Sermons on The Way Of Suffering:

What Are You Doing Here?

Contributed by Matt Hoffmann on Jun 29, 2010

Sometimes God doesn't make sense, sometimes he even makes us angry. But we have a God who loves us in the midst of our feelings of loss, or anger, or confusion.

I Kings 19:9-21 “What are you doing here?” When it comes to things God might say to me, I can’t think of too many things I would like to hear less. When I finally get to heaven and look at the face of God and hear, “What are you doing here, Matt?” YIKES! ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 19:9-21

Denomination: Lutheran

Turing Trials Into Triumphs Series

Contributed by David Owens on Jun 7, 2021

The first subject that James addresses in his letter is how to face our trials. His suggestion is shocking: we should welcome our trials with joy. But his reason for the suggestion makes sense when you understand things from God's perspective.

A. In Max Lucado’s book, In The Eye Of The Storm, he tells a story about a parakeet named Chippie. 1. Chippie the parakeet never saw it coming -one second he was peacefully perched in his cage, and the next he was sucked in, washed up and blown over. 2. The problem began when Chippie’s owner ...read more

Scripture: James 1:2-4, Job 5:7, Job 23:10

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Better Than Anything - Philippians 3:7-9 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Feb 3, 2022

Why is it so evil for a person to try to make himself righteous?

Philippians 3:7 But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them filth, that I may gain Christ 9 and be ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:7-9

Trust Me

Contributed by Bill Sullivan on May 4, 2011

God’s answer to all of life’s challenges is the same: Trust Me - an exposition of Isaiah 40

Trust Me TCF Sermon May 1, 2011 Sometimes, reading the newspaper can be entertaining. How about these headlines? • 4-H Girls Win Prizes for Fat Calves • After Detour to California Shuttle Returns to Earth • Astronaut Takes Blame for Gas in Spacecraft • Hospitals are Sued by 7 Foot Doctors ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 40:1-31

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Job Series

Contributed by Ricky Nelms on Jul 29, 2010

This is the 8th sermon on Bible Characters and this one is on Job. Outline is 1-Job's Identity, 2-Job's Adversary, 3-Job's Agony, 4-Job's Recovery.

CLOSE ENCOUNTERS SERIES 8 – JOB This morning, we are continuing with our sermon series, entitled, CLOSE ENCOUNTERS And we’ve been talking about the fact that if there’s ever been a time for us to have close encounters, it’s now And we’re going to be preaching on ...read more

Scripture: Job 42:12

Denomination: Pentecostal

Not Everything Is As It Seems

Contributed by Aaron Holbrough on Jul 13, 2011

Jesus meets a sick man, and Jesus question to him seems odd - "do you want to get better?" But sometimes what we want and what we need are two different things.

Not everything is as it Seems. John 5:1-15 Jesus is heading up to Jerusalem for a Feast of the Jews (doesn’t say which one) On his way he passed by pool that in Aramaic is called Bethesda archeology has uncovered these pools and they had colonnades or covered parts and the invalid and ...read more

Scripture: John 5:1-15

Denomination: Mennonite

Lord Build Me Through Struggles Series

Contributed by Justin Steckbauer on Apr 2, 2021

The book of James is on fire to me whenever I study it. It bursts forth with life, with the Holy Spirit of God these words are mighty and intense, and raw, and brutal. The book of James is written to the lost twelve tribes of Israel, as they are scattered and persecuted in the nations.

The book of James is on fire to me whenever I study it. It bursts forth with life, with the Holy Spirit of God these words are mighty and intense, and raw, and brutal. The book of James is written to the lost twelve tribes of Israel, as they are scattered and persecuted in the nations. They’ve lost ...read more

Denomination: Salvation Army

The Beginning Of… Pain Series

Contributed by Glenn Durham on Apr 20, 2010

God curses the universe for our rebellion, but in discipline there is hope.

Scripture Introduction In certain segments of Jewish culture, there is a way of pretending to say something nice, then adding a twist that turns it into a curse. Alan King lists a number of these in his Great Jewish Joke Book: • May you inherit a hotel and die in every room. • May ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 3:16-24

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Grace, Glory Fand Guts Part Ii

Contributed by Monty Newton on Jun 4, 2013

We can be happy/joyful because our home comes from peace with and privilege of experiencing the presence of God... and that's good because life is full of character building adversity.

Title: Grace, Glory and Guts Part II Text: Romans 5:1-5 Thesis: We can be joyful/happy because our hope comes through peace with God and that’s good because life is full of character building adversity. Introduction Last Sunday I told the story about a farmer whose donkey fell into an ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:3-5

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

"I Know What You Are Going Through…"

Contributed by Hans Krause on Oct 22, 2018

Too easily, we try to comfort people in sorrow and pain, saying that we know what they are going through. The fact is that mostly we don't. But Jesus knows what we are going through, because he has been there. What does that imply for us?

[Sermon preached on 18 February 2018, 1st Sunday in Lent / 3rd year, ELCF Lectionary] I was still a student when we gathered with a group of theological students for a training seminar on pastoral counseling. One of the members shared some of her childhood experiences that had recently come to the ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 2:17-18, Mark 1:12-13

Denomination: Lutheran

2nd Corinthians Series

Contributed by Roshelle Brenneise on Nov 20, 2021

Paul would go anywhere - endure anything -for the hope of winning one person to Jesus and he believed the eternal reward completely exceeded anything he had to suffer here on earth

November 20, 2021 2nd Corinthians differs from 1st Corinthians in that it deals with personal attacks leveled at Paul rather than doctrinal issues. Around 56/57 AD, Paul was in Macedonia when Titus finally brought word regarding the church in Corinth. Good News!! The Corinthian believers ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:6-18, 2 Corinthians 1:8-10, 2 Corinthians 6:3-10, 2 Corinthians 7:2-4

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

God Vs. Pharaoh, Round 1 (Exodus 5:1-23) Series

Contributed by Garrett Tyson on Nov 30, 2021

Pharaoh seemingly wins round 1. And Moses challenges God about this, and calls on Him to fix that.

This morning, we find ourselves working in Exodus 5. Before we jump in, I just want to help you in two different ways. First, one of the things I have to do, for biblical stories to hit me the way they should, is try to put myself in the shoes of people involved in the story. And I assume you ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 5:1-23

No Servant Is Greater Than His Master

Contributed by Paul Estabrooks on Oct 24, 2012

There are severe forms of persecution, and less severe; but there is no such thing as a non-persecuted Christian!

Introduction Jesus promised his disciples the night before he was crucified that their lot was to be no different than His. Jesus said: “No servant is greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also!” Persecution Is on the Rise The Pew Research ...read more

Scripture: John 15:9-21

Denomination: *other

Everyone Needs Encouragement

Contributed by Paul Estabrooks on Oct 24, 2012

Everyone needs encouragement—even the seemingly strong and mature—but especially those who suffer.

Today, in honor of International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church, we will stand and kneel with our brothers and sisters in Christ who share our faith but not our freedom. Second Timothy is the Apostle Paul’s final written communication before his death. He was chained to a soldier ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:15-18

Denomination: *other

Why Do Bad Things Happen To Good People – Why Do Christians Suffer?

Contributed by David Leach on May 31, 2014

Who is good? You and I may have an opinion as to who is - God says only He is good

Who is good? You and I may have an opinion as to who is - God says only He is good: Matt 19:17 (Jesus) ...No one is good but One, that is, God...(and those He rules in) Matt 7:18 (Jesus) A good tree (God) cannot bear bad fruit...(He can’t do bad things) 1 Jo 1:5 ...God is light and in Him ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational