Sermons on Toil And Hardship:

How Do You Find Hope?

Contributed by Carl Allen on Aug 3, 2005

How can we find hope, when the world is falling down around us. Where do we turn to?

"HOW DO YOU FIND HOPE?" PSALMS 62:5-7 I was recently reading an article in the magazine, "In Christianity Today" that caught my interest. The author was recounting an event that recently took place which George Bush Sr. attended in Russia. The author wrote, "As Vice President, George Bush ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 62:5-7

Denomination: Baptist

Where Is God When Trouble Strikes?

Contributed by Ian Lyall on Oct 20, 2005

Trouble strikes us all at times, and often out of the blue. Do we press the panic button, ot trust that God is with us in the storm?

A tale of two acorns: Two acorns fell on the earth. One was in open ground; the other in the middle of a dense forest. The acorn in the open ground produced a sapling as its roots began to grow. For a while the growth was held back as the root system developed going deep into the soil and round ...read more

Scripture: Mark 4:35-41

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Lie: God's Children Are Not Supposed To Feel Pain Series

Contributed by John Raulerson on Oct 20, 2005

We live in a world where people, even Christians, believe they are entitled never to suffer pain. Yet, God uses suffering for His glory.

Series: Lies Satan Tells GOD’S CHILDREN ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO FEEL PAIN 2Corinthians 12:1-10 Clyde Reid says in his book, "Celebrate the Temporary" "One of the most common obstacles to celebrating life fully is our avoidance of pain. We do everything to escape pain. Our culture reinforces ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:1-10

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The God Of All Comfort

Contributed by Robert Brent on Oct 22, 2005

God’s comfort can be a present reality to all who suffer.

“The God Of All Comfort” [2 Corinthians 1:3-7] Everybody likes to be comfortable.... Thermapedic mattress $2500.00.... This book begins with a doxology..... about suffering and comfort. The Greek word rendered comfort/consolation is found 10 times in these verses. The word tribulation thilipsis ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:3-7

Denomination: Pentecostal

Questions, Questions

Contributed by Michael Hopkins on Oct 25, 2005

How do we respond to the questions of life? How did Jesus respond?

It seems that questions fill our daily lives. Everywhere we go, we are confronted by questions. At home it might be very simple things like, “What’s for tea?” or, “When’s Grandma coming?”, “How can I afford it?”, “Who does she think she is?”, “What was that referee doing?”, “Why can’t I have ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 22:34-46

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Does Suffering Mean God Has Abandoned Me? Series

Contributed by Ross Anderson on Oct 25, 2005

Not even the worst afflictions you might face can cancel out God¡¦s purpose or God¡¦s favor in your life.

You might have heard that, on the next to last day of our vacation, Nancy and I were rear-ended as we were pulling off the freeway in San Jose, California. Thankfully we weren¡¦t hurt, but the car was undriveable, and we were 850 miles from home without transportation. For a while we felt not ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:28-39

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Is There Any Comfort In Suffering? Series

Contributed by Ross Anderson on Oct 25, 2005

You can trust God to sustain and encourage you, even in the most severe trial, because that¡¦s the kind of God he is.

Some of you have been through some trials recently. Some of you are going through some deep stuff right now. People have come to you, seeking to comfort you. And sometimes that just doesn¡¦t make you feel any better. When you¡¦re in suffering, it feels like the pressure will never let up. It ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:3-11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Where Can I Find My Strength In Suffering? Series

Contributed by Ross Anderson on Oct 25, 2005

God does not always remove affliction, but uses it to reveal his power as we embrace our weakness.

We’ve been talking this month about suffering, because I know how many of you have been going through difficult things in recent times. (Let me say that if you want a copy of these 7 messages on “Making Sense of Suffering,” sign up on the tape request form on that little desk in the back corner.) ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:1-10

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What Does Suffering Say About God? Series

Contributed by Ross Anderson on Oct 25, 2005

The Bible sees hardship as God¡¦s loving discipline, which, as we submit to it, he uses to produce his character in our lives.

Turn in your Bibles to Hebrews 12. We¡¦ve been talking in recent weeks about suffering, seeking to make sense out of the trials and hardships we go through in life. To start us off, I want you to think about what one couple has gone through¡K Introduction: Video interview with a couple who ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:3-13

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

"Remember The Long Way!"

Contributed by Kevin Smith on Oct 25, 2005

This sermon talks about the importance of not forgetting where we came from...

Deuteronomy 8:1-10, 18-20 Awww come on and praise the Lord up in this house. God bless you as you are seated in the presence of the Lord. Ushers you may admit the door and let the worshippers in. Amen. This chapter of Deuteronomy is a powerful piece, and it’s pregnant with possibility. That’s why ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 8:1-20

Denomination: Pentecostal

Shake That Ole Snake Off Into The Fire!

Contributed by Val Black on Oct 27, 2005

Spiritual vipers often appear out of the fires of life.

SHAKE OFF THAT OLE SNAKE INTO THE FIRE I. Background: The religious Jews (Pharisees & Sadducees) want to kill Paul. Paul goes to the Temple in Jerusalem and is recognized by the Pharisees. They start to beat Paul but he is rescued by Roman soldiers. Paul gives a defense before the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 8:1-6

Denomination: Charismatic

A Temporary Sanity

Contributed by David Eden on Oct 28, 2005

Tragedy brings out eternal truth & character that will fade if not nurtured.

A Temporary Sanity by David Eden “God whispers to us in our pleasure, but screams to us in our pain.” -C.S. Lewis Isn’t it amazing how tragedy can awake you out of your sleepy life? Suddenly, for a few intense moments, eternity invades time and life becomes clear. Terrorists attack ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:20

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

How (Questions In The Aftermath Of Hurricane Katrina)

Contributed by Chris Tiller on Oct 30, 2005

How could God have let this happen? How can we speak to God of what has happened? How can we respond to the need before us?

Lamentations 2:11-13, 18-19; 3:19-23, 40-42, 46-57 The Lamentations were written by someone, probably Jeremiah, who observed the devastation of Jerusalem following the Babylonian invasion in 586 BC. Jerusalem was literally leveled. The temple was destroyed. Anybody who was anybody was carried ...read more

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

When The Going Gets Rough

Contributed by Brian La Croix on Nov 13, 2005

Message for the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church.

When the Going Gets Rough... Various Scriptures November 13, 2005 Introduction I’m going to start off a bit differently than normal, and I’m going to ask you to just hang with me, okay? In fact, the bulk of this message will be a little different than normal, okay? When I was in college back ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:12, Proverbs 8:12

Denomination: Wesleyan

Getting The Lucky Breaks Series

Contributed by David Asch on Nov 21, 2005

In this message we discover how we can experience God’s favor in our lives, as we continue in the book of Ruth.

GETTING THE LUCKY BREAKS... Ruth 2:1-23 INTRO: Some people put a lot of stock in “luck.” That explains why I always get stuck in line paying for gas behind someone buying lottery tickets. Last week, the Kentucky Derby – “The most exciting two minutes in sports.” Trust me, the excitement has ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 2:1-23

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational