Sermons on Why Suffering:

Strengthening Disciples' Souls Series

Contributed by Jason Jones on May 30, 2008

Exposition of Acts 14:21-28 about the return trip of Paul’s first miss journey, and the things that he did to ensure the growth of the early disciples

Text: Acts 14:21-28, Title: Strengthening Disciples’ Souls, Date/Place: NRBC, 6/1/08, AM A. Opening illustration: tell about hearing Piper preach in April and the conversation that I had with Erika immediately following about it being “soul food,” just “vintage Piper,” but so stirring and ...read more

Scripture: Acts 14:21-28

Denomination: Baptist

One Is The Loneliest Number Series

Contributed by Pat Damiani on Mar 10, 2009

9th in a series from Ecclesiastes. God created man to live in community with God and with others.

In April 1969, the group Three Dog Night had their first top ten hit with a song titled “One”. That song included these lyrics: One is the loneliest number that you’ll ever do Two can be as bad as one It’s the loneliest number since the number one No is the saddest experience you’ll ever know Yes, ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 4:1-16

Denomination: Baptist

Judgement Begins With The House Of God

Contributed by Paul Green on Mar 12, 2023

God’s judgement is inescapable. How do you think you will fair on that day? What are the deeds in your life that you will need to give account of? Will they commend you or will they condemn you?

Chippie the parakeet never saw it coming. One second he was peacefully perched in his cage. The next he was sucked in, washed up, and blown over. The problems began when Chippie's owner decided to clean Chippie's cage with a vacuum cleaner. She removed the attachment from the end of the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 119:67, James 1:2-4, Romans 5:3-4, Hebrews 12:10, Ezekiel 9:6, Jeremiah 25:29, Amos 3:2, 1 Peter 4:12-19  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Will You Choose Jesus? (John 12:27-50) Series

Contributed by Garrett Tyson on Mar 9, 2022

God set it up so that Jesus would be rejected by most. His master plan, was that Jesus die on the cross. But at the same time, any single individual could still come to Jesus.

Let's start today by reading part of last week's passage, John 12:20-26: (20) Now, there were some Greeks from among the ones going up [to Jerusalem], in order that they would worship at the festival. (21) Then, these ones approached Philip-- the one from Bethsaida of Galilee-- and they ...read more

Scripture: John 12:27-50, Isaiah 53:1-12

Looking Out For #1

Contributed by Chris Talton on Jan 22, 2002

By looking out only for himself, Lot suffered the loss of everything.

July 8, 2001 Genesis 13 “Looking out for #1- the story of Lot” part 1 I want to tell you a story this morning. It’s a true story. It’s a story about a man who made bad choices. Every choice that he made was on the basis what he thought was in his best interest. This man had a ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 13:1-18

Denomination: Baptist

Being A Christian Can Be Painful! Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Aug 25, 2006

We should invest ourselves in the Lord, even while suffering.

Being A Christian Can Be Painful! (I Peter 4:12-19) 1. C. S. Lewis once remarked that “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks to us in our conscience, but shouts in our pain; it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” Today’s sermon is about suffering, trials, and stressful experiences. 2. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:12-19

Denomination: Independent/Bible

"My God, My God, Why Have You Forsaken Me?

Contributed by Jonathan Kittrell on Jun 5, 2002

This is the fourth set of words Jesus utters from the cross. It is a pivotal phrase and is purposefully the fourth statement he made. While this utterance could call the relationship between God and Jesus into question, it actually melds it and shows how

My God, My God, Why Have You Forsaken Me? Matthew 27:45-50 ETS: Jesus, God, cries out for His inner strength to endure ESS: We must cry out to God in our struggles. We are never forsaken OSS: Strength in midst of turmoil, sin. WORD: Strength Discuss humility of preaching. READ SCRIPTURE It ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 27:45-50, Psalm 22:1-31

Denomination: Baptist

Pathway To The Passion Pt-6 Why Did Jesus Have To Die? Series

Contributed by Brian Menear on Feb 3, 2007

Why did Jesus have to die? It was part of Gods plan from the beginning of time.

