Sermon Resources on adversity
Search by topic, scripture, category etc..
87 Results in 737ms
Display
Sorted By
-
Quote
Resilience is the virtue that enables people to move through hardship and become better. No one escapes pain, fear, and suffering. Yet from pain can come wisdom, from fear can come courage, from suffe... -
illustration
Prayer in Difficult Times in the U.S.S.R.
Even atheists find ways to pray. During the heady days of Communism in Russia, party stalwarts kept a “ red corner,” placing a portrait of Lenin where Christians used to keep their icons. Caught up in... -
illustration
The Maturation Process of the Soul
The human soul is like a fine wine that needs to ferment in various barrels as it ages and mellows. The wisdom for this is written everywhere, in nature, in scripture, in spiritual traditions, and in ... -
illustration
Surrounded by a Great Cloud of Witnesses
In his book Unshakeable Faith , Max Lucado shares a true story about a friend who competed in an Ironman Triathlon in Lake Placid, New York. You can compete in Ironman races around the world in p... -
illustration
The Agony & The Ecstasy
During the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, Japanese gymnast Shun Fujimoto broke his right knee while competing in the floor exercise. At the time, Japan and the Soviet Union fielded the world's ... -
Quote
The dangers and hardships for the faithful are real indeed. Truth is tested and faith is confirmed not in idle speculation but in the crucible of adversity. Those who wish to find a more vibrant relig... -
illustration
Not Getting Comfortable
Sir Ewan Cameron of Lochiel (1629–1719) was a legendary Scottish Highland chieftain, famously reputed to have killed the last wolf in Scotland. Known for his fierce leadership and rugged Highland spir... -
Quote
In spite of everything I shall rise again: I will take up my pencil, which I have forsaken in my great discouragement, and I will go on with my drawing. -
Quote
The human capacity for burden is like bamboo – far more flexible than you’d ever believe at first glance. -
illustration
Who cannot relate in the digital age
Who cannot relate in the digital age to the irony of being overconnected and lonely all at once? Yet Chief Justice John Roberts, speaking at his son’s middle school graduation, exhorted the young grad... -
scripture guide
Scripture Guide, Psalm 22 (Guide B)
Ancient lens What’s the historical context? A Structured Complaint The Psalmist organizes his complaint against God in three sections. The first two sections dramatize the complaint (vv. 1-11 and... -
illustration
Climbing the Wall
I…vividly remember one of my teachers telling the story of three young boys whose route to school went alongside a high wall. Every day as the boys walked to school, they wondered what was on the othe... -
illustration
Trust: That Rare & Priceless Treasure
Trust is that rare and priceless treasure that wins us the affection of our heavenly Father. For him it has both charm and fascination. Among his countless children, whom he so greatly loves and whom ... -
illustration
Walking the Dog as an Analogy for Adversity
In C. S. Lewis’ classic work Mere Christianity , the English apologist compares God’s use of adversity to walking a dog on a leash. When the dog wraps its leash around a pole and tries to move fo... -
illustration
Will It Float?
David Letterman’s old late-night segment “Will It Float?” once inspired our staff to fill a huge water tank, place it at the front of an auditorium, and ask three thousand people to vote which of a se... -
liturgy
A blessing for the courage to try
A blessing for the courage to try Blessed are you, faced with the impossible. You who do not take your eyes away from what threatens to swallow you whole. You who stare down reality, tho... -
series
Psalm 22 | Feeling Forsaken by God
Ancient lens What’s the historical context? A Structured Complaint The Psalmist organizes his complaint against God in three sections. The first two sections dramatize the complaint (vv. 1-11 and... -
Quote
The waters are rising, but so am I. I am not going under, but over. -
blog
St Patrick's Day: Remembering the Dreamer, Missionary, and Hero
The Life of Saint Patrick So I am first of all a simple country person, a refugee, and unlearned. I do not know how to provide for the future. But this I know for certain, that before I was brought ... -
scripture guide
Scripture Guide, Psalm 46
