Playlist:

playlist Go to the Suffering and Growth (topic) playlist

Perfect Through Suffering

Sermonette by Bill Onisick

As we follow the pattern set by Jesus Christ, we will suffer as God prepares us for roles of great glory as members of His Family.


God's Correction of His Children

CGG Weekly by Mike Fuhrer

Trials provide an opportunity to inspect our attitudes and actions, prompting us to make adjustments, avoiding further, harsher correction from the Almighty.


Why Adversity? (Part Two)

CGG Weekly by Gary Montgomery

God has called us to become His children and live as He does. But with this gift comes a few things that are less enjoyable but necessary for the process.


Joy and Trial

'Ready Answer' by Mike Ford (1955-2021)

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?


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.


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.


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.


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.


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 Does God Allow Us to Be Afflicted?

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

In God's hands, trials and afflictions are tools to produce refined character and joy, and to move us away from worldly choices and back to His purpose.


Job: Things Left Unsaid

Sermon by David C. Grabbe

Even the accuser of the brethren made no accusations against Job, the first of several curious absences—things left unsaid—in the book of Job.


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.


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.


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.


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.


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.


Job and Self-Evaluation (Part Two): Perspective

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Job's three 'friends,' exemplars of all men, made critical assumptions and judgments about Job on the basis of biased religious and cultural tradition.


The Miracles of Jesus Christ: The Resurrection of Lazarus (Part One)

Bible Study by Martin G. Collins

Among Christ's greatest miracles is the resurrection of Lazarus. John 11 details Jesus' approach to and way of expressing the concept of death, giving hope.


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.


Hebrews: A Message for Today

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

The book of Hebrews provides reasons to recapture flagging zeal, focusing on the reason for our hope and faith, establishing Christ's credentials.


Reflections on the COVID-19 Pandemic

Sermon by David C. Grabbe

Lessons learned from COVID, as well as possible reasons God allowed or caused the pandemic to sweep through the church and wreak havoc on Feast observance.


Ecclesiastes Resumed (Part Twenty-Seven)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Solomon exercised a lifetime of hard work trying to find answers, but fell short because some things are discoverable only through God's revelation.


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.


Hebrews (Part Two)

Sermon/Bible Study by John W. Ritenbaugh

Hebrews is addressed to a people living at the end of an era, who were drifting away, had lost their devotion, and were no longer motivated by zeal.


Contentment

Sermon by John O. Reid

Many people live in a state of discontent. Tragically, what they set their hearts upon often displaces the love for family and a relationship with God.


Fast or Famine

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

God has used famine as one of the tools to get the Israelites' attention when they violated the terms of the Covenant with Him, forsaking His holy law.


In The Likeness of Men!

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

Jesus was subjected to the same experiences as the rest of us, having the appearance, experiences, the capability of receiving injury and suffering temptation.


Genesis 3:17-19: Consequences for Adam

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Adam sinned, having abdicated his leadership position. His posterity has been cursed with overwhelming toil just to stay ahead. We are perfected by hardship.


Acts (Part Ten)

Sermon/Bible Study by John W. Ritenbaugh

The martyrdom of Stephen had the paradoxical effect of spreading the Gospel into Gentile venues, enabling individuals like Cornelius to be added to Christ.