Why does a good God allow suffering? - Communion

Manuscript Template

Title:  Why does God allow suffering?

Focus Statement:  

God loves us enough to give us free will, but is powerful enough to use the suffering brought about through sin to mold us into the Christlike people we were created to be.

Function Statement:  

Don’t try to avoid suffering, but embrace it when it comes and allow God to use it to shape you.

Tweetable Phrase:  

Main Text:  John 9

Supporting Text:  Genesis 2, Matthew 19:26, Romans 8:28, Romans 6:23, Hebrews 12:5-11, Romans 5:3-5, 1 Corinthians 12:26, John 15:18-25, Matthew 25:35-36, John 17:21, 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Redemptive Closure (point to Jesus):  1 Peter 2:19-25

Benediction:  1 Peter 5:10

Questions to Review

Is the bottom line clear? Main point should be able to be said in a single sentence.

What’s the opening line? Not hello, start with a question or something to grab attention.

Is the transition from the introduction to main point clear?

What’s my main point? Make it short and memorable

Does it matter? Is the topic relevant to the congregation?

Where is the power in the text? What word or phrase highlights the tension?

How am I moving toward application?

What is my main to-do (application)? Be specific.

What does it matter? The WHY creates urgency.

How am I closing? Have a plan.

5 Things Each Sermon Must Do With the Biblical Text

Teach it: Cultural context, exegesis, what does it mean?

Illustrate it: Add emotion, illustrations, pictures, stories.

Apply it: How do we respond?

Distinguish it: How is this different? Invite the Holy Spirit in.

Portable-ize it: Make it RHYME (no WIN in COMPARISON), ALLITERATE it, make it ECHO (who are of infinite worth to the infinite God), use a METAPHORE (the Root of murder is anger...only God can uproot it from our hearts), or make it CONTRAST (a life devoted to self, leave you alone)

WELCOME

Good morning!!! My name is Ryan Hanson, and I have the honor of serving here at The Light KC as the lead pastor. I’m so glad you’re here with us.

‌Welcome to those joining us online. We hope you're doing well and hope to see you in person in the coming weeks.

And a special welcome to those joining us for the first time. We’re so glad you chose to be here.

ME/INTRO - Tension

We are in our fourth week of our “Hot One’s” series and things are getting hot.

And today’s question is one that I think, if we’re honest, most of us have wrestled with.

Why does God allow suffering?

This is not a new question. The disciples even asked Jesus that very same question when they came upon a blind man begging on the street.

John 9:1–3 NIV

As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.

I think, like the disciples, we ask the same questions about suffering. What did I do wrong? What caused this?

But Jesus clearly states that suffering, in this case, is not due to any sin, nobody did anything wrong, God allowed the suffering so that His might can be displayed through him.

But, at least to me, this answer doesn’t satisfy the question. Why does God allow suffering?

This story in John 9 is about a man who was born blind. Who, according to Jesus did nothing wrong. Yet suffered his entire life.

Back in the 1st century the idea that suffering was due to sin was prevalent, so this man was viewed in the same light as prostitutes and tax collectors - as a sinner

Because he was blind, he couldn’t work

He was forced to beg for handouts to get food to survive

He was 100% dependent on others

This man lived a very rough life - it would not be a stretch to say that he suffered his entire life.

I can’t relate to what this man went through completely (and most of us probably can’t), but in a very small way I can. Many of you have asked me about my hands. For some reason or another they are extremely dry. They go through cycles where they crack and bleed, but they are always extremely painful. Because the dry spots are on the knuckles, most of the time just bending my fingers is quite a painful experience. The doctors in Michigan told me to use some prescription strength moisturizer, but I refused because it was slimy and I’m not subjecting my family to the frustration of slippery doorknobs (you all know that person who moisturizes their hands so much the doorknobs get slimy). Well I’m not going to be that person, so I resigned myself to just dealing with the pain. When I got down here to Kansas, I went in for my yearly physical and the doctor wanted me to see yet another dermatologist to see what they could do. This person suggested that we freeze the dry spots with liquid nitrogen, killing the skin, so new (and I guess more hydrated) skin would grow in its place. I went along with it and the last month or so has been unbelievably painful. My hands are starting to look better but the journey to get here has been rough. And it’s not over. The dermatologist said it could take 3-4 “freezings”. We’ve already done two.

I can’t think of any sin I committed that led to these dry hands.

