Sermons on Tragic Loss:

The "Performance Art" Of God

Contributed by Carl Greene on Feb 28, 2009

A different look at the story of The Flood and Rainbow. How the rainbow reminds us of God’s grace restrains Him from doing what He COULD do, but chooses NOT to do. What we learn from the story about judgment and justice.

Is there anyone here this morning who hasn’t at least heard something about Noah and The Flood? Is there anyone here this morning who hasn’t heard at least something about “Noah’s Ark?” I’m willing to bet that when you think about Noah and the flood, your mind usually goes directly to the “ark” ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 9:8-17

Denomination: Methodist

Lost Luxury's Lament

Contributed by Byron Sherman on Dec 23, 2004

Babylon’s fall will incite lamentation on the part of her dependents. A loss of luxury produces lamentation in her constituents. What lamentations come to those who are economically dependent? A lament of the economically dependent is for a LOSS OF...

LOST LUXURY’S LAMENT—Revelation 18:9-19 Babylon’s fall will incite lamentation on the part of her dependents. Lost luxury produces lamentation in her economic dependents. What lamentations come to those who are economically dependent? 3 lamentations of the economically dependent. 1—A lament of ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 18:9-19

Denomination: Baptist

Can You Still Love And Worship God Through Disappointments? Series

Contributed by Alis Cerrahyan on Jun 28, 2019

Some of the saddest moments of our lives are when we're going through a serious challenge; or the loss of a job; or even the loss of a loved one. But the saddest of all is when God stops correcting us.

God calls children a blessing and a gift! Jesus actually tells us to be like children and to come to him full of faith and trust. Mark 10:15 reads, "Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” The most important ingredients a ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:15, Psalm 8:2, Matthew 18:2-6

The Calamity Of Being Without Christ

Contributed by Kenneth Trent on Aug 19, 2003

Webster defines calamity as "an extraordinarily grave event marked by great loss and lasting distress and affliction". Such is the estate of the unbeliever.

THE CALAMITY OF BEING WITHOUT CHRIST “That at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.” Ephesians 2:12 Webster defines calamity as "a state of deep distress or misery ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:12

Denomination: Baptist

God, Why Do You Allow Suffering? Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jul 24, 2006

How can a just God permit suffering in our lives?

OPEN: A woman who was employed as a dental receptionist told this story: I was on duty when an extremely nervous patient came for root canal surgery. He was brought into the examining room and made comfortable in the reclining dental chair. The dentist then injected a numbing agent around the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:1-10

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Broken, Worn Out, Old Clay Pots

Contributed by Paul Dietz on Jun 19, 2008

I used this sermon as one of several in a series on Clay Pots (Earthen Vessels). This was the one I used on Father’s Day during that series.

I recently came across a Chinese parable that eludes to our thoughts for today’s text. It’s a tale about a water-bearer and his two pots of clay. An elderly peasant had two large clay pots. One of the pots had a crack down its side to a point about half way. The other pot, perfect! Each had been ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:27-29, Leviticus 15:12, 2 Corinthians 4:7

Denomination: *other

Run, Samson, Run Series

Contributed by Manny Salva Cruz on May 23, 2016

Samson was man of supernatural strength given by God but was overwhelmed by the inward sexual desire through the enticement of Delilah. He should have run, but he did not. We can learn valuable lessons from his life.

We are now in chapter 16 of the Book of Judges. We have been studying the life of Samson. Last week, we looked at the highlights of Samson's life - the three W's - Samson's Wedding, Samson's Wager and Samson's Wrath. We have learned first of all that Samson insisted in marrying the woman in Timnah ...read more

Scripture: Judges 16:1-20

Denomination: Nazarene

Disobedience Positions People For Replacement

Contributed by Rev. Samuel Arimoro on May 5, 2025

Disobedience is not just a mistake—it is a doorway to replacement. Saul had all the advantages: the anointing, the title, the people. But he lost it all because he put personal opinion above divine command. God does not bless stubbornness; He honours submission.

