Life isn’t always easy. Eventually we all experience suffering. Monieca and I are praying for our daughter as she battles breast cancer. Last week I prayed with two women in our church who are also dealing with breast cancer. Next week I’m having lunch with another Pastor whose wife has pancreatic cancer. In recent days I’ve spoken with a woman whose husband committed suicide, a man who is struggling with anger as part of his grief, and another man feels like no one likes him. Oh, and our son hit a deer on his way to the airport early one morning last week. His vehicle was damaged, but he’s fine.
The next two Sundays we’re going to talk about suffering and how we respond to it. The stories I will share about Corrie ten Boom and her family as part of this sermon series on following Jesus will be an encouragement and put flesh on what the Bible says about this subject. To prepare for this Sunday, I encourage you to read Romans 8. I will give special attention during the sermon to verses 16-39.
So be sure to arrive early this Sunday and bring a guest with you. Also pray for the worship services, asking God to do a great work in many lives.
Pastor Steve Hogg
Kathy Troutman says
This has been a very thought provoking sermon series. Out of town this weekend but will listen on podcast. Thanks for your posts
Annette Coxe says
This sermon series has certainly spoken to me. I downloaded the book on my Kindle to read as I don’t think I’ve ever read it. What a remarkable woman! Thank you for this sermon series!
Sharon Wilson says
As I’m reading this morning in John 8 where Jesus Is speaking to the Jews about who he was and they believed him not. In verses 56-58 they were so angry at his sayings. Then we can read in verse 59 where John writes ” Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.” I was reminded of when Pastor Hoggs spoke of when Corrie ten Boom asked God to please make her invisible as she passed the guards with her bible hid under her thin cotton dress. John writes Jesus hid himself going through the midst of them, and so passed by. As if he was invisible before those men. As God’s people we can take comfort and rest knowing we are not alone.