It is hard not to ask God, How does this give you glory?

When experiences like mine happen, it is natural to ask WHY?,

YET...I think we also have to acknowledge that at some level we all know that suffering can lead to good.

Take for example the physical goals that we set for ourselves. In 2020, I set out to do my first IronMan triathlon. Up until that point, I had done shorter distance triathlons and a few marathons, but I never really suffered to complete them. I trained at a comfortable level. I suffered some during the races due to my Laza Faire attitude to training, but it was quite minimal. Yet, when I signed up for the full distance IronMan, based on what I had learned from the 1/2 IronMen I had done, I knew I needed to change my training. I knew specifically that I needed to do some serious work on the bike to finish the 112 mile ride before the cutoff. I started looking for a training plan. My friend and I got computer controlled bike trainers.

[Bike on Trainer] Picture

I signed up for an app to control the bike computer and walk me through the workouts. Shockingly the app is called SUFFER-FEST. Their logo is a goat shooting lasers out of its eyeballs.

[Sufferfest Logo] Picture

Caption IWBMATTKYT means - I will beat my ass today to kick yours tomorrow

And each of the workouts are creatively named and descriptions added to get you in the right mindset for what’s to come.

Here are a few examples for your entertainment.

[ISLAGIATT] - It Seemed Like a Good Idea At The Time

Believe me every time I’ve done this one, at some point during the ride I ask myself the question this is named for.

[Kitchen Sink] - read description

“symphony of suffering”

[9 Hammers] - read description

“sometimes your the hammer, sometimes your the nail, sometimes your both the hammer and nail”

Over the years, I have suffered endless hours in my basement building the strength and endurance to complete the physical challenge I have chosen to participate in.

Because at some level we know that Suffering makes us stronger

WE - Tension

Have you ever asked the question of the week, “Why God allows suffering?”?

Where in your life have you, or are you suffering?

Did that suffering lead to God being glorified?

Do you agree with the statement that suffering makes you better?

I think to answer the question of suffering, we need to break it down into three sub questions.

1. Who is God?

2. How does God use suffering to shape us?

3. How does God use our suffering to build His Kingdom?

To answer these questions were going to be all over the Bible.

As always, we’ll have the scripture on the screen, but if you have a Bible with you, or Bible app on your phone, I’d encourage you to turn to the passage and follow along. There is nothing that replaces having God’s word in your hand.

AND... if you don’t have a Bible, we have Bibles under the seats. If you don’t have a bible and would like one, please come see me after the service and I’ll get you one you can keep.

Let's dive in.

GOD - Text

WHO IS GOD, IF HE ALLOWS SUFFERING?

Let’s look at the first of our sub-questions, WHO IS GOD?

Option 1

All powerful but indifferent to our pain?

Option 2

Loves us and cares about our suffering, but isn’t all powerful and can’t end it?

Option 3

God loves us AND is all powerful

Even if it feels hard to believe, I think there is strong evidence in the Bible that #3 is the answer.

God loves us so much that He wants a relationship with us. But to have a relationship with someone they have to choose to want to be in a relationship with you as well. Relationships require free will. And that is what God gave us in Genesis 2.

Genesis 2:15–17 NIV

The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”

God knew that there was a risk in giving us free will because that opens the door to humanity choosing another path.

But let’s be clear, suffering was not God’s intended purpose for creation.

We chose rebellion and a life contrary to God’s original plan for creation.

Suffering is the consequence of our choices, not the original design God had for creation.

But God giving us free will does not mean that he is not all powerful. Matthew 19:26

Matthew 19:26 NIV

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

God is not lacking in power to remove all suffering. But to remove all suffering would remove our free will as well, which would be an unloving gesture.

Instead, God uses the suffering in our lives for our good.

Romans 8:28 NIV

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

So WHO IS THE GOD WE SERVE?

We serve a God that loves us so much that He gave us free will so that we can have a relationship with Him, and even though we (humanity) used that free will to sin, God is using the suffering we experience as a consequence of our choices to help shape us into the Christlike people we were created to be.

HOW DOES GOD USE SUFFERING TO SHAPE US?

That take us to the second of our sub-questions, HOW DOES GOD USE SUFFERING TO SHAPE US?

As we read earlier in John 9, Jesus said the man in the story was born blind so works of God might be on display. He did nothing wrong. Sin was not the cause of his suffering.

