Sermons About Suffering
God Rules
As we continue our study through the book of Acts one thing is becoming increasingly clear: God rules. Even when it appears that things are out of control God is fully in control. What does this mean for us? How should we respond to this? Listen in as we answer these questions and others by looking to the Word of God.
0 Amens
You Be the Judge...What is Right?
Darcie will be speaking in the services and at Common Grounds today. Her topic: “You be the judge…. What is right?” Acts 3–6. Darcie has been “serving our persecuted family with hope” as a mission representative through her work at VOM for over 9 years. She has traveled extensively, sometimes with her husband Tim, throughout the eastern region of the U.S. sharing the challenging yet encouraging message of the persecuted church. Darcie has traveled to Sudan, China, Vietnam, Pakistan, Indonesia, Cuba, Myanmar, Laos, Kashmir, India, Korea and Columbia to bring help, encouragement and assistance to our family living there. She tenderly yet powerfully shares the challenging and inspiring stories and testimonies of our family in these nations. Through God’s word, she shares what this should mean to us. Although we refer to these believers as the suffering or persecuted church, Darcie communicates the rest of the story. God is at work for His eternal purposes in the lives of our brothers and sisters in these most difficult situations.
0 Amens
Hearing From God
Do you want to hear from God? Following Jesus costs everything, so are you really willing to hear from Him and have the best life you possibly can, for the glory of God!
0 Amens
The Perfect Storm
Week 20 in the Vintage Jesus series. Preached by Lead Pastor Paul Vroom on June 8, 2008 at Missio Dei Church in Mokena, Illinois (www.mdchurch.us). Scripture from Mark 4:35-41.
0 Amens
Finding Joy in Suffering
No longer can we turn on the evening news and not hear about suffering throughout the world.
0 Amens
Let us go to him
The conclusion of the Book of Hebrews? Let us go to HIM. Who is HIM... the subject of the book. Jesus Christ. A call to feast on Jesus, to enjoy him, to suffer for him.
0 Amens
Living Lives of Consequence
The Resurrection of Jesus Christ gives us confidence that living all out for his purposes will not be a life lived in vain. To live lives of consequence means paying the cost in prayer, giving, and service.
0 Amens
Tough Questions - Suffering
In week four of the Tough Questions series, we discuss, "How can a good God allow pain and suffering?"
0 Amens
Finding God In Times Of Emotional Trauma & Confusion
Pastor gives us a guide to staying on the right track amidst some of the difficulties of life.
0 Amens
The Movement of Grace
As Christians we must be a part of the Movement of Grace. We must seek to extend the Kingdom of God in our homes, our jobs, our communities and our world.
0 Amens
Will Your Faith Stand The Integrity Test?
Dick Dungan of Rejoice Ministries brings a Word concerning our relationship with Our Beloved Pastor George and he also shares a sermon on Will Your Faith Stand The Integrity Test? Podcast Legend: 00:00 – 38:15 – Worship 38:16 – 43:20 – Pastor George prays 43:21 – 44:48 – Cookie brings a Word 44:49 – 50:55 – Pastor George’s radio preview 50:56 – 52:47 – Various announcements 52:48 – 1:08:15 – Betty speaks then Cindi & Pastor pray with her 1:08:16 – 1:31:02 - Dick Dungan brings a Word concerning Our Beloved pastor George 1:30:03 – 1:53:30 – Dick Dungan of Rejoice Ministries shares on “Will Your Faith Stand The Integrity Test?” 1:53:31 – 2:03:42 – Closing Worship & Benediction
2 Amens
Philippians 1:27-30 - Heavenly Citizens
The Life we live matters. Today when people want to define what an Evangelical is we often forget that the Lordship of Christ extends to everyone area of our lives. We tend to focus on here and now when as Christians we should focus on our heavenly citizenship. We are heirs of the King, but far too often we seek the benefits of this world rather than the heavenly kingdom of which we claim we want to spend eternity. Why would anyone want to have a heavenly citizenship without holiness is just a reflection of how anemic and weak American Christianity is today. In this passage Paul gives us 3 avenues that will help redirect our loyalties toward the heavenly kingdom. They include: 1) The Call to live as worthy Citizens (27a), 2) The Distinctives of Worthy Citizens (27b-28), and 3) The Grace of Worthy Citizenship. For Paul the Gospel of Christ is first. The gospel must be the center pole of all that we do and any philosophy of ministry we have. The call to be a heavenly citizen is a call to salvation and be a disciple of Christ. Paul also shows how allegiance, spiritual steadfastness, teamwork, and fearlessness are character changes that will speak volumes to an outside world and to the Christian community about the supremacy of the Heavenly Kingdom. Finally Paul shows us that believing and suffering are given to us in our heavenly citizenship. The Philippians were all recipients of grace as they hade been given the gifts of salvation (believing) and suffering. If we only see grace to be only pleasant benefits and blessings then suffering will be seen to be anything but grace. This must be combated because it leads people away from the true God and the true Gospel.
