leader guide In this session, Tullian introduces the Book of Job and discusses how suffering is an inevitable part of life.

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1 Be sure to get the Glorious Ruin Study Guide to your group members prior to the first session so that they can be prepared for your time together. Another option would be to have a preliminary meeting where books are passed out and the basic overview and flow of the study are given. You could view the Promo video together to boost enthusiasm for the study. This could be combined with another church event or informal get-together. Seek to establish a sense of belonging and accountability from the start! Week 1 The Reality Of Suffering In this session, Tullian introduces the Book of Job and discusses how suffering is an inevitable part of life. within the group. Feel free to allow members to share their expectations and goals for this study if you sense God s leadership to modify the group time. Be sure to remind the group of the importance of their Personal Time. Watch: The Reality of Suffering (15:00) 1. Life is more hard than it is easy, more painful than fun. 2. When we face suffering, the most natural question we ask is why. 3. What we find in the Book of Job is the answer to the Who question. 4. God never answers their why questions. 5. The Who always trumps the why, how, and what. Week 2 Moralizing Suffering In this session, Tullian teaches about ways we moralize suffering and how we assume suffering is a form of punishment. 1 GLORIOUS RUIN

2 Watch: Moralizing suffering (17:00) 1. One of the ways that we handle suffering is that we moralize it. 2. When we see bad things happen in our lives, it is easy to conclude we are being punished for something bad we have done. 3. We enslave people when we try to convince them their suffering is because of something bad they did. 4. Job is suffering not because he has done something bad but because he is good. 5. When we look at others lives, there is actually more going on than what we know. Week 3 Minimizing Suffering In this session, Tullian teaches about ways we minimize our suffering and how we fail to engage with the brokenness in our lives. Watch: Minimizing Suffering (18:00) 1. Another way we deal with suffering and pain and difficulty and brokenness is by minimizing it. 2. We reduce people s pain to something smaller than it actually is. 3. There is a lot of minimization of pain and suffering, both inside and outside the church. 4. The gospel doesn t just save us from the past and in the future but in the present. 5. When we minimize suffering, we fail to engage the brokenness for what it really is. Wrap (5 min.) Restate the main purpose of this session. Encourage group members to complete their Per- 2 GLORIOUS RUIN

3 sonal Week 4 The Freedom of Defeat In this session, Tullian teaches about the benefits of suffering and how suffering brings us to dependence on God. Watch: The Freedom of Defeat (16:00) 1. There is a sense in which suffering can be good news. 2. Suffering has a way of reminding us that there is a lot outside our control. 3. Suffering brings us to the place of honesty. 4. Explanations are a substitute for trust. 5. Our defeat produces our freedom. Week 5 The Gospel of Suffering In this session, Tullian teaches about idolatry and how the gospel can free us of idols through our suffering. Watch: The Gospel of Suffering (16:00) 1. Jesus severed the link between suffering and deserving once and for all at the cross. 3 GLORIOUS RUIN

4 2. The gospel is that the bad get the best, the worst inherit the wealth, and the slave becomes a son. 3. Suffering cannot rob you of joy; only idolatry can. 4. Because Jesus is strong for you, you are free to be weak. 5. There is no circumstance that can provide for you what only Jesus can. Week 6 Weighty Mercies In this session, Tullian explains that our suffering and pain is never wasted, but prepares us for what is to come. Watch: Weighty Mercies (14:00) 1. Suffering is good news because brokenness precedes usefulness. 2. Our brokenness, our pain, our difficulties, our trials are never wasted. 3. Our brokenness gets us ready for what is to come. 4. God promised a Rescuer who would clean up the mess that we made. 5. God s promise to us is that our pain and difficulty don t last forever. Time even though this is the last meeting. You might also discuss which Bible study you will want to study next if your group will be staying together. Close in prayer. 4 GLORIOUS RUIN

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