Sometimes this is true, but the Bible is clear, there are many sources of suffering.

And God uses each one to shape us in unique ways.

1. Choices and Action

The first source of our suffering is US and our CHOICES AND ACTIONS.

The suffering we experience is the consequences of the sin we choose to engage in

Hebrews 12:5–11 NIV

And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says, “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.” Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

Sometimes we choose to sin. We know what we’re doing is against God’s will and we do it anyway. Like any good parent, God will enforce the consequences of the choices we make in an effort to lovingly correct us. Those consequences frequently feel like suffering, but God allows the consequences to play out because they are for our good.

Our sin leads to our suffering.

2. Testing and Refining

The second source of suffering we experience is the natural testing and refining we experience as we go about our lives.

Sometimes suffering is not brought about by any sin we’ve committed, but because we are not yet the people that we were created to be.

God allows suffering to come into our lives to Build our faith

Romans 5:3–5 NIV

Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

I don’t know about you, but I feel the closest to God when I’m struggling the most.

When I’m hurting, lost, and don’t know what to do, that is when I lean into God the hardest, when my prayers become a little more impassioned, and my faith is tested.

I think it is not a stretch to say that suffering either drives us to God, or away from God.

Our challenge is to know that God, like a loving father, uses the suffering we experience for our good, but does not impose it upon us.

Sometimes we suffer so that God can teach us to be the people we were created to be.

3. Suffering because of others

The third source of suffering we experience is due to the actions and choices of others.

Other people’s choices and sins impact us.

1 Corinthians 12:26 NIV

If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

As a parent this one hits home.

I’ve heard it said that “you are the average of your 5 closest friends”.

As I think back on my life, I think that is pretty close to accurate.

BUT… that means that the people we spend time with can have a huge impact on our lives.

If they are sinning and living contrary to will of God, we can easily join them in their suffering just because we were there when it happened.

I encourage my kids to be very careful who they spend time with, who they look up to, and who they allow to influence them.

That advice applies to all of us.

Other people’s sins can lead to our suffering.

4. Allegiance to Jesus

The final source of suffering we can experience is due to our faith in Jesus.

We live in a world more and more hostile to the good news of Jesus Christ.

Persecution is very real in some parts of the world and becoming a growing reality right here in the United States.

John 15:18–25 NIV

“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin. Whoever hates me hates my Father as well. If I had not done among them the works no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. As it is, they have seen, and yet they have hated both me and my Father. But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: ‘They hated me without reason.’

It is extremely hard, but we are called to follow the example of Peter in Acts 5:41

This is a time after Jesus had ascended to heaven and Peter (along with the other disciples were spreading the Good News throughout Jerusalem). The Jewish ruling class (Pharisees and Sadducees) didn’t like that so they interrogated the disciples, and even though they let them go, they told them to stop and flogged them as a warning.

Yet, after being flogged Acts 5:41 gives their reaction.

Acts 5:41 NIV

The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.

I’ve heard it said many different ways, but one quote that has always stuck with me is that,

“If the devil is not attacking you, he doesn’t consider you a threat?”

Are you living a life that the devil is threatened by?

Are you currently suffering for your faith in and witness for Jesus?

HOW DOES GOD USE SUFFERING TO BUILD HIS KINGDOM?

And finally, our third sub-question. How does God use suffering to build His Kingdom?

The short answer is that suffering brings people together.

This happens in three ways.

1. Compassion

Suffering drives us to be compassionate and to help one another.

Matthew 25:35–36 NIV

For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

When we see someone suffering, most people’s natural inclination is to help.

It is through this compassion that you can serve as a powerful witness to those who don’t have a relationship with Jesus.

God can build His Kingdom through your compassion for others.

2. Unity

The second way God builds His kingdom through suffering, is that suffering gives perspective and helps bring people together.

John 17:21 NIV

that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

Shared suffering brings people together. It unifies us.

It is through these shared experiences that strong relationships can be formed, and people can see firsthand the impact your faith has had on your life and the way you deal with challenging events.

God builds his Kingdom through shared suffering that unifies us.

3. Comfort

Suffering helps us empathize with others and show comfort to those who are going through what we have already gone through.

2 Corinthians 1:3–4 NIV

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.

The phrase, “Your misery becomes your strongest ministry” has always rung true in my life. We have the greatest opportunity to serve others when they’re suffering from something we’ve already suffered and gotten through. God doesn’t waste our pain, He uses it.

