MAIN POINT: These things have been written so that you may believe John 20:31

"Why do bad things happen to good people?" It is a question that captured the cultural zeitgeist years ago when a famous Rabbi penned a book by that very title. It is a question that resonates in hospital waiting rooms, in the quiet aftermath of a broken marriage, and in the dark nights of the soul when the heavens seem like brass. But as we open the pages of Scripture and look at the gritty reality of the human condition, we find that a much more searching question confronts us: Why do bad things happen to everybody? The truth is that we are fallen people living in a fallen world. Difficulty is not an elective in the school of life; it is the core curriculum. From the moment the first tear was shed outside the gates of Eden, humanity has wrestled with the unrelenting presence of pain. We often search for a formula to escape it, yet the deepest insights into the meaning of our existence are rarely found on the mountaintops of ease. Instead, they are forged in the "crucible of testing." Nowhere is this more vividly displayed than in the life of the Apostle Paul. We often view Paul as a spiritual titan, a man of iron will and unshakeable resolve. But when we look at the historical context of his second letter to the Corinthians, we find a man at his absolute lowest point. Paul was not merely having a "difficult season." He was profoundly hurt, deeply betrayed, and, by his own admission in chapter 7, "depressed." He had poured nearly two years of his life into the church at Corinth, leading them to Christ and nurturing them with the tenderness of a father. Yet, they had turned on him, led astray by "false apostles"—lying braggarts who slandered Paul's character and perverted

What in the World? That phrase has become the title of an ongoing series on Crosstalk noting some of the more outlandish or shocking things taking place in society and the world. Many of these stories don't get coverage from mainstream media, so settle-in as Jim takes you through these surprising news items. Here's a sample from the broadcast: Chancellor Sam Hawgood of the University of California San Francisco struggles to answer whether a non-biological woman has ever had a baby. The League of Women Voters believes that keeping men who claim to be women out of women's sports is an egregious example of sex discrimination. A transgender person born as a male and identifying as a female fled the U.S. for the Netherlands, apparently feeling there would be greater freedom there. This same person complained about being harassed by Muslim migrants in this Dutch country. On a leftist podcast, Francesca Hong, who's running for governor in Wisconsin, branded hospitals that won't provide gender affirming care for children as, "cowardly". Christ Episcopal Church in Dayton, Ohio, used food dye to turn their communion bread in the colors of the LGBTQ rainbow. The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation released a report bemoaning the decline of LGBTQ characters in film. Texas State Representative James Talarico, the Council on American/Islamic Relations, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and more also made the cut as part of this selection of eye-opening news stories.

"The Hospitality Commands" by Alexander Strauch

Our text this morning leaves us with a pressing question: Who is this? The story we just read presents us with two perspectives on Jesus, dueling views that lead to dueling behaviors. Simon the Pharisee thinks one thing about Jesus; the sinful woman thinks the opposite. Rather than telling us in so many words that the sinful woman is right, Luke lets us listen to Jesus' responses to both characters. He has something to say to the Pharisee and the sinful woman — and therefore something to say to us as well. The commentators exclaimed over the beauty of this story, and well they might, for it is a godsend. Jesus shows us who He is, sharpening and focusing His identity by the very controversy over it. We will see confirmed what I hope we have already begun to know: that Jesus is the one whose saving forgiveness generates love, peace, and hospitality in the human heart.

The sermon explores how believers should respond to suffering by anchoring their lives in the gospel and their new identity in Christ. Drawing from 1 Peter 4, it emphasizes that the nearness of the end demands self-control, earnest love, hospitality, and service among believers. The preacher illustrates these commands through personal anecdotes of hardship and historical context regarding early Christian persecution. True comfort and strength are found not in clichés but in remembering Christ's sacrifice and the hope of future glory. Ultimately, holy communal living serves as a witness to unbelievers and glorifies God amidst present trials.

In the only text that mentions this obviously godly lady, Paul commends her to the church at Rome—encouraging them to receive her with Christian hospitality.

Dalton led listeners through numerous news stories from the past week, highlighted by plenty of audio clips. Here's a sample of what was covered: --A powerful 7.3 magnitude earthquake struck near the coast of Mexico's southernmost state, triggering a tsunami warning. --Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt answered why some would seek to discredit President Trump's Thursday speech on election integrity even before it aired. --During President Trump's speech on Thursday, he alleged China committed election meddling with proof at whitehouse.gov. --China worked to ensure Trump would not be re-elected during the 2020 election cycle. --President Trump claimed that voters were lied to concerning the security of our election infrastructure. --President Trump mentioned a fourth set of documents, indicating that even when significant fraud has been detected, it's been covered-up. A 2020 incident in Muskegon, Michigan, was given. --Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin held a press conference asking the question as to why some TV networks chose not to carry the president's speech. What are they trying to cover up? --The medical examiner for the District of Columbia released preliminary findings this week on the death of Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina. --Weeks of guessing games surrounding Senator Mitch McConnell's health came to an end when he stepped forward with a detailed account of the fall that hospitalized him last month.