Welcome back To the Table. After the last several weeks in our Bible study, admittedly, I’m not sure I remember how to do this podcast thing Today’s topic: struggles and suffering – is an “easy” one to jump into because we can ALL relate.

Life is far from perfect. I am far from perfect. So the situations and the circumstances of life reflect all that imperfection. We’re talking about some big questions. Why do bad things happen? Does God care? Is there hope? How do I get through? If you have ever found yourself in a situation where you are thinking (or asking) these questions, I hope this episode encourages you. The Lord knows all things. It (the world) wasn’t created this way. Sin spoiled the perfect goodness that the Lord originally intended for us. But that isn't the end of the story - there is hope.

John 16:33 – I have said these things to you, that inme you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Romans 6:23 – For the wages of sin is death, but the freegift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

1 Peter 5:7 – casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

Romans 5: 3-5 - Not only that, but we rejoice in oursufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

2 Cor 1:3-4 – Blessed be the God and Father of our LordJesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

Romans 8:26-28 – Likewise the Spirit helps us in ourweakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Here’s a link to our worship playlist. If you are like me,music is just one of those things that helps me re-focus and re-align my heart to the Lord. We hope this list adds a little encouragement to some of the less exciting moments in your day. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2BLkYKVIztVHIpJ7EMp8ET?si=46a8a2c359714b71

Subscribe, follow, like, share, or whatever else you want todo. Whether we have 10 people listening or 10,000, our goal is the same – pointing people to Jesus.

You can share your thoughts, ask questions, or makesuggestions in the comments below. Thanks for listening. We’ll see you next week!

Welcome back To the Table. We’re wrapping up Paul’sletter to the Colossians today, finishing chapter 3 and 4. It’s not even surprising to me that we’re having a discussion about submission today – feels on par for how things have been going. Paul does mention a few different role pairings andatultimately, the point is we are all on a level playing field with Jesus. The typical “hierarchy” of roles and relationships during the time and today are nonexistent with Jesus. We all look to Him alone. We’re all here to honor and glorify Him. Full stop. Jesus. He’s the goal.

Show Notes🗒️ 

Ephesians 5:21 – submitting to one another out of reverencefor Christ.

Marriage that Works by Chip Ingram: https://a.co/d/dToJIUA

2 Corinthians 4:17-18 – For this light momentary afflictionis preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are see but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

1 Peter 3:15 – but in your heart honor Christ the Lord asholy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.

Here’s a link to our worship playlist. If you are like me,music is just one of those things that helps me re-focus and re-align my heart to the Lord. We hope this list adds a little encouragement to some of the less exciting moments in your day. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2BLkYKVIztVHIpJ7EMp8ET?si=46a8a2c359714b71

Subscribe, follow, like, share, or whatever else you want todo. Whether we have 10 people listening or 10,000, our goal is the same – pointing people to Jesus.

You can share your thoughts, ask questions, or makesuggestions in the comments below. Thanks for listening. We’ll see you next week!

Welcome back To the Table. Do you ever feel like youknow the right thing to do, but there’s another option that feels better? Or maybe you don’t know what to do, but your natural tendency is not usually the best way forward. Colossians 3 is for us – we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus, raised to new life with Him. We need to consciously lay aside, or put to death, ourselves and put on the characteristics of Christ. We need a lot of reminding and a lot of help, but if we make the choice to follow Jesus, others will see his love through us.

Show Notes🗒️ 

Galatians 2:20 - I have been crucified with Christ andI no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Luke 6:45 - The good person out of the good treasure of hisheart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

Proverbs 4:23 - Keep your heart with all vigilance, for fromit flow the springs of life.

Luke 8:17 - For nothing is hidden that will not be mademanifest, nor is anything secret that will not be known and come to light.

Romans 6:12-14 - Let not sin therefore reign in yourmortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. For sin will have no dominionover you, since you are not under law but under grace.

Colossians 3:23 - Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.

Here’s a link to our worship playlist. If you are like me,music is just one of those things that helps me re-focus and re-align my heart to the Lord. We hope this list adds a little encouragement to some of the less exciting moments in your day. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2BLkYKVIztVHIpJ7EMp8ET?si=46a8a2c359714b71

Subscribe, follow, like, share, or whatever else you want todo. Whether we have 10 people listening or 10,000, our goal is the same – pointing people to Jesus.

You can share your thoughts, ask questions, or makesuggestions in the comments below. Thanks for listening. We’ll see you next week!