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Bible Study: Feb. 18, 2018

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NASHVILLE (BP) — This weekly Bible study appears in Baptist Press in a partnership with LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Through its Leadership and Adult Publishing team, LifeWay publishes Sunday School curricula and additional resources for all age groups.

This week’s Bible study is adapted from the MasterWork curriculum.

Bible Passage: John 9:1-38

Discussion Questions:
— How can we make any sense out of suffering and shortcomings?
— What is our role in God being glorified through suffering?
— What is a healing, faithful attitude about all the disappointments and drawbacks in life?

Food for thought:

What is your greatest heartbreak? What malady most impedes your life? What shortcoming has created the deepest grief in your life? How have you allowed God to use these for His glory?

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Mike is a friend, a fellow deacon, and a frequent mission trip partner. Several years ago Mike was diagnosed with cancer. Shortly after his diagnosis, Pat, another friend who had been battling her own cancer for some time, approached Mike to verify what she had heard about his cancer. Having her information confirmed, Pat smiled and said, “I know what’s happening” and started to walk away.

Having his curiosity piqued, Mike followed Pat and asked what she meant. Pat explained that she understood what was going on — God was preparing to use Mike for some ministry in the future. In the years since, cancer claimed Pat’s life, while Mike successfully went through surgery and treatment and has been declared cancer free. Since then, Mike has sought out numerous individuals who have been diagnosed with cancer, and some whom he has not previously known have sought him out. He offers his testimony, his faith, and encouragement from his Father. God indeed had prepared Mike for ministry for His glory.

We frequently ask the wrong questions. We often ask, “Why me?”; “What did I do to deserve this?”; “Where was God when this happened? Why did He let it happen?”; or “How could a living God allow this?” The disciples asked the wrong question as well. They asked, “Who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” But we will never get the right answer if we ask the wrong question.

Jesus set the disciples straight: “Neither this man nor his parents sinned … but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.” The question we ought to ask is, “How does God wish to use this for His glory?” This session of MasterWork helps us view the disappointments and discouragements of life as opportunities for God’s glory.

MasterWork
MasterWork is an ongoing Bible study curriculum based on works from a variety of renowned authors and offers pertinent, practical messages that adults will find uplifting and enriching. The list of authors and their books to be studied in upcoming months can be found at www.lifeway.com/masterwork [3].

Other ongoing Bible study options for all ages offered by LifeWay can be found at LifeWay.com/SundaySchool [4] or ordered at LifeWay Christian Stores [5].