Why do the innocent suffer harm? This is a question that humans have wondered for ages.

A theology of suffering is particularly challenging because as part of God’s family, Christians tend to expect good things to follow them all the days of our lives (Psalm 23:6). But when this doesn’t happen, it be more than disconcerting.

So, reading the story of Job in the bible can be particularly challenging because it is seemingly an affront to our moral sensibilities. Job doesn’t seem to deserve the calamity he faces. Job’s story confronts our theology of deed and consequence; “if you do good, you will be blessed and if you do evil, you will be punished.” It pushes back against the cultural narrative of reward and punishment that is seen in the aspects of the wisdom literature found in Proverbs. The book of Job allows the man or woman of God to lament, to question and cry out to God at our circumstances while still trusting that He is just and good.

This is a three week study where we look at this large topic. It will run from April 8–22nd in the chapel. Kids and youth programs will be running concurrently.