In all things — even your deepest pain — God is working for your good. Romans 8:28-30 unpacked: suffering isn’t wasted when it’s shaping you to look more like Jesus

Pastor Andrew talks about the honest reality that suffering touches every one of our lives in Part 1 of “A Re-Orientation of Suffering” from our Romans 8 series.

None of us are strangers to pain or seasons that weigh heavy on our hearts. Yet right in the midst of it, Jesus is not distant — He entered our suffering fully. And because He did, our present struggles do not have the final word. A far greater glory is coming.

What is the difference between living according to the flesh versus the Spirit? What shapes your identity the most? And how does your identity impact how

you live?

What is the difference between rooted in self and rooted in Jesus – how is this reflected in our lives? How do you struggle with the tension of the two roots?

When we consider the state of our world right now, when we see the increase just in the past year of unjust wars, violence against the innocent, economic inequality, systemic racism, violence against women, the abuse of global power, we can’t help but find a unified cry amongst us - who will roll away the stone for us? 

If you were to describe the Holy Spirit in one sentence, what would you say? How is your relationship with the Holy Spirit like?

What is your understanding of the kingdom of heaven? How does your understanding of the kingdom of heaven impact how you live?

If Jesus was to show up in your temple today, would there be any tables He would need to overturn?”

In giving us this season of ‘uncharted’ God gave us an important picture, one that remains even more relevant for us today. It was a picture of a sailing ship or a sailing vessel, one that has set off from safe harbour and headed out into the vast ocean in search of new lands and new discoveries. We are like this ship, sailing out into places where we no longer have a map or chart to help us, one where we must trust our captain to guide us but excited for what we are about to discover.

The first ‘so-what’ about this passage is that it tells us something quite beautiful about Jesus. We see this beautiful, gentle compassion in Jesus that he leads the man by the hand outside the village – not to make a spectacle of him or for him to get him caught up in the accusations against Jesus; this is not a healing show. The man needs to see, and Jesus is going to do it gently, quietly, respectfully; and Jesus treats us with that same respect.