Christ Church Bedford Logo

  Click here to visit the Vision for Action pages Christ Church is part of the Diocese of St Albans   Christ Church is part of the Church of England Living to Love God and You

 

Click here to return to the home pageClick here to find out where we areClick here to find out more about our beliefsClick here to find out more about our activitiesClick here to read our NoticesClick here to find out Other Information about the churchClick here for the times of the ServicesClick here to listen to our SermonsClick here to visit our Prayer pagesClick here to read about the History of Christ Church BedfordClick here for details about our Alpha coursesClick here for Contact detailsClick here to visit the useful Links pageClick here to access the fairtrade pagesClick here to access the Mission pages

Christ Church Bedford Logo
Where is God when it hurts?
Psalm 22 / John 15:1-8

All suffer Pain, Grief, Loss – hopes gone, life unbearable
– cp. Ps. 22 à Ps. 23
Crying out in despair à Trust

Where is God when it hurts?

“When God is not there, guess who’s moved?”
FOOTPRINTS

A different perspective on God

a) Vulnerable God

· Involved in incarnation
· Involved in human experience (John 11:35 – ‘Jesus wept’, also anger, joy, hurt, compassion)
· Involvement = love of creation
· Involvement = costly (Elie Wiesel – p.113)


b) Suffering God

· Jesus dislikes suffering à compassion
· Father & Son suffer together on cross
· Son shrinks from suffering (cp. DVD Passion of the Christ - Gethsemane)
· God involved in suffering on cross (Heb 5:8, 2:10, 4:15) (DVD Passion of the Christ – crucifixion)
· New perspective on God, not an answer


c) Inspiring God

· Example to follow (1 Pet 2:21)
· Stimulus to maturity (James 1:2-4)
· Model of service (John 12:23-26)
· Dependence on God (Luke 22:41-44)


Hope in suffering – “It’s Friday, but Sunday’s coming.”


Response

Read John 15:1-8 – Can you think of times when you have felt poured out and what fruit did it produce?

If willing to acknowledge God’s pruning, offer your trust to him by taking a snapped off branch and place it before the cross.