1. Discovering what the Bible says about suffering and evil
Trading My
Sorrows
Spring Creek Bible Church
Discipleship Hour
Discovering what the Bible says
about suffering and evil
March 15, 2015

2. God Leads His Dear Children
In shady, green pastures, so rich and so sweet, God leads His dear children along; Where the water’s cool flow bathes the weary one’s feet, God leads His dear children along.
(Refrain)
Some through the waters, some through the flood, Some through the fire, but all through the blood; Some through great sorrow, but God gives a song, In the night season and all the day long.
Sometimes on the mount where the sun shines so bright, God leads His dear children along; Sometimes in the valley, in darkest of night, God leads His dear children along.
Refrain
March 15, 2015

3. Though sorrows befall us and evils oppose, God leads His dear children along; Through grace we can conquer, defeat all our foes, God leads His dear children along.
(Refrain)
Some through the waters, some through the flood, Some through the fire, but all through the blood; Some through great sorrow, but God gives a song, In the night season and all the day long.
Away from the mire, and away from the clay, God leads His dear children along; Away up in glory, eternity’s day, God leads His dear children along.
Refrain
March 15, 2015

4. Discovering what the Bible says about suffering and evil
Trading My
Sorrows
Spring Creek Bible Church
Discipleship Hour
Discovering what the Bible says
about suffering and evil
March 15, 2015

5. Class 1 Trading My Sorrows New Heaven New Earth Garden  Bad Good 
The Fall
Garden
Class 1
 Bad Good 
TIME

6. Transgression of God’s Will
Trading My Sorrows
Class 1
What is evil?
Transgression of God’s Will
Spring Creek Bible Church
Discipleship Hour
January 11, 2015

7. Class 1 Trading My Sorrows January 11, 2015 Spring Creek Bible Church
Discipleship Hour
January 11, 2015

8. Trading My Sorrows
Class 2
Eternity
The “U”
 Bad Good 
TIME

9. Hell Class 2 Trading My Sorrows Garden New Heaven / New Earth
1,000,000,000,000 miles
 Bad Good 
Hell
TIME

10. Suffering is not evil – it’s the just penalty for evil
Trading My Sorrows
Class 2
Important Point A:
Suffering is not evil – it’s the just penalty for evil
Spring Creek Bible Church
Discipleship Hour
January 18, 2015

11. Trading My Sorrows
Class 2
January 18, 2015

12. Life in the “U” is an opportunity to be saved!!
Trading My Sorrows
Class 2
Important Point B:
Life in the “U” is an opportunity to be saved!!
Spring Creek Bible Church
Discipleship Hour
January 18, 2015

13. The Problem God is good God is sovereign Evil and suffering exist
Trading My Sorrows
Class 3
The Problem
God is good
God is sovereign
Evil and suffering exist
Spring Creek Bible Church
Discipleship Hour
January 25, 2015

14. Good Bad Class 3 Trading My Sorrows God SCBC Puppies Cocoa Puffs
Neil’s Good and Bad Baskets
Good Bad
God
SCBC
Puppies
Cocoa Puffs
Marshmallow Fluff
Evil
Suffering
Rain
Spinach
NE Patriots
Spring Creek Bible Church
Discipleship Hour
January 25, 2015

15. The Oreo Story Class 3 Trading My Sorrows January 25, 2015
Spring Creek Bible Church
Discipleship Hour
January 25, 2015

16. Mystery The Problem The Problem God is good God is sovereign
Trading My Sorrows
Class 3
Mystery
The Problem
The Problem
God is good
God is sovereign
Evil and suffering exist
Spring Creek Bible Church
Discipleship Hour
January 25, 2015

17. Class 4 Trading My Sorrows February 8, 2015 Spring Creek Bible Church
Discipleship Hour
February 8, 2015

18. What is suffering? Class 5 Topic 1: Trading My Sorrows
“Any experience of unpleasantness or deviation
from the perfection God intended for creation”
Spring Creek Bible Church
Discipleship Hour
February 15, 2015

19. Example Continuum of Suffering
Trading My Sorrows
Class 5
Example Continuum of Suffering
Out of
Twinkies
Bad
Gifts
Flu
Loss
Betrayal
Broken
Heart
Cancer
Death
Hell
Injury
Fruit
Cake
Spring Creek Bible Church
Discipleship Hour
February 15, 2015

20. Trading My Sorrows
Class 5

21. Trading My Sorrows
Class 6

22. Trading My Sorrows
Class 6

23. Trading My Sorrows
Class 6
Natural Disasters

24. Class 6
Siblings:
Other People
Spouses
Fellow Believers

25. Trading My Sorrows
Class 6
Job
February 22, 2015

26. Lessons to learn from Job:
Summary:
Class 6
Responses to avoid:
Focusing on ourselves
No 1 to 1 sin-to-suffering ratio
Lessons to learn from Job:
Remember God’s goodness
Recognize God’s involvement in our suffering
Even in suffering God is merciful
Trust God in suffering
February 22, 2015
February 22, 2015

27. We need: Summary: A high view of God A low view of our selves
Class 6
We need:
A high view of God
A low view of our selves
A right view of sin
Spring Creek Bible Church
Discipleship Hour
February 22, 2015

28. Suffering Exclusive to Christians
Trading My Sorrows
Class 7
Suffering Exclusive to Christians
God’s discipline
Persecution
Spring Creek Bible Church
Discipleship Hour
March 8, 2015

29. Punishment vs. Discipline:
Trading My Sorrows
Class 7
Punishment vs. Discipline:
Punishment
Penalty
Judicial term
Inflict pain
God = Judge
Discipline
Training
Term of mercy
Correct behavior
God = Father
Spring Creek Bible Church
Discipleship Hour
March 8, 2015

