Message: “Silence and Emotion in the Christian Life” from Pastor Nathan Sundt

Job 3 1. Sometimes “just sitting” is a holy and righteous deed. -It makes space for human emotions. -It makes speech mean “more in the heart” and “less in the world.” Emotions are not wrong per se; they must be rightly used and experienced. 2. God’s people must accustom themselves to sitting in spaces where the truly violent and grievous emotions can be experienced and spent. Qalal / קָלַל The flow of thought in Job’s emotion: -His birthday is no longer a celebration (v. 1). -It would be good if the birth day’s memories were lost (v. 2-3). -In fact, that day feels like a sign of judgment (4-6). -Joy can feel outweighed by sorrow (v. 7). -If life is measured by feelings of joy and sorrow, many should have never started (v. 11). -So many things could have gone wrong as a sign of the curse; why did they not? (v. 12-16). -The sleep of death is not the worst outcome (v. 17-18). -Many of life’s piercing pains are not present in death (v. 19). -Why does God sustain the life experience of those who have pain? (v.20-22). -Some pain feels poured out, forgotten, and lost (v. 23-26). 3. Life must always be respected, especially when it is a riddle. 4. Suffering well removes faulty foundations.

Related Topics: Submission, Understanding, Suffering, The Book of Job | More Messages from Pastor Nathan Sundt | Download Audio

From Series: "Sunday Mornings"

These sermons were given at our 11am service on Sunday Mornings.