0 Amens
The Road to the Cross
Prediction of Crucifiction..His suffering...gave his life as ransom for many...Bartimaeus's sight restored...
0 Amens
Keeping Perspective in Suffering (Romans 5:3-5)
As Christians we are to rejoice in our trials and sufferings because 1) they are part of God's agenda for us, 2) God will use them to forge a Christian hope in us, and 3) God will use them to forge a certain hope in us. Though we are tempted to disorientation and despair during times of suffering and trial, we can surely trust in God's promises and love to sustain us through trials, and even to bring a Godly rejoicing and hope in the midst of them.
0 Amens
The Fellowship of Faithful Sufferers (PM)
Adam preaches 2 Tim. 1:12-18. Paul continues to urge Timothy to share in the suffering of the Gospel without shame, faithfully holding to doctrine and joining the fellowship of other Christians who similarly suffer faithfully for the Gospel.
0 Amens
Enduring in the Covenant
In Hebrews 10:32-36, the writer gives us two commands to avoid covenant unfaithfulness: 1. We are called to remember the early days of our faith. 2. We are called to hold on to our confidence.
0 Amens
How Could A Good God Allow Suffering? 1 Peter 1: 3-12
How Could A Good God Allow Suffering? 1 Peter 1: 3-12
0 Amens
Something About George
We all miss Our Beloved Pastor George, each of us in our own way. Steve brings a unique message, dealing with a few of his qualities and how we each have, or can have those same qualities in our own life. Remember, you must move on and live your life in God's will.
0 Amens
Unashamed Suffering (PM)
Adam preaches 2 Tim. 1:8-12. This one long sentence from Paul highlights God's remarkable grace as the driving motivation for shameless suffering for the Gospel.
0 Amens
The Purpose of Suffering
It is Gods will to shape us into the image of His son, Jesus Christ. But, how does he accomplish this? James tells us that it begins with the testing of our faith, leads us towards patience, and ultimately brings us to maturity. There are many reasons that we resist such tests and trials, but the bottom line is this: trials are the very things God uses to mold us into the image of Christ—and there is no shortcut. Key Verses: Rom 8:28-29, Php 2:1-8, James 1:2-4, Php 4:11-13, 2Cor 11:23ff, 2Tim 4:6-8
0 Amens
Rejoice in Suffering
Suffering goes through steps: pain, then anger, then asks "why". The Three Benefits of Suffering are: 1)It Produces Endurance, 2) It reveals Character-makes external whats internal-2 Cor. 4:8-10, 2 Cor 4:16-18, 3) Suffering Gives More Hope.
0 Amens
Living In Suffering
When you become a Christian, there is some ‘fine print’ that is easy to miss. It goes something like this: “God will teach you how to love each other and trust in him through suffering. This serves as proof of his judgment that he makes you worthy to be in his kingdom.” In 1 Thes. 1:1-5, Paul teaches that you are to persevere in loving one another and learn to trust in God through “persecutions and afflictions”. It is by design that you grow through the difficult experiences of your life. This is how God judges you worthy to be part of is kingdom.
