Sermons on Why We Suffer:

What Do We Do When Tragedy Strikes?”

Contributed by Michael Otterstatter on Aug 2, 2017

This section of God's Word shows us how two people responded to a tragedy. One example comes from a widow whose son died. The other comes from one of the greatest prophets in the Old Testament, Elijah.

At some point it will likely happen to most of us. For each of us it will be different and yet the same. It will leave us with tears in our eyes and pain in our hearts. We call them tragedies—something that seems to turn our lives upside down. Because we live in a world stained by sin these ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 17:17-24

Denomination: Lutheran

Why?

Contributed by Kelvin Mckisic on Dec 15, 2023

We tend to look at the troubles in our lives and ask why me, why does God hate me? Don't ask why, but ask what God is doing to make me better.

The story has been told of a museum guide who would take his tour group to a darkened room, shined a light on a mass of string, color, and apparent chaos and ask the group. “What do you think this is?” “I don’t know,” was the reply of the group. The guide would then say. “Stand over there and ...read more

Scripture: Luke 8:22-26, Romans 8:35-39, James 1:2-4, Hebrews 12:5-10

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Why Did Jesus Die? Series

Contributed by Jason Cole on Mar 30, 2004

Many people wonder why God would allow his own son to suffer in the way that he did. We will in this message examine why Jesus had to die.

Introduction: We are approaching the time of year in which Christians look and remember the death of our Lord Jesus. The movie “the Passion” has stirred a renewed interest in the death of Jesus. Many people after watching that movie and contemplating the life and death of Jesus ask the question, ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

What Are We?

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on May 25, 2020

Who are we? What are we? Why do we exist?

Who are we? What are we? Why do we exist? The Greek word for a human being is ?????p?? (anthropos) and so this study of humanity deals with the topic of biblical anthropology. Who are we? First of all, we are the children of Adam. Adam was named for his origin, because his name refers to the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:47-49, Genesis 2:7, Romans 8:29

Denomination: Baptist

Living Through Suffering Series

Contributed by D Marion Clark on Aug 16, 2012

We look now at a passage, which is startling in both its sobering and exalted view of Christian suffering.

Introduction We look now at a passage, which is startling in both its sobering and exalted view of Christian suffering. Recall once more the context of the letter. The Christians of the scattered churches in northern Asia Minor are facing trials placed on them by their neighbors. Some form of ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:12-19

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

We Are The Church Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on May 16, 2011

Why would Paul list such a long boooring list of people at the end of such a powerful New Testament book? Why waste the ink? The answer to that question is both intriguing and exciting to those of who belong to Jesus.

I opened the sermon by asking the congregation to join with me in singing: “I’m So Glad I’m A Part Of The Family of God I’ve been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His blood Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod For I’m part of the family, the family of God.” If you’re a Christian here ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 16:4, Romans 16:1-16

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Jesus Suffered For You! Series

Contributed by Jeffery Anselmi on Oct 29, 2010

Jesus suffered for you because He loves you. There are times when we will be called to suffer for Him.

INTRODUCTION • SLIDE #1 • A couple of weeks ago we started to look at the basic issue that sometimes life is not fair. • We see it all around us; it is something that gets us angry at times. • How we deal with unjust suffering says a lot about us, it says a lot about how our faith impacts our ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:18-22

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

For What Should We Pray? Series

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Jan 5, 2001

The natural response when we see someone who is sick, or going through tough times, or marital difficulty, or financial reversals, is to say, "We’re praying for you." But for what should we pray?

MELVIN M. NEWLAND, MINISTER RIDGE CHAPEL, KANSAS, OK ILL. In Tony Campolo’s book, "The Kingdom of God Is a Party," he tells of an event that took place when he visited Hawaii on a speaking tour. If you’ve ever flown to the Hawaiian Islands you know that the first ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, Luke 22:42

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Persecuted: Why? Series

Contributed by Richard Tow on May 1, 2023

The Beatitudes are a beautiful picture of the character of Christ and of consecrated Christians. Why would such a lifestyle depicted in the first seven beatitudes provoke persecution rather than admiration and esteem?

Intro In our study of the Beatitudes, we come to the eighth beatitude. It is recorded in Matthew 5:10: “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”i The reward declared in this final beatitude is the same as declared in the first ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12, John 10:1-32, Ephesians 6:12, Proverbs 29:27, Luke 4:1-34, Ephesians 5:1-6, Acts 3:12-19, Acts 2:1-20, Acts 4:1-12, Matthew 10:32-36, 2 Corinthians 5:1-20, Mark 16:15-16, Matthew 28:11-20, Matthew 5:13-16, John 15:1-25  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Charismatic

Suffering & The Sovereignty Of God

Contributed by Chris Surber on Mar 27, 2009

Is God to blame? We find in Job that this life is often unfair, but there is a difference between the unfairness of this life and the just character of God.

Sovereignty And Suffering, Job 1:13-20 Introduction A minister’s son was caught skipping school for three days. His father reprimanded him and prayed for him and though the boy wept and was truly contrite, he was still punished. “Son, one of the facts of life is that where there is sin, there is ...read more

Scripture: Job 1:13-20

Denomination: Christian Church

When Others Suffer Series

Contributed by Jim Drake on Nov 16, 2009

We’ve all been around people who are suffering. When someone around us is suffering, those can be some of the most helpless times of your life. What do you do? What do you say? How should you react? That is what we will look at today in this message

We have all had someone close to us have to go through suffering. Whether it was someone as close as a spouse or a child, or whether it was only a friend or even an acquaintance. We’ve all been around people who are suffering. And I don’t know about you, but those times can be some of the most ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Yes We Have A Future

Contributed by Norm Story on Feb 7, 2003

Focus on immediate suffering, or a longer-term perspective?

"Yes, You Do Have a Future" Isaiah 40:26-31 Romans 8:18-28 (Isaiah 40:26-31 NRSV) " Lift up your eyes on high and see: Who created these? He who brings out their host and numbers them, calling them all by name; because he is great in strength, mighty in power, not one is missing. {27} Why do you ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:18-28, Isaiah 40:26-31

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Reasons For Our Suffering

Contributed by Paul Fritz on May 1, 2003

Suffering can teach us that we may have to realign our priorities, values and sense of what is essential vs. non-essentials

Suffering - To experience adverse effects of something unpleasant. To feel pain, grief or discomfort. Illustration:Someone asked C.S. Lewis, "Why do the righteous suffer?" "Why not?" he replied. "They’re the only ones who can take it." Unknown. "Although the world is full of suffering, it is ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:10-15

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Counted Worthy To Suffer Series

Contributed by Troy Walliser on Nov 5, 2020

We must adjust our AIM to the TARGET our Lord has set before us in order to fulfill the missions mandate.

Counted Worthy To Suffer Acts 5:12-42 We come back again to our series through the book of Acts which I’ve entitled, “The Church on Mission.” By God’s grace that is what we are seeking to be. But in order to be a church on mission, we must know what the mission is. If we don’t understand and ...read more

Scripture: Acts 5:12-42

Denomination: Baptist

Loving Through Suffering

Contributed by Richard Schwedes on Apr 3, 2009

A sermon that explores how Jesus loves us through suffering....and how through our suffering we may have an opportunity to love.

Have you ever said if I was God I would…. If I was God there would be no weeds in my garden. If I was God no one bad would get good things. What would you do if you were God? What about if you were in the situation that Jesus faced in the reading from Matthew what would you have done? If you ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 27:32-44

Denomination: Lutheran