Suffering & Trials

Find a sermon associated with this topic below.

Pastor Ryan preaches how God comforts us in our suffering so that we can actively steward our pain to comfort others. By walking through our trials in defiant, Christ-centered faith, we resist the enemy's desire to make our grief useless and instead allow God to transform our valley into a ground for ministry. Your brokenness can become a powerful witness of God’s grace and eternal hope.

Pastor Ryan shares how seasons of grief can serve as a refining furnace for our faith. By surrendering to Christ during our most difficult trials, we can discover a resilient joy that coexists with sorrow and draws us closer to Him. Watch to explore how God uses the valleys of life to cultivate an enduring hope that will carry you through any challenge.

Jesus, our great High Priest, has entered human suffering and invites us to draw confidently to the throne of grace. Three claims guide us: compassion comes near, compassion enters our pain, and compassion draws us nearer to God. Two invitations: if you are suffering, take a step to draw near to God and others; if you are not, intentionally draw near to someone who is. Let’s be a church that sits with sorrow and models Jesus’ tender goodness.

In a candid and heart-breaking message, Pastor Ryan walks us through the night of his son's self-harm and the weeks before his death. Using Psalm 23, he offers a theology meant to sustain life in the valley, not to erase grief, but to anchor it. He gives four truths to hold in suffering: God is with me; God is good when life is not; joy can exist in pain; and God can turn personal misery into ministry. Listen for the promise of God’s presence, often given before answers, and find companionship in the midst of loss.

What does it really cost to follow Jesus? Sometimes we think the price of discipleship is just giving a little more money, spending extra hours at church, or having awkward conversations about faith. But what if the cost is greater than that? What if following Jesus costs you your comfort, reputation, job opportunities, or future plans?

In a world filled with suffering and brokenness, how do we find the motivation to reach out to others? The answer lies in understanding how Jesus himself approached mission - with deep compassion that led to transformative action.

The worst thing in your life is not the last thing in your life. The resurrection of Jesus transforms how we face life's darkest moments, offering hope that our temporary struggles pale in comparison to eternal glory. What fears are you holding onto that you need to surrender to the One who conquered death itself?

In the darkness, Jesus cries "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" and breathes his last—descending to the absolute lowest point, experiencing the forsakenness we deserve, buried in a tomb as suffering reaches its depth and all hope seems lost.

Kingdom living isn’t waiting, it’s working. We’re called to embody heaven’s values here and now. Wherever God’s people go, the kingdom goes. God brings heaven to earth through us. This week equips and inspires the church to live sent—across the street and around the world.