The document contains passages from Luke 22 describing disputes among Jesus's disciples about greatness. Jesus tells them the greatest should be like the youngest and one who serves. He promises them a kingdom but says Peter will deny knowing Jesus three times before the rooster crows. When the disciples say they have swords, Jesus says that is enough and it is written he will be numbered with transgressors. The document discusses how faith does not exempt one from evil and suffering, and some virtues are only learned through suffering, though God prays believers overcome trials rather than removing them. It encourages giving thanks in adversity to let God use difficulties for his purpose.

1. Luke 22:24-25
Also a dispute arose among them as to which of
them was considered to be greatest. Jesus said
to them, ‘The kings of the Gentiles lord it over
them; and those who exercise authority over
them call themselves Benefactors.
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2. Luke 22:26-27
But you are not to be like that. Instead, the
greatest among you should be like the youngest,
and the one who rules like the one who serves.
For who is greater, the one who is at the table or
the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at
the table? But I am among you as one who
serves.
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3. Luke 22:28-30
You are those who have stood by me in my trials.
And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father
conferred one on me, so that you may eat and
drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on
thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
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4. Luke 22:31-32
‘Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as
wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that
your faith may not fail. And when you have
turned back, strengthen your brothers.’
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5. Luke 22:33-34
But he replied, ‘Lord, I am ready to go with you
to prison and to death.’ Jesus answered, ‘I tell
you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you
will deny three times that you know me.’
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6. Luke 22:35-36
Then Jesus asked them, ‘When I sent you
without purse, bag or sandals, did you lack
anything?’ ‘Nothing,’ they answered. He said to
them, ‘But now if you have a purse, take it, and
also a bag; and if you don’t have a sword, sell
your cloak and buy one.
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7. Luke 22:37-38
It is written: ‘And he was numbered with the
transgressors’; and I tell you that this must be
fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about me is
reaching its fulfillment.’ The disciples said, ‘See,
Lord, here are two swords.’ ‘That is enough,’ he
replied.
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8. You can’t escape it: BAD news.
I don’t need to convince you that
EVIL exists.
Some have said the problem of evil and suffering is
the number one OBJECTION to belief in God.
Lee Strobel in “Case for Faith” and Douglas Groothuis
in “Christian Apologetics” both dismantle this
objection.

9. Faith does not EXEMPT your from
evil and suffering.
The corollary to Satan has asked is
that God has ALLOWED
The possibility of evil is the cost to FREEDOM we
seldom consider.

10. Some LESSONS/VIRTUES are only
learned or acquired through
suffering.
Sifting is necessary to separate the
UNWANTED from the wanted.
Jesus doesn’t remove the trial, but prays for him to
OVERCOME it.
Peter became the ROCK by learning through his
failure.

11. “Giving thanks in the midst of an adverse
situation, a difficulty intended to undermine
your faith and destroy you, enables you to
take hold of that situation and set it apart for
God’s purpose. When you give thanks, the
weapon the enemy meant to use to dislodge
you from your divine purpose is put into your
hands and becomes the very thing that brings
you more fully into that purpose”
(“Strengthening Yourself in the Lord”)

12. Some suffering comes as the
RESULT of our faith.
Peter’s trial was due to his
ASSOCIATION with Jesus.
The cross reminds us that God is not IMMUNE to our
pain, but has chosen to go through it with us.
The enemy’s goal is to tempt us to FAIL; God’s
purpose is to test us that He may GROW us (Kerry
Kirkwood).

13. “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you
face trials of many kinds, because you know that the
testing of your faith develops perseverance.
Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be
mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James
1:2-4)

14. Please take a moment to fill out your
Communication Card
My Next Step Today is to:
( ) Do the home life help (in bulletin)
( ) Study more about overcoming the presence of evil as
an objection to faith.
( ) Stop blaming God for suffering that resulted from
freedom He gave us.
( ) Ask what lessons/virtues I can learn through a
particular trial
( ) Ask Christ to always help me acknowledge and not
deny Him in daily life
( ) Other________________________