Saints in the Hands of Angry Counselors, Part 1
There is a profound lesson to be learned from the first 22 chapters of Job's diary and it is simply this: when God is silent, don't speak for Him!
What Christians Want to Know But are Afraid to Ask
The book of Job is so important for us because it deals with questions that we as Christians have all asked but are sometimes afraid to voice. Questions like, "If God loves me, why does He let me suffer?" Or "Is God as good as He says He is?" Join Stephen in this message as we witness Job and his three friends grapple with these issues philosophically and personally.
The Magnum Opus of Faith
Almost the entire book of Job is a series of conversations between he and his friends regarding the issue of suffering. Questions like "Why do believers suffer?" or "Is suffering punishment for some sin?" are just a couple. Perhaps you're asking the same questions today, so join Stephen in this message as he reveals to us what Job and his friends discovered.
When Fairytales Have the Wrong Ending, Part 2
There is one thing that all fairytales seem to have in common: a happy ending. The prince rescues his princess, the dragon is killed, and the deserving young lovers ride off happily into a glorious sunset. This is the life that Job once lived, but now the Dragon is pummeling Job's shield with his flaming breath and slashing at his armor without rest. Job's fairy tale is quickly coming to an end.
When Fairytales Have the Wrong Ending, Part 1
There is one thing that all fairytales seem to have in common: a happy ending. The prince rescues his princess, the dragon is killed, and the deserving young lovers ride off happily into a glorious sunset. This is the life that Job once lived, but now the Dragon is pummeling Job's shield with his flaming breath and slashing at his armor without rest. Job's fairy tale is quickly coming to an end.
The Day After You Die
Job is right in the middle of his suffering and his spirit becomes more and more darkened with each passing chapter. His optimism is quickly fading. Thanks to unwise council from friends and lack of answers from God, Job is fast becoming the most broken and most devout cynic of his time.
The Gospel According to Job
Hundreds of years before Christ came to earth, a man named Job was already preaching the Gospel. There had been no incarnation, no crucifixion, and no resurrection, but God's message to fallen mankind was still the same as it is now. Let's watch how it affects the life of a suffering Saint.
Calling the Kettle Black
Speaking the truth is important, but speaking the truth in love is most important. Criticism should always be given to help the other person, not harm them. Job's friend Bildad didn't get that. Not only did he offer bad advice to his suffering companion, but he did it in the most unloving way possible.
Escaping the Dungeon of Giant Despair
What do you do when you're depressed? Do you go for a drive? Do you talk with a friend? Do you pray and read Scripture? Do you give up on God? The dungeon of despair often feels dark and lonely, but job's story reminds us that we are never really alone. Jesus knows what it is to suffer . . . and He can sympathize with all our weakness.
Avoiding the Error of Eliphaz
We live in a generation of "I want what I want, and I want it now!"--and pride is actually encouraged. But, as Christians, we are called to demonstrate humility, imitating Jesus Christ as He humbled Himself for us. Through these verses in 1 Peter, Stephen expounds upon three key qualities of humility by which we can show our love for others and to our Lord.