Romans 8:18-25
Sermon Notes:
1) The necessary perspective regarding suffering, 18
Suffering is a fact of life
Suffering is a fact of THE CHRISTIAN life (2 Tim 3:12)
Suffering is temporary (2 Cor 4:16-18)
We suffer, because this world is not our home (Phil 3:20-21)
2) The worldwide problem behind suffering, 19-22
3) The glorious payoff after suffering, 23-25
Reflection questions:
1. What was the last “first-world problem” you complained about? How could counting your blessings (Eph 1:3-14; 1 Peter 1:3-9; 2 Peter 1:3-4) have improved your perspective about that problem?
2. How does our knowledge of this world’s fallenness help us to sympathize with the pains and groanings that others might express? See Job 2:11-13 (Note: This is the high point for Job’s three friends.)
3. Read 2 Cor 4:7-18; Phil 3:20-21; 1 John 3:1-2. After reading this, how would you describe “the glory that is to be revealed to us” in Rom 8:18?