Hey Pastor Why is There So Much Evil in the World? Selected Scripture Pastor Bruce Frederickson June 2, 2013

Transcription

1 Hey Pastor Why is There So Much Evil in the World? Selected Scripture Pastor Bruce Frederickson June 2, We re all too familiar with evil. 2. At one time or another most of us have asked the question, If God is so powerful, and so good, why is there so much evil in the world? 3. Consider another question to lay alongside that question: What are we doing to become equally familiar with all the good in the world? 4. Consider three alternatives to questions about evil: A. Never lose sight of God s promises. 1 John 4:4 B. Be proactive rather than reactive. Romans 12:21 C. Be constant in prayer. Matthew 6:13 How does Jesus suffering, dying and rising prove good can and does triumph over evil, all the time? Digging deeper 1. In Luke 13:1-5 read news about two tragedies which happened during Jesus time. 2. Why do you think Jesus related these stores? (13:3; 5) 3. Do you think Jesus really wanted His disciples to judge who was worse? 4. In the parable which follows (Luke 13:6-9) the man who cared for a fruitless vineyard begged the master, Leave it alone for one more year. What does this have to do with the word repent in Luke 13:3; 5? 5. Read the beginning (John 9:1-13) of a rather long story about a man born blind, John 9:1-41. In their question, who sinned, this man or his parents, (John 9:2) what are Jesus disciples seeking to determine? What is Jesus demonstrating to them? 6. In His answer, neither this man nor his parents sinned, (John 9:3) what is Jesus communicating to us? 7. Recall recent tragedies in our news, and in line with today s message. In line with our message today, write a response to each which is in line with today s message, such as She didn t realize how important her good was until she almost lost it. A little girl injured in Oklahoma tornado, embracing her brothers in the school yard after she was rescued. 1 P a g e

2 During a tornado a teacher lay on top of students and prayed, out loud! Victims of a Minnesota shooting traveled to Sandy Hook to console survivors of their school shooting. People from Minnesota total strangers - traveled to Oklahoma to help with storm clean-up. How many more good from evil stories can you recall? 8. Do people who say, I know what you ve been through, always know? Why or why not? 9. Where do the words, Nobody knows the trouble I ve seen nobody that is but Jesus come from? What significant truth is the speaker seeking to communicate? 10. Read the second half of 1 John 3:8. How will this verse help you next time you hear someone say, Why is there so much evil in the world? 11. How does 2 Corinthians 11:14 help us realize why evil is sometimes very difficult to identify? 12. Read another description of Jesus ultimate victory in Colossians 3:15. Thinking of Jesus suffering and death, in what ways did Jesus a) disarm evil powers, b) make a public spectacle of them and their evil, and c) triumphant over them on a cross. 13. Following a closer look at evil vs. good, how have you been enabled to better realize, in spite of the way it may appear to many, good does triumph over evil, in Jesus? 14. The central message of the Bible may be summed up in the words of 1 John 4:10: This is love: not that we love God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 15. We re all too familiar with evil 16. At one time or another most of us have asked the question, If God is so powerful, and so good, why is there so much evil in the world. 17. Consider another question to lay alongside that question: What are we doing to become equally familiar with all the good in the world? 18. Consider three alternatives to questions about evil: D. Never lose sight of God s promises. 1 John 4:4 E. Be proactive rather than reactive. Romans 12:21 F. And be constant in prayer. Matthew 6:13 In His suffering, dying and rising again from the dead, Jesus proved beyond a shadow of doubt that good can and does triumph over evil, all the time. Digging deeper 19. In Luke 13:1-5 read news about two tragedies which happened during Jesus time. 20. Why do you think Jesus related these stores? (13:3; 5) 2 P a g e

