Sermons on Surprised By Suffering:

Stress-Free Suffering - Matthew 6:27-34 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Nov 6, 2024

Anxiety is not caused by trouble. It is caused by an untrusting heart’s response to trouble. There are six spiritual causes of anxiety, and Jesus shows us the solutions.

Matthew 6:25 Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:27-34

How Could A Good God Allow Suffering (2025)

Contributed by David Owens on Feb 10, 2025

The presence of pain and suffering in the world do not take away from God's goodness or power. God's answer to suffering is the cross and the resurrection.

Introduction: A. There is a movie scene in which a young brother and sister experienced the death of a beloved kitten. 1. The children had prayed fervently that the cat would get well, but unfortunately, it had died. 2. The children couldn’t understand why this had happened, so they decided that ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:1-5, Hebrews 12:5-6, 1 Peter 1:6-7, James 1:2-4, 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, Job 1:20, Job 2:9-10, Hebrews 4:14-16, Romans 8:28, 2 Corinthians 4:16-17  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Patient In Suffering, Steadfast Against Slander, Faithful To The Truth

Contributed by Saumiman Saud on Feb 14, 2025

From the beginning, Jesus informed His disciples that if we acknowledge ourselves as followers of Christ Jesus, we must face suffering

Patient in Suffering, Steadfast Against Slander, Faithful to the Truth From the beginning, Jesus informed His disciples that if we acknowledge ourselves as followers of Christ Jesus, we must face suffering. Jesus never made grandiose promises to His followers. He did not give sweet hopes to His ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 10:22

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Making Sense Of Life Prt 2: Human Suffering

Contributed by Brian Williams on Aug 20, 2023

How do we speak to our own hearts or to someone else who has suffered greatly, who, out of that suffering begins to doubt the nature of God?

Last week we spoke about the nature of moral and natural evil as we try to make sense of life. If there is a good, all-powerful, all-knowing God who created the world, why does evil also exist? In review, Augustine defined evil as: The absence or deprivation of good…the effects of evil tend to ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:18-23

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Are You Ready To Suffer Shame And Die For The Name Of Jesus

Contributed by Richard Papafio on May 23, 2018

Beloved as Christians we need to know that we are also called to suffer shame for the name of Jesus and in some cases we need to die for His name's sake.

May the peace of the Lord be with you. Topic: ARE YOU READY TO SUFFER SHAME AND DIE FOR THE NAME OF JESUS? Acts 5:40-42 King James Version (KJV) 40 And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and ...read more

Scripture: Acts 5:40-42

Denomination: Charismatic

Ephesians 3 What Did Paul Suffer For?

Contributed by Jonathan Newlon on May 15, 2020

Paul suffered selflessly over the course of his ministry. Let's see how he suffered, what he suffered for, and ask ourselves if we are willing to do the same.

Jonathan Newlon Uniontown Church of Christ 15 May 2020 What did Paul suffer for? Introduction In Ephesians 3, Paul mentions his suffering for the Lord, but more importantly, why he was willing to undergo that suffering. He was suffering for the sake of the Gospel. Over his ministry, he was beaten, ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:13-21

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Why Does God Allow Suffering In Our Lives?

Contributed by Vagner Souza on Oct 21, 2019

Have you ever wondered: Why does God allow suffering in our lives? When we talk about why God allows suffering in our lives and how we can cope and do it to overcome it. It is not common to address their origin and causes.

Have you ever wondered: Why does God allow suffering in our lives? When we talk about why God allows suffering in our lives and how we can cope and do it to overcome it. It is not common to address their origin and causes. What I mean is where this suffering probably came from, which is its ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 51:1-3, 1 Samuel 25:17-20, 2 Peter 2:5

Denomination: *other

Sermon The Believer’s Response To Evil, Suffering And Injustice

Contributed by Otis Mcmillan on Jun 20, 2025

Peter knew it was important for suffering saints to have the right mindset, so he warns them ahead of time to be ready to patiently endure and keep believing.

