CELL NOTES
ICE
BREAKER
Do
you have a childhood or teenage memory of a local or national tragedy that you
felt affected by in some way?
THEME
Making
sense of suffering
Reading Luke 13 : 1 – 9
SERMON
OUTLINE
1)
John Lennon “Life
is what happens to you while you are making other plans.”
2)
We can’t make sense of suffering – as Michael sees repeatedly in the lives of
people at St Luke’s. Suffering is universal –the answer to “Why” will take all
eternity to understand.
3)
The passage refuses the suggestion that suffering is the direct result of
personal sin, and puts it in the context of a call to repentance.
4)
At St Luke’s, Michael often sees, that as death approaches, people have an urge
to put their life in order – repentance is part of this.
5)
Example of parents of girl shot at Columbine, for refusing to deny Jesus.
6)
Obituary of Jane Tomlinson – inspiring example of somebody suffering
personally, but able to go beyond that to help others (Also St John Chrysostom
quote).
7)
Tapestry. Meaningless jumble of threads on back. “God is love” in gold on front.
8)
Bible gives hooks to help face suffering. Jesus suffered immensely. In Him
there is a hope and a way.
9)
In facing those suffering we need to sit beside, not walk in front.
10)
Churchill “We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.”
11)
Give Christ others. Help pain be a route to repentance for them and ourselves.
QUESTIONS
OF APPLICATION
1)
Read the passage. What do you make of it?
2)
When have you asked, “Why?” What conclusion did you come to?
3)
What difference does it / has it make to you when facing suffering, to realise
that Jesus also suffered immensely?
4)
How do you react to others facing suffering?
5)
Does anybody have a story of past experience of pain, or want to share about a
painful situation currently being faced?