Just as the Lord Jesus suffered, so too will his people. Why? In Thessalonica, the persecution of the church has intensified. In this Bible Talk, Gary Haddon answers some of those ‘why’ questions that tend to arise when suffering is encountered. Yet more, Gary shows us the Apostle Paul’s response as he encourages the Thessalonians to give thanks for God’s grace, remember his justice, and pray for his power.
Read the text – 2 Thessalonians 1:1-12
We all like and want justice – yet justice is not possible unless there is judgement (vindicating the good and condemning the bad). In Jesus you have a judge – who is just, right and good. Can we say the same about our own judgements?
Read the Bible Text – John 5:16-30; John 12:44-50
Talk Outline – Who says I will be judged
– Ken Noakes
– David Shead
Imagine, after a long day, I drive home to find that the only thing remaining where my house once stood was its smoldering remains! And standing outside was my child holding a sign saying: ‘Hate the sin, Love the Sinner!’.
It is one thing to recognise that sin is bad – in fact so self-evident that there is no chance that it would not be seen! Yet it is a whole new level of self awareness to think that the sinful actions that caused damage and hurt should be separated from the person who caused the damage and hurt – such that the perpetrator should bear no responsibility!
Imagine a world without justice. Our first reaction when we see injustice is ‘Someone should fix that!’; ‘Where’s a policeman when you need one?’; or ‘There should be a law against that!’. Most of us don’t like injustice when we see it against others, and particularly when we experience against ourselves.
The event that took place on ‘Good Friday’ amounts to injustice on a grand scale.
Good Friday sermon on ‘Imagine A World Without Justice’ by Chris Jolliffe available to stream or download: http://bit.ly/1q8aleS
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