Sermons on The Enigma Of Suffering:

Ready To Suffer Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Jul 15, 2011

If we want to be ready to suffer for Christ, we must arm ourselves with His attitude, choose to abandon our sin, expect abuse, and anticipate God's approval.

Recently, I read about a fictitious manual for Peace Corp volunteers headed for South America. It offers advice on how to handle a chance encounter with an anaconda (a large type of boa constrictor). The advice comes under the heading, “What to Do If Attacked by an Anaconda”: #1) If ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:1-6

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Glory In Suffering Series

Contributed by Mark Armstrong on Jul 24, 2011

The servant who suffered for his people.

Here’s some INTERESTING advice to parents, ‘People get very upset by the idea that their children might have to suffer. Well, why? […] are you having children? You want them to be Christians, don’t you? If they are going to be Christians, they are going to suffer. That is ...read more

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Value Of Suffering Series

Contributed by Guy Mcgraw on Jan 16, 2012

What if I told you that for you to suffer and be uncomfortable was an important part of God’s will for your life? The more that we avoid it, build barriers to protect ourselves from it and invent theology to condemn it the more we miss out on becoming us

1972: Former pastor of mine stood at airport waiting for an evangelist to arrive. It was Tuesday and the revival had begun the past Sunday morning. The evangelist had been too sick to make the trip but now was arriving. Two flight attendants helped him that the music evangelist and pastor Tom ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:3-11

The Suffering Servant Series

Contributed by Michael Luke on Apr 9, 2010

A look at the events leading to the cross.

SERIES: WALKING WITH JESUS “THE SUFFERING SERVANT” MARK 14:1-15:20 OPEN On D-Day, June 6, 1944, Winston Churchill had an over-arching desire to watch the invasion from the bridge of a battleship in the English Channel. Supreme Allied Commander Dwight D, Eisenhower was just as ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Vision Of Suffering Series

Contributed by Jason Jones on Apr 19, 2010

Exposition of Daniel 8 about the suffering that God would ordain for Israel

Text: Daniel 8:1-27, Title: A Vision of Suffering, Date/Place: NRBC, 4/11/10, AM A. Opening illustration: talk about Obama’s presidential election as a chastisement from God upon a sleepy lethargic church in America deep in self-centeredness and failure in the kingdom agenda B. Background to ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 8:1-27

Denomination: Baptist

Sufferings Invitation Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Mar 5, 2011

Adam and Eve invited suffering into the world. By disobeying God's direct command to not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil they asked for discipline from God. The discipline "I will greatly multiply your pain." Both for woman and man.

Intro: Gianna Jensen is a survivor of a later term abortion. Her mother was in the third trimester of pregnancy when a saline abortion was performed. Through the grace of God she survived and was taken at 2lbs to a hospital and an incubator. Because of this botched abortion she was not supposed ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 3:1-17

Denomination: Baptist

The Suffering Church Series

Contributed by Jeff Such on Mar 7, 2011

A closer look at the 7 Churches found in the Book of Revelation and what it means for the church today.

The Suffering Church The 7 Churches of Revelation January 22nd & 23rd Today we continue our series on the 7 Churches of Revelation. Let’s look at Christ’s message to the church at Smyrna. Background: The Smyrna church was 40 miles north of Ephesus. It was called a city of rare ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:8-11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Growth In Suffering Series

Contributed by Warner Pidgeon on Mar 10, 2011

The Early Church experienced growth in numbers, and growth in depth and growth in community. It also experienced a growth in suffering. Jesus said blessed are those who suffer and are persecuted because of him! This talk encourages the church to proclaim

Although I’ve only seen part of it on YouTube there is a humbling episode from the 1961 British film called, ‘Whistle down the Wind’. A group of Lancashire children have experienced the death of a kitten. They had prayed fervently that the little cat would get well, but instead it died. They ...read more

Scripture: Acts 4:1-32

Denomination: Anglican

Sufferings Purpose Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Mar 12, 2011

Is there a purpose in suffering? The earthquake and subsequent tsunami make us ask many questions especially if we have not trusted Jesus. Suffering reveals the good that we ignore before disaster. Suffeing calls us to examine the shortness of our life

Intro: Just three weeks ago we began the suffering portion of this study called incarnate. Today as we draw to a close on our teaching of suffering it is in the face of large scale disaster in Japan that will cause an extended period of suffering for many. If you remember we talked about the ...read more

Scripture: Job 36:15, Job 36:15-16

Denomination: Baptist

Why Suffering Series

Contributed by Chris Appleby on Jul 5, 2010

How can we explain the existence of suffering in a world made by a loving and omnipotent God?

This is a series based on and heavily dependent on Timothy Keller’s Best Seller "The Reason For God" for which I’m deeply grateful. It uses much of his argument though with various additions by myself or the other preachers of the series. Why do bad things happen to good people? Why ...read more

Denomination: Anglican

Long-Suffering Series

Contributed by Aaron Johnson on Jul 19, 2010

To reflect God's patience toward others, we must first cease taking advantage of His patience toward us.

Intro. Gal. 5:16-25 - Flesh and fruit (Spirit) are opposed to each other (v. 16-18) - Things of the flesh (v. 19-21); death; will not inherit Kingdom - Fruit of the Spirit (v. 22); life; reflected when we bathe in the Son RECAP (past weeks) [ILL. Disney world, tries your patience, different ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Called To Suffer Series

Contributed by Gary Stebbins on Sep 2, 2008

Jesus presents a clear description of what it is followers are to be like internally and how they are to live outwardly in the Sermon on the Mount

Continue series on SOTM- Mtt 5-7- Called to Suffer. SOTM begins w/beatitudes-last time-looked at 1st four Lets review the beatitudes (slide for each one) Clarify something I said about the 3rd beatitude- Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth. V5 Talked about- individually, we ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:7-12

Denomination: Charismatic

The Value Of Suffering

Contributed by Carl Allen on Sep 23, 2008

Everyone goes through struggles in life’s journey and everyone has an option on how to view that struggle. We can take it as a time to wreck us or as a time to look to the Word of God and lean on God to pull us through.

Value of Suffering Psalm 22:1-31 Intro The background of Psalm 22 is some event or series of events in David’s life when he went through much opposition and physical abuse. While suffering on the cross, Jesus quoted part of the first verse. He may have quoted all of it but was so weak the crowd ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 22:1-31

Denomination: Baptist

Suffering For Christ Series

Contributed by Rickey Bennett on Aug 16, 2009

All suffering that a believer endures in the path of obedience is suffering for Christ and with Christ.

INTRODUCTION Main emphasis: We should see all the hardship and suffering that comes to us in life as something that God brings to us to do us good, strengthening our trust in him and our obedience, and ultimately increasing our ability to glorify him. It seems to me that the suffering which God ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 1:24-26

Denomination: *other

Unjust Suffering Series

Contributed by Steve Shepherd on Aug 23, 2009

In our text, Peter spells out the good and the bad of unjust suffering. 1- Unjust suffering is conferred on all 2- Unjust suffering is commended by God 3- Unjust suffering is Christ-likeness

INTRO.- ILL.- An 84 year old man went to the doctor for a physical. A few days later the doctor saw him walking down the street with a gorgeous young woman on his arm. The next time the doctor saw him he asked how he was doing. "Great," said the old guy. "I did just what you told me. ’Get a ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:18-25

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