Embracing Mystery: The Story of Job: Presence in Pain
Job 30: 16-31
Scott Sund, Bethany Senior Pastor, and Heather Sund, LMFT
Grief and suffering have a tendency to destroy relationships, but in studying how Job stays present to himself, God, and others we get a picture of the redemptive power of presence to grow relationships and restore health despite our seasons of suffering.
1. Presence to Self
2. Presence to God
3. Presence to Others
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Discussion Questions
Before questions, attempt to give the group a bit of a summary of the main points of the sermon and then choose a few questions that fit your group’s needs and style. We don’t intend for you to use all of these. Three to five questions may be a good number.
Begin by reading Job 30: 16-31 aloud, taking turns reading the passages.
Pray over the group before beginning discussion.
1. What is one thing your body or longings might be speaking to you about a pain or desire you can be present to?
2. The modern church tends to separate out the body in the work that God is doing in the world in favor of a soul/spirit focus. In light of that, how does it feel to think about honoring your body as a spiritual practice?
3. Pastor Scott shared that while God doesn’t cause our pain, He does redeem it. Share a story of when that happened in your life.
4. Heather shared some suggestions of things you can say to practice presence for people. Did any of them particularly resonate with you as something you’d like to incorporate into your interactions with those in pain?
a. Are there any ways that you like to be attuned to that Heather may have left out?
5. Suggested Practice: Explore the prayer practice this week of simply bringing the circumstances of the day to God OR paying attention to your consolation and desolation each day.
6. Suggested Practice: Practice presence this week with a person in your life who is suffering. Let them know you are thinking of them and/or take time to listen/validate/comfort without answers.