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Lesson OneSuffering Comes With The Freedom To Choose5 Activities1 Assessment
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Lesson TwoSuffering Reveals What Is In Our Hearts5 Activities1 Assessment
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Lesson ThreeSuffering Takes Us To The Edge Of Eternity5 Activities1 Assessment
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Lesson FourGod Can Turn Suffering Around For Our Good5 Activities1 Assessment
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Lesson FivePain Can Warn Us Of Danger5 Activities1 Assessment
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Lesson SixIn Times Of Crisis We Find One Another5 Activities1 Assessment
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Lesson SevenSuffering Gives Opportunity To Trust God5 Activities1 Assessment
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Lesson EightPain Loosens Our Grip On This Life5 Activities1 Assessment
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Lesson NineGod Suffers With Us In Our Suffering5 Activities1 Assessment
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Lesson TenGod's Comfort Is Greater Than Our Suffering5 Activities1 Assessment
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Course Wrap-UpCourse Completion1 Activity1 Assessment
Participants 228
Discussion Questions
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Douglas Geivett said, “A great deal of responsibility for suffering or for evil generally in the world today is rooted in how we exercise the freedom we have.” What are evidences you have seen of the connection between the freedom to choose and human suffering?
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We have the freedom to choose and with that we have the freedom to choose right from wrong. Regardless of how we choose there are consequences. I see those consequences live out daily in my life, my children’s lives, my student lives and the lives of those around me.
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When we exercise in the freedoms we have and chose to act in disobedience to God’s Word and commandments, we are going to suffer the consequences and often times others will suffer as well. We don’t have to go far to see the evidence of the connection between the freedom to choose and human suffering. For example, many people suffered the effects from the recent school shooting in Texas. The shooter’s freedom of choice caused great human suffering.
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I made poor decisions with my finances and still suffer with being able to have any savings. These poor choices sadly have carried over to my son and it pains me to watch him suffer. Had I made better choices with my finances when I was younger, I would be in a much better position today financially as well as had shown a better example to my son.
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I have seen the evidence of man’s choice in teens who choose to participate in unhealthy behaviors such as alcohol and drugs ruin their own lives and those of others. I’ve seen men and women make choices to have affairs that not only impacted them, but their families as well.
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When I was younger, I was abused by a family friend. Their misuse of freedom has brought about huge trauma in my own life that I am still trying to work through.
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In response to Dr. Paul Brand’s statement, would you exchange your freedom to choose in order to enjoy freedom from pain?
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No, the freedom to choose is what allows us to truly enjoy relationships.
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I would not exchange my freedom. It’s probably easier to say right now in my life, when I’m not experiencing extreme pain, but I’ve sometimes thought and witnessed how God can use our pain for our good and His glory. I think sometimes the only way we get on our knees and acknowledge God is because we suffer. The Bible says in one of the gospels that Jesus’ disciples wanted to know if the blind man sinned or his parents. Jesus answer to them was neither and that it happened so the works of God would be displayed in him.
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No. It is in our human nature to want freedom and to have a choice. I also think that being able to experience pain separates us from the Almighty and powerful Being of God.
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No, in fact, I believe the mere ability to feel pain is what makes us human and allows us to accept we are chosen.
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No. Pain made me who I am today. My eyes are open to see God’s mercy through every pain I’ve experienced. If there were no consequences to my bad choices, I would never know wrong from right ever.
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Ravi Zacharias said, “Love cannot be brought about by robotic coercion; it has to be done by freedom of will.” Do you agree or disagree? Why?
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