YOU - Takeaway

So the question for all of us, is

How are we going to respond to the suffering we are bound to experience throughout our lives?

Are we going to question WHO GOD IS and lose faith, thinking that a GOOD GOD wouldn’t allow us to suffer?

Are we going to allow GOD TO USE OUR SUFFERING to shape us and develop in us the Christlike character we were created to have?

Are we going to JOIN GOD IN BUILDING HIS KINGDOM by using the misery we experienced while we suffered as a ministry to serve others suffering from the same thing?

In the story we started tday with, the MAN BORN BLIND he wasn’t just healed by Jesus. He was interrogated by the Pharisees (Jewish ruling class) and kicked out of the Synagogue (church) for testifying to the miracle Jesus performed giving him sight.

Yet, despite the persecution, the man used his lifetime of suffering, and his miraculous healing as a testimony, even asking the Pharisees if they wanted to be Jesus’ disciples.

This man allowed his suffering to be a source of faith in Jesus.

How are we going to allow God to use our suffering to shape us and help others through us?

WE / JESUS - Redemptive Close - Call to Action

God may allow us to suffer, and use that suffering to shape and refine us...

But I think we need to pause and take comfort in the fact that no one has suffered more than God himself when He sent Jesus to earth, to become fully human, to experience the worst the world had to offer, to suffer, and die on the cross to pay the consequences of our sin.

1 Peter 2:19–25 NIV

For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God. But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Jesus suffered to save all of us all from the consequences of our sin and allow us the opportunity to spend eternity with Him in Heaven.

If I was to answer today’s question of the week, “Why does God allow suffering?” as concisely as I can, I would answer it like this.

God allows us to suffer, because He wants to have a relationship with us. For that relationship to be genuine, God gave us free will so we could have the choice to reciprocate His love. Suffering was not part of God’s original design, but because of the choices we’ve made consequences happened in the form of our suffering. But God doesn’t waste that suffering, He uses it to shape us, build our faith, and provide us a ministry to bring others into a saving relationship with His son Jesus Christ.

Communion

And to remember everything Christ suffered for us on the cross, we observe communion

We take bread to remember that Christ allowed His body to be broken for us.

We take wine (or grape juice) to remember that Christ allowed His blood to be spilled for us.

As part of the Wesleyan denomination we practice an open table. You don’t have be a member of the Wesleyan church to partake in communion here. You just have to have accepted Jesus as you LORD and savior, earnestly repent of your sin, and empowered by the Holy Spirit do everything you can to follow the commandments of God.

Children may partake at the discretion of their parents.

I encourage you to Come up to the steps first. Pray. Ask for God to show you the next step He’s inviting you to take. Fill out one of these cards so we can pray for you and support you as you walk this new path.

Take some time during the next song, examine where you heart is at and pray for God to show you any areas in your life that you need to repent of.

PRAYER 

Will you join me in prayer...

SONG 

As we enter into our final song, I want to open the steps up front as an altar to anyone who needs God this week. The steps are open for you to pray to the God who is with you, who loves you, you wants to give you His peace.

‌

You may feel a hand on your shoulder as I or one of the elders join you in prayer.

BENEDICTION 

1 Peter 5:10 NIV

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.

This week...

Let’s not run from suffering. Let’s allow God to use it to shape us to have the Christ like character we were designed to have. Let’s use our past suffering to serve others who are suffering now. And let’s remember God loves us so much that He chose to suffer a terrible death on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins.

This week, let’s sit in the deep love that God has for us and allow the suffering we’re bound to face in this life draw us closer to God and closer to each other.

Quick reminder...

5th Sunday Picnic in Strang Park next week - sign up on the info desk

July 6th time change - 10 AM start

Student’s Summer Camp - Leaving Monday at noon. Pray for run, fellowship, and for God to move powerfully in their lives.

If you’re new, please stop by our info desk, or see me. We’d love to say “hi” and get you know you a bit better.

I hope you have a great week.

Go in peace.

You are dismissed.

DISCIPLESHIP QUESTIONS (download into APP)

How can we embrace suffering in our lives to allow God to shape us?

In what areas of your life do you see suffering as an opportunity for growth?

What does the story of the man born blind teach us about God's purpose in our struggles?

How can you support a friend who is suffering and what can you learn from their experience?

How does understanding God's love and free will change your perspective on enduring suffering?