Sermons on Why God Allows Suffering:

Why Bethlehem? Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Dec 21, 2014

In the day of Jesus, Bethlehem wasn't very impressive. And yet God chose it as the birthplace of the King. Why?

I love to sing, and so I want to start out this sermon by having us all sing the first 2 verses of “O Little Town of Bethlehem”. “O little town of Bethlehem, How still we see thee lie! Above your deep and dreamless sleep, the silent stars go by. Yet in thy dark streets shineth ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-17

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

From Bitter And Better I Series

Contributed by Jeremy Poling on Apr 21, 2012

Trouble will make you better if you do not allow it to make you bitter.

From Bitter And Better Exodus 1:11-14 11 Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses. 12 But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because of the ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 1:11-14

Denomination: Pentecostal

Why God Wanted Jesus Dead Series

Contributed by Patrick O'loughlin on Mar 22, 2005

Why did God want Jesus dead? Is there convincing evidence and a clear motive?

Text: Isaiah 53: 7-12 Title: Why God wanted Jesus dead? “Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer…” (V10) When the movie “ The Passion of the Christ” was first released it caused a great controversy. Many people feared that those who watched the movie would leave blaming ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 53:7-12

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Why God's Providence Matters To You

Contributed by Jerry Bridges on Apr 23, 2014

How we respond to God's providence in our lives is one important measure of spiritual maturity.

If there was ever a man who had a right to question his circumstances, it was Job, whose story bears his name in the Old Testament. Job lost his children, his health, and everything he owned—all without a single word of explanation from God. Did he grieve? Yes. Did he ask why? Yes. Did he ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Why Us? Series

Contributed by Gordon Pike on Sep 5, 2021

The proof of God’s love and His faithfulness to His Covenant is People is the fact that they are still around despite every effort that’s been made over the centuries and millennia to not only eliminate them from “the River to the Sea” but off the face of the earth.

“Why me?” Have you ever sung that song? The refrain goes something like this: “Why do bad things always happen to me?” I was singing that song one day when a man came up to me and said, “Why not you? Are you special?” Yep. I am special. And so are you … which is why bad things happen to ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 12:1-3, Genesis 15:17-18, Zechariah 9:2-3, Genesis 17:1-8, Deuteronomy 7:6-8  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: United Methodist

Why God Lets Friends Die Series

Contributed by Glenn Durham on May 1, 2008

God love his people through sorrow and death to eternal pleasure and everlasting joy.

Scripture Introduction John 11 contains the well-known story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead, and (for trivia fans) the shortest verse in the Bible is in this chapter. We also find here the last of the seven miracles (or “signs” as John calls them) which structure this book. Miracles (of ...read more

Scripture: John 11:1-44

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

What Good Can Come Of This? Series

Contributed by Tim Diack on Mar 12, 2012

We don't have to look far to see that suffering exists. Truth is, that tragedy enters into each of our lives. When it does we tend to ask: "Why did this happen to me?" But we should really be asking a different question.

What Good Can Come of This? - 2 Corinthians 1:3-11 Care Home and Hospital Service – February 2012 Read 2 Corinthians 1:3-11 Those words were written nearly 2000 years ago by a man named Paul. Paul was what we call an apostle and he was a man that God used to do great things during the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:3-11

Denomination: *other

Serving God During Dark Times Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Feb 20, 2017

Elisha was in rough situations, but was still God’s man in the midst of it all. We, too, represent God during different but challenging times.

Serving God During Dark Times (2 Kings 6:24-7:20) 1. Today I am resuming the tradition of ethnic jokes I began a while ago. Many ethnicities make fun of their neighboring nations as not being too bright. 2. Two Belgians are driving a truck and arrive at a bridge with a warning sign: maximum ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Why The Cry?

Contributed by Pastor Paul E. Davis on Apr 14, 2017

Good Friday Sermon on the 4th Word of Christ while on the Cross. Matthew 27:46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

Why The Cry? Matthew 27:46 (ASV) And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? The journey From Gethsemane to Golgotha is slightly less than 1 mile, took six hours to complete and is the key to over ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 27:46

Denomination: Baptist

Why Shepherds?

Contributed by Richard Goble on Nov 16, 2007

The birth of Jesus Christ was not revealed to kings or rulers. It was not revealed to the religious elite. When God came to earth, He let the world know by announcing the birth of His Son to lowly shepherds.

Why Shepherds? Luke 2:8-20 Introduction The birth of Jesus Christ was not revealed to kings or rulers. It was not revealed to the religious elite. When God came to earth, He let the world know by announcing the birth of His Son to lowly shepherds. Why? Perhaps He wanted the poor and outcast of ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:8-20

Denomination: Baptist

Allowing Ourselves To Be Stretched Spiritually (Part 2) Series

Contributed by Dan Proctor on Jan 23, 2013

How can we (individually and as a church) stretch ourselves spiritually and accomplish spiritual goals? This text will show us how.

Allowing Ourselves to be Stretched Spiritually (Part 2) Philippians 3 Introduction: 1. How many of you have ever heard the expression, “This is really stretching me”? What do we mean when we say, “This (new job, college class, project at work, problem, trial) is really ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:13

Denomination: Bible Church

Hope In The Wilderness: Turning Suffering Into Seeking - Psalm 63 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Jun 29, 2025

What if your deepest pain could become your greatest pathway to God? Learn how to transform suffering into a thirst for His presence that changes everything. Imagine a life where every moment—good or bad—draws you closer to God. Psalm 63 reveals the one desire that can make it a reality.

Psalm 63:0,1 A Psalm of David. When he was in the Desert of Judah. 1 O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water ************************************** Introduction: Emotion and Temptation The ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 63:1

Why Should Ibecome A Christian

Contributed by Glen Lawhun on Sep 26, 2004

It would be a terrible thing to live a good life, be a good person and then end up in a terrible place for the rest of eternity. It is not God purpose that any person should be lost.

Why should I become a Christian? Or, why should I remain a Christian? Rev. 3:21-22 I read an article this morning written by a preacher who really wanted people to become Christians. He came to this conclusion. There are three things that are hard to do. 1. Climb a fence leaning toward you. 2. ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:21-22

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Why Is The Ot So Violent? Series

Contributed by Allan Quak on Mar 5, 2016

Jehu's action seem to condone violence against an unfaithful enemy … how do we understand this?

Note:- most of the messages in this Kings series have been recorded ... unfortunately this one didn't record. You can listen to the rest of the series here:- http://www.nec.org.au/listen-to-a-sermon-series/kings-series/ Message 2 Kings 9:1-10:35 Why Is The Old Testament So Violent? If I was to ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

God Is Good...but Life Stinks Sometimes! Series

Contributed by Jon Daniels on Sep 18, 2023

This sermon challenges hearers to consider reasons for suffering that comes into our lives.

“GOD IS GOOD, BUT LIFE STINKS SOMETIMES” FBCF – 9/19/23 Jon Daniels INTRO – A few things we all have in common w/ each other: - All of us have a mother & a father. - All of us are breathing oxygen right now. - All of us need water to live. - All of us will suffer in this life – To put it ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 34:6, 1 Chronicles 16:34, Psalm 23:6, Psalm 25:8, Psalm 27:13, Psalm 145:9, Mark 10:18, Galatians 6:7-8, James 1:2-4, Romans 5:3-5, Romans 8:28  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist