DESCRIPTION
There’s one question about God that elicits the most emotion, but has no emotionally satisfying answer. If God is good, why is there so much pain and suffering in the world? If God were all-powerful, He could eliminate suffering. If God were loving, He would eliminate pain. So is He unable or unwilling?
QUESTIONS
- Has anyone ever asked you, “If God is good, why is there so much suffering in the world?” If so, how did you respond?
- Talk about some things you read about or saw on the news this week that reveal the brokenness of the world. How did you respond to those stories?
- During the message, Jack said, “The best possible world is a world in which men and women are free to sin but choose not to.” Do you agree with that statement? Why or why not?
- Read Romans 8:18–21. Is it difficult for you to believe that one day all of creation will be “liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God”? Why or why not?
- To be able to answer other people’s tough questions about why God allows suffering in the world, you first have to arrive at some personal conclusions. What is one thing you can do to this week to answer that question for yourself? How can this group help you?
APPLICATION
We have the knowledge of good and evil. We know things aren’t right in the world. So we resist evil and injustice around us and in us because our consciences are informed by something outside of us: God. His image in us. Jesus launched a movement that would change everything and pointed to a day when what ought to be will be. Be the change you want to see. Right the wrongs you commit. Mend something that’s broken.
