfs/ Password: SermonCentral Why do bad things happen to good people? The deep philosophical question that many Christians have asked. Some Christians have left their church or even their faith over this ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:19, 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Does God Create Evil?

Contributed by Antonio Manaytay on Jan 17, 2025

This sermon tackles a very challenging question, Does God Create Evil?

Brothers and sisters in Christ, today we tackle a challenging question: Does God create evil? This question has puzzled many believers and skeptics alike, often arising when we witness suffering, injustice, and calamity. We must approach this topic with reverence for God's Word and a desire ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 45:7

Denomination: Pentecostal

Satan's Plan For Mankind: Curse God And Die

Contributed by Mark A. Barber on Jun 23, 2025

The answer to the taunt of Satan to curse God and die is to bless God and live.

Satan's Plan for Mankind: Curse God and Die Job 2:7–10 NKJV bb So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord, and struck Job with painful boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. And he took for himself a potsherd with which to scrape himself while he sat in the midst of the ...read more

Scripture: Job 2:7-10

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Happy Are The Sad - Matthew 5:4 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Jul 3, 2024

No one feels good after a failure. But how is the sorrow of a child of God different? And why does Jesus pronounce a blessing on people who feel that way? This message will help you draw near to God through times of hardship.

Matthew 5:1-12 Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them, saying: 3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 Blessed ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:4

Pray Submissively Series

Contributed by Davon Huss on Aug 14, 2024

Focusing on the phrase, "Lead Us Not Into Temptation" from Matthew 6:13 (Material adapted from Bob Hostetler's book, Red Letter Prayer Life; chapter 12 of the same title)

HoHum: Do we know someone who flips out if we sit on their perfectly made bed? Do we know someone who loses it because one of his pens is missing from the pen jar on his desk? Do we know someone who is so organized she would heckle Martha Stewart for being sloppy? Do we know someone who knows ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:13, Luke 11:4, Numbers 21:4-9, Matthew 4:1, Luke 22:39-43  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Vision Sunday - Salt And Light

Contributed by Jefferson Williams on Sep 12, 2025

Jesus calls us salt and light. How do we season and shine in this daark culture around us?

Vision Sunday Be These: Salt and Light Matthew 5 Pastor Jefferson Williams Chenoa Baptist Church 09-07-2025 Walker and Craig Walker Hayes, the grammy nominated country singer who had a seven time gold number one song “Fancy like” and his wife Lainey decided to move to Nashville so he could ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:13-16

Denomination: Baptist

The Gift Of The Thorn

Contributed by Dasol Kang on Sep 20, 2025

Sometimes the greatest gifts God gives us are the weaknesses we would never choose for ourselves.

INTRO If we took an inventory of everything that we say in our prayers, we would likely find that the vast majority of our prayers fall into one of two simple prayers. The first category is the “Gimmie” prayer. You know the “gimmie” prayer well. “Lord, gimme that parking spot right up front. And ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:1-10

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Burn Your Bridges

Contributed by Barry O Johnson on Sep 25, 2024

There are things that, as Christians, we must burn in our lives. This message looks at people who burned bridges for their faith.

Good morning to the Lord’s beloved! Many people don’t know this, but Julius Caesar was once a rebellious Roman. He first became a champion of the people by leading the Roman military towards the conquest of great foreign lands. He advocated for reforms of an aging Senate and, fearing his uprising, ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:32-39, Hebrews 11:1-2, Daniel 3:1-18, Acts 3:1-10, Acts 4:1-6, Acts 4:19-20, Acts 6:1-15, Acts 7:52-56, John 14:15, John 14:21, Ephesians 4:32, Philippians 3:7-14, Ephesians 5:1-2  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Why Good Friday Is Good

Contributed by Elmer Towns on Oct 9, 2025

Jesus knew what would happen to Him.

A. INTRODUCTION 1. Jesus knew what would happen to Him. “Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world” (John 13:1). a. He knew His suffering. “Let this cup pass from ...read more

Scripture: John 13:1, Matthew 26:39

Denomination: Baptist

Where Is God When It Hurts?

Contributed by David Dunn on Oct 22, 2025

When life hurts, God’s presence sustains, His sovereignty prevails, and His purpose transforms suffering into glory through the Cross of Christ.

There are times when life just doesn’t make sense. You love God. You serve Him. You try to walk uprightly. Yet pain seems to find you like a heat-seeking missile. You look around, and the wicked are prospering, the proud are climbing, and the people who mock God seem to have the easiest lives of ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 50:20, Romans 8:18-23, 1 Peter 1:6-7, Revelation 21:4

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Blessed Are Those Who Are Persecuted Because Of Righteousness Series

Contributed by Scott Kircher on Mar 28, 2010

Why do we suffer because of Righteousness?

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of Righteousness Matthew 5:10-12 10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:10-12

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational