Scripture Reading: 2 Peter 1:16-21.

Memory Verse: “Surely the Lord God does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets. A lion has roared! Who will not fear? The Lord God has spoken! Who can but prophesy??” (Amos 3:7-8)

INTRODUCTION:

Adam’s sin brought the entire human race under the curse of sin, the Adamic death; and unless a longsuffering Creator had not provided a means of escape, it would have been eternal death (Romans 5:12; 6:23). By infinite wisdom, God saw the end from the beginning. Having created all things for His pleasure, He was grieved when

Scripture Reading: Matthew 3:9-20.

Memory Verse: “Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” (Romans 6:3-4)

INTRODUCTION:

Baptism is an experience ordained of God, in which one has a real experience with Christ, being baptized into Him. Paul included himself among others who “were baptized into Christ Jesus” (Romans 6:3) –

Scripture Reading: Matthew 26:18-30.

Memory Verse:  “For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, ‘Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.’” (1 Corinthians 11:23-24).

INTRODUCTION:

Paul mentioned the Lord’s Supper (antitype of Passover) in reprimanding the Corinthians for their unbecoming behavior, as they came together for its observance. Though the Apostle was converted to Christianity about two years

Sunday: The Fall of Adam: Genesis 3:16-19

Believers experience suffering as an ongoing consequence of the fall of Adam and Eve. When sin entered the world, pain, sorrow, conflict and eventual death invaded the lives of all human beings. In fact, the whole created universe groans under sin’s effects and yearns for the time of a new heaven and a new earth. (Romans 8:20-23; 2 Peter 3:10-13)

Monday: Consequences of Our Actions: Galatians 6:7

Some believers suffer for the same reason that unbelievers do, as a consequence of their own actions. If we are undisciplined in our life’s habits, we

Scripture Text:

Memory Verse: “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.”—2 Timothy 3:12-13

Introduction:

Faithfulness to God does not guarantee believers freedom from trouble, pain and suffering in their lives. In fact, Jesus taught that we are to expect it. The Bible provides numerous examples of godly people who experienced significant amounts of suffering for a variety of reasons.

God’s Relationship to the Suffering of Believers

God is involved in our sufferings. Even though Satan is the god of

Sunday: Job – Be a Man!: Job 40:6-14

God finally gave Job the one thing he wanted most, the opportunity to meet Him in court and defend his case. Suppose God gave you the same opportunity. What would you say to Him? Would you rather meet God in court or at the throne of grace? The more you meet Him at the throne of grace, the less interested you will be to meet Him in court.

Monday: Look at the Behemoth: Job 40:15-24

We cannot identify the behemoth with certainty. We know that it was herbivorous, amphibian, and exceedingly powerful.

Scripture Text: Job 40:6-42:16

Memory Verse: “And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.”—Job 42:10

Introduction:

The Lord asks Job if he has any right to correct or rebuke Him in the realm of providence when he knows so little about the natural creation. With this, Job at last takes his proper place, saying “Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer Thee? I lay my hand over my mouth” (Job 40:4) Overwhelmed by the wide-ranging knowledge of the Lord, he

Sunday: God Speaks to Job: Job 38:1-7

God’s words to Job are remarkable both for what they say and do not say. The Lord does not provide the intellectual answers to Job’s questions. No apology is offered, no explanation of Satan’s challenge in heaven is given, and the question “why” is never considered. When one questions God, he not only shows his own ignorance, but he also opens himself to the attack of Satan. God comes to ask some questions, but he is not there to be cross-examined.

Monday: God’s Creative Power: Job 38:8-15

Just as clay is molded by

Scripture Text: Job 38:1-40:5

Memory Verse: “Moreover, the Lord answered Job, and said, Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? he that reproveth God, let him answer it. Then Job answered the Lord, and said, Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay my hand upon my mouth. Once have I spoken; but I will not answer: yea, twice; but I will proceed no further.”—Job 40:1-5

Introduction:

The Lord Himself now answers Job out of the whirlwind. God’s words are a welcome relief after the strife of the words in the previous chapters.

Sunday: Elihu: Job 32:1-9

A new counselor, Elihu, is introduced here into the narrative. His speech differs from the first three in its emphasis that suffering can be God’s merciful chastisement in order to enlighten the soul and to bring about a more intimate relationship with God. However, like the other counselors, Elihu assumed that Job had sinned and therefore deserved his suffering.

Monday: God’s Use of Suffering: Job 32:10-22

Elihu focuses upon God’s use of suffering to correct wayward believers. Job had complained that God would not answer his questions. Elihu claims that God has indeed spoken, but that