Campus Questions # 4
“Why do bad things happen to good people?” It’s a question we have all heard before, but when we are looking into the eyes of someone honestly asking this question, it is easy to trip over our words and be unsure how to respond. We’re going to re-visit this question and look at what the scriptures have to say as we unpack each part of it.
The Cave of ELijah at Mt. Sinai - Jabal Maqla
Anchor Passages:
1 Kings 19:1-15 NLT - Elijah Laments to God
Isaiah 65:1-9 NLT - God suffers Wrong at the Hands of His People
Psalm 14:2-3 NLT - No One Does Good
Isaiah 53:4 NIV - Surely he took up our pain
1 Peter 5:8 NIV - Your Enemy
Questions to Ponder:
Read Isaiah 53:4. How does this verse bring you comfort personally? Knowing Jesus has taken up your pain and suffering?
Read Psalm 14:3. No one does good says the Psalmist. What does he mean? Apart from Christ can people not do anything good?
Sometimes we think all “bad things” that happen to us are punishment for sin. Are they? Past Nate said diseases in our bodies, hurricanes etc. are examples of _____________. Why do these things happen?
1 Peter 5:8 says there is another kind of evil. Your enemy ________ prowls around like a roaring lion. What kinds of things does he try to do to us?
Pastor Nate said God loves us so much that he is willing to __________. What kind of things is God willing to endure on account of his love for his people according to Isaiah 65:1-3? What kinds of things might we have to endure on account of our love for him?
The Theme in Song:
This song was just released a few months ago. Written by a team of worship pastors who want to bring a new style of music into the story telling of our churches. This song, called “Still Small Voice” describes the way the voice of God affects us when we hear it.
A second song for you this week will balance out the newness of the first. This hymn, performed here by Brian Doerkson, builds on the “still, small voice” of 1 Kings and describes the call of Jesus in the same way.