Sermons on Tragedies:

The Death Of A King And The Cost Of Disobedience (1 Samuel 31:1-13)

Contributed by Donald Whitchard on Sep 26, 2024

Saul, the first king of Israel, had been a good and godly man at the beginning of his reign, but his rejection of God's plans for his life and his refusal to walk with the LORD brought about his inevitable downfall and demise.

1 Samuel 31 records the death of King Saul and his three sons, including the man who was David's dearest friend, Prince Jonathan. When David heard of Saul's death at the hand of Israel's bitter enemy, the Philistines, there was no joy in his soul nor sense of relief from having been ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 31:1-13, 2 Samuel 1:17-27, Ezekiel 33:11, Hebrews 9:27, 2 Samuel 14:14  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Triumph Over Trials Sermon I: The Why Of Suffering Series

Contributed by Charles Cunningham on May 13, 2020

In times like these, suffering persists to the extent that we naturally ask why, so we turn for answers not to a politician, not to a physician, not to an attorney - we turn to the man who suffered for righteousness' sake.

IN TIMES LIKE THESE --- SUFFERING PERSISTS TO THE EXTENT THAT WE NATURALLY ASK WHY Soon after we were born into this world and began to take notice of all our surroundings we began to ask a toddler’s most irksome question: Why? Over and over again! No answer sufficed. ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:18-25

Triumph Over Trials Sermon Ii: For Making Things Better, God's Way Is Sure Series

Contributed by Charles Cunningham on May 13, 2020

In times like these, when folks are searching for answers to their frustrations and for a way out of the wilderness of despair, God's way is sure for making things better both now and forever.

IN TIMES LIKE THESE: FOR MAKING THINGS BETTER, NOW AND FOREVER, GOD’S WAY IS SURE After their fall from a state of perfection, with all the good things that go with living in paradise, God pronounced judgment on mankind --- Adam and Eve: “In sorrow thou shalt”. God did not, ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 58:6-7

Triumph Over Trials Sermon Iii: View Suffering As Inevitable But Redeemable Series

Contributed by Charles Cunningham on May 13, 2020

In times like these, when awareness of the inevitability of suffering gives rise to questions and doubts, mature Christians rely on the Word of God and reflect upon personal experiences of trusting God in and through it all.

MATURE CHRISTIANS VIEW SUFFERING AS INEVITABLE BUT REDEEMABLE Talking to myself this past week, a question posed by many kept surfacing in my mind: “Why am I Suffering”? The answer I gave to myself was, “I am not suffering”. My motto could very well be ...read more

Scripture: John 9:1-5, Job 11:13-16, Job 23:8-12

Triumph Over Trials Sermon Iv: Inexplainable Suffering Is Redeemable Series

Contributed by Charles Cunningham on May 13, 2020

In times like these, when answers are hard to come by and the extremity of pessimism has been reached, mature Christians renew confidence in the Lord God Almighty to redeem that which at the moment begs to be explained.

CHRISTIANS CAN BE CONFIDENT THAT INEXPLAINABLE SUFFERING IS REDEEMABLE Nothing hurts worse than the emotional experience of watching a child suffer . . . “being there” for someone whose loved one has committed suicide . . . holding the hand of a dying person ...read more

Scripture: Job 40:1-8, Job 42:1-6, Job 19:25

Triumph Over Trials Sermon V: Suffering By God's Servant For Our Redemption Series

Contributed by Charles Cunningham on May 13, 2020

In times like these, when folks are looking for someone who will give them hope, mature Christians look to the Lord God whose love and mercy are well known and whose redemption from their sufferings they can count on.

SUFFERING BY GOD’S SERVANT FOR OUR REDEMPTION - PROPHESIED AND EXPLAINED In the classic, “Alice in Wonderland”, the king says to the rabbit, “Begin at the beginning, and go on until you come to the end, then stop.” In our quest for answers to questions ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 53:2-12

Triumph Over Trials Sermon Vi: Take Refuge In The Comfort Of God Series

Contributed by Charles Cunningham on May 13, 2020

In times like these, when troubles overwhelm and even Christians find themselves at their wits' end, mature Christians decide to look upon their extremity as an opportunity to renew their trust in the Lord as their refuge.

