New Sermon Series Begins January 6

What Shall We Say? Evil, Suffering, and the Presence of God

Tsunamis, earthquakes, famines, accidents, senseless killings, diseases, wars--these and other devastating forces lead Christians to ask painful questions. Is God all-powerful? Is God good? How can God allow so much innocent human suffering? Does God cause such suffering? These questions are part of what many theologians called the problem of "theodicy"--a mash-up of two Greek words: "theo-" (God) and "dike" (judgment), and Christians throughout history have wrestled with this problem every time tragedy strikes.

This sermon series by TLUMC Pastors Bob Kaylor and Joe Iovino will take us deep into the questions, using Scripture and the witness of Christians across history to help us wrestle with evil, suffering, and the presence of God. We will look at the key texts, including the greatest theodicy text in the Bible--the Book of Job--and many others that take us into the heart of this great mystery. While there are no easy answers, we can begin to learn how to think about suffering in ways that are more redemptive than devastating, keeping in mind God's ultimate statement about suffering in the form of the cross.

Join us beginning January 6 as we wrestle with this important topic that touches every one of our lives: 

January 6 - Shaking the Foundations: And Introduction to Theodicy (Psalm 13)

January 13 - Searching for Answers: Job and His Friends (Job 2:11-13)

January 20 - An Enemy Has Done This: The Power of God and the Presence of Evil (Matthew 13:24-30)

January 27 - The Victory of God: Defeating Evil Through The Cross (Colossians 2:6-15)

February 3 - Imagine There's No Evil: The Promise of a New Creation (Revelation 21:1-8)

February 10 - Solvitur Ambulando: Faith-Walking in the Midst of Pain (Mark 9:14-29)

Daily Devotions leading up to each week's sermon can be accessed here. 

 

Recommended Reading:

Long, Thomas G. What Shall We Say? Evil, Suffering, and the Crisis of Faith. Eerdman's, 2012. 

Seamands, Stephen A. Wounds That Heal: Bringing Our Hurts to the Cross. IVP Books, 2003. 

Wright, N.T. Evil and the Justice of God. IVP Books, 2006. 

Check out adult education classes offered at TLUMC using each of these books here.