CALMNESS OR CALAMITY

•    many events cause upset in life

THE QUESTION

•    “How can a loving God allow people to suffer?”
•    Foodgrains Bank attempting to help refugees despite MidEast strife
•    tribulation to be expected in this life, but Jesus overcomes
•    puzzling because God’s wisdom is beyond our capacity

THE 7 PILLARS: FOUNDATIONAL REVEALED TRUTHS

1) God’s character is loving, good, and righteous.
2) He has given us freedom to choose to love Him, or reject Him.
3) This freedom resulted in a fallen world with evil, sin, and real dangers.
4) God intensely desires restored fellowship with us.
5) God’s love is so great that He gave up His only Son to restore that relationship.
6) But sin remains in our fleshly body, the spiritual realm including the devil, and the physical world temporarily.
7) We can trust His finished work because He defeated death/sin by His sinless death & resurrection.

THE 6 HUNCHES: WORKING HYPOTHESES

Hunch 1: Evil is real and people are blinded by their sin
Hunch 2: God has a benevolent plan, even when it’s not obvious
Hunch 3: There is no innocence; we are all guilty
Hunch 4: Suffering can lead to repentance
Hunch 5: Suffering can lead to a deeper dependence on God
Hunch 6: Consider God’s past dealings

UPSHOT: REPENT! SUFFERING WAKES US FROM SIN’S SPELL

•    Prodigal’s father longs for him to clue in and come home
•    Jesus by suffering overcomes: our pain a platform to appreciate Him