WHY GOD LETS PEOPLE SUFFER

Lesson 6:  To Make us Like Him

Phillipians 3:10 I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings

I.  Review

        Lesson1  Ecc.3:1  There is a time for everything and a time for every

                              activity under heaven

        Lesson 2  Job 40:8  Will you condemn Me that you may be justified?

                Jos.24:15  Choose for yourselves today whom you will  

                                 serve

        Lesson 3  Pr.3:12  The Lord disciplines those He loves

        Lesson 4  Jos.22:20  And he did not perish alone for his iniquity

        Lesson 5  Ps119:50 My comfort in my suffering is this, that Your  

                                promise preserves my life

        Lesson 6 Php.3:10  I want to know Christ and the power of His

                                resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in His              

                                sufferings

II.  To make us like Him:

A.  Why study Jesus’ suffering? (discussion question)

1.  LK 9:23 Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come

                                    after me, he must deny himself and take up his  

                                    cross daily and follow me.”

2.  To know Christ:  How to always live as a child of God

3. The power of His resurrection:  His power to overcome sin and death

4.  To fellowship of sharing His sufferings:  He understands

        B. To know Christ is to know what He went through, why He went

               through it and how He behaved during His ordeal.

                1. What is the cross about? Why did Jesus have to die such a

                horrible death? (discussion question) (Lk. 24:45-49)

                2. Read 1Pet.2:19-21 (discussion question)  ans. leaving you an    

                example for you to follow in His steps.

                3.  Synoptic gospels, one eye

                        a. Foreknowledge did not make the ordeal easier (Mt.

                        26:31-46, Mk. 14:32-42, Lk. 22:39-44)

                        b.  How to behave during unjust suffering: (See above)

1) Pray fervently

2) Do not fight back or seek revenge (Mt.1411-14, Mk.15:16-32)

        c.  Three lessons from Jesus on the cross

        1) to forgive (Lk. 23:32-34)

        2) To have and show the peace that God is with you

                           and heaven is waiting for you (Jesus’ peace, see 2a.)

        3)  Keep ministering to others (Lk. 23:39-43)

        C.  The power of His resurrection

        1.  Discussion Question 3

                2. Been forewarned of our suffering: (Ecc.3:1-8, Ro. 5:1-3, Jas.

     5:10-11, 1Pe.4:12-17)

C.3.  Choices

a.  Try to avoid trouble, avoid entanglements

b.  Resent our lot, grumble at our hardships

c.  The power of His resurrection -With the help of the

                             Holy Spirit, we can face hardship as Jesus did.

        1) Accept our hardship without fighting back

        2) Forgive our persecutors

        3)  Show the peace of God and heaven

        4)  Keep ministering to others

        D.  The fellowship of sharing in His sufferings. He understands ours.

        1.  What it means to lose everything (prestige, friends, glory)

        2.  Not a question of deserving

        3.  Have family desert you or turn on you, to be alone

        4.  Physical pain

        5.  Fatigue (Jn 4:4-8, Jesus at the well)

        6.  Pressure  (Too much to do, too little time) (Mk. 3:13-20)

        E. Discussion question 4:  While rejoicing in the resurrection, why it

             it important also to study Jesus suffering?