God will provide a Lamb... #1

The promise of the Old Testament - "God will provide a Lamb" is fulfilled in the New Testament - "God has provided a Lamb."

Job finally gets what he has wanted: a meeting with God, and it changes him. After looking at how God addresses Job and his three friends, and at the restoration of Job, we will consider the rest of the bigger story and how it can help us all suffer well.

In the second of three messages on Job and suffering, Job's friends come to comfort him and end up arguing with him about why he is suffering. Reflecting on their discussion, we will consider why we suffer and how we can comfort those who are suffering. Verses Covered: Job 2:11, 37:24

Community Group Questions

1. Looking back over your life, how much suffering have you endured? How have you handled it?

2. Do you tend to minimize or ignore your pain and hurt or do you dwell on it?

3. How do you handle the pain and suffering of others close to you?

4. Why do you think God suggests Job to Satan?

5. Satan asks, "Does Job fear God for no reason?" essentially insinuating that Job doesn't really love God, but loves God's blessings. Do you love God or love his stuff? How do you know?

6. After tragedy strikes Job he grieves and worships. How is that possible? Have you ever been able to do both?

7. One question is why an all-good, all-powerful God would allow so much suffering to continue. Some argue there is no God, some that God is not all-powerful, others that he is not all-good. How would you answer the question?

All work can glorify God (shine God’s light) in how we view our work and how we do our work.

The Great Command teaches us to love God and others in our work.

The Great Mandate teaches us to cultivate the world in our work.

The Great Commission teaches us to follow Jesus in our work.

(Matt. 5:16, Mark 12:29-31, Gen. 1:27-28, Gen. 2:15, Matt. 28-19-20, Col. 3:23-24, 1 Tim. 5:8)

Church is God's idea, not ours.

And church is not a place. It's a people.

Therefore, we don't go to church. We are the church.

The church is also not mine or yours or ours. It's His.

And His mission for building his church has been given to us.

Verses:

Matthew 16:13-18; Matthew 28:19-20; Psalm 71:17-18

Series #3

You and I are created to glorify God, as our willful offering, in harmony with one another, so that in all we do Christ might be worshiped. How has God uniquely created you to worship Him? May you be free from fear and cynicism to boldly worship God.

Is my behavior or attitude or activity declaring God’s glory? Does it put God’s glory on display? Or is it an attempt to glorify myself? (Psalm 19:1; Isaiah 43:7; 1 Peter 4:11; 2 Corinthians 5:14-15; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; 1 Corinthians 10:31; Romans 15:5-6)

We should give thanks to the Lord for WHO HE IS and for WHAT HE HAS DONE. Doing this daily will remind us that HIS love endures forever.