…an eight week study of 1 Corinthians 12-14 discovering God’s desire for you and the church! 3

Job 1:1-3 1 In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil. 2 He had seven sons and three daughters, 3 and he owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen and five hundred donkeys, and had a large number of servants. He was the greatest man among all the people of the East. 6

Job 1:1-3 1 In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil. 2 He had seven sons and three daughters, 3 and he owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen and five hundred donkeys, and had a large number of servants. He was the greatest man among all the people of the East. Job is a stud. He feared God and shunned evil. One day Satan came to God and said “of course Job is upright, you have blessed every work of his hand. Take away everything that he has and he will surely curse you” God says “He is in your hands, do what you please with him but do not touch him.” Job looses everything. Cattle, servants, family, etc… “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised” Satan goes back to God and says “of course he will still praise you, he still has his health, strike his flesh and bones and he will surely curse you to your face.” God says, “Ok but you must spare his life” Satan goes out and afflicted Job with “painful sores from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.” “Then Job took a piece of broken pottery and scraped himself with it as he sat among the ashes.” His wife came to him and said, “Are you still holding onto your integrity? Curse God and die!” Job responds, “Shall we accept good from God and not trouble?” The rest of the book Job and his two friends debate why this happened and how Job should respond to this suffering. They give him some bad advice. 7

1 Peter 4:12-19 12Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. 13But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. 14If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 15If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. 16However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. 17For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18And,    "If it is hard for the righteous to be saved,       what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?“ 19So then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good. 9

Jesus Calls Us To Suffer 1 Peter 4:12 12Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. 10

Jesus Calls Us To Suffer 1 Peter 4:12 12Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. 11

Jesus Calls Us To Suffer Matthew 16:24 24Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. What does it look like to “take up our cross”? 12

Jesus Calls Us To Suffer Matthew 16:24 24Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. What does it look like to “take up our cross”? 13

Jesus Calls Us To Suffer 2 Timothy 3:10-12 10You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, 11persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. 12In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. 14

Jesus Calls Us To Suffer Romans 8:16-17 16The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. 17Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. 15

Jesus Calls Us To Suffer Philippians 1:29 29For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him. 16

Jesus Calls Us To Suffer Philippians 1:29 29For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him. 17

2. How will you respond? 18

2. How will you respond? We can ignore it. 19

2. How will you respond? We can ignore it. We can let it make us bitter. 20

2. How will you respond? We can ignore it. We can let it make us bitter. We can let God make us better. 21

2. How will you respond? 1 Peter 4:13-16 13But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. 14If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 15If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. 16However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. 22

Rejoice! 2. How will you respond? 1 Peter 4:13-16 13But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. 14If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 15If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. 16However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. Rejoice! 23

3. How do we rejoice amidst suffering? 24

3. How do we rejoice amidst suffering? Listen for what God is teaching us through this pain. 25

“God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks to us in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: It is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” - C.S. Lewis 26

How do we rejoice amidst suffering? James 1:2-4 2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 27

How do we rejoice amidst suffering? James 1:2-4 2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 28

How do we rejoice amidst suffering? Romans 5:1-5  1Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. 29

How do we rejoice amidst suffering? Romans 5:1-5  1Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. 30

How do we rejoice amidst suffering? Matthew 16:24-16  24Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. 26What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? 31

Is anything worth more than your soul? - Jesus 32

How do we rejoice amidst suffering? Matthew 16:24-16  24Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. 26What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? 33

“There is no other way the world is going to see the supreme glory of Christ today, unless we break free of the Disneyland of America and begin to live lifestyles of missionary sacrifice that looks to the world like our treasure is in heaven and not on the earth.” - John Piper 34

Fields of the Fatherless Tom Davis 35

37

38

“If we aren’t careful, our success and security and abundance can lead to a certain sort of boredom, a numbing predictability, a paralyzing indifference that comes from being too comfortable.” - Rob Bell 39

3. How do we rejoice amidst suffering? Listen for what God is teaching us through this pain. Identify with each other’s pain. 40

3. How do we rejoice amidst suffering? Listen for what God is teaching us through this pain. Identify with each other’s pain. God uses suffering to expose our idols. 41

3. How do we rejoice amidst suffering? Listen for what God is teaching us through this pain. Identify with each other’s pain. God uses suffering to expose our idols. God is God and I am not 42

At some point we have to stop asking the question “why”. 43

I can’t believe in a god that… 44

I can’t believe in a god that… or I don’t want anything to do with a god who would… 45

How do we rejoice amidst suffering? Isaiah 40:13 13 Who has understood the mind of the LORD,        or instructed him as his counselor? 46

How do we rejoice amidst suffering? Isaiah 55:7-9 7 Let the wicked forsake his way        and the evil man his thoughts.        Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him,        and to our God, for he will freely pardon.  8 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts,        neither are your ways my ways,"        declares the LORD.  9 "As the heavens are higher than the earth,        so are my ways higher than your ways        and my thoughts than your thoughts.” 47

Application 1 Peter 4:17-19 17For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18And,    "If it is hard for the righteous to be saved,       what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?“ 19So then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good. 48

Application 1 Peter 4:17-19 17For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18And,    "If it is hard for the righteous to be saved,       what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?“ 19So then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good. 49

6 On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone- Job 38:1-7 1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the storm. He said:  2 "Who is this that darkens my counsel        with words without knowledge?  3 Brace yourself like a man;        I will question you,        and you shall answer me.  4 "Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation?        Tell me, if you understand.  5 Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know!        Who stretched a measuring line across it?  6 On what were its footings set,        or who laid its cornerstone-  7 while the morning stars sang together        and all the angels shouted for joy? 50

3 Then Job answered the LORD :  4 "I am unworthy—how can I reply to you?        I put my hand over my mouth.  5 I spoke once, but I have no answer—        twice, but I will say no more." 52