You’ll need:

·        Pencils And Index Cards (One For Each Person)

·        “Losing My Religion” by R.E.M. and/or “Dear God” by XTC

·        Puzzle Pieces (One For Each Person)

·        Chocolate Chip Cookies For Everyone

·        Cookie Ingredients Like Flour, Butter, Salt, And Chocolate Chips

Why, God?

Sooner or later most people struggle with anger toward God.  Some wouldn’t even be able to admit it, but for many this anger drives them away from God.  How often have you heard someone say, “I just can’t believe in a God who would allow ___________.”  There’s plenty in this world to get angry about.  There’s plenty of pain and evil and injustice to go around.

The Opening Act:

I can remember a few times in my life that something happened to people that I loved, and I wondered how an all loving God could allow that kind of a thing happen.  Before we move on, does anyone want to share any time that you asked God, “Why?”

What are some things in this world that seem unfair?  They can be personal or global?

Reflection – Why I’m Angry:

Hand out index cards and pencils to everyone.

Write down your biggest God-gripe.  What is it that makes you frustrated or mad at God or makes you doubt Him the most?  We will not be sharing these.  There are personal things for you to do on your own, so be honest.  This is your opportunity to be completely open with God.  You can write these down as statements, like, “I’m bugged that…” or you can write them down as questions, like, “God, why did you allow this to happen?”

Let’s get honest today, we know that God loves us; we know that God is in control; and we know that God is aware of what’s going on in the world and in our lives.  But almost everyone eventually feels like God is distant and uninvolved.  And it is in many of those times that we begin to ask the “Why” questions.

The Main Event:

1. Almost everyone gets mad at God from time to time.

At this time, allow me to share with you a song.  This song is by R.E.M. and it is titled “Losing My Religion.”  Listen to the word of this song.

(Play Song: Losing My Religion)

In many ways, this song is an angry letter to God.  During an interview with Michael Stipe, the writer of this song, he said that he was trying to write the ultimate unanswered love song, meaning it’s about a love that is not returned.

As I said, almost everyone gets mad at God from time to time, and we wonder if He really cares.  We begin to ask the question “Why?”

If you have your Bibles with you, go ahead and turn with me to Psalm chapter 10, and then we will take a look at Psalm chapter 77.  Now these two particular psalms happen to be angry psalms.  So let’s take a look at them.

First, Psalm chapter 10 says, “1”

And secondly, let’s take a look at Psalm 77:1-15.  Here in this Psalm it says, “2”

Surprise, surprise, God is big enough to handle your anger!  He’s not going to send you to Hell or zap you with an illness for expressing anger at Him either.  Anger is a normal part of any relationship, although anger is often based on misunderstandings or misinformation.  This is almost always the case when we get angry at God and ask those “Why” questions.

2. Why does bad stuff happen?

First, we have to admit, or realize, that we don’t always get to know the reason.  Christians have a way of trying to settle on a reason for every bummer.  But that’s not always possible, and forcing a fake reason doesn’t do us any good either.

Object lesson: Puzzle Piece

Puzzle Piece:

Pass out one puzzle piece to each person.  Allow people to take the puzzle pieces

home as a reminder of the main points of this talk.

This puzzle piece that you have is a lot like our lives.  We get to see some of the picture, some of the colors, but we don’t get to see how it all fits together, at least not always.  Sure, we can look at the picture on the front of the puzzle box, which in this case would be the Word of God and all of God’s revealed truth.  And then we can get enough info to understand what the basic subject of the puzzle is.  But usually we don’t get to see the whole picture.

In I Corinthians 13:12 it says, “Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face.  Now I know in part, then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.”

And then in Romans 8:28-39 it says, “3”

Notice in that scripture that it didn’t say that God causes bad stuff to happen.  But it does say that God takes all things, both good and bad, and uses them for the good.  Unfortunately, it doesn’t say that we get to know all the details behind His plans though.

What’s the best response when we don’t understand why bad stuff happens?

I think that the best response when we don’t understand why bad stuff happens, now I didn’t say the easiest, but the best response is to listen to Psalm 46:10 which tells us to, “Bet still, and know that I am God.”  You see, God has everything under control.  Reminding ourselves of this truth will help us deal with our angry and upset emotions.

3.  Bad things happen because actions have consequences.

This is a tough one.  Sometimes we have to suffer the consequences of our own actions, and sometimes we end up suffering consequences from someone else’s evil.  If you remember, Psalm chapter 10 is a good example of this.  The writer of this psalm had obviously suffered evil at the hand of someone else and wasn’t pleased about it.  That bugged the writer, and it would bug us.

