Suffering Archives - Page 2 of 3 - Sermon Illustration Ideas

Calling Out

Cross, Easter, Emotional Pain, Good Friday, Hurt, Jesus' Death, John 19:17, John 19:18, John 19:32-33, Luke 23:33, Luke 23:47, Mark 15:24, Matthew 27:54, Pain, Physical Suffering, Suffering

This account from a medical doctor details the physical suffering of crucifixion: “The legionnaire … drives a heavy, square, wrought-iron nail through the wrist…

Dedication

1 John 3:13, 1 Peter 5:8, Acts 14:22, Acts 4:27-29, Advocacy, Civil Rights, Conviction, Dedication, Freedom, Imprisonment, Jail, John 15:18, Persecution, Protest, Suffering

When Martin Luther King Jr. was imprisoned in Birmingham for non-violent protests, he wrote the famous “Letter From Birmingham Jail” in reply to southern…

Confidence In Christ

Behalf, Christ, Christ's Work, Confidence, Deserve, Faith, Genesis 15:6, Grace, Habakkuk 2:4, Justification, Romans 4:5, Romans 5:1, Romans 8:28, Satisfaction, Suffering

“So when the devil throws your sins in your face and declares that you deserve death and hell, tell him this: ‘I admit that…

Blessed Are The Persecuted

1 Peter 4:12-14, 2 Timothy 3:12, Church, Eternity, Faith, John 15:18, Love, Luke 6:22, Matthew 5:10, Persecution, Perseverance, Religious Freedom, Remembrance, Shelter, Suffering

In a review from Christianity Today on the book They Say We Are Infidels: On the Run from ISIS with Persecuted Christians in the…

The Teeth of Suffering

1 Peter 5:10, 2 Corinthians 1:3, 2 Corinthians 4:17, Discipleship, God's Love, Love, Nature, Presence, Protection, Romans 5:3-4, Romans 8:18, Sovereignty, Suffering, Tragedy, Vision

“Our vision is so limited we can hardly imagine a love that does not show itself in protection from suffering. The love of God…

God’s Suffering

1 Corinthians 15:3, Acts 3:18, Hebrews 13:11-12, Isaiah 53:3-12, Love, Luke 17:25, Omnipotence, Power, Powerlessness, Sovereignty, Strength, Suffering, Support, Sympathy, Weakness

One of the 20th century heroes of our faith is Dietrich Bonhoeffer. He was a German pastor who led several efforts to condemn, resist,…

Spoiler Alert

1 Corinthians 15:52, Conflict, Excitement, Film, Hollywood, Luke 21:25-28, Matthew 24:44, Prequel, Present, Revelation 11:19, Revelation 22:12, Reward, Stress, Suffering, Tension

The problem with Hollywood putting out a prequel to one of your favorite films is that it loses a sense of tension for the…

Safety First

1 Peter 5:7, Accident, Avoidance, Feature, James 1:12, James 1:2-4, Perseverance, Romans 12:1-2, Romans 5:3-5, Safety, Suffering, Survival, Tragedy, Trial, Wisdom

Most safety features in your car are not meant to prevent an accident, but instead are there to make sure you survive through the…

On The Other Side

2 Corinthians 4:8-10, Comfort, God's Healing, God's Love, God's power, James 1:2-4, John 16:33, Loss, Preaching, Revelation 21:4, Romans 5:3-5, Suffering, Suicide, Sustain, Tragedy

When Rick Warren preached his first sermon after the suicide of his son, Matthew, the world was watching. Hearing how the pastor talked about…

Things In Common

Asylum, Brokenness, Communion, Community, Hebrews 13:2, Home, Isaiah 58:6-7, Matthew 25:35, Refugee, Revival, Romans 12:13, Shared Faith, Suffering, Titus 1:8, Unity

The refugee crisis is affecting the entire world as displaced people seek asylum and a permanent home after being driven away from their home…

Blessed Are Those Who Mourn

1 Thessalonians 4:13, Blessed, Evil, Grieve, Injustice, John 11:25-26, John 11:35-36, Luke 19:41-44, Matthew 5:4, Mourn, Pain, Psalm 119:136, Restoration, Revelation 21:4, Sin, Suffering

When you see sin in a blatant form it is easy to react. We can become sad, angry, confused, and display a variety of…

A Doubting Faith

1 Corinthians 15:5-8, Acts 14:15-18, Atheism, Doubt, Faith, James 1:5-8, John 20:24-29, Justice, Matthew 11:4-6, Right, Rules, Suffering, Unjust, Worldview, Wrong

“You have to show people that it takes faith to doubt Christianity. C. S. Lewis argued with God before his conversion that the universe…

The Stockdale Paradox

2 Corinthians 12:7-10, Comfort, Confidence, Endurance, Isaiah 40:29-31, Joy, Perseverance, Psalm 119:50, Psalm 22:24, Psalm 23:4, Running The Race, Seeking Truth, Suffering, Trust

In this video (3 minute mark), Dr. Dennis Charney explains the “Stockdale Paradox,” a way of thinking that acknowledges the challenge being faced while…

Adversity

2 Timothy 3:12, Acts 4:20, Adversity, Comfort, Isaiah 43:2, James 1:12, Joy, Luke 9:23-25, Overcoming, Redemption, Suffering, Trial, Trusting God, Victory, Witness

“Comfort and prosperity have never enriched the world as much as adversity has.” – Billy Graham The Lord is able to redeem difficult situations…

God Is Worthy

1 Thessalonians 5:18, 2 John 1:6, Faith, God's Will, Holiness, James 1:5, John 15:9, Missions, Obedience, Proverbs 16:4, Sanctification, Suffering, Trial, Trusting God, Unlimited Grace

Elisabeth Elliot was considered one of the most influential Christian women in the 20th century. She was the wife of martyred missionary Jim Elliot…

“What Christians Get Wrong About Discipleship”

Discipleship, Discipline, Faith, Growth, Guidance, John 13:34, Luke 9:23, Mark 1:15, Matthew 4:19, Obedience, Partnership, Philippians 2:5, Suffering, The Holy Spirit, Trials

“What is discipleship? Put simply, discipleship means intentionally partnering with another Christian in order to help that person obey Jesus and grow in relationship…

The Privilege of Suffering

1 Peter 4:13, Endurance, Faith, Faithfulness, Joshua 1:9, Joy, Overcoming, Philippians 3:10, Psalm 27:1, Romans 8:17, Sacrifice, Submission, Suffering, Surrender, Trust

Helen Roseveare was an English missionary who served in the Congo, enduring imprisonment and torture during its civil war. Of that traumatic time, she…

We Have Jesus

1 John 5:4, 2 Corinthians 4:17, Contentment, Ephesians 3:16-17, Faith, Happiness, Joy, Loss, Pain, Presence, Romans 15:13, Romans 5:3-5, Suffering, Trials, Trusting God

“You don’t really know Jesus is all you need until Jesus is all you have.”- Timothy Keller, Walking with God through Pain and Suffering When…

Suffering