Sermons on The Enigma Of Suffering:

From Pain To Ministry Series

Contributed by Shaila Touchton on Mar 27, 2025

In this sermon, we'll explore why and how our past struggles can qualify us for service.

The Bible teaches that our painful experiences can be a catalyst for ministry. In this sermon, we'll explore why and how our past struggles can qualify us for service. Reason 1: Empathy and Compassion Those who have experienced pain and hardship can empathize with others who are going through ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, Romans 5:3-5

Part 20: How To Have God's Peace In Horrible Times Series

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Mar 27, 2025

1. Rush to the Lord for refuge (vs. 1-3, 5). 2. Rejoice in the Lord (vs. 4). 3. Roll your cares on to the Lord (vs. 5). 4. Receive the Lord's righteousness (vs. 5-6). 5. Rest in the Lord (vs. 7-11).

Great Prayers of the Old Testament Part 20: How to Have God's Peace in Horrible Times Psalm 37:1-11 Sermon by Rick Crandall (Grayson Baptist Church - November 7, 2012) (Revised March 27, 2025) BACKGROUND: *Anyone who has read a good portion of God's Word knows that there are a lot of ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 37:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

No! Not That! (Habakkuk) Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Jun 19, 2025

When God baffles you, trust Him, Fear Him, and Praise Him.

Jill Briscoe, a pastor’s wife and author, talks about babysitting one of their three, 3-year-old grandchildren several years ago. In their family, they had twins and a single birth all within 24 hours. They called them Search, Destroy, and Demolition. She was babysitting Demolition. As Jill waved ...read more

Scripture: Habakkuk 1:1-17, Habakkuk 2:1-20, Habakkuk 3:1-19, 1 Peter 2:23

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Part 15: The Lord's Prayer From The Cross Series

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Dec 31, 2024

We see Jesus... 1. Wondering about injustice (vs. 1-3). 2. In a wonderful relationship with the Father (vs. 9-10). 3. Willing to suffer (vs. 4-8, 11-18). 4. Winning the victory (vs. 19-22). 5. Worthy of our praise (vs. 23-26). 6. Ruling the world forever (vs. 27-31).

Great Prayers of the Old Testament Part 14: The Lord's Prayer from the Cross Psalm 22:1-31 (Initial reading: vs. 1-10) Sermon by Rick Crandall (Prepared December 31, 2024) MESSAGE: *Church: God is bigger, better, stronger and more glorious than we can possibly imagine. In Isaiah 66:1, ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 22:1-31

Denomination: Baptist

Endurance Through Trials: Transformed By God's Purpose - Romans 5:3-4 Series

Contributed by Dean Courtier on Nov 5, 2024

Romans 5:3-4 reveals a powerful truth, teaching us that our trials are not in vain. Instead, they serve a greater purpose, moulding us and shaping us into people of character and hope.

Endurance Through Trials: Transformed by God's Purpose - Romans 5:3-4 Introduction: The Purpose in Our Pain Today, we’re going to talk about something that each of us encounters in life: trials and hardships. But we’ll go beyond discussing the pain itself; we’ll explore the purpose that God ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:3-4, James 1:2-4, 1 Peter 1:6-7, Job 23:10, Hebrews 6:19  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

Behold The Servant-King: Following Jesus Through The Prophecies Of Isaiah Series

Contributed by Dean Courtier on Jan 7, 2026

Seven hundred years before Bethlehem. Seven centuries before a manger, a cross, and an empty tomb. God was already preaching the Gospel. The book of Isaiah is not merely ancient poetry or distant prophecy—it is a Spirit-breathed portrait of Jesus Christ.

Behold the Servant-King: Following Jesus Through the Prophecies of Isaiah Introduction: Seeing Jesus Before He Was Seen Church, disciples of Jesus Christ, today we stand on holy ground. Seven hundred years before Bethlehem. Seven centuries before a manger, a cross, and an empty tomb. God was ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 7:14, Isaiah 9:6, Isaiah 52:13-15, Isaiah 53:1-12, Matthew 1:22-23, Luke 1:32-33, Philippians 2:6-11, 1 Peter 2:24, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Acts 8:32-35, Numbers 6:24-26  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

Parables Of The Kingdom – The Second – The Wheat And The Tares – Part 2 Of 2 Series

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Aug 3, 2025

The tares are still alive today with growing false doctrine and practices. At the end of the age they are taken away to leave the righteous for the Kingdom on earth. There is a lot of application to Israel here in the Tribulation and after. The church at Smyrna is also considered.

