Solutions: Why is life so hard God?

A six week course is coming to Harrow Baptist Church in September.

The question of why God allows suffering is one of the greatest barriers to acceptance of the Christian faith. We ask such questions as:

· “Who is to blame for suffering?”

· “Why does God allow such suffering if He is supposed to be good?

· “Why doesn’t God answer my prayers for healing?”

· “If there is a God, why does He not prevent suffering?”

There are no easy answers, but the Bible gives pointers to solving the mystery of suffering.

Each week, we will meet at 12.30pm for around an hour. We begin with an excellent buffet lunch costing £2.00 for 4 items of your choice, or bring a packed lunch if you would rather. This is a time to meet one another, to chat and get to know each other a little better.

Then time to sit down and listen to what we have to say for twenty minutes or so. We will use music, various media presentations and film clips, so the leaders won’t be talking for too much of the time!

Finally, we will round off the session with a cup of tea and biscuit as we begin a time of informal discussion, for airing of opinions and for questions.

The course overview is as follows:

Week 1: Why is life so hard God? Thursday 9^th September

An introduction to the course as we acknowledge the existence of evil and suffering in the world, and the fact that God acknowledges it too.

Week 2: The Riddle of the Snail and the Hob-nailed Boot! Thursday 16^th September

We will explore the origins of suffering and how every faith acknowledges its existence, and how suffering is not always evil, but how we view it.

Week 3: The god in my box! Thursday 23^rd September

God gave us the freedom to choose, wrong choices can lead to suffering. So where does the blame for suffering lie? And what should God do about it?

Week 4: The God who suffers! Thursday 30^th September

God thought that the good in this world was worth fighting for, hence He sent His only son Jesus to defeat the evil and preserve the good.

Week 5: The God who is there: pie in the sky or pie in the fridge? Wednesday 6^th October

Why is it that God does not always answer prayer in the way we expect? Does He really exist, and if so does He really care? Come and meet a living miracle!

Week 6: Next Please! Wednesday 13^th October

Summaries and surmising, as we meet the God beyond understanding. There is a chance to be prayed for if you wish at the end of the session.

Come and join us as we explore these issues together. So we can have some idea of lunch requirements, please telephone the church office on 02088637837, or phone Lin on 07821896493 or sign up on the HBC notice board to let us know you would like to come.

We look forward to seeing you there.

For a printable invitation please click here.

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Page last updated 19^th August 2010