1. Welcome! www.SunsetChurchofChrist.net
Bibles and copies of sermons are available Please silence your cell phones
Sunday Bible Classes 9:30 AM Worship 10:30 AM 5:30 PM Wednesday Bible Classes 7:00 PM

2. 2 Corinthians 8:13-15 The use of the contribution
“your abundance being a supply for their need”
What is need?
What is abundance?
The Collection of Manna as an example

3. 2 Corinthians 8:16-24
Titus and the famous brother Honorable in the sight of God AND men The proof of our love

4. 2 Corinthians 9:1-5
Boasting of the work of the brethren Giving affected by covetousness

5. 2 Corinthians 9:6-9
Sow sparingly and reap sparingly Rules: 1. We do as WE purpose in our hearts 2. Not grudgingly or under compulsion

6. 2 Corinthians 9:10-15
Ultimately God provides all things PURPOSE: Giving enriches the giver RESULT: The petitions of Saints

7. Welcome!
Bibles and copies of sermons are available Please silence your cell phones
Sunday Bible Classes 9:30 AM Worship 10:30 AM 5:30 PM Wednesday Bible Classes 7:00 PM

8. Psalm 107:11 Let them also offer sacrifices of thanksgiving, And tell of His works with joyful singing.
Hymns
Invitation
Red Songbook -
Supplemental

9. The Suffering Prophet Ezekiel 2
Ezekiel suffered form beginning to end in his work. He is called the “Son of Man” to emphasize this suffering

10. In Thistles and Thorns
Few were called to suffer like Ezekiel - Eating the grains of animals (Ezek. 4) - Laying on his side for 390 days (Ezek. 4) - Cut off his beard with a sword (Ezek. 5) - Dragged by his hair (Ezek. 8) - Destroying his home (Ezek. 12) - His wife is struck down (Ezek. 24)

11. All of this was at the hands of God!
In Thistles and Thorns
Few were called to suffer like Ezekiel - Poverty - Pain and suffering - Humiliation - Persecution - Physical loss - Loss of loved ones
All of this was at the hands of God!
- Eating the grains of animals (Ezek. 4)
- Laying on his side for 390 days (Ezek. 4)
- Cut off his beard with a sword (Ezek. 5)
- Dragged by his hair (Ezek. 8)
- Destroying his home (Ezek. 12)
- His wife is struck down (Ezek. 24)

12. In Thistles and Thorns
Why did Ezekiel have to unfairly suffer? (1) The consequences of the sins of his people (2) To reveal the righteousness of God (3) To be the “Son of Man”
1 – Ezekiel suffered because all Israel suffered because of their behavior. When wicked people act, all men suffer 2 – Ezekiel taught the people in his suffering about the way of God. They learned more from his pains than his words
3 – Ezekiel uniquely bore the title “Son of Man”. This is the title for Jesus, and from Ezekiel we learn it refers to suffering. Thus Ezekiel was sharing the reproach of Christ

13. Suffering
Suffering comes in many forms We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 2 Corinthians 4:8-9
Paul lists several types of suffering — mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual.

14. Suffering
Why do we suffer? Is God cruel? Did we sin? Are we being punished for the sins of others?
Some accuse God of cruelty for not ending suffering.
Some believe we suffer as a penalty for our own sins, or for the sins of others.

15. Suffering
Suffering is NOT: A punishment for our sins - Job Luke 13:1-5 Romans 6:23
The only way to end suffering is to end mankind – suffering is the result of sin alone, from beginning to end.

16. Suffering
Suffering is NOT: A punishment for our sins - Job A punishment for the sins of others Ezekiel 18
Eze 18:4 "Behold, all souls are Mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is Mine. The soul who sins will die.

17. Suffering
Suffering is NOT: A punishment for our sins - Job A punishment for the sins of others Evidence of the cruelty of God - Jesus Hebrews 2:16-18
Heb 2:16 For assuredly He does not give help to angels, but He gives help to the descendant of Abraham. 17 Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.

18. Suffering
Suffering is the result of free will and sin - Men have the choice to sin - Sin has consequences AND wages The wages are the eternal penalty Consequences occur here and now - Without consequences we might still sin We NEED consequences to avoid the penalty
The only way to end suffering is to end mankind – suffering is the result of sin alone, from beginning to end. We can logically understand this, but emotionally we don’t want it to be true. But because all men sin, the only solution would be (1) to let us be eternally lost or (2) to utterly wipe humanity out

19. Suffering
Suffering is the result of free will and sin - Men have the choice to sin - Sin has consequences AND wages The wages are the eternal penalty Consequences occur here and now - Without consequences we might still sin We NEED consequences to avoid the penalty
God permits limited suffering now to avoid immeasurable suffering later
God permits us to suffer for a short time now to avoid the eternal condemnation of hell. Like a parent who spanks a child to reject behavior that will cost them greatly in the future

20. Suffering
Suffering has value to the Christian 2 Corinthians 4:17 It keeps us focused It prepares us for the glory to come
2Co 4:17 For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, 18 while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
Job 42:5 "I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear; But now my eye sees You; Job 42:5 "I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear; But now my eye sees You;

21. Suffering
Suffering has value to the Christian 2 Corinthians 4:17 Job 42:5 It produces an intimacy with God
Job 42:5 "I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear; But now my eye sees You; Job 42:5 "I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear; But now my eye sees You;

22. Suffering
Suffering has value to the Christian 2 Corinthians 4:17 Job 42:5 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 It equips us to be a comfort to others We want to be comforted in sympathy
2Co 1:3 ¶ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ.
Jesus came to become sympathetic

23. Suffering
Suffering has value to the Christian Following Christ means sharing HIS sufferings Emotional, physical, spiritual, and mental
2Co 4:17 For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, 18 while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

24. Suffering What do I do about suffering? 1. Pray – James 5:13-16
Jas 5:13 Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; 15 and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him.

25. Suffering
What do I do about suffering? 1. Pray – James 5: Share – Galatians 6:2
Ga 6:2 Bear one another's burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.
1Th 5:14 We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone.

26. Suffering
What do I do about suffering? 1. Pray – James 5: Share – Galatians 6:2 3. Trust – 1 Peter 5:9-10
1Pe 5:9 But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. 10 ¶ After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you..

27. Suffering
What do I do about suffering? 1. Pray – James 5: Share – Galatians 6:2 3. Trust – 1 Peter 5: Read – Romans 15:4
Ro 15:4 For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
1Th 4:18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.

28. Hope
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us Romans 8:18
Here is the point. Everyone suffers. It forces us to focus on what is important. But for us, there is an actual value to suffering.

30. Purpose for Our Lives
1. By believing – 1 John 3:23 2. By confessing – Acts 8:37 3. By repenting – Luke 13:5 4. By being baptized – Acts 2:38 5. By living in Christ – Romans 6:11