Not only is suffering an inevitable experience of life, it occupies a large part of Holy Scripture. Today's sermon is important because it deals with our response to suffering as Christians. Job rightly said: "For affliction does not come from the dust, nor does trouble sprout from the ground, for man is born for trouble, as sparks fly upward." What Job meant was that suffering is as consistent with man's experience as it is for sparks to fly upward. It is intrinsically bound within its composition. Everyone suffers, but the scriptures address not only the fact of suffering, but also the attitude to be demonstrated during suffering. Today's sermon is a concise overview of the Christian response to suffering from four biblical authors: John the beloved, the Apostle Peter, the Apostle Paul, and Jesus our Lord. |