Sermons on Surprised By Suffering:

Daniel 8: He's Got This Series

Contributed by Vic Folkert on Sep 3, 2020

Nothing is a surprise to God. God is in control.

HE’S GOT THIS—Daniel 8 Do you sometimes feel like the world is spinning out of control? The safe and secure life some of us remember seems more chaotic, less innocent, and somewhat scary. Family and cultural values are changing—not always for the better. Religious freedom is under attack in many ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 24:1-31, Daniel 8:1-27

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Unwrapping A Strange Gift

Contributed by David Welch on Aug 6, 2018

This series of messages addressed the "gift" of suffering. I have included the notes from several messages on the topic.

Chico Alliance Church UNWRAPPING A STRANGE GIFT REVIEW Paul is in prison simply for preaching the resurrected Christ in a pagan world and a religious world blinded to the truth of a transformed life. From a seemingly negative circumstance, he is able to continually live the joy of the Lord. I ask, ...read more

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Where Is The Joy?

Contributed by David Scudder on Dec 29, 2008

Every human heart cries out for joy, but few ever find it. Relationships crumble because there is no joy. Family fights begin when joy is missing. God made us to be happy, but we have lost our way. In our text Jesus shows us the way to joy, so let�s loo

John 16:20-24; 17:13-17 Purpose: To see God’s blueprint for happiness. Aim: I want the listener to focus on God’s eternal joy and enjoy God now. INTRODUCTION: Every human heart cries out for joy, but few ever find it. Relationships crumble because there is no joy. Family fights begin when joy is ...read more

Scripture: John 16:20-24

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Comfort For The Brokenhearted - Matthew 5:4 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Jul 4, 2024

How can you find comfort from God in the midst of deep suffering? This message will help you understand what it looks like to be “sorrowful, yet always rejoicing” (2 Corinthians 6:10) by receiving God’s comfort in the midst of your suffering.

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

The Paradox Of Burdens Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 19, 2021

Paul's apparently conspicuous contradictions, and puzzling paradoxes are the result of his God-given ability to see the whole of life, and not just some of its parts in isolation.

In South Dakota a man by the name of August had a clothing store he was going to close up. His was not one of those perpetual year around closing sales. He was actually intending to go out of business by July. So he hung a sign in his window which read, The First Of July Is The Last Of August. ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:1-10

Do Not Be Ashamed Of Christ Series

Contributed by Freddy Fritz on Aug 25, 2022

2 Timothy 1:13-18 shows us several ways Christians guard against being ashamed of Christ.

Introduction John MacArthur tells the story that during the Boxer Rebellion in China (1899–1901), extreme nationalist Chinese fomented a campaign of terror against officials of foreign governments, Christian missionaries, and even Chinese Christians. After they surrounded a certain mission ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:8-12

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Here Comes Trouble Again! # 2a

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Apr 6, 2022

When things are going right for MOST of us, folks ask us how we are and we give them a big smile and say that things are GREAT!

Our differences are revealed, not during our GOOD TIMES, but during the BAD TIMES in our lives! One thing we all seem to do during the DIFFICULT TIMES in life is to turn to our friends for sound advice. Most of the time when we do this what we get is not good sound advice, but a lot of RHYMES ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 37:18-28

Denomination: Baptist

No Pain, No Gain Series

Contributed by Dr. George Calhoun on Oct 25, 2008

C.S. Lewis wrote: “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.”

Luke 8: 40-56 What motivates you to make changes in your life? Think back to a time when you made a change in your life and ask the question, “What motivated me to make that change?” I’ve always been interested in what motivates people to make changes in their lives so this past week I did a ...read more

Scripture: Luke 8:40-50

Denomination: Baptist

"The Merry-Go-Round Of Time"

Contributed by Paul Ray on Jul 22, 2013

God's timing is sovereign, sufficient, seasonal, and surprising. God turns extreme calamity into extreme possibility in the pendulum swing from Good Friday to Easter morning. Change comes as an unfolding pattern rather than a mindless swing of events.

