Sermons on Surprised By Suffering:

Why Does God Allow Tragedy And Suffering?

Contributed by Lee Strobel on Jul 23, 2012

Lee Strobel presents a message to a Colorado church shortly after the movie theater massacre in Aurora, Colorado.

It was the worst mass shooting in American history – 70 people shot by a gunman, 12 of them killed, while they were watching the midnight showing of a new movie just 21 miles from where we’re sitting. There are no words to describe the anguish being felt by those who are suffering today; our heart ...read more

Scripture: John 16:33

Denomination: *other

Learning From Suffering And Pain Lesson 1 Series

Contributed by Elmer Towns on Oct 27, 2023

Jesus promised His followers would suffer trials and persecutions.

“These trials will show that your faith is genuine … tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So, when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor.” 1 Peter 1:7, NLT “When troubles come your ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:7

Denomination: Baptist

How To Respond To Suffering And Pain Lesson 2 Series

Contributed by Elmer Towns on Oct 27, 2023

Since there is divine purpose for pain, learn from it.

1. The most obvious observation, pain hurts! 2. Definition from Webster, (1) “Localized physical suffering associated with bodily disorder or disease or injury.” (2) Basic bodily sensation, induced by noxious stimulus, received by naked nerve endings, characterized by physical discomfort and ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 41:10, Hebrews 13:3

Denomination: Baptist

God's Will And Suffering - Part 1 Series

Contributed by Dr. Tom Badia on Feb 19, 2024

Does God permit suffering to come to someone who is living righteously within the will of God?

GOD'S WILL AND SUFFERING-Part 1 ‘DEVELOPING THE PROPER ATTITUDE TOWARDS SUFFERING’ series :knowing the voice of God KEY VERSES: “For so is the will of God, that by well-doing ye should put to silence the ignorance of foolish men. If, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye shall take it ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:15

Section (4) You Never Suffer Alone Series

Contributed by Luther Sexton on Feb 19, 2019

God never lets us suffer alone. There is always hope

XIII. You Never Suffer Alone The sufferings that you and I experience will either involve us with others, or isolate us from others. A. Building 1. Walls - self-pity, resentment, bitterness, and unbelief 2. Bridges a. Reaching out to help others b. ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:15, Luke 13:1

Denomination: Pentecostal

Does God Ordain/Allow Evil And Suffering?

Contributed by Dr. Craig Nelson on Oct 12, 2022

Within the church, there is a belief that everything is under the direct sovereign control of God, therefore He ordains what satan and his minions do.

It is also believed that when people get sick or suffer horrible tragedies, it is the will of God because He "allowed/ordained" it. God is the Holy and transcendent one. He is sovereign, omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent and omnibenevolent. He knows all things past, present, and ...read more

Scripture: Romans 2:4, James 1:16-17, John 8:42-44, Ephesians 6:13-18

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Psalm 38: Sickness And Suffering Brought On By Sin Series

Contributed by John Lowe on Dec 16, 2019

This psalm is David’s confession and concerns physical sickness. David is very ill. His body is wasting away. We have no record of him having this illness, but as we have seen before he thanked God for his healing.

December 13, 2014 Tom Lowe Title: PSALM 38: Sickness and Suffering Brought on by Sin. A psalm of David. PART 1 DAVID’S SIN (VERSES 1-4) Part 2 David’s Suffering (verses 5-8) Part 3 David’s Sorrow (verses 9-14) Part 4 David’s Supplication (verses 15-22) Psalm 38 (KJV) Part 1: ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 38:1-22

Denomination: Baptist

Jesus' Suffering (Matthew 27a)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Apr 13, 2024

What pampered king, president or prime minister of this world would suffer for the sake of his people? Yet, Jesus, king of the world did. Let's look at Jesus' suffering in Matthew 27:1-33.

How much did Jesus suffer even before His crucifixion? Let’s glimpse His suffering in Matthew 27:1-33. Who was Jesus taken to next? Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people made their plans how to have Jesus executed. So they bound him, led him away and handed him ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 27:1-33

Denomination: Baptist

Why Does God Allow Evil And Suffering?