3 21. Do you think Jesus really wanted His disciples to judge who was worse? 22. In the parable which follows (Luke 13:6-9) the man who cared for a fruitless vineyard begged the master, Leave it alone for one more year. What does this have to do with the word repent in Luke 13:3; 5? 23. Read the beginning (John 9:1-13) of a rather long story about a man born blind, John 9:1-41. In their question, who sinned, this man or his parents, (John 9:2) what are Jesus disciples seeking to determine? 24. In His answer, neither this man nor his parents sinned, (John 9:3) what truth is Jesus seeking to have them realize? 25. Recalling recent tragedies in our news, and in line with today s message, write a response to each which is in line with today s message: A little girl injured in Oklahoma tornado, embracing her brothers in the school yard after she was rescued. During a tornado a teacher laid on top of students and prayed, out loud! Victims of a Minnesota shooting traveling to Sandy Hook to console survivors of another shooting. People from Minnesota traveling to Oklahoma to help with storm clean-up. How many more good from evil stories can you recall? 26. Do people who say, I know what you ve been through, always know? 27. Where do the words, Nobody knows the trouble I ve seen nobody that is but Jesus come from? What significant truth is the speaker seeking to communicate? 28. Read the second half of 1 John 3:8. How will this verse help you next time you hear someone say, Why is there so much evil in the world. 29. How does 2 Cor 11:14 help us realize why evil is sometimes very hard to identify? 30. Read another description of Jesus ultimate victory in Colossians 3:15. Thinking of Jesus suffering and death, in what ways did Jesus a) disarm evil powers, b) make a public spectacle of their evil, and c) triumphant over them on a cross. 31. Following a closer look at evil vs. good, how have you been enabled to better realize that even though at the time it may be difficult to see, in Jesus, good does triumph over evil. 32. The central message of the Bible may be summed up in the words of 1 John 4:10: This is love: not that we love God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. We re all very familiar with evil in the world Personal tragedy our own others we know And then tragedy on a broader scale our country our world As often as evil rears its ugly head, a familiar question is either verbalized, or at least comes to mind: If God is so powerful, and so good, why is there so much evil in the world. Today, I would like to pose another question to lay along side that question: What are we doing to become equally familiar with all the good in the world? 3 P a g e

4 Jesus had stayed extremely close to His disciples for three years when He gathered them on a hillside outside Jerusalem. Before He disappeared into the clouds He gave them final marching orders..... Go and tell others,..... and a promise: I will be with you always as long as time exists. He promised: Even though you will not be able to see me with your eyes, in spite of all the evil that you see, never, never forget that I am there. As often you become aware of the existence of evil in the world, I would suggest three alternatives: 1. Never lose sight of God s promises. Never forget God s promise in 1 John 4:4 The One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world, We ask many Why questions... why is there so much evil in the world when in fact we know the answers....the devil is the author of evil. Keep the Bible and God s promises close at hand. 2. Be proactive rather than reactive. In Rom 12, our first Bible reading this morning, we are warned against allowing evil to predominate in our world, in our thinking. Don t be overcome by all the evil in the world but overcome evil by being and doing good. Sounds rather simplistic until we consider the implications. And it really is quite simple: Repay your enemies by doing good rather than evil. IN the words of Jesus: If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head It will drive them nuts if you respond with good rather than evil What if...? How would your life be different if instead of simply sighing and admitting the inevitability of evil in our world, if instead of striking back to seek revenge, you would claim the power of the Greater One, Jesus, and your power to overcome evil with good. To help people who don t expect it. To neutralize the bad things with good. 3. And remember to pray regularly - as we do in the Lord s prayer. God deliver us from evil. Keep evil away from me. And then we need to made conscious and regular efforts to stay away from evil. After Jesus was arrested and taken to the High Priests palace for questioning, Peter, one of Jesus closest friends, followed into the High Priest s courtyard. Is it any wonder that when in the presence of his enemies Peter sinfully denied even knowing Jesus much less being the leader of Jesus followers? Why sit down in the presence of your enemies if you know what is going to happen? And yet, prayerful consider God s promise in Psalm 23 to prepare a table for us, even in the presence of our enemies. I sometimes wonder why I watch or listen to the news there seems to be so much bad news.... and I don t think that s just lately.. Evil has been around for a long time almost since the beginning. I keep hoping for Good News to somehow magically appear.....but so often it seems like evil outweighs the good. I recall that a newspaper which agreed to publish only the good news and it went out of business! 4 P a g e

5 We read about Shooting rampages Horribly destructive Bombings Murders almost every night in our cities Abductions of individuals from whom we never hear a word again! And we sadly do little more than shake our heads. To whom do we cling Lord, to whom shall we go you have the words of eternal life. When they encounter evil, many seem to blame God Christians, on the other hand reminded that God loves people utterly. God sent Jesus to suffer and die in our stead from some perspectives, the ultimate evil. Read the daily paper You may ask, hey Pastor why is there so much evil in the world? Then read the scriptures God s good news Then pray And resolve to overcome evil by being and doing good. Conclusion While the devil has been defeated On the cross Jesus said, It is finished. Believe it or not, the devil is on his way to hell but kicking and screaming he is trying to drag as many down with him. Like the chicken with it s head cut off, the devil is thrashing about seeking to convince others that He is stronger... but he s not. Rest assured the one who always, always keeps His promises has also promised that The One Who is in you is much, much stronger than the one who is in the world. Whenever evil rears its ugly head, keep three simply thoughts in mind: 1. No matter how bad it seems, Jesus is stronger 2. Be proactive rather than reactive vengeance is mine, I will repay says the Lord. 3. And pray... 5 P a g e