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Week Sixteen: Suffering

The person will grow in their understanding of suffering and God’s purpose in it.

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Meeting Outline

Scriptures
James 1:2-4 1 Peter 1:3-9 Romans 5:1-5 Philippians 3:7-10 2 Cor 4:16-18 Romans 8:28 2 Cor 1:3-11
Discussion Questions
  • How has your week been spiritually? / What is God teaching you?
  • What do you believe about suffering?
  • How do you differentiate between suffering and the consequences for our sin?  
  • Read James:1:2-4. What does this passage teach us about the purpose of trials & suffering?
  • Why can we “consider it joy” as we walk through trials? 
  • Read 1 Peter 1:3-9. What does this passage teach us about suffering?
  • How do we find hope in the midst of suffering?
  • Is suffering forever? 
  • What does this passage teach us about the purpose of trials and suffering?
  • Read Romans 5:1-5. What does this passage teach us about suffering?
  • Read Philippians 3:7-10. What does this passage teach us about Paul’s view of suffering?
  • Read 2 Cor 4:16-18. What does this passage teach us about how we walk through suffering?
  • Read Romans 8:28. How does this truth help us navigate trials and suffering in our lives?
  • Read 2 Cor 1:3-11. What does it mean that God comforts us in our trouble? 
  • Why does God comfort us? 
  • How does our conversation today change your view of suffering?

Going Deeper

Application

Common Misconceptions

  • Address Common Misconceptions.
  • God has promised all Christians ease, happiness, and comfort in this life. The Bible is clear that God is not working to deliver to us our personal definition of happiness. He is after something far better, our holiness. 
  • Suffering is God punishing us. As a Christian, God cannot punish us for sin that Jesus has already paid for in full on the cross! It would defy His character.
  • God will eliminate all suffering on this side of eternity. Although God can heal, we must never presume that he must, on this side of heaven. God does heal in some situations. However, in some, He does not. In the Bible, we see both healing and suffering used for His glory!
  • How could a good God allow all this evil and suffering in the world? Every person at some point in their life will probably wrestle with this question. Here’s what we have to understand. For God to eliminate evil means that he would have to eliminate all evil which would include me and you. Right now, God has offered grace to all sinners and an opportunity to repent before His 2nd coming where he will eradicate evil once and for all!

Common Next Steps

  • Gain a better understanding of suffering and God’s purpose in it. 
  • Learn to run to God in our trials and suffering rather than away.
  • Allowing God to use our trials and suffering to encourage others. Many times our greatest hardships will lead to our greatest ministry and our greatest pain will often lead to our greatest service to others.
Links/Downloads
Suffering: Gospel Hope When Life Doesn’t Make Sense What does the Bible say about suffering? Why does God allow us to go through trials and tribulations? Suffering by Paul David Tripp Walking with God through Pain and Suffering by Tim Keller

Additional Resources

Further Study

Coming Soon!

Links/Downloads