30. Trading My Sorrows
Class 7
Discipline:
“Training expected to produce a specific character,
or pattern of behavior, especially training that produces moral or mental improvement or self-control”
Spring Creek Bible Church
Discipleship Hour
March 8, 2015

31. Suffering Under Persecution:
Trading My Sorrows
Class 7
Suffering Under Persecution:
Global citizens
Demands for allegiance
New covenant
Its offense
Its nature
Spring Creek Bible Church
Discipleship Hour
March 8, 2015

32. Suffering – Mental Framework:
Trading My Sorrows
Class 7
Suffering – Mental Framework:
Is God good?
Is God sovereign?
Is God unfair?
Does God owe us a persecution-free life?
Do we know everything God knows?
Is God trustworthy?
Can God bring good out of persecution?
Can we trust Him to bring good in this circumstance?
Spring Creek Bible Church
Discipleship Hour
March 8, 2015

33. Suffering – The Response:
Trading My Sorrows
Class 7
Suffering – The Response:
Confirm your salvation
Preach the truth to yourself
Examine your life
Pray, meditate, fast
Apply the lessons:
God loves you
God desires your highest good
Thank God
Worship God
Cry out to God
Trust God
Get help from the body of Christ
Seek counsel
Continue praying
March 8, 2015

34. Summary of Lessons 1 - 7 Trading My Sorrows
God is good, God is sovereign, so can trust Him
to accomplish good in our circumstances.
Spring Creek Bible Church
Discipleship Hour
March 15, 2015

35. Caveat Trading My Sorrows March 15, 2015 Spring Creek Bible Church
Discipleship Hour
March 15, 2015

36. Microscopic Differences Diverging Over Time
Trading My Sorrows
Microscopic Differences Diverging Over Time
Spring Creek Bible Church
Discipleship Hour
March 15, 2015

37. Trading My Sorrows
The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.
Deuteronomy 29:29
Spring Creek Bible Church
Discipleship Hour
March 15, 2015

38. Possible Good Purposes in Suffering
Trading My Sorrows
Possible Good Purposes in Suffering
Symptom of Life in the “U”
Spring Creek Bible Church
Discipleship Hour
March 15, 2015

39. Possible Good Purposes in Suffering
Trading My Sorrows
Possible Good Purposes in Suffering
Punishment
Spring Creek Bible Church
Discipleship Hour
March 15, 2015

40. Possible Good Purposes in Suffering
Trading My Sorrows
Possible Good Purposes in Suffering
Discipline

41. Possible Good Purposes in Suffering
Trading My Sorrows
Possible Good Purposes in Suffering
Other (Dross-Removal / Sanctification)
March 15, 2015

42. Possible Good Purposes in Suffering
Trading My Sorrows
Possible Good Purposes in Suffering
Other (Testimony)
March 15, 2015

43. Possible Good Purposes in Suffering
Trading My Sorrows
Possible Good Purposes in Suffering
Other (Leash-Jerking)
Spring Creek Bible Church
Discipleship Hour
March 15, 2015

44. Possible Good Purposes in Suffering
Trading My Sorrows
Possible Good Purposes in Suffering
Other (Cosmic Lasik)
Spring Creek Bible Church
Discipleship Hour
March 15, 2015

45. Possible Good Purposes in Suffering
Trading My Sorrows
Possible Good Purposes in Suffering
Other (For Others)
Spring Creek Bible Church
Discipleship Hour
March 15, 2015

46. Possible Good Purposes in Suffering
Trading My Sorrows
Possible Good Purposes in Suffering
Other (Unknown Purpose)
Spring Creek Bible Church
Discipleship Hour
March 15, 2015

47. Possible Good Purposes in Suffering
Trading My Sorrows
Possible Good Purposes in Suffering
Symptom of Life in the “U”
Punishment
Discipline
Other
Dross Removal/Sanctification
Testimony
Leash-Jerking
Cosmic Lasik
For Others
Unknown Purposes
Spring Creek Bible Church
Discipleship Hour
March 15, 2015

48. Bottom Line: Trading My Sorrows
1. God sends suffering for OUR ETERNAL GOOD.
2. We might not understand “Why”, but we know “Who”.
Spring Creek Bible Church
Discipleship Hour
March 15, 2015

49. Discovering what the Bible says about suffering and evil
Trading My
Sorrows
Spring Creek Bible Church
Discipleship Hour
Discovering what the Bible says
about suffering and evil
March 15, 2015

50. God Leads His Dear Children
In shady, green pastures, so rich and so sweet, God leads His dear children along; Where the water’s cool flow bathes the weary one’s feet, God leads His dear children along.
(Refrain)
Some through the waters, some through the flood, Some through the fire, but all through the blood; Some through great sorrow, but God gives a song, In the night season and all the day long.
Sometimes on the mount where the sun shines so bright, God leads His dear children along; Sometimes in the valley, in darkest of night, God leads His dear children along.
Refrain
March 15, 2015

51. Though sorrows befall us and evils oppose, God leads His dear children along; Through grace we can conquer, defeat all our foes, God leads His dear children along.
(Refrain)
Some through the waters, some through the flood, Some through the fire, but all through the blood; Some through great sorrow, but God gives a song, In the night season and all the day long.
Away from the mire, and away from the clay, God leads His dear children along; Away up in glory, eternity’s day, God leads His dear children along.
Refrain
March 15, 2015

52. Discovering what the Bible says about suffering and evil
Trading My
Sorrows
Spring Creek Bible Church
Discipleship Hour
Discovering what the Bible says
about suffering and evil
March 15, 2015