Sermons on Triumph In Tragedy:

Climbing Higher

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Sep 9, 2010

Satan wants to keep us from making progress in our spiritual life. With the Lord’s help, though, we can keep on climbing. To avoid sin’s tragedy, learn Satan’s strategy.

Opening illustration: Pastor Dale Kurtz laughed so hard that his sides ached. He was watching a frustrated squirrel trying to climb the metal pole supporting a bird feeder. The squirrel repeatedly got part way up, then slowly slid down the pole in a heap. In describing this incident, Kurtz wrote, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:5-11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Aftershock

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Jan 14, 2010

The earthquake in Haiti measured 7.0 – the death toll will be measured in the tens of thousands – but character is measured in our response to tragedy. 5 WAYS TO RESPOND. Link inc. to formatted text, audio/video, PowerPoint.

AfterShock Matthew 14:22-33 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/AfterShock.html How do we respond? What should our reaction be? When our world shakes, when we are in shock – after it happens – after shock has gripped our being – what we do next is absolutely vital. The earthquake in Haiti measured ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 14:22-33

Denomination: Baptist

Fatalism Or Faith Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 20, 2021

America is Christian in its thinking in that we are a nation that says folly does not need to be repeated. We can learn from our mistakes and go on to change the future for the better and prevent tragedies that otherwise would be inevitable.

A young man driving through the rich part of the city could not believe his eyes when he saw a sign on a Mercedes Benz that said, "For Sale $100.00. He pulled into the driveway and went to the door, and he asked if the sign was correct. The woman assured him that it was. He asked, "Is ...read more

Scripture: Acts 17:16-34

Turn The World Upside-Down

Contributed by Mike Lewis on Dec 22, 2022

We exist in a time where great things have happened. We’ve taken extraordinary leaps in technology, travel, and exploration. But with great advancement comes great tragedy. In order to succeed in these areas, there are going to be failures.

WELCOME & GREETINGS - Getting to know new brothers and sisters in Christ in our fellowship. - My prayer this morning is that I can encourage and lift up this congregation with this message. INTRODUCTION We exist in a time where great things have happened. We’ve taken extraordinary leaps in ...read more

Scripture: Acts 17:1-9

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Experience God Series

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Jan 28, 2022

1) The Tempter (Genesis 3:1a), 2) The Target (Genesis 3:1b-3), 3) The Tactic (Genesis 3:4-5), and finally 4) The Tragedy (Genesis 1:6-9).

Genesis 3:1-9. [3:1] Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God actually say, 'You shall not eat of any tree in the garden'?" [2] And the woman said to the serpent, "We may eat of the fruit of ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 3:1-9

Denomination: Other

Calm In Wild Weather – Peace In Life’s Storms (Message December 2023) Series

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Dec 19, 2023

I have just been through flooding rains, and in the past, in the eye of the storm (cyclone, hurricane). Peace and calm from God is present in life’s storms in turmoil all around us. In His hand there is comfort when all this world wants to do is to batter the life out of us.

CALM IN WILD WEATHER – PEACE IN LIFE’S STORMS (Message December 2023) Who controls Nature? Is it some arbitrary force often personified as “Nature”, or is it climate change (if you are desperately seeking an answer), or is it some random series of happenings. It is none of these. The One who ...read more

Scripture: John 1:3, Psalm 18:2, Matthew 7:24-27, John 14:5-6, Matthew 11:27-29, 2 Timothy 2:11-13, John 14:15-18, Hebrews 3:7-8, Matthew 11:28-29  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Peace Of Faith Series

Contributed by Dennis Davidson on Apr 20, 2009

What is it that makes these verses so forceful? To me it is the courageous way in which Habakkuk faces possible calamities & triumphs over them through knowledge & faith in his Savior. Habakkuk has learned the lesson of faith taught in 2:4

Habakkuk 3:16-17 THE PEACE OF HABAKKUK’S FAITH [Psalms 18:18-33] The last section of this glorious chapter contains some of the most moving verses in all the Bible. On one occasion it was used by Benjamin Franklin, who was not a Christian, to confound some of the sophisticated, cultured ...read more

Scripture: Habakkuk 3:16-19

Denomination: Baptist

The Ultimate Melting Pot Series

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Jun 25, 2011

That crowd gathered around the throne is made up of African saints drumming and dancing, Lutherans singing Bach and Handel, medieval monks chanting plainsong, Latin American Pentecostals with shouts of triumph, messianic Jews dancing the hora, Southern Ba

There’s been some great stuff in the news over the last couple of weeks... We’ve seen our POW’s coming home and being greeted with almost hysterical adulation... many of our troops are on the way home as well. The bloodbath that many feared didn’t happen, and much though we ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 7:9-17

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Psalm 2 Series

Contributed by Sam Mccormick on Feb 25, 2020

The first two psalms are often considered to be designed as a pair serving as an introduction to the 150-psalm collection. The first psalm describes the difference between the blessed man and the evil man, and Psalm 2 is about triumph over the forces that oppose the faith.

