"Exiles in Waiting" | Stacie Tchividjian

Jeremiah 29:11

Yesterday, Pastor Tullian concluded a series on the biblical book of Job that he called “Glorious Ruin.” It was a series about the fact that life is hard and pain is real, but grace abounds. It helps us gain a clearer understanding of those intersections in life where our misery and God’s mercy collide.

We're sorry it’s over!

In this concluding message, “An Epilogue on Suffering", Tullian tackled some misconceptions we have about suffering and how Jesus, our wonderful counselor, loves us unconditionally through every valley we go through.

We hope this message encourages you greatly…  

Job 42:7-17

"From Hearing to Seeing" | Glorious Ruin, Part 10 | Tullian Tchividjian

Job 42:1-5

Q & A w/ Tullian & Stacie Tchividjian

"The Freedom of Humiliation" | Glorious Ruin, Part 09 | Tullian Tchividjian

"Our God Bends" | Glorious Ruin, Part 08 | Tullian Tchividjian

"Allergic to Grace" | Glorious Ruin, Part 07 | Tullian Tchividjian

Suffering may take the form of tragedy, heartbreak, or addiction. Or it could be something more mundane like resentment, loneliness, or disappointment.

Suffering may be the shocking news of a brain tumor, or it can be something more ordinary like a strained relationship that never seems to get easier

The point is, we all suffer. Pain is unavoidable

And we all know that when it comes to suffering, there’s no such thing as "snapping out of it.”

Job knew this firsthand.

If his story teaches us anything at all, it teaches us that there are no easy answers to suffering. Someone once said that "mercy is the permission to be human." In other words, it’s ok to doubt, to be confused, to wonder—to be completely human. But what will ultimately heal us and help us is what ultimately healed and helped Job: an encounter with the gravity of God’s grace.

We hope this sermon—“Beyond Deserving"—is a huge encouragement to you.

In this message entitled “Grace, not Karma", I ask the question: why do so many Christians believe that God doles out misery in proportion to our sin—that pain is God’s pay back for bad behavior? Why do so many of us assume, like Job’s friends, that the suffering we endure is God’s punishment for what we've done?

And the answer is, because we don’t truly believe that God is a God of grace.

The funny thing is, the sins you think God is still punishing you for, He doesn’t even remember: “For I will forgive their wickedness and remember their sins no more” (Hebrews 8:12). Because of Jesus, “your sin is cast into the sea of God’s forgotten memory.”

Robert Capon said that “If God has announced anything in Jesus, it is that he has pensioned off the bookkeeping department permanently.” Amen!

I hope this message encourages you greatly…

Be blessed with today's sermon, delivered by Stacie Tchividjian.  

Romans 6:23