“Why Do Bad Things Happen To Good People?”

1. “Why Do Bad Things Happen To Good People?” (Why Does God Allow Evil?)

2. Why Do Bad Things Happen To Good People? I. Who is good? II.  God Allows Evil But Doesn’t Cause It III.  God’s Glory is Priority One! IV.  God’s Canvas V.  If It Doesn’t Kill You It Makes You Stronger

3. I.  Who Is Good? A. Mark 10:18 B. Romans 3:9-20, 23 C. Habakkuk 1:13 D. Hebrews 6:16-20

4. II.  God Allows Evil But Doesn’t Cause It A. Psalm 116:5 B. James 1:12-18

5. III.  God’s Glory is Priority One! Romans 16:27, Galatians 1:5, Philippians 4:20, Jude 1:25, Romans 11:36, Ephesians 3:20, Romans 16:25, Jude 1:24, Psalm 44:8, Psalm 57:5, Psalm 57:11, Psalm 71:8, Psalm 108:5, Psalm 86:12, Psalm 104:31, Isaiah 40:5, Ephesians 3:21, Colossians 3:4, 1 Chronicles 16:29, Psalm 115:1, Psalm 148:13

6. IV.  God’s Canvas A. Genesis 50:20 B. Romans 8:28

7. V.  If It Doesn’t Kill You It Makes You Stronger • James 1:1 B. 2 Corinthians 4:16-17

8. B. THE RESURRECTION! 1. Matthew 28:1-20, Luke 23, 35-49 2. I Cor. 15:3-8 3. I Cor. 15:14-19, I Peter 1:1-7

9. II.  Is Jesus who He said He is?No Middle Ground!

10. A Quote From C.S. Lewis "A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic--on the level with a man who says he is a poached egg--or he would be the devil of hell. You must take your choice. Either this was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being just a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us.

11. What Did He Say About Himself? • I came from Heaven! • I am the Messiah • I am God • Same work • Same ability to give life • Same authority • Same honor • Same will

12. What Did He Say About Himself? • I am the bread of life • I existed before Abraham • I am the eternal God, Creator of the Universe • I am the door to salvation • I am equal to God • I am the resurrection and life itself • I am the way, the truth, and the life • I am the only way to God

13. Josh McDowell puts it this way; • His claims are either True • or they are False • Evidence That Demands A Verdict

14. True False Jesus: His Claims Were Either

15. Assume they are False • Then He either Knew they were False • Or He believed they were True

16. Jesus: His Claims Were Either Or True False He Knew He didn’t know

17. Assume He Knew they were False • Then He is not a great moral teacher • He is a liar • Hypocrite • Demon • Fool

18. Deliberate Misrepresentation Liar Hypocrite Demon Fool Jesus: His Claims Were Either Or True False He Knew He didn’t know

19. Assume He believed they were true • He was sincerely deluded • He was a lunatic

20. He was deluded He was a Lunatic Jesus: His Claims Were Either Or True False He Knew He didn’t know Deliberate Misrepresentation Liar Hypocrite Demon Fool

21. But what if He is God? • He Is LORD • You have only two choices • Accept Him and His Lordship • Reject Him

22. If You Accept Him He offers you Eternal Life If You Reject Him You must expect Eternal Punishment

23. Eternal Life Eternal Punishment John 3:18 (*) Jesus: His Claims Were Either Or True False He Knew He didn’t know He is LORD Deliberate Misrepresentation He was deluded Accept Reject Liar He was a Lunatic Hypocrite Demon Fool

24. But what if He is God? • He Is LORD • You have only two choices • Accept Him and His Lordship (*) His Lordship demands obedience!

25. But what if He is God? • Reject Him and be forever lost!

26. What About A Believer? • Can we claim He is our Savior and reject Him as our LORD? • (*) His Lordship demands obedience!

27. III.  How is Jesus' identity “proven” today? A. You are His Witnesses – Luke 24:48 B. John 17:20 • Walk Worthy of His Calling • (Eph 4:1, I Thes 2:9-12, Col 1:10-12)