Sermon The Believer’s Response to Evil, Suffering and Injustice Scriptures: 1Peter 2:20-24 “Of course, you get no credit for being patient if you are beaten for doing wrong. But if you suffer for doing good and endure it patiently, God is pleased with you. For God called you to do good, even if it ...read more

Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 2:7, James 1:17, John 12:31, Revelation 21:4, Philippians 2:5-11, 1 Peter 2:20-24, 1 Peter 3:17-18  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Methodist

Hope In The Wilderness: Turning Suffering Into Seeking - Psalm 63 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Jun 29, 2025

What if your deepest pain could become your greatest pathway to God? Learn how to transform suffering into a thirst for His presence that changes everything. Imagine a life where every moment—good or bad—draws you closer to God. Psalm 63 reveals the one desire that can make it a reality.

Psalm 63:0,1 A Psalm of David. When he was in the Desert of Judah. 1 O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water ************************************** Introduction: Emotion and Temptation The ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 63:1

The Suffering Church (The Church Of Smyrna 2 Of 7)

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Jul 15, 2025

You will notice that of the seven churches that John addressed, he gave the least amount of space to the church of Smyrna.

All he had to say about the church of Smyrna he was able to cover in just four verses. However, we must not think less of this church, or feel they were insignificant just because there are less verses given to them. Why? Because there were only two of the seven churches ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:11-12, Revelation 2:8-11

Denomination: Baptist

50 Is The New 50

Contributed by Brian Bill on Mar 7, 2010

I'm oldner than dirt but I'm determined to live for the Lord in every way as He renews me day by day.

Life is going way too fast…I’m halfway to one hundred and am now officially “over the hill.” This year is my 25th college class reunion, Emily is graduating from college, Lydia is graduating from high school, Beth and I are celebrating our 25th anniversary this summer, and ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 39:4-5

Denomination: Baptist

The Lord's Servant

Contributed by Chris Surber on Jun 17, 2010

Redemption was born in suffering, so is our peace.

The Lord’s Servant, Isaiah 52:13-53:6 Introduction “After a mission service, the preacher of the evening was hurrying away to a late train. He had just three minutes to catch it when he saw a man running after him. “Oh, sir,” he said breathlessly as he came up, “can ...read more

Denomination: Christian Church

The God Of All Comfort Series

Contributed by David Owens on Jan 19, 2010

In this lesson, we learn that life is hard, God is faithful, and that God can use our suffering for good.

A. Last week’s sermon was the first lesson in a sermon series on 2 Corinthians that I’m calling – “Learning to Lean on God.” 1. Last week we introduced the city of Corinth and Paul’s relationship with the Corinthian congregation. 2. We discussed some of the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:1-11

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Trialful Joy

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Oct 8, 2009

Trials and tests are no fun. James doesn’t tell us to consider it fun but to "consider it all joy." Trials and tests are gut wrenching and drawn out at times, but the one thing that we must know is that God is with us through the whole ordeal.

Opening illustration: After William Carey was well established in his pioneer missionary work in India, his supporters in England sent a printer to assist him. Soon the two men were turning out portions of the Bible for distribution. Carey had spent many years learning the language so that he could ...read more

Scripture: James 1:2-12

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Let Us Rejoice - For He Has Turned Sorrow Into Rejoicing Series

Contributed by Dustin T Parker on May 2, 2010

In view of the cross and resurrection - we have to see it - for us to realize that our sorrow now - is not permanent - but joy-filled

Let us Rejoice - He turns sorrow to Rejoicing Let Us Rejoice, For He has made Sorrow – Dance! John 16:12-22 † IN HIS NAME † May the Grace, the Mercy and Peace that God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ has poured out on you through the Spirit, create is us the ability to rejoice and ...read more

Scripture: John 16:12-22

Denomination: Lutheran