PARABLES OF THE KINGDOM – THE SECOND – THE WHEAT AND THE TARES – Part 2 of 2 In this Part 2 of the Parable of the Wheat and the Tares, we will concentrate on the prophetic side of the Parable and take a look at the church at Smyrna. Let us revise the scripture again – FROM MATTHEW – {{Matthew ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:24-30, Matthew 13:29-30, Matthew 13:36, Matthew 13:37-39, Matthew 13:40-42, Revelation 20:14, Matthew 13:43, Matthew 24:3, Matthew 24:14, Revelation 21:1, Matthew 12:39, Matthew 24:37-42, Matthew 25:31-34, Matthew 25:41, Matthew 25:35-40, Isaiah 11:9, Revelation 2:8-9, Revelation 2:10-11  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Is Your Life In The Cross

Contributed by John Baggett on Jul 2, 2003

This sermon takes the four letters of LIFE and uses each one to call us to a deeper commitment in our relationship with Christ. Each directive are reflections that come straight from the cross. Love - Invitation of Suffering - Forgiveness - Eternal Life

* Is Your Life In The Cross 1 Cor 1:18 I look back on a year gone by and I look forward to the days ahead and then ....I look again.... at the cross. I am convinced the two most important questions I can ask people are these (1) Do you know Jesus as your ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:18

Denomination: Baptist

Who Dares To Question The Lord

Contributed by Gregg Bitter on Jul 12, 2003

A first-person narrative. When in our suffering we challenge the Lord like Job did, he works repentance in us so that we stand dumbfounded at his wisdom and power and stand astounded at his promise of grace.

Who Dares to Question the Lord Good Morning. I thank you for this opportunity to speak to you. My name is Job. I realize that because of the way it is spelled in English, you would usually pronounce it “job.” But it is Job. Please allow me to give you a little bit of background about myself. I ...read more

Scripture: Job 38:1-11, Job 19:25

Denomination: Lutheran

Can Your Church Work With Alcohol Effected Youth And Adults

Contributed by Bruce Landry on Apr 2, 2002

A look at our roles as ministers to the large number of people in our churches and societies that suffer from this phenomenon known as Fetal Alcohol Syndrome/Fetal Alcohol Effect and by the broader term Alcohol Related Neurological Birth Defects ARND.

Can Your Church work with Alcohol Related Neurological Birth Defected Adolescents and Adults Dealing with Difficult People By: Bruce Landry I. What Are the Issues of Alcohol Related Birth Defects The issues that are relevant to children and adults who are born and are living daily with ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

How The Holy Spirit Helps Us Cope With Pain Using Godly Distractions

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Oct 18, 2000

The Holy Spirit gives us supernatural empowerment to cope with our suffering. Paul wrote, "Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in ha

1. The Holy Spirit helps us to set our minds on things above rather than on things that bother us. Paul wrote, "Since, then you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things." ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 6:4-10

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Jesus The Light Of The World

Contributed by Chris Appleby on Feb 7, 2005

Jesus came as a light to lighten the nations, he called people to be a church who would continue to share the good news with others, and his coming was accompanied by miraculous events that heralded the end to all suffering and the creation of a new heave

One of the things I hate is turning on the TV just after a movie or a weekly drama has started, so I’ve missed those opening few scenes where the story is set up, where perhaps the main characters are introduced; where the crime is committed or the tensions between characters is highlighted. If you ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:12-25

Denomination: Anglican

0600 Ascension Series

Contributed by Mark Woolsey on Aug 16, 2005

This is in some sense the zenith of His ministry, the high point and culmination of all His work on earth. All that’s recorded in the gospels, His teaching, miracles, suffering, death, and resurrection are simply preparation, a means to an end, that lead

Sermon: Ascension Text: Luke 24:49-53, Acts 1:1-11 Occasion: Sunday after Ascension Who: Mark Woolsey Where: Arbor House When: Sunday, May 23, 2004 Where: TI, morning prayer When: Friday, May 13, 2005 Where: Providence REC When: Sunday, May 15, 2005 May the words of my mouth and the meditation ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:49-53

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

The Marks Of Maturity: A Leadership Checklist Series

Contributed by Larry Osborne on Jun 13, 2007

Spiritual growth and maturity is often accelerated under difficult circumstances. In Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians (see 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10), he describes what spiritual growth looks like in the midst of “severe suffering.”

1 Timothy: Doing Church God’s Way North Coast Church Message #4 July 29-30, 2006 Dr. Larry Osborne The Marks of ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 3:1-16

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Are We Following Jesus Or Not?

Contributed by Warner Pidgeon on Oct 4, 2006

Jesus was on the road to the cross with all that came with it - rejection and suffering. His call to follow him is absolute and he calls us to 100% commitment. This short sermon challenges us to follow him in everything we do, all of the time.

Luke 9: 57-62 Have you ever been quoted out of context? Have you ever been misunderstood? Jesus was often misunderstood, and when we hear these shocking words from the life of Jesus we are reminded that following him requires us to always follow, and not to dip in and out of following him. If I ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:57-62

Denomination: Anglican