“Historical insecurity” and “cosmic instability” are the ingredients of existential fear that inspire this Psalm of Trust, according to James Mays in his Interpretation Commentary series on the Psal... -
lectionary
24th Sunday after Pentecost
Preaching Commentary “Historical insecurity” and “cosmic instability” are the ingredients of existential fear that inspire this Psalm of Trust, according to James Mays in his Interpretation Comment... -
lectionary
Ninth Sunday after Pentecost
AIM Commentary Ancient Lens “ What’s the historical context?” Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled A contemporary commentator ends each daily program with these words, “Let not your hearts be trou... -
scripture guide
Scripture Guide, Revelation 1:4-8
Ancient Lens What can we learn from the historical context? A Letter to Real People In the understanding of, and preaching on, any section of the Revelation of John , it is critical to know that t... -
scripture guide
Scripture Guide, Galatians 6:1-16
A Tough Way to Start Ministry You don’t have to spend much time on Twitter or Facebook to be reminded that schadenfreude (taking joy from another's misfortune) is alive and well. Depending on w... -
scripture guide
Scripture Guide, Galatians 3:23-29
The Law The ambiguous place of the law in Christian thought can be seen historically in battles between antinomians and legalists, each side finding New Testament support, and the present text would ... -
Quote
It is only through labor and painful effort, by grim energy and resolute courage, that we move on to better things. -
lectionary
Fourth Sunday after Pentecost
preaching commentary A Tough Way to Start Ministry You don’t have to spend much time on Twitter or Facebook to be reminded that schadenfreude (taking joy from another's misfortune) is alive a... -
lectionary
Second Sunday after Pentecost
Preaching commentary The Law The ambiguous place of the law in Christian thought can be seen historically in battles between antinomians and legalists, each side finding New Testament support, and ... -
lectionary
Second Sunday of Easter, Revelation 1:4-8
Preaching Commentary Ancient Lens What can we learn from the historical context? A Letter to Real People In the understanding of, and preaching on, any section of the Revelation of John , it is ... -
scripture guide
Scripture Guide, Luke 13:31-35
Ancient Lens What can we learn from the historical context? On the Road to Jerusalem Luke 13 begins with Jesus teaching on the nature of the kingdom of God and it concludes with our passage, in w...
Page 1 of 3
Search by Topic
A
B
C
- Calling (8)
- Challenges (30)
- Change (4)
- Character (7)
- Character Transformation (1)
- Children of God (1)
- Christ's Suffering (4)
- Christian Character (2)
- Christian Leadership (4)
- Church Conflict (1)
- Circumstances (3)
- Coaching (1)
- Comeback (1)
- Comfort (3)
- Comfort Zone (1)
- Commonality (1)
- Confidence (1)
- Conflict (8)
- Connectedness (1)
- Control (2)
- Courage (2)
- Crises (1)
- Criticism (6)
- Cry (2)
- Crying Out To God (2)
- Curiosity (1)
- The Christian Faith (1)
D
E
F
G
- Gentleness (1)
- Getting Comfortable (1)
- Glory (3)
- Goals (1)
- God the Father (1)
- God with Us (1)
- God's Guidance (1)
- God's Invitations (1)
- God's Leading (1)
- God's Love (1)
- God's Nearness (1)
- God's Power (Omnipotence) (2)
- God's Presence (1)
- God's Protection (1)
- God's Sovereignty (3)
- God's Will (8)
- Grace (2)
- Graduation (1)
- Growth (1)
H
I
L
M
O
P
- Pain (1)
- Pain and Growth (1)
- Pain and Joy (2)
- Pastors (6)
- Paths (1)
- Peer Pressure (1)
- Persecution (2)
- Perseverance (21)
- Perseverance of the Saints (2)
- Persistence (3)
- Personal Transformation (1)
- Perspective (2)
- Physics (1)
- Planning (1)
- Power (6)
- Praise (2)
- Prayer (1)
- Preparation (2)
- Prison (1)
- Prisoners (1)
- Problems (3)
- Progress (1)
- Prosperity (2)
- Purpose (2)
- The Psalms (3)
R
S
- Sabbath (1)
- Salvation (2)
- Satan (2)
- Sea (1)
- Self-Achievement (1)
- Self-Control (4)
- Self-Sacrifice (1)
- Serving God (1)
- Setbacks (1)
- Slavery (1)
- Societal Problems (1)
- Spiritual Attacks (2)
- Spiritual Battles (6)
- Spiritual Disciplines (1)
- Spiritual Formation (1)
- Spiritual Growth (2)
- Spiritual Leadership (3)
- Spiritual Maturity (1)
- Spiritual Nurture (1)
- Spiritual Warfare (1)
- Sports (4)
- St. Patrick (1)
- Staying Positive (1)
- Stories (2)
- Storms (4)
- Strength (1)
- Strength of Character (1)
- Struggles (4)
- Struggling (1)
- Success (2)
- Suffering (14)
- Sweetness (1)
- The Saints (1)
- The Soul (2)
T
Search by Reference