Sermons on Toil And Hardship:

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

The Big Finish Series

Contributed by David Asch on Nov 21, 2005

You never know what circumstance or what person God will use to accomplish something extraordinary…

THE BIG FINISH Ruth 4:13-22 INTRO: At a young age, George Herman Ruth was left at St. Mary’s Industrial School, where he met brother Matthias. It was there that “Babe” Ruth learned about baseball. [Clip from The Babe] You never know what circumstance or what person God will use to accomplish ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 4:13-22

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

When God Is Silent (#6 Of Series On Prayer) Series

Contributed by Rule Digal on Nov 28, 2005

It is because of God’s best intention and purpose that He is sometimes silent in answering our prayers.

WHEN GOD IS SILENT Intro. A. Experience tells us that sometimes God answers our prayer with nothing but silence. It’s undeniable. There are times that we perceived God has deemed to deny us the answer of our prayers. B. Why? What are the reasons behind God’s silence, delay or denial? ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 26:39

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Heartbreak Of Disappointment Series

Contributed by Stephen Colaw on Nov 29, 2005

Part 1 of 3 part series. God will never waste a hurt. He uses the broken heart of disappointment to make us more like Christ and to minister to our world through us

The Heartbreak of Disappointment Scripture: I Corinthians 6:19 Exodus 2 & 3 Theme: Sometimes God allows us to be disappointed so that he can shape us and prepare us for the tasks to which he has called us. Seed: Devotional by Oswald Chambers Purpose: To help the congregation realize that ...read more

Denomination: Wesleyan

The Heartbreak Of Abandonment Series

Contributed by Stephen Colaw on Nov 29, 2005

Part 2 of 3 part series. God will never waste a hurt. When we have been abandoned by everyone else, God remains faithful to us and will use our pain to minister to our world

The Heartbreak of Abandonment Scripture: I Corinthians 6:19, Romans 8:28, Genesis 37, 39-41, 50:20 Theme: Because people are infected with sin, they will fail us and abandon us. But God is unfailing and his love is unchanging. Seed: Personal study Purpose: To help the congregation ...read more

Denomination: Wesleyan

The Heartbreak Of Frustration Series

Contributed by Stephen Colaw on Nov 29, 2005

Part 3 of 3. God will never waste a hurt. When we are frustrated by life we can be encouraged in the knowledge that God will develop our character through our trials and use them so that we may minister in our world

The Heartbreak of Frustration Scripture: I Corinthians 6:19 Theme: When our hearts are broken by frustration, God will use that pain to teach us faithfulness, brokenness and perseverance, shaping us into what he wants us to be so that he can use us for His glory. Seed: Devotional by Oswald ...read more

Denomination: Wesleyan

The Rollercoaster Of Life

Contributed by David Sorn on Dec 1, 2005

When we suffer through trials, we should look for ways we can learn from them and trust that God is in control no matter what the outcome is.

INTRODUCTION One of my biggest worries during my senior year of college was getting a job. It was now time for me to enter the “real-world.” Well actually, I wasn’t going to enter the “real-world.” I was going to Seminary. But nonetheless, I still needed a job to provide for myself and my ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 37:1-36

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Solution To All Our Problems

Contributed by John White on Dec 25, 2006

An appeal for God’s people to turn to Christ as the first and most effective responder to help and heal the trials, troubles and tribulations of life.

The Solution For All Our Problems I Cor. 10:1-13 "Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; And did all eat the same spiritual meat; ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:1-13

Denomination: Baptist

I Shall Come Forth As Gold

Contributed by W. Alderman on Jan 1, 2007

This message shows God’s higher purpose in letting us go through trials...

“I SHALL COME FORTH AS GOLD” Text: Job 23:1-17 ; James 1:2-12 W. Max Alderman Introduction: No one enjoys trials from the human side only, because it goes against our flesh. It is only when you discover that God permits what you experience so that you may “come forth as ...read more

Scripture: Job 23:1-17

Denomination: Baptist