Sermons on Surprised By Suffering:

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

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

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

Reach Out And Touch

Contributed by Joanna Beveridge on Feb 1, 2013

An amplified story of the woman with a haemorrage and how we too can be cured if we just reach out and touch Jesus.

Her bleeding began after the birth of her fourth child. That, of course, was normal. What was not normal was that it did not stop. That was 12 years ago. Twelve years is a long time. It’s a long time even when life is good and the years slip gently by, but if you are poor, or ill, or ...read more

Scripture: Mark 5:25-34

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Violence In The Kinigdom Of God? Series

Contributed by Perry Greene on Oct 5, 2011

What is behind the kingdom of God "suffering violvence"?

A few years ago, a major Multinational company was looking for a new Marketing Director. After much advertising and many applications, three candidates entered the final selection process: A mathematician, a statistician and a lawyer. The first to be invited in for the final interview was the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:11-12

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

More Christ Less Me

Contributed by Bruce Lee on Jun 4, 2025

Surprised to see an empty seat at the Super Bowl stadium, a diehard fan remarked about it to a woman sitting nearby.

More Christ Less Me “But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ 9 and ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:8-11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Life Of Quiet Brokenness

Contributed by Tim Zingale on Dec 11, 2000

Living with brokenness, living with suffering

"A Life of Quiet Brokenness" Romans 8:18-25 We gather in worship, in prayer, in meditation to make personal the life, the suffering, the death, the resurrection of Jesus Christ. We come with our struggle of making Jesus someone who is real and alive for us in this day and age. We come with ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:18-25

Denomination: Lutheran

God At The Mercy Of Sinful Humankind

Contributed by Richard Jones on Nov 3, 2000

A heartfelt look at the suffering servant.

God at the Mercy of Sinful Humankind Isaiah 50:4-9 (Main Text) Philippians 2:5-11(Read entire text pg. 5) Each text I will use today relates to the suffering of Christ -- from the first inklings of the suffering in the prophet Isaiah, to the long passion narrative in Mark, to the theological ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 50:4-9, Philippians 2:5-11

Denomination: Baptist

When Things Don't Go Your Way

Contributed by Sang Kwon on May 12, 2002

How to overcome our suffering?

Introduction: Last June, one of my students named Steve applied for university. As July came closer and closer, all of Steve’s friends began to get their college and university acceptances except for Steve. He got rejected at every school he had applied to and now; he is having very hard time ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:28-39

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

What In The World Is God Doing?

Contributed by Phil Morgan on Apr 2, 2002

Sermon on the problem of suffering in the world.

I think we’ve ALL been shocked and horrified by the events that have been unfolding in Kosovo, and the scenes we have witnessed of tens of thousands of refugees pouring into the surrounding countries as a result. People driven from their homes; families separated; stories of widespread murders and ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 3:6-19, Romans 8:22

Denomination: Pentecostal

Nine Facets Of The Christian Life

Contributed by Howard Mcglamery on Jan 7, 2003

A message on encouragement in the midst of suffering.

Nine Facets Of The Christian Life I Peter I. The Christian Life Is Salvation 1 Peter 1:18-19 18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:18-19, 1 Peter 4:12-19

Denomination: Baptist

The Cross Of Christ

Contributed by Lindeal Greer on Jan 22, 2001

Christ suffered for our sins.

The Cross of Christ Matt 16: 24 “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me.” Consider the cross of Christ- The instrument on which he was killed. (Discuss his death) I Peter 2: 19-24 Isiah 53 “dumb as sheep” His death on the cross was ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:6-7, 1 Peter 2:19-24

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Yet Still I Rise

Contributed by Brenda Jones on Jul 8, 2007

Stand in Faith in the Midst of Suffering

Yet Still I Rise 1 Peter 5:5-9 It’s preaching time, and text as read this morning is taken from the first letter of Peter, and in your leisure please read Chapters 3, 4, & 5. Now, as I meditated on the text, the theme that the Lord had given me is… “Yet Still I Rise!” Yet Still I Rise!” Let us ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:5-9

Denomination: Methodist

The Story Of Job Series

Contributed by Rick Burdette on Apr 30, 2012

Suffering, trails, restoration, faith

THE STORY OF JOB Job 1: 1-22 (p359) Sept 26, 2010 INTRODUCTION Right before I left for New Orleans the History channel was running a series of shows remembering the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on American…Kari and I watched many of them "Hotel Ground Zero" "102 minutes that ...read more

Scripture: Job 1:1-22

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