Pathway To The Passion Part 6-Why Did Jesus Have To Die? In this series we have looked at the reason Jesus had to die from both the Jewish perspective and the Roman perspective. Today we will look at the reason he had to die from Gods perspective. 1-The Problem Romans 3:23 23 For all have ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:23

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

My God, My God Why Hast Thou Forsaken Me. Series

Contributed by Melvin Maughmer, Jr. on Apr 6, 2007

Eli, Eli lama sabachthani - Why did Jesus cry these words.

“Eli, Eli, Lama Sabachthani” “My God, My God, why hast thou Forsaken me” By District Elder M. L. Maughmer, Jr. Matthew 27:45-46 “Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:45-46

Denomination: Apostolic

"Why Sit Here Until We Die..." By Dr. Winson Butler

Contributed by Winson Butler on Jan 5, 2005

"Impossible" is a word found only in the dictionary of fools. Though leprous they weren’t fools. The story of four leprous men is a remarkable demonstration of God’s grace. Let’s examine it together!

Introduction The city is suffering. Things have gotten seriously desperate. The enemy is just outside the city walls. The enemy has ample provisions and plenty of patience in hopes that those inside the walls will either surrender or die of starvation! Economic inflation isn’t the worst of it. ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 7:3

Denomination: Baptist

When Life Isn't Fair Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Sep 1, 2011

When life is unfair, put your faith in the Lord; be faithful to Him; and if things get worse, keep your faith in the Lord. Don’t stop trusting the One, the only One, who is absolutely trustworthy.

One of my favorite stories, which I’m sure I’ve told before, is about a young paratrooper who was learning to jump. He was given the following instructions: First, jump when you are told; second, count to 10 and pull the ripcord; third, in the unlikely event that it doesn't open, pull ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 39:1-23

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Cries From The Cross Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Jan 11, 2024

Appreciate what Jesus did for you on the cross: feel its sorrow; grasp its suffering; and take its sufficiency. You’ll never be the same again!

In 1940, Clarence Jordan, a farmer-theologian, founded Koinonia farm in Americus, Georgia, to promote racial unity and cooperation. Soon after that, a pastor gave Jordan the red-carpet tour of his church. The pastor proudly pointed to the rich, imported pews and luxurious decorations. Then, with ...read more

Scripture: John 19:25-30, Psalm 22:14-15

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Zechariah's Praise - God Has Come! Series

Contributed by Paul Barreca on Dec 16, 2012

Zechariah's praise reaches reminds us that God has provided an answer to the sorrows and evil that is in this world today. The answer is found in the reality that GOD HAS COME to us in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Where is God when tragedy strikes? On Thursday we learned of another devastating tragedy in one of our nation’s schools. Another massacre of innocent children by a crazed murderer - this time in Newtown Connecticut. Where is God when 20 children and 6 teachers are gunned down in an ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:68-79

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Martyrdom Series

Contributed by Ken Henson on Sep 24, 2017

Jesus doesn't promise He'll deliver us from our stresses (Tribulation), He does, however, promise to use our suffering for good, and offers an eternal weight of glory in return for our sacrifice.

And to the Angel of the Church in Smyrna, write: These things says the first and the last, who died and came to life I know your tribulation (stresses) and poverty, but abudance And the blasphemy of those who claim themselves to be Jews and are not, but are of the synagogue of Satan. Do not fear ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:8-11

Denomination: *other

Bowed But Not Beaten

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Aug 20, 2002

When faced with the difficulties of life, David’s words in Psalm 56 can help us to bear up under the worst of circumstances.

OPENING: A minister was making a wooden trellis to support a climbing vine. As he was pounding away, he noticed that a little boy was watching him. The youngster didn’t say a word, so the preacher kept on working, thinking the lad would leave. But he didn’t. Pleased at the thought that his work ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 56:1-12

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