Sermons on The Enigma Of Suffering:

Mountains God Calls Us To Climb

Contributed by John Gaston on Oct 1, 2020

God calls us to climb Mt Ararat (God in your trials); Mt Moriah (surrender); Mt Sinai (new revelation of God); Mt Pisgah (visions of what to possess); & Mt Calvary (sharing in Jesus' suffering). Will you grow?

MOUNTAINS GOD CALLS US TO CLIMB INTRODUCTION A. HUMOR: CHATTER BOX 1. Have you ever known someone who talked non-stop? Like, they didn’t even seem to stop to take a breath? 2. A man named Sam had a wife like that. If you got on the phone it was at least an hour. She ended up injuring her jaw ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 8:1-4, Exodus 19:17, Deuteronomy 3:27, Luke 23:33

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Pain, Perseverance, And Pure Joy - James 1:2-4 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Oct 13, 2020

When James commands us to consider it pure joy when we suffer, does that mean we are to pretend we are happy when we aren’t?

James 1:2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. Introduction: Perseverance Years ago ...read more

Scripture: James 1:2-4

Be Fruitful And Multiply And Fill The Earth

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Oct 2, 2024

What God doesn’t tell the man and woman is the definition of “fill the earth.” We can infer that He will let us know when the earth is full.

Twenty-Seventh Sunday in Course 2024 What a timely set of readings are offered to the Church today, in the midst of a Western cultural breakdown, international wars, and an epically contentious national election in the U.S. Genesis had, in chapter one, recorded God’s first commandment, ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 2:9-11, Mark 10:2-16, Psalm 128:1-6, Genesis 2:18-24, Genesis 1:26-28  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Catholic

How We Love His Promise Series

Contributed by John Dobbs on Mar 3, 2022

He keeps his promises, He answers prayers, he solves problems. But in our experience, there have been times when we weren’t sure about these things. Have you ever wondered, when things go wrong in life, if you can count on God?

How We Love His Promise John 11:17-44 Introduction Adrian Rogers said, “There is no promise God cannot keep, no prayer God will not answer, and no problem too hard for Him to solve.” That is a great expression of the life of faith in God. He keeps his promises, He answers prayers, he solves ...read more

Scripture: John 11:1-44

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Joy And Pain

Contributed by Joe Dan Vendelin on Feb 14, 2024

How are your current trials (pain) preparing you for not only what you need today (or tomorrow), but what others may need today (or tomorrow) as well? This is a quick devotional that will encourage believers to "reframe" their pain.

Joy and Pain What do the words joy and pain mean to us as believers? How is it that these words go together? James 1 is a place to start in considering these questions. “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know ...read more

Scripture: James 1:2-3, Galatians 6:2, Romans 8:28

Count The Cost Series

Contributed by Jefferson Williams on May 9, 2022

Paul's Attitude, Paul's Charge, Paul's Purpose, Paul's Energy

Above All: A Study in Colossians Colossians 1:24-29 Pastor Jefferson M. Williams Chenoa Baptist Church 5-08-2022 Freedom! [Brave Heart Clip 3:50 - 5:50] On August 23, 1305 William Wallace was arrested and tried, he was stripped naked, dragged through the streets, hung until he almost died. ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 1:24-29

Denomination: Baptist

Making The Jail House Rock

Contributed by Mark A. Barber on May 25, 2022

God needs to shake things up in the church and free us from our self-imprisonment.

Making the Jail House Rock Acts 16:16-34 The text we read this morning has been a popular one for Vacation Bible Schools for many years. The cardboard props of the wall of the jail house and the barred windows has “imprisoned” many a child or saint in the skit. someone pulls the string, and the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:16-34

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Making Sense Of Life Prt 1- The Problem Of Evil

Contributed by Brian Williams on Aug 14, 2023

The existence of evil is one of the most vexing challenges a Christian—or any person for that matter, must grapple with.

Making Sense of Life The Problem of Evil - Part 1 13 Aug 2023 When trying to reconcile the existence of a good and all-powerful God and the problem of evil, it can be a difficult conversation. One doesn’t need a Ph.D. in theology or philosophy to realize something is desperately wrong with the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 13:1-5

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Can You Live However You Want, And Still End Up With Jesus? (Revelation 14:6-20) Series

Contributed by Garrett Tyson on Sep 13, 2023

Ch. 14 gives three pictures, rooted in OT thought, of what God's wrath is like. All are (arguably) symbolic, but all are something to be avoided. An encouragement to be faithful, and endure suffering.

Can you live however you want, once saved? (Revelation 14:1-20) One of the main themes in the book of Revelation that we've seen, especially in the last few weeks, is that the church will suffer on earth. Revelation has described this suffering using a number of different images, and symbols. ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 14:1-20, Jeremiah 51:6-10, Genesis 19:24-29, Isaiah 63:1-6

The Best Is Yet To Come

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Sep 14, 2023

However, we may not even see a glimpse in this life. We may have to go through what seems like Hell on the way to Heaven.

Everyone likes to use the phrase the best is yet to come. If you are not a Christian the worst is yet to come. Your life may be golden here, but in the end your life will be Hell for eternity. Indeed, the best for a Christian is to be in Heaven so the best is yet to come. However, that does not ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 73:1-28, 2 Timothy 3:12, Philippians 1:29-30, Hebrews 11:35-40, 2 Corinthians 11:1-33  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

The God Of All Comfort

Contributed by Darian Catron on Jul 30, 2022

We all go through difficulties, but do we depend on God for strength, comfort, and peace through our difficulties? Is He for us the "Father of compassion" and the "God of all comfort"?

The God of All Comfort God comforts us in our trouble so that we can bring the love of God and comfort others. 1 Corinthians 1:3-4 Illustration A very common story, that I'm sure just about every person in this room can understand... A young child is playing with his friends at the park on ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:3-11

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

M16: Reaction To The Reaction Series

Contributed by Troy Borst on Jul 9, 2024

May we remember the seriousness of the suffering of Jesus. May we invite God into our reactions to others. May we take seriously the call to surrender to Jesus.

M16: REACTION TO THE REACTION MATTHEW 16:21-23 #m16sermons READ MATTHEW 16:21-23 (ESV) From that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. 22 And Peter ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:21-23

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Lord, Why Do This To Us?

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Sep 11, 2024

Here’s an answer that relies on the everlasting good that came from the murder of Jesus Christ.

Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Course 2024 As our prayer group looked at the Scriptures we have just heard, one member asked, “Isn’t this Isaiah reading something from Good Friday?” And she was right. This is one of Isaiah’s “Servant songs” describing what we know as the prophesied sufferings of the ...read more

Scripture: James 2:14-18, Mark 8:27-35, Psalm 116:1-9, Isaiah 50:5-9, Luke 23:34, 1 Corinthians 15:44  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Catholic

"Peter, Feed My Sheep” (10 Of 21)

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Mar 11, 2022

God told Peter "feed" my "sheep".

Every Pastor has to always remember the sheep belong to the Lord. The Lord said to Peter, “Feed MY sheep.” The Pastor has been entrusted to feed God’s sheep. One day he will have to give account to God for what he fed them. In chapters 4 & 5, Peter FED them some spiritual food they may not ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

Famous Last Words On Witnessing Series

Contributed by Davon Huss on Jun 3, 2024

1). We are to witness from God's Word. 2). Witness through hard suffering. 3). Witness with great urgency. (Material adapted from Matt Proctor's book called "Victorious", chapter 8 "Bear Witness Boldly")

HoHum: We are uncomfortable with the word witness- mainly because there is another group out there who has overtaken the word. They are the same group who claim to be the 144,000 talked about in chapter 7 of Revelation. Much of that group’s theology comes from misunderstandings of the end times, ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 10:9-11, Revelation 11:3-12

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