Church of Christ Sermons and Lessons for 2012
Speaker	Sermon/Lesson Title   (Right Click to Download)	Audio   Video  Text    Ipod MS Word	Category	Date Added	Lesson
Bobby Stafford	Why Is There Evil, Pain & Suffering?  (Download Audio)			March 11, 2012	Sunday PM Sermon

Why Is There Evil, Pain, and Suffering?

 Introduction: 

Many of us can relate to the cries of Jeremiah in Jeremiah 4:18 or those of the psalmist in Psalms 55:4.  You’ve experienced pain and suffering and know how it feels.  But where and when did suffering originate and how should God’s people view it in their own lives? 

Body: 

I. Suffering Has Not Always Existed 

• The creation account – Genesis 1 and 2   Because of God’s infinite power and wisdom, everything He created was “good.” This is a term used several times in chapter 1.  Then read Genesis 1:31.  All the heavenly bodies, plant life, animal life and people were “good.”  There is no mention of suffering at all.  There is no evil at all, only good.
• Goodness us part of who God is.  Psalms 145:1-7   God cannot be blamed for evil or suffering.  The original creation was all “good.”

II. Sin Enters the World 

• Genesis 3:1-19   When sin entered the world, disastrous consequences followed.  That was the beginning of every kind of sin, pain, suffering, as well as physical and spiritual death.
• The apostle Paul refers to this in Romans 5:12-19.  The one man is Adam.  Eve was deceived by Satan, but Adam rebelled against God.  Both were guilty; but Adam more so.  “For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:17 NKJV        See also I Corinthians 15:21-22.
• The consequences are truly tragic!

III. Good Can Come from Bad 

• Why does God allow pain and suffering?
  1. It promotes humility.  II Corinthians 12:7-10   Because of the many things that God had given Paul, it would have been easy for him to become proud and boastful.  His affliction helped him to rely on God, not himself.
  2. It helps us minister to others.  II Corinthians 1:3-7  Experiencing pain and afflictions equip us to better offer comfort to others who are suffering.
  3. It teaches us patience.  Romans 5:3-4   It strengthens our character.
  4. It prepares us for an eternal home.  II Corinthians 4:16-18   Even if we experience pain and suffering during our entire earthly lives, it is momentary compared to that of eternal weight of glory.

Invitation: 

Even though pain and suffering entered the world because of sin, the faithful will one day enjoy that heavenly home where pain and suffering are no more.  Revelation 21:3-4 

Bobby Stafford

March 11, 2012

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