Moving Through Suffering – Romans 8:18-38
I was in the middle of teaching when it dawned on me that those rows of people in front of me could have taken the same time I had with the scriptures and been much better off. The timing of this revelation was disastrous! While I was trying to deliver one coherent thought after another I was being invaded with one hostile thought after another: “They will never learn to fly or feed themselves if they are not shooed from the nest.” “Baby birds in this situation will perish and it will be Mama’s fault if she doesn’t do a little shoving.” It struck me that I was complicit in maintaining a spiritual welfare culture.
Today, my yardstick for measuring a pastor’s effectiveness would not be how many people attend or how much has been given. It would be how many Christians they have kicked out of the nest and taught to fly and feed themselves. The best preachers are not just conveyor’s of bible gems. They also ask penetrating heart-level questions which send believers off to their prayer closets and bibles to encounter God for themselves.
So, today I’ll take my own council and simply give you some questions relating to our passage. Over time, this practice of personally asking and seeking causes our wings to grow because we are being nourished in ways that passive listening (to even to the best sermons) cannot accomplish. This habit is key to enjoying a personal relationship with God. Here are a few things to chew on …
According to Paul, what are normal emotions for a follower of Christ?
If we have not prayed with accuracy or eloquence, why might this passage offer us hope?
What can separating us from God’s love?
In what set of circumstances does Paul say we will overwhelmingly conquer?
What is Paul asking us to compare our “present” circumstances to?
What are we to anticipate between predestination and glorification?
What future event are believers and creation greatly anticipating?
On what basis might a follower of Christ take courage when the events of their life seem wasteful, unfair or painful?
What stands out in this passage as the thing God is trying to most impress upon you?
If you did take the time to search out the scripture’s responses to these questions, you should have tasted the meat. Believer’s who do this long enough are weaned from dependency upon pastor’s milk. Truth and revelation become our own. A pastor’s goal should be to wean each young Christian, bringing them to this level of independence and maturity.
Father, bring many sons into maturity for your name’s sake. Amen.