For Sermon Central researchers: I have posted a series of 15 sermons on the Psalms. In recent personal studies I have found the psalms to be richer and more thought-provoking than I had fully appreciated. I had too often swept swiftly through psalms without slowing down to inquire as thoroughly as ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 2:1-12, Acts 4:27-28, Hebrews 1:6, Daniel 7:13-14, Psalm 86:15, Psalm 103:8, Psalm 145:8  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Multiply Your Zeal Series

Contributed by Scott Maze on Jun 4, 2021

The overall shape of the Bible’s story is like a U in which events begin in perfection, fall into corruption, and painfully wind their way back to the final defeat of evil and the triumph of good. The crucial turning point is the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Number of spam e-mails sent each day in 2006: 183 billion? Number of work hours U.S. employees spent deleting spam in 2006: 22.9 million?Each of these spam emails are sent in order to create a desire in you. They are sent in order to increase your cravings. What do you crave? One person craves ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:1-3

Denomination: Baptist

The Submission Of The Servant Series

Contributed by Christopher Benfield on Feb 15, 2017

Jesus came as the promised Messiah. His baptism signaled the beginning of His public ministry, which was followed by His triumph over temptation in the wilderness. We have victory through Him. He submitted to God's will to purchase our redemption.

The Submission of the Servant Mark 1: 9-15 Our text today reveals what most consider the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry. Up until this point, even in the other Gospels, we have very little detail about the life of Jesus. From this moment on, Jesus will live His life in public scrutiny. ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:9-15

Denomination: Baptist

Sermon: Trusting God When Everything Falls A Part

Contributed by Otis Mcmillan on Jan 29, 2026

David suggests that the righteous must trust in the Lord even if they have to (1) suffer awhile they can do it joyfully, (2) hope cheerfully, (3) wait patiently, (4) pray earnestly, (5) believe confidently, and if they do, they will triumph finally.

Sermon: Trusting God When Everything Falls A Part Psalms 11:1-7 “In the Lord put I my trust: how say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain? For, lo, the wicked bend their bow, they make ready their arrow upon the string, that they may privily shoot at the upright in heart. If the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 11:1-7, Psalm 55:5-8, Psalm 82:5

Denomination: Methodist

The Sin We Excuse

Contributed by David Dunn on Sep 16, 2025

Favoritism is a sin we rarely name and easily excuse, yet Scripture confronts it directly. Drawing from James 2, this sermon calls believers to let mercy triumph over judgment and to live out a faith that loves without partiality.

(Mercy Rides Point and Grace Brings Us Home) James 2:1–13 --- Introduction – Singing on the Trail There’s an old cowboy trail song with a toe-tapping refrain: > “Git along, little dogies, git along, git along… For you know Wyoming will be your new home.” Cowboys sang it to keep a restless ...read more

Scripture: James 2:1-13, John 13:34-35, Luke 10:25-37, 1 Samuel 16:7

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Divorce & Remarriage

Contributed by Scott Bayles on Jun 25, 2007

Everyone agrees that divorce is one of the worst tragedies plaguing families today. Sadly, many pastors and church leaders have sometimes made things worst. What does the Bible really teach about this difficult issue?

Divorce & Remarriage by Scott R. Bayles Church of Christ Everyone agrees that divorce is one of the worst tragedies plaguing American families today. Some studies are now showing that for the first time in American history, single parent families now out number families with two parents living in ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 19:3-9

Denomination: Christian Church

Turning Hardship To Joy

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Jun 24, 2004

Sometimes God allows things to get difficult so He can produce greater joy in and through and with us. Jesus knew that His Father often used tragedy to cause people to look to heaven for solutions to their problems.

John 15:11-16 Illustration: A cynic asked an elderly believer who had endured great physical pain for 20 years, "What do you think of your God now?" The godly sufferer replied, "I think of Him more than ever." Sorrow can be the means of bringing us heart-to-heart with God. When repeated strokes ...read more

Scripture: John 15:11-16

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational