Key idea: We find a persevering and powerful joy when we see life in light of Christ and his gospel Four aspects of true joy to encourage our faith and increase our joy True joy recognizes the world’s counterfeits True joy is rooted in the Gospel True joy sees the bigger story Believe that suffering and joy can coexist Let your suffering lead you to Christ See your suffering with expectant hope True joy aligns our will with Christ through prayer To pray in Jesus’ name recognizes our poverty To pray in Jesus’......
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Key idea: We find joy in our sufferings when we embrace Christ’s loving purposes behind them. Four truths to inform and shape our theology of suffering: I. Suffering is not the whole story, but part of the greater story of redemption II. Suffering is not meaningless, but has greater purposes Applications: A. We embrace suffering by believing God’s purposes are greater than our own (James 1:2-4; 1 Peter 1:6-7). Suffering is not the greatest danger; sin and stagnancy are. B. We embrace suffering by redirecting our focus to faith in Christ. III. Suffering does......
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Key Idea: To embrace our sufferings we must believe that God’s purpose is greater than the suffering itself. 1. To embrace suffering you must have faith in the greater story of God 2. To embrace suffering you must have faith in the purposes of God...
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Surprising Sovereignty in Every Circumstance (vv. 12-14) Surprising Joy Despite Affliction (vv. 15-18)...
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We can have peace through the sufferings of life because we know that though God is often hidden, he is always faithful. I. We must remember that though God is often hidden, he is always faithful God often uses the ordinary to do the extraordinary God’s plan is always better II. We can’t let the current scene obscure the bigger picture...
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To overcome bitterness and despair, you must start with God. Three ways to start with God: Lament well, rather than complain about your sufferings Interpret life based on the nature of God, not the nature of your circumstances Have a forward looking hope...
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Through reconciliation we have everything we need to faithfully exalt Christ. The eternal hope of reconciliation: Christ will exalted in all creation The daily joy of reconciliation: Christ can be exalted in all my life....
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