Contributed by Bruce Hadley on May 31, 2022

As the world continues to get worse and worse, many question why God continues to allow evil and suffering to proliferate? Will, in this sermon we will address those questions

Today we’re going to address a very important question. Why does God allow evil and suffering? We’re going to get a little deep and heavy as we address this question. So, stay with me! This past Tuesday, when I heard the news of the school shooting in Uvalda, TX, where 21 kids and 2 teachers ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:17-18, Matthew 5:21-28, Mark 7:20-23, Genesis 2:1-15, Psalm 51:4  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Via Dolorosa – The Universality Of Suffering (5/12) Series

Contributed by Eduardo (Eddie) Fernandes on Jun 17, 2020

Suffering is universal. Everyone experiences it. None escape it. It is part and parcel of the human condition. Many Evangelicals love to focus on “health/wealth/blessings” forgetting to teach the other “side of the coin”. As such people are ill-equipped to deal with life’s many harsh blows.

Message by Pr. Eddie Fernandes Introduction Hold On Video (lights off…video begins…video ends…lights on…Eddie & Marta on stage) Hold on! How many of you need to take hold of God’s hand this morning because you are struggling? Life hasn’t been easy. Perhaps you’ve lost your job. Maybe the ...read more

Scripture: Mark 15:15-20

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Go! And Behold The Suffering Saviour - Isaiah 53 Series

Contributed by Dean Courtier on Jul 29, 2025

One of the most beautiful, powerful, and heart-wrenching chapters in all of Scripture is Isaiah 53. It reads like an eyewitness account of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ—yet it was written over 700 years before He was born.

Go! And Behold the Suffering Saviour - Isaiah 53 (NLT) Opening Prayer: Gracious Father, We come before You in reverence and humility, asking that You open our eyes to see Jesus afresh through the power of Your Word. Speak through the pages of Isaiah 53. Let us behold the suffering Saviour, exalt ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 8:3, John 1:10-11, 1 Peter 2:24, Matthew 26:62-63, Romans 5:8, 2 Corinthians 5:21  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

Turning Pain Into Purpose And Finding Hope In Suffering Series

Contributed by Shaila Touchton on Aug 18, 2025

Trust God in suffering, find strength in weakness. Use experiences to help others by Seeking God's guidance.

Discover how biblical figures like Joseph, Moses, David, Paul, and Job turned their struggles into triumphs. Have you ever felt like your pain is overwhelming, and you don't know how to move forward? You're not alone. Many people in the Bible faced incredible challenges, yet they found a ...read more

The Suffering Servant: Finding Hope In Isaiah 53 Series

Contributed by Dean Courtier on Mar 30, 2024

Today we embark on a journey into the heart of Isaiah 53, a prophetic passage that unveils the redemptive work of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Suffering Servant: Finding Hope in Isaiah 53 Introduction: Today we embark on a journey into the heart of Isaiah 53, a prophetic passage that unveils the redemptive work of our Lord Jesus Christ. In these verses, we encounter the suffering servant who bore our griefs and carried our sorrows. ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 53:3-4, Isaiah 53:5

Denomination: Pentecostal

Hard Lessons About Hard Times Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on Mar 9, 2015

Trials are designed to teach us so that our conduct and character change.

Hard Lessons About Hard Times 1 Peter 4:12-19 Rev. Brian Bill March 7-8, 2015 Several years ago I took one of our daughters to a Demolition Derby. I loved watching the drivers demolish and destroy one another. We saw some great smash-ups and did a lot of laughing. I didn’t know much about ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:12-19

Denomination: Baptist

Finding Comfort When Tragedy Strikes

Contributed by Marty Baker on Sep 12, 2001

This sermon is designed to encourage people during a time of personal or national crisis.

Finding Comfort When Tragedy Strikes September 12, 2001 / Dr. Marty Baker Stevens Creek Community Church / Augusta, GA www.stevenscreek.net Introduction: Confusion ..... Shock .... Despair...... Disbelief ...... permeated the nation yesterday as we watched the reports from the attack on the ...read more

Scripture: Job 1:1-22

Denomination: Church Of God