Sermons about Suffering

The Best is Yet to Come

Date: April 30, 2023 | Speaker: Phil Pike

Why does it seem like evil men prosper and get away with everything, while Christians who are living for God seem to suffer and struggle without relief? It’s dangerously easy to become disillusioned with life when we get our eyes off God and begin looking at people instead. Our natural tendency is always to compare ourselves with others and conclude that everyone else has it easier than we do, but there’s a vital truth we must never forget. By turning our focus back to God and the truth of His Word, things will become clear once again as we remember that the pleasures and possessions of this world are only temporary. The joys and glories that await true believers cannot be compared to anything in this life, so when you’re tempted to think God is being unfair, just remind yourself that the best is yet to come, and everything will be made right in the end.

Saying Yes to a Costly Call

Date: January 22, 2023 | Speaker: Phil Pike

God called Isaiah to spend the rest of his life preaching to a rebellious nation, and was told that no one would listen to his message. That was a difficult assignment! God also calls us to step out and obey Him in various ways throughout our life, and those calls are seldom convenient or easy. Saying yes to God always comes with a cost. It requires laying aside our own desires and plans, and even being willing to suffer and die, if necessary. The call may be hard, but there is no safer, more rewarding place to be than right where God is leading you! Will you be ready to answer God’s calls when they come?

The Destructive Consequences of Our Sin

Date: August 7, 2022 | Speaker: Phil Pike

One little bug can’t harm a whole crop, but a swarm of locusts can devour and destroy an entire countryside in just minutes! We may not think that our “little” sins will ever harm anyone else, but the ripple effects might actually be felt for generations to come. The book of Joel describes a time when God’s people and their land suffered complete devastation as a result of their sin, and there was only one way to fix it. God called them to be genuinely brokenhearted, to repent of their sin, and to return to Him. If they did this, He promised to restore what they had lost and pour out His blessings upon them once again. If you are away from God right now and suffering the consequences of your sin, you don’t have to stay there! Return to Him today and receive the forgiveness and blessing He longs to give you.

The Blessing of Being Humbled

Date: July 17, 2022 | Speaker: Phil Pike

The refining furnace that God sometimes puts us in is both necessary and beautiful. He places us there because—simply put—we need it. Being humbled tests us, proves us and drives us to God; and ultimately, anything that does that is a blessing! Don’t resent those times when God is breaking you of yourself. Thank Him for it and trust in His unfailing wisdom and goodness.

IMPORTANT NOTE:
Prior to bringing this second sermon in the Unravel Part 4 series, pastor Phil was away for several months recovering from a heart attack and open-heart surgery. That is the reason for the time gap between the first and second sermon in this series.

You can watch the first sermon from Jonah chapter 1 entitled: “God’s Mercy in Our Failures” by clicking this link.

Colossians – Part 3

Date: February 13, 2022 | Speaker: David Cannon

Paul’s letter to the believers in Colossae is packed full of encouragement for them, warnings about false teachings, and instructions on relating to one another. Join us as we step through this powerful letter and apply the truths found here to our own lives, church, and relationships.

Rejoicing at His Birth

Date: December 12, 2021 | Speaker: Phil Pike

Expectant parents eagerly await the birth of their first baby, and when it arrives, they share the good news with everyone! The birth of Jesus was highly anticipated and joyfully announced by angels. But sadly, Jesus was hated and rejected most of His life, even right up to His death. This Christmas, let’s take some time to fully appreciate all that He endured to bring salvation to us.

It Shall Be Well

Date: September 19, 2021 | Speaker: Phil Pike

History is filled with the accounts of men and women whose lives were overwhelmed with suffering, pain and loss, yet because of their faith in Christ, they could still say with confidence that all will be well. How is it possible for someone to go through such devastating trials and still know that God is good? Trouble and heartache will visit us all in this life. Do you know how to stand firm when the storms begin to blow?

Having a Strong Faith in Weak Times

Date: June 13, 2021 | Speaker: Phil Pike

American Christians have had it easy for a very long time. It really hasn’t cost current generations anything to follow Christ. That’s a blessing, but it has sadly created a sense of apathy and entitlement in the church, causing Christians to always want the easiest, most convenient path. That kind of faith will never withstand the tests that are most certainly coming for the church! We must begin right now to put our own desires aside and make certain that we are rooted deeply in Christ, and that we are living wholly for His mission.

The Priority and Power of Worship

Date: May 16, 2021 | Speaker: Phil Pike

There is an amazing secret in the Book of Psalms that has the ability to transform our entire perspective on the troubles and trials we all go through. Regardless of what you’re facing right now, this simple step will lift your eyes and heart to God and remind you that He is still in complete control over all the circumstances in your life. Will you trust Him with your struggles today?

Turning and Trusting – Part 2

Date: May 9, 2021 | Speaker: Kevin Hodge

The Bible tells us that those who trust in God are “blessed”. However, trusting in God during uncertain times can be difficult. Jeremiah 17 reminds us that God has provided us with everything we need to trust in Him and when we stay connected to Him during challenging times, God uses us to impact the lives of those around us and to ultimately bring Him glory. God is worthy and able to carry us through whatever journey we are on. Are you trusting in Him today?

From Barrenness to Blessedness

Date: January 10, 2021 | Speaker: Phil Pike

There are times in life when God allows us to go through seasons of barrenness. We feel emptied of the joy and hope we once knew. God uses these trials to test us and grow our faith, and if we will allow the hardships to make us better instead of bitter, God will bring us through to a place of blessedness once again, where we are much stronger than we were before.

God Has Not Forgotten You

Date: November 29, 2020 | Speaker: Phil Pike

After a year like 2020 it’s easy to have moments of anxiety, fear and panic, and even to wonder at times if God has forgotten you in the midst of all the chaos. Noah must have felt the same way during that long year when he was closed off inside the ark. Yet during that terrible trial, we read the beautiful words, “But God remembered Noah,” and we discover that he had never been out of God’s care for a single day! Whatever struggle you may be facing right now, take heart in knowing that God has not forgotten you!