0 Amens
Gods Greatest Work
In church we hear stories of great miracles and are often even taught that we should expect them. Then, we are disillusioned when they fail to appear. Why the great disconnect between what we expect and what really happens? Could it be that we have not dared to acknowledge the truth? That is, that God more often works through suffering than through triumph. Key Verses: Daniel 3, Mark 14:32-42, Mark 15:22-39, 2Cor 12:7-10, 2Cor 4:7-12, 1Peter 4:12-19
0 Amens
"The Long View of Suffering: Of Martyrs and Bystanders"
Acts 7:55-60; Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16, 1 Peter 2:2-10, John 14:1-14 Acts 7:55-60. This is in many ways the sequel to my previous message on Palm Sunday. That Sunday's sermon dealt with many of the personal realities of how we deal with suffering in relation to God. That's the "short view"...suffering on an individual scope. Today takes a huge step back from that. We will glance at the powerful story of the intersection of one martyr--Stephen--and one bystander--Saul. But we won't let the drama and excitement of this powerful account eclipse what Luke, as author, was intending to convey through this story's setting in the grand scheme of his two-volume story we call Luke-Acts. In fact, such a perspective on the story grants us a powerful lesson on the "long view" of suffering--looking at it from God's perspective rather than ours. The main thrust of today's message is that when we take the long view of suffering, we share in God's kingdom in some extraordinary ways.
0 Amens
God Is Faithful! The Drought Is Over!
We had a time of sharing this week. It's always great to hear what God is doing in our midst and in our community.
0 Amens
Philippians 1:7-8 - Sources of Joyful Affection
Paul bases his affection on the Philippians on the confidence He has in God's work in their lives. The doctrine known as "The Perseverance of the Saints" (or "Eternal Security") is an essential orthodox belief that if adamantly rejection will destroy the Gospel of Grace and create another religion foreign to the teachings of Christ. Paul's affection was not motivated by merely earthly emotions but by Christ’s love for his people. We find in these few verses 3 sources for the affections that Paul had for the Philippians: 1) Affections in the center of his heart, 2) Affections of fellowship, and 3) Affections of Christ Himself. We must learn that our confident affections for others stem from knowing that their salvation (and ours) doesn't rest in their (or our) grip on God, but on God's grip on them (us). You will need to look at these verses and ask yourself: Is my faith a genuine saving faith in Christ - one that is authored by Him, sustained by Him, and will one day be completed by Him. Your answer to that question should convict you know how sinful it is not to have been possessed with the affection of Christ for each other as Paul was.
0 Amens
The Doctrine of Hell
This may be one of the toughest subjects to discuss in today's modern society. The idea that a loving God would cast people into eternal damnation not only challenges our faith but keeps us from sharing it with others. What is this place called "Hell"? Greg Farrand digs deep into scripture & the wisdom of great philosophers on this subject in an effort to better understand one of the most avoided subjects of our faith. This is profound insight; pivotal & relevant.
1 Amens
Job: Persevering Through Suffering (Job 1: 6-12, 38: 1-11)
There is not a more sympathetic character in the Bible than Job. Christians through the centuries have hurt for him as they have read the epic poem that is the book of Job. In this sermon we will look at Job’s emotional confusion as he processes the suffering that God permitted in his life.
0 Amens
The Apostle Paul An Instrument in the will of God
In Human terms Saul did not look like someone God could use. He was persecuting Christians. He was an instrument that God could use. Once he met the risen lord he was never the same again. The same passion that had led him to persecute Christians, led him to lead others to Christ.
0 Amens
Living Hope (1 Peter 1:3-9)
Peter speaks of the living hope given to us through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. When we perceive the events that happen to us through the lens of the resurrection, we find hope in every circumstance. We are living hope through our Living Hope, Jesus Christ.
0 Amens
In Control
Is God truly in control? Does he really have the whole world in his hands? There are times in our lives when it appears as if he is not in control, but Scripture attests that there has never been a moment when God was not in control. As we look at the story of Job, we will find a faith that trusts in God even when our worlds seem to be falling apart.
0 Amens
Acceptance and Rejection
There is a distinction between suffering and rejection. If Jesus only suffered, he would have been no different than an honored hero - a Martin Luther King, Jr., or a 9-11 firefighter. But he didn't just suffer. He was also rejected. Welcome to God's peculiar plan in which glory emerges in rejection.
0 Amens
Where Is God
When tough things happen in our lives, we are tempted to ask "Why God?" We are even tempted to ask "Where Is God?" in the midst of our suffering. Todd shares a message of hope and encouragement to help us see God in every situation.
