Playlist:

playlist Go to the Suffering, Learning through (topic) playlist

Life Doesn't Work on a Balance Sheet (Part One)

CGG Weekly by David C. Grabbe

Our response to God's call has not removed all of our suffering. However, responding to God changes the reason for suffering and what it can accomplish.


No Pain, No Gain

Sermonette by Mike Ford

When you're up to your neck in trials, it's easy to forget you are in training to be a member of the God family.


Life Doesn't Work on a Balance Sheet (Part Two)

CGG Weekly by David C. Grabbe

Being God's Son was not enough to automatically qualify Him to be our High Priest. He was made complete and fully ready to be High Priest through sufferings.


Joy and Trial

'Ready Answer' by Mike Ford

What does the Bible mean when it says we should count it all joy when you fall into various trials? What is this joy we must experience, and how do we come by it?


God's Tools

Sermonette by Clyde Finklea

Spiritual maturity does not come about without difficulty, and suffering is one of God's tools to perfect us. Suffering refines endurance and character.


Why Do Bad Things Happen to Christians?

Article by Staff

Of all people, one might think, Christians should be the most blessed, yet they often fall under heavy trials. Why does God allow this? What is His purpose?


Running God's Marathon With Christ

Sermon by Mark Schindler

Christ endured many more than three temptations; rather, He was tested continuously, and perhaps the intensity increased as He neared the end of His life.


Are You Worthy of Your Calling?

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

Paul encourages the Thessalonians to thank God for their salvation, surrender without complaint, ask God for wisdom, and look for opportunities to serve.


Why is Life So Hard?

Sermonette by David C. Grabbe

The rigors God puts us through are not to crush us, but to shape us, transforming us into His image. True gain is walking through the anguish in victory.


Becoming Fearless

Sermon by Mark Schindler

When Job was afflicted with physical problems, he learned that God was using them to perfect him. Afflictions are intended to bind us together.


The Providence of God (Part One)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Calamities, trials, anxiety, evil, and calamities, as well as blessings, happen to Christians in order to become fashioned and molded into God's image.


Trials: Much Needed Experiences

Sermon by John O. Reid

God uses trials to test our hearts, but He never places a trial before us to tempt us. God uses trials we bring on ourselves to draw us closer to Him.


Faith to Face Our Trials

'Ready Answer' by Pat Higgins

Life seems to be one trial after another. However, God has revealed an astounding facet of God's love that should give us the faith to soldier on.


Why Are We Afflicted?

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

Affliction is a necessary aspect of life, yielding strength of character, while ease and comfort weaken us. Christ was perfected as High Priest through suffering.


Assurance (Part Three): Glory and Hope

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

The sufferings we go through are minuscule compared to the glory which we will receive, completely eclipsing the glory of Adam and Eve before their fall.


Wilderness Wandering (Part Five)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

Christ's suffering was not confined to crucifixion, but also consisted of rejection, humiliation, and the duress of persecution. Glory follows suffering.


The Christian Fight (Part One)

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh

Despite God's many blessings, real Christianity more resembles a running battle against persistent forces than a leisurely stroll down the path of life.


The Miracles of Jesus Christ: Healing a Man Born Blind (Part One)

Bible Study by Martin G. Collins

Only John records Jesus' healing of the man born blind, which shows Christ calling a people for Himself despite the efforts of the Jewish leaders to deter Him.


Trial by Fire

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Like a loving parent, God brings just the right pressures to bear to bring about necessary change in His children. Each trial has a place in His purpose.


Day By Day

Sermonette by Clyde Finklea

Ecclesiastes teaches us to rejoice when times are good and to reflect soberly when times are bad. Adversity is a tool God uses to create something beautiful.


Assurance (Part Two): Of the Path to Glory

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

We can be assured that we are God's heirs and offspring if we are led by the spirit, remaining on the sanctified path of fellowship, growing continually.


A Time for Thanksgiving (2008)

Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

Modern Israel seems to have great difficulty managing money because of an addiction to greed. Wealth, without a powerful character, is a destructive drug.


Philippians (Part Three)

Sermon/Bible Study by John W. Ritenbaugh

Paul conveyed to the Philippians his optimism that his imprisonment was actually a blessing, enabling him to magnify his effectiveness and bear more fruit.


Hebrews, Love, and the Ephesian Church

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Like the Ephesians, the weary veterans in Hebrews were becoming apathetic through outside pressures, losing their former zeal and devotion to Christ.


Facing Times of Stress: Persecution

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

Persecution involves a wide spectrum, ranging from torture, physical beating, social excommunication, imprisonment and death. Our boldness should match Paul's.


Wilderness Wandering (Part Two)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

If we yield to God's manipulation of our lives, we will handle stress constructively, developing a relationship with Him, bearing spiritual fruit.


Knowing Christ (Part 2)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Christ's sacrifice was not merely substitutionary, but representative, with Christ giving us a pattern for life - mortifying our flesh and putting out sin.


Thankfulness (1986)

Sermon/Bible Study by John W. Ritenbaugh

We need to give thanks for everything, blessings and trials. Christianity ought to be an exhilarating experience, but it depends on our outlook on life.


Lamentations (Part Six)

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

In Lamentations 3, the narrator finally convinces Lady Jerusalem that her own sins have caused her necessary punishment and affliction by God.


How God Deals With Conscience (Part Five)

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

Joseph knew and recognized his brothers before they knew him, even as God knows our guiltiest secret sins that we think we have effectively hidden.


Whom the Lord Loves He Chastens (Part One)

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

If we are not receiving God's correction or chastisement, we should be concerned! God's chastening is what He uses to sanctify His spiritual children.