Suffering: The Road to Glory
May 11, 2014 Speaker: Eric Baker Series: Sanctified
Passage: Romans 8:17–8:18
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Looking back over your notes from this week's teaching on Suffering: The Road to Glory, was there anything that particulary caught your attention, challenged, or confused you?
DIGGING DEEPER
Read James 1:2–8.

1. How can we be joyful when we face trials (v. 2)?
2. How does the testing of our faith make us pure and complete (v. 4)?
3. Why do we need to ask for wisdom in the middle of trials (v. 5)?
Sometimes God sends suffering to correct us. Read Hebrews 12:4–11. The biblical writer describes this passage on pain and discipline as a “word of encouragement” (v. 5). This helps us to see discipline as positive rather than negative. God cares enough about us to discipline us. Some suffering prevents us from falling into sin or getting off track, so that we stay focused on what’s important.
Read Psalm 119:71, 2 Corinthians 1:8–9, 4:17–18, 12:7–10, and 1 Peter 1:6–7.
Our society wants everything to be instant—a pill, a book, a seminar, a gimmick—but being conformed to God’s image takes a lifetime, and he uses suffering in that process. Suffering is one of God’s tools to make us like himself.
4. How can suffering correct wrong behavior?
5. What does the Hebrews passage tell us about the emotions we go through when God disciplines us?
6. Even Paul, the greatest missionary of all time, needed suffering in order to become Christlike. Name an example of how God has used an instance of suffering to keep you on track.
7. According to 2 Corinthians 1:9, what was the purpose of the great suffering Paul and his colleagues went through? Suffering isn’t always about us; sometimes it is simply for God’s glory.
God uses suffering so that we can reveal his glory. Read John 9:3 and 2 Corinthians 4:7–11.
8. According to these verses, what good thing can come out of suffering? Why is this so important? What kind of problems can arise if we always think God is trying to discipline us by our suffering?
9. How are you suffering right now? Share with your MC about how they can pray for strength.
(Some of the questions are from www.smallgroups.com Bible Study titled, Perspectives on Suffering)
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