0 Amens
The Dark Side of Palm Sunday: Lessons from a Worshipping Sufferer
If you’ve been around for Palm Sunday in the past, think back on those experiences. Recall the atmosphere of worship. Perhaps you were with a congregation that grabbed palm branches and waved them high during a jubilant hymn or song. Maybe you sang those famous words, sung on the very first Palm Sunday: “Hosanna in the highest! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” In most (if not all) our experiences of Palm Sunday, churches tended to pull out all the stops, coming in at 100% on the joy-meter. But there was a dark side to Palm Sunday, which we will explore today through the eyes of King David. Why dampen such a festive day? We’re willing to do it because the one person who saw and experienced the dark side of Palm Sunday was none other than Jesus Himself. Today, we’ll walk the Palm Sunday that Christ walked.
0 Amens
The Word of Suffering
A Word of Suffering John 19:28 John 19:28-29 Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, "I am thirsty." [29] A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus' lips. This cry from the cross should cause us to: 1. Realize the certainty of suffering. 2. Remain faithful to our calling to serve God. 3. Renew our commitment to Scripture. 4. Remember the work of Christ that brought salvation. 5. Recognize our own craving for sustenance.
0 Amens
Ordinary Radicals
Zach Bayer leads us to Matthew chapter 16 to look into the life of Christ and see what is truly means to take up our cross and follow Christ.
0 Amens
Facing Pain, Like Jesus
Jesus' experiences in the Garden of Gethsemane teach us how to handle trials and troubles in our lives. There are three parts to His experience that can help us.
0 Amens
Lose Your Religious God
Not even the most obedient among us obligates God to produce. His goal is our Christlikeness.
0 Amens
Going On In The Dark
Going On In The Dark (SERIES: Over the Rivers and Through The Providence -- The Psalms: Songs We Sing Along the Way) Psalm 88
0 Amens
The Scarlet Cord
Rehab's scarlet cord is still speaking today. It speaks to us about the suffering of our Savior, the seriousness of our sin, and Jesus' sacrifice for sinners.
0 Amens
The Hand of the Lord
I preached this sermon with my friends at Taft Avenue Community Church in Orange, CA during their missions conference. This passage from Acts encouraged them pray that the hand of the Lord would use their ordinary lives to make their churches, in their community, a center for the Gospel mission as he did in the church in Antioch.
0 Amens
We've All ... Been There & Said That
We've All ... Been There & Said That (SERIES: Over the Rivers and Through The Providence -- The Psalms: Songs We Sing Along the Way) Psalm 22
0 Amens
20080217; Deut. 16:1-12
the bread of affliction, foretells Christ and his suffering on our behalf.
0 Amens
Philippians 1: Joy in the Midst of Suffering
It is possible to experience joy in the midst of your suffering
0 Amens
Changing Your Perspective
How do you deal with the tough times in your life? Do you withdraw from others and focus on your problem, or do you focus on Christ who can help you through your struggles? Join us as we look at 1 Peter 4 and share about how to change our perspective on suffering.
0 Amens
What Does Christ Think of the Church? Suffering
This week's sermon focuses on why we suffer and how we can suffer better.
0 Amens
God never tests the dream, only the dreamer
Jesus doesn't promise that if we become his followers he’ll shield us from suffering. In fact, it's just the opposite! When we become serious about spreading the truth of Jesus, we become willing to risk EVERYTHING.
0 Amens
Suffering
This is a highly controversial message about the inheritance of believers. It outlines the precious privilege of the saints to suffer for Jesus' Name sake and the joy therein. Beware it is heavy and very challenging. Feel free to email the Preacher through craigireland@inbox.com
4 Amens
Sorrowful Unto Death
In one of the most moving passages in the Gospel, Mark recounts Jesus' agony in the Garden of Gethsemane. As one commentary put it, "On the cross Jesus' body was crucified; in the Garden, his soul was crucified." We see Jesus stagger under the weight of "the cup," a Biblical image describing God's just punishment of sin. In the Garden, the Father gives Jesus a glimpse of the hell that awaits him if he chooses the cross. In a final act of surrender, Jesus settles the issue in prayer and rises from his knees to give his life.
0 Amens