1. Finding Comfort for Suffering

2. Escapes from pain (unhealthy) Finding Comfort for Suffering

3. Escapes from pain (unhealthy) Substances (drugs, alcohol, pain meds, etc.) Escapes from pain (unhealthy) Substances (drugs, alcohol, pain meds, etc.) Finding Comfort for Suffering

4. Escapes from pain (unhealthy) Substances (drugs, alcohol, pain meds, etc.) Work Escapes from pain (unhealthy) Substances (drugs, alcohol, pain meds, etc.) Work Finding Comfort for Suffering

5. Escapes from pain (unhealthy) Substances (drugs, alcohol, pain meds, etc.) Work Pleasure (food, sex, etc.) Escapes from pain (unhealthy) Substances (drugs, alcohol, pain meds, etc.) Work Pleasure (food, sex, etc.) Finding Comfort for Suffering

6. Escapes from pain (unhealthy) Substances (drugs, alcohol, pain meds, etc.) Work Pleasure (food, sex, etc.) Entertainment (gaming, TV, internet, golf, etc.) Escapes from pain (unhealthy) Substances (drugs, alcohol, pain meds, etc.) Work Pleasure (food, sex, etc.) Entertainment (gaming, TV, internet, golf, etc.) Finding Comfort for Suffering

7. The Church as Comfort

8. Church : In the New Test- ament, a local assembly of believers that normally met in someone’s house. Also may denote all Christians from all time. ἐ κκλησία

9. We comfort others from our past experiences of suffering The Church as Comfort

10. 3 Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles so that we may be able to comfort those experiencing any trouble with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For just as the sufferings of Christ overflow toward us, so also our comfort through Christ overflows to you. 2 Corinthians 1:3-7 (NET Bible)

11. 6 But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort that you experience in your patient endurance of the same sufferings that we also suffer. 7 And our hope for you is steadfast because we know that as you share in our sufferings, so also you will share in our comfort. 2 Corinthians 1:3-7 (NET Bible)

12. We comfort others from our past experiences of suffering The Church as Comfort

13. We comfort others from our past experiences of suffering We comfort others by reminding them of our future hope We comfort others from our past experiences of suffering We comfort others by reminding them of our future hope The Church as Comfort

14. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 (NASB)

15. We comfort others from our past experiences of suffering We comfort others by reminding them of our future hope We comfort others from our past experiences of suffering We comfort others by reminding them of our future hope The Church as Comfort

16. Who could you turn to if a crisis erupted in your life today? The Church as Comfort

17. Who could you turn to if a crisis erupted in your life today? Are you a part of a trusted community of believers? Who could you turn to if a crisis erupted in your life today? Are you a part of a trusted community of believers? The Church as Comfort

18. Who could you turn to if a crisis erupted in your life today? Are you a part of a trusted community of believers? Are you willing to risk in order to find healing and comfort? Who could you turn to if a crisis erupted in your life today? Are you a part of a trusted community of believers? Are you willing to risk in order to find healing and comfort? The Church as Comfort

19. Who could you turn to if a crisis erupted in your life today? Are you a part of a trusted community of believers? Are you willing to risk in order to find healing and comfort? If you’ve accumulated an impressive resume of suffering yourself, are you willing to allow God to use your experience to comfort others? Who could you turn to if a crisis erupted in your life today? Are you a part of a trusted community of believers? Are you willing to risk in order to find healing and comfort? If you’ve accumulated an impressive resume of suffering yourself, are you willing to allow God to use your experience to comfort others? The Church as Comfort

20. Finding Comfort for Suffering