But guess what, it bugs God too!  But God had 2 options when He created us.  One, He could have made us like robots, pure all the time, quick to worship Him, and quick to do what’s right.  But with no real choices.

Or He could have, and He did, decide it was somehow better for Him and for us to allow us to choose between good and evil.  It’s called free will.

And the sad thing is, we make unhealthy decisions, and we have to live with the consequences.  Other people around us make poor decisions, and we have to deal with those consequences as well.

We all know the story of David and Bathsheba.  In II Samuel chapters 11 and 12, we find David’s sin of being with Bathsheba, and all that he does to try and cover that sin up.  And then in 12:10 we find that the consequence is that David’s household would always be fighting.  Now, this isn’t God being mean and getting back at David.  It’s not a you blew me off so I’m going to mess up your life attitude.  This is a cosmic, natural consequence to David’s sin.

But what about some of the other consequences that Bible characters had to live with as a result of their choices:

Adam and Ever ate the fruit form the forbidden Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.  What were the consequences of their actions?  (They had to leave the garden.)

Cain killed his brother Abel.  What were the consequences to his actions?  (He had to wander the land, never to settle down.)

Lot’s wife looked back as she was fleeing from Sodom.  What were the consequences to her actions?  (She was turned into a pillar of salt.)

And finally, Judas betrayed Jesus.  What were his consequences?  (He was branded as a traitor for all time, and he faced guilt issues as he went out to hang himself.)

The Grand Finale:

Object lesson: Chocolate Chip Cookies

Chocolate chip cookies:

Display a few of the ingredients in chocolate chip cookies.  At least have chocolate

chips, butter, flour, and salt.  After intro, pass out chocolate chip cookies and ask

everyone to hold them for a minute.

Is there anyone here that would like to come and eat some of the flour?

How about the salt by itself?

Well what about the butter?

Well, no truly normal person would want to or enjoy eating the ingredients separately.  You might like eating a cup of chocolate chips, but you probably don’t want to eat the flour or the salt or the butter by itself.  It’s the mix of all the flavors together that makes the cookie so good.  In the same way, God loves to use the sweet things and the bitter things in life to bring about a wonderful result.

So, one more time, Most people get angry with God from time to time.  God can handle that!  We can’t always see the reason for bad stuff, because we can’t see everything from God’s perspectives.  And sometimes bad stuff happens just because there’s evil in the world, which God allows and will use for our good.  Sometimes bad stuff happens to us as a consequence to our own bad choices and sin or that of others around us.  But God still wants to turn that into good stuff in our lives!

Reflection –Why I’m Angry, Part 2:

If you used the Why I’m Angry exercise from the introduction, have students pull out

those cards and look at them again.

As you look at those index card, understand that God knows what we feel.  He knows if we’re angry or sad.  We have to trust that God wants to use that bad thing for good somehow.  If you are willing to trust God on this, willing to try trusting Him at least, then I want you to write on the top of that index card, “God is in control.”  And now take that home as a reminder that God is in control of everything.

Encore:

Get It?

·        Do you think God has ever done something mean to you on purpose?

·        Do you think that it is okay to be angry with God?  Why or why not?

·        So why does bad stuff happen to us?

·        People make unhealthy decisions all the time.  Who’s to blame when bad stuff happens then?

·        What’s one of the worst things you’ve seen on the news lately?  Did God make that happen?

·        Why can’t we see how the puzzle fits together?

·        Explain the puzzle thing. How does it work?

·        Have you ever yelled at God?  Have you ever mumbled in anger at Him?  If so, how does God respond to that?

·        Do you think God will bless us only when we love Him?  (“God causes all things.. for those who love Him…”)

·        What about the chocolate-chip cookie illustration, how would you explain that concept to a non-Christian?

What If? The Big Picture:

·        Why do you suppose God doesn’t let us see the whole puzzle?

·        How should we respond to bad stuff when we can’t see a reason for it?

·        Can you think of a time in your life when good came out of bad?

So What? It’s Your Life:

·        Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still and know that I am God.”  Basically God is saying to chill out.  How can we do that?

·        Have any of you ever heard the phrase, “Let go and let God.”  What does it mean?

·        “Letting God” involves giving up control.  Why is control so hard to give up?

Does anyone have anything that they would like to add before we close?

Well, if there is nothing else, just remember what we have taken a look at today the next time that you get angry and you wonder, “Why?”

Let’s Pray!