SERMON | Enrolling in the school of suffering
B-SIDES
Sermon Title: Enrolling in the School of Suffering
Scripture: Romans 5:1-5
5 Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we[a] have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have obtained access[b] to this grace in which we stand, and we[c] boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we[d] also boast in our afflictions, knowing that affliction produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.
Questions
How would you define “suffering?”
Tom mentioned in his message that we don’t really “enroll” in the school of suffering. We don’t have a choice. Sometimes, suffering just comes our way and life enrolls us. Think of a time in your life when you were in the school of suffering. What did you learn in that time of suffering that you think could help someone else? ( About God? About Yourself? About your friends? About suffering itself? About something else?)
Were you surprised at who reached out to you in that time of suffering and who did not? Without focusing on the names of those who did and who did not reach out, reflect on why you think that some people reached out and others did not?
What was most helpful to you in your time of suffering to get through it?
Do you reach out to others in the school of suffering or are you reluctant to do it? If so, what stops you from reaching out to someone who is in a time of suffering?
Tom told a story of two men (Don and John) who comforted one another in their time of suffering. Do you have a community of “ fellow sufferers” you can count on to help you in your times of need?
What role does the church play in our suffering?
Prayer
God, comfort us when we suffer. And spur us from our places of apathy to comfort each other. In your son Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.