January 20, 2013 “The Merry-Go-Round of Time” Ecclesiastes 3:1-14 Everything that happens in this world happens at the time God chooses. 2 He sets the time for birth and the time for death, the time for planting and the time for pulling up, 3 the time for killing and the time for ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:1-14

Denomination: Congregational

God Of The Suddenlies Series

Contributed by Rev. Samuel Arimoro on Jul 9, 2025

The suddenlies of God are not accidents or coincidences; they are divine visitations—moments when heaven touches earth to shift destinies, open doors, release miracles, or execute judgment.

GOD OF THE SUDDENLIES By Rev. Samuel Arimoro Main Text: Acts 2:1-2 Supporting Texts: Malachi 3:1, Isaiah 48:3, Acts 16:25-26, 2 Kings 7:1-9, Luke 2:13-14 INTRODUCTION: There are moments in life when God interrupts the ordinary with the extraordinary. These are not slow, progressive moves—they ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:1-2

Denomination: Assembly Of God

#58 The Bitter Cup Of Gethsemane Series

Contributed by Chuck Sligh on Jan 23, 2022

We can never comprehend the cosmic struggle Jesus experienced in the Garden of Gethsemane the night before his crucifixion. The sermon helps us to see the emotional struggle between Jesus’ human and divine sides, and what that teaches us.

#58 The Bitter Cup of Gethsemane Series: Mark Chuck Sligh January 23, 2022 TEXT: Mark 14:43-52 - "And immediately, while he yet spake, cometh Judas, one of the twelve, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders. 44 And he that ...read more

Scripture: Mark 14:32-42

Denomination: Baptist

New Beginnings Series

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Jun 15, 2009

In Ruth 1:19-22 we see a New Beginning moving from a 1) Total Loss to a 2) Total Gain.

The chalk cliffs of Beachy Head on England’s south coast are the British answer to the Golden Gate Bridge: a place of beauty and stillness that has a terrible allure, both practical and aesthetic, for suicidal people. Neil and Kazumi Puttick, a married couple jumped to their deaths on the evening ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 1:19-22

Denomination: Other

Redefining Significance (How To Surprise Your Biggest Critics) Acts Part 7 Series

Contributed by Jeff Christopherson on Jan 15, 2005

contrasting God’s and the world’s understanding of a significant life...

Redefining significance: how to surprise your biggest critics Acts Series: ¡§Completely Irreligious, Yet Radically Christian¡¨ Part 7 Pastor Jeff Christopherson - February 23, 2003 Acts 4:1-22 I. HOW OUR WORLD DEFINES SIGNIFICANCE: 1. Success. (People speak of my ...read more

Scripture: Acts 4:1-22

Denomination: Baptist

Understanding What Paul Understood Series

Contributed by David Owens on Aug 8, 2016

In this sermon, we look at some of the difficulties that Paul faced and how he endured them by trusting in God. He understood that God would always be with him, and that although God would not remove the difficulties, God would enable him to overcome.

Introduction: A. M. Scott Peck’s 1978 best-selling book, The Road Less Traveled, opens with these words: “Life is difficult. This is a great truth, one of the greatest truths. It is a great truth because once we truly see this truth, we transcend it. Once we truly know that life is ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Thanking God In Hard Times Series

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Oct 9, 2017

1) A Communal Thanksgiving (Psalm 75:1), 2) A Careful Thanksgiving (Psalm 75:2-5), 3) A Contemplative Thanksgiving (Psalm 75:6-8), and finally 4) A Certain Thanksgiving (Psalm 57:9-10).

There are a lot of reasons why it seems odd to celebrate Thanksgiving this year. Not only does it seem that we just finished summer, but also in regards to what is going on in our world. We have witnessed tropical storms, earthquakes, terrorist acts and so many instances of suffering. For those who ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 75:1-10

Denomination: Other