WHEN TROUBLES OVERWHELM, CHRISTIANS TAKE REFUGE IN THE COMFORT OF GOD Perhaps you’ve heard it said, or you yourself have said, “I’m at my wits’ end”! In other words: “I’m so exhausted trying to figure out how to deal with problems and difficult situations that I don’t ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:3-11

Sin's Blood-Stained Progression

Contributed by Donald Whitchard on Jun 18, 2023

The tragic story of Cain and Abel did not have to happen if only Cain had controlled his emotions and listened to the counsel of God. Instead, we witness the first murder and the further progression of humanity's rebellion and wickedness.

In the first verses of Genesis 4, we are introduced to two sons of Adam and Eve, two attitudes of reverence towards God, one act of obedience, one act of defiance, a refusal to heed sound advice, and the horrendous consequences of rebellion. We witness remorse, selfish concern, and the gradual ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 4:1-15, Exodus 20:13, Numbers 32:23, Luke 12:2, 1 Corinthians 4:5  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Sign Language

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Sep 4, 2023

Each of these incidents is a sign from God reminding us that life is temporary but that God is eternal.

What’s the first thing you think of when you hear of falling towers and people dying? Right. Nine-eleven. And looking around on the web I found that even though this is the gospel passage for the third Sunday in Lent of Cycle C of the lectionary, by far the most sermons were written on this topic ...read more

Scripture: Luke 13:1-9

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

In The Morning

Contributed by James Bryant on Sep 12, 2001

With the tragedy our country has faced during WTC & Pentagon attacks, when will judgement come?

IN THE MORNING Psalms 49:1-20 (1) Hear this, all ye people; give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world: (2) Both low and high, rich and poor, together. (3) My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding. (4) I will incline mine ear to a parable: ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 49:1-20

Denomination: Baptist

Watchman What Of The Night?

Contributed by Larry Meador on Sep 15, 2001

A call to both men and women of God to be watchmen of their home, church, and land during this hour of tragedy

Watchman what of the night? Isaiah 21:6,11 (6) For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Go, set a watchman, let him declare what he seeth. (11) The burden of Dumah. He calleth to me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night? Matthew 2:18. In Rama was there a voice ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 21:6-11, Matthew 2:18

Denomination: Pentecostal

When The Going Gets Tough Series

Contributed by Jonathan Gardner on Sep 15, 2001

The example Nehemiah gives us when we’re confronted by bad news, tragedy or problems.

When The Going Gets Tough. Nehemiah 1 Jonathan Gardner There was a song some time ago, ‘When the going gets tough, the tough get going….’. I’m not sure about the rest of the words, but the tune was catchy. But is does beg the question: What do we do when the going gets tough? We all encounter ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 1:1-11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Sifting Through The Rubble: The Bible Speaks To The Attack On America Series

Contributed by Michael Milton on Sep 17, 2001

A Bible message on the tragedy of September 11, 2001. With introductory thoughts on the Tenth Anniversary of 9/11.

This morning the September air in Charlotte, North Carolina reminds me of the air that day. As I breath it in, I join in the memory. But I join also in the hope of not only a rebuilding of the Freedom Tower, but a rebuilding of the American spirit that stirred out nation to prayer during those days ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 61:1-4

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

How Could This Happen?

Contributed by Keith Broyles on Sep 18, 2001

In light of the tragedy in New York, Washington, and Pennsylvania the prevailing question seems to be "how could this happen?"

In Tom Clancey?s great novel Debt of Honor his primary character, Jack Ryan, has become first the Vice President of our country and then later the President. He became President as a result of a terrorist attack on Washington D. C. Throughout most of the book a plot was working where at least some ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 37:1-14

Denomination: Methodist

God Is The Strength Of My Heart

Contributed by Christian Cheong on Sep 19, 2001

In the midst of a tragedy, return to God - our only true refuge. He is the strength of our heart.

Psalm 73 - GOD IS THE STRENGTH OF MY HEART Terrorist attack on New York’s World Trade Centres and Pentagon, 11 Sep 2001. This is one of the most difficult week for all. Much worse for those in the States. We’ve come to see the truly ugly side of what human beings are capable of. In the face of ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 73:1-28

Denomination: Independent/Bible