DISOBEDIENCE POSITIONS PEOPLE FOR REPLACEMENT By Rev. Samuel Arimoro Main Text: 1 Samuel 15:1-29 "Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king." – 1 Samuel 15:23b Supporting Texts: 1 Samuel 13:8-14, 1 Samuel 16:1, Deuteronomy 28:1-2, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 15:1-29

Denomination: Assembly Of God

The Dangers Of Being Uprooted From Christ

Contributed by Rev. Samuel Arimoro on Sep 10, 2025

Being uprooted from Christ leads to spiritual dryness, fruitlessness, and destruction, but abiding in Him guarantees life and eternal fruitfulness.

THE DANGERS OF BEING UPROOTED FROM CHRIST By Rev. Samuel Arimoro Main Text: John 15:4-6 Key Verse: “If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.” (John 15:6) Supporting Texts: Colossians 2:6-7, ...read more

Scripture: John 15:4-6

Denomination: Assembly Of God

What Do You Do When Trouble Comes? Or (Confidence In The Midst Of A Crisis)

Contributed by Kirk Devine on Sep 14, 2001

A Biblical response to the tragic events that affected our country on September 11, 2001 (Alternate Title: Confidence: In The Midst Of A Crisis)

Sep-01 WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN TROUBLE COMES? or (CONFIDENCE IN THE MIDST OF A CRISIS) PSALMS 46:1-11 (91:1-9) America was struck with the worst tragedy in history this past Tuesday morning just ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 46:1-11, Psalm 91:1-9, John 11:4

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Part Ii Death And The Sovereignty Of God Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 12, 2021

The Bible puts the responsibility for sin and evil, and all of its consequences upon those who choose to defy God, and not upon God, who gave them their choices.

PART II DEATH AND THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD On December 7, 1941 bombs fell on many sons in Pearl Harbor, and hundreds of families had their hopes and dream shattered. On December 8, a man who had been up sobbing all night because he lost his son confronted his pastor in anger and said, "What ...read more

Scripture: Acts 7:51-60

Wrestling With God

Contributed by Carl Greene on Jul 18, 2009

Jacob wrestles with God and names the place "Peniel," meaning "face of God". Each of us needs our own "Peniel," a place to meet God. God gives us such a place, the Holy Bible.

OPENING Talk about the courage to suffer: A first-grade teacher seated her students in a circle. She asked them what they wanted to be when they grew up. One by one, each child got up and announced, "I’d like to be a nurse like my mother," or "I want to be a banker like my father," or "I want to ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 32:22-31

Denomination: Methodist

What Are You Doing Here, Elijah?

Contributed by Thomas Bowen on Jan 6, 2005

Where is God in tragedy.

What are you doing here, Elijah? 1 Kings 19:11-19 - Psalms 46:1-11 Preaching involves at least two responsibilities beyond locking the doors and sweeping up. The first is to explain the Bible and relate it to life. The second is to take life and explain it in light of Scripture. My goal this ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 19:11-19

Denomination: Congregational

God's People Without A Home

Contributed by Tammy Garrison on Sep 8, 2001

There are similarities between the Israelites at the crossing of the Red Sea and those outside our church families.

In 1997, 20th Century Fox released an animated musical about Anastasia, lost princess of Russia. In the film, we first meet Anastasia leaving an orphanage that has been her home for the last ten years. She has forgotten her identity, but she knows she has one. She longs for a family, but she is ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 14:1-14

Denomination: Methodist

Thank God For The Broken Road

Contributed by Darrin Fish on May 7, 2014

A mistake is only a mistake if we don’t learn from it. We need to start allowing stumbling blocks to become stepping stones.• We should never fall backwards We should instead fall forward. We grow in our wisdom when we allow mistakes to become lessons.

Thank you God for the Broken Road Psalms 73:1-73:28 Last week as we were worshipping • a man entered a Baptist church in Maryville Il • And shot the senior pastor in mid-sermon and then stabbing two churchgoers. • The pastor had stood on an elevated platform delivering his ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 73:1-28

Denomination: Christian Church