))
Bad Things, Good People: The Divine Perspective
Manage episode 481949128 series 3634583
Content provided by Raymond Brown, Clarence Matthews, North Clinton Ave Church of Christ, Raymond Brown, Clarence Matthews, and North Clinton Ave Church of Christ. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Raymond Brown, Clarence Matthews, North Clinton Ave Church of Christ, Raymond Brown, Clarence Matthews, and North Clinton Ave Church of Christ or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://ppacc.player.fm/legal.
The age-old question "Why do bad things happen to good people?" haunts humanity across cultures and generations. Through a powerful exploration of John 9, we journey alongside a man born blind whose suffering becomes the canvas for God's glory.
The sermon dives deep into three transformative perspectives on suffering. First, suffering naturally invokes questions—the disciples immediately wondered whose sin caused the blindness. Yet Jesus challenges their assumptions, showing that not all suffering stems from personal sin. Some people don't sin but are sinned against, a crucial distinction that shapes how we respond to those experiencing hardship.
Most remarkably, suffering creates unique opportunities for divine encounters. For the blind man, his condition became the pathway to meeting Jesus and experiencing miraculous healing. His powerful testimony—"I was blind but now I see"—demonstrates how our greatest struggles can become platforms for witnessing God's work. Suffering also produces unexpected benefits: clarifying our priorities, building character through endurance, and developing deeper compassion for others walking similar paths.
While we may not always understand why trials come, believers can trust that "all things work together for good to those who love God." Even in our darkest moments, Jesus remains "the light of the world," offering hope, healing, and transformation. Have you considered how God might be using your current struggles as opportunities to reveal His glory? Join us in discovering how suffering can become the birthplace of purpose, compassion, and spiritual growth.
Chapters
1. Bad Things, Good People: The Divine Perspective (00:00:00)
2. Introduction to the Scripture (00:01:25)
3. Reading of John 9:1-25 (00:02:59)
4. Why Bad Things Happen (00:12:18)
5. Suffering Provides Opportunities (00:16:38)
6. Benefits of Suffering (00:17:55)
7. Prayer and Closing (00:20:29)
39 episodes
Share
