Click here to see the sermon discussion questions or see them listed below. We highly encourage you to listen, think, and talk about the sermon. These are questions you can reflect on by yourself, with your family, or with your small group.

Sermon Discussion Questions:

1. When you face difficulties and trials, how quickly do you assume that you are not in the center of God’s will and that God is sending you a message?  Why might a person assume such a thing and what does this tell us about how we understand God’s use of suffering and pain?

2. The enemies of the gospel used the Jews’ deep rooted hatred of the gentiles to ignite the mob to kill Paul because they so strongly disagreed with him.  Obviously this is an extreme example, but human nature has not changed over time and culture. How do we see this same attitude even within the church today?  In other words, what is at the root of such hatred and why do you think people resort to such drastic actions against those with whom they disagree? 

3. How are Christians supposed to be different? What is it about the gospel, Jesus, God, and His character that allows followers of Christ to be different from the rest of humanity?

4. The sovereignty of God and the fact that He is always in control, even when we don’t understand His ways, should help the believer to have a poise, peace and presence even in the midst of turmoil and pain.  Do you agree?  Why or why not?  

5. From our passage this week as well as from passages such as 1 Peter 3:13-16, what do we learn about how God can use even pain and suffering for His glory and our good?  

6. If God asked you to go through tremendous pain and suffering so that you could become more like Jesus and glorify Him, would you do so?  Why or why not? Do you think our pain and suffering can glorify God? Are they necessary to become more like Jesus?  Explain your answers.