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What Is The Cause of Our Suffering?

Parkhurst Bible Lesson
Hebrews 12:1-13
Sunday, June 22, 2008

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International Sunday School Lesson
Sunday June 22, 2008
Hebrews 12:1-13

“Consider [Jesus] who endured such hostility against himself from sinners, so that you may not grow weary or lose heart” (Hebrews 12:3—NRSV).

“For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds”  (Hebrews 12:3—KJV).

Everyone goes through periods of suffering. Sometimes this suffering prompts us to ask “why,” to seek a reason or cause for our suffering. Sometimes false comforters, such as those who went to Job while he suffered, will say, “There must be some unconfessed sin in your life. If you repent, God will relieve your suffering. You are suffering God’s punishment for your sins.”

The writer of the Letter to the Hebrews was not a false prophet or simplistic comforter. He certainly knew that sometimes we suffer the natural consequences of our own sins. The Bible calls this type of suffering the reaping of what we have sown (Galatians 6:8).

He also wrote that we suffer when sinners afflict us unjustly. When suffering, he wants us to think of Jesus. Jesus, who never sinned, suffered unjustly at the hands of sinners. He suffered unfairly, and sometimes believers will suffer unfairly too. Jesus foretold that His followers would be reviled and persecuted on His account (Matthew 5:11-12). Therefore, believers should not be surprised when they suffer persecution from others for doing the right thing or saying what they must say to right a wrong. Indeed, when suffering for doing what is right in following Jesus, the Bible encourages believers to “not grow weary or lose heart.”

When they sin, believers will sometimes suffer the discipline of their heavenly Father. Though this discipline feels painful, “later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it” (Hebrews 12:11). Believers can find encouragement from such discipline when they remember that God is treating them as the children He loves.

© Copyright 2008 by L.G. Parkhurst, Jr.

You may be reprint or reproduce this Parkhurst Bible Lesson for not-for-profit use.

Questions for Further Thought
or Class Discussion

International Sunday School Lesson
Sunday June 22, 2008
Hebrews 12:1-13

Printable PDF With Questions
Bulletin Size With Questions Printable PDF
Bulletin Size Without Questions Printable PDF

Simple audio podcast version also available here!

          Think about your answers to the questions below before your Sunday school class meets, discuss in class, or use for further study. In some cases, I do not always write the questions to have a definitive right or wrong answer. In most cases, the questions should encourage everyone to think about how to apply biblical truths to their daily lives. Before beginning to answer the questions below, read the entire Scripture lesson in your favorite translation or compare translations. Write your thoughts in the space provided and take them to your Sunday school class for discussion.

Available in the "Religion Section" of The Oklahoman newspaper every Saturday, please do not remove the copyright notice or publish these lessons for profit if you reprint them. To download these Bible Studies as an audio file or podcast to listen to, go to ParkhurstBibleLessons.com.

For newspapers, reprints, or other for profit use, contact:
L.G. Parkhurst, Jr. - lgp@InternationalBibleLessons.com.

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