…on the sermon preached on 333 November 201920192019

ActNow! (Applying Christ’s Teaching NOW) follows the weekly sermon series of TPMC, and challenges us to apply and into practice the biblical truths we hear each week. It is the recommended discussion material for TPMC’s Connect Groups, and leader’s notes are available to all Connect Group Leaders and at the Information Counter.

Comfort of God: 3 Rev Ming Feong Ching

SERMON SYNOPSIS

• The name of the Nahum means comforter, consolation. The book is a message of doom and judgement on 150 years after Jonah, and it was meant to comfort the people of that ’s cruelty and atrocities would be avenged by God.

• God’s message as a prophecy of judgement and destruction of Nineveh through Nahum reminds Judah about God:

o Declaration of judgement on Nineveh so that Judah can find comfort knowing that God is a good God and great in power (:7), slow to anger (Nahum 1:3). We take comfort that He is there to save us when we repent and we seek refuge in Him. o Description of judgement in that Judah could find comfort knowing that God is just and righteous who will by no means clear the guilty. We take comfort in that we do not need to take matters in our own hands. o Judgement deserved in . God judges the Assyrians for their deceit, violence, idolatry, witchcraft, extreme pride in self-sufficiency in wealth and might (Nahum 3:1- 13). God’s power will strip off the strongholds like ripe figs, open fortified cities, use fire, floods and pests to destroy their possessions. This is done because the Assyrians are beyond redemption and restoration.

• We take comfort in God today knowing that judgements of the Lord are faithful and true. We do not need to be envious of the unrighteous and seek vengeance for ourselves against those who offended us. God is more than able to take care of them, you and me because God is sovereign, i.e. God is in control. He has a plan and knows what He is doing. We need to trust that God is in control, whether we understand or note, even though God allows suffering for Judah because of love, to cause them to turn their hearts back to God again to save and restore them.

• The remnant of Judah are encouraged to trust God for redemption, despite being under the cruel reign of the Assyrians for more than 20 years. We may be struggling in our lives now, not seeing any possible end of suffering. How should we respond to suffering? God did not promise instant pain-remover, but does have promises that He is worthy to be trusted. Do not give up for your situations. We know that we can draw comfort from God because He is a good, just and righteous God who is in control and will deliver us from our suffering according to His sovereign timeline.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

RELATE 1. We all experience various forms of suffering in our earthly journey. How have you been coping with the pain from difficult challenges? What are the sources of your comfort?

Writing Team: Agnes Goh, Foo Ming Tay, Hannah Ng, Lye Kuan Loy, Ravi Cuttilan | 1 / 2

…on the sermon preached on 333 November 201920192019

ActNow! (Applying Christ’s Teaching NOW) follows the weekly sermon series of TPMC, and challenges us to apply and put into practice the biblical truths we hear each week. It is the recommended Bible discussion material for TPMC’s Connect Groups, and leader’s notes are available to all Connect Group Leaders and at the Information Counter.

REFLECT 2. We know that God is good, sovereign, just, righteous, in control, and is worthy to be trusted. Yet when in the midst of experiencing injustice or suffering we might struggle with seeing God in the midst of it. What are some scriptures that tell us about God’s presence in our suffering and why we are experiencing it? [Verses to help us go deeper: Matthew 16:24; 2 Timothy 3:12; 1 Peter 4:12-14; Isaiah 43:1-2]

RESPOND 3. We are touched by testimonies of people who overcame great challenges by faith in God. The example from the sermon shows us how one’s experience can help others who suffer. What are some promises in the Bible that we can use to help comfort others who are suffering, just as Christ comforted us? Is there anyone you know who needs your comfort? How can you extend comfort to him/her? [Verses to help us go deeper: 1 Corinthians 12:24b-26; Galatians 6:2; 2 Corinthians 1:3-5]

PRAYER POINTERS • Give thanks to God for He is a good God, just and righteous, sovereign and in control of all things. • Pray for ourselves to embrace the right perspective of suffering with peace and the empowerment of the Spirit. • Pray that we will have the discernment and love to comfort others who are suffering trials or injustice.

MEMORY VERSE Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God [2 Corinthians 1:3-4, NASB]

PRACTICAL HANDLE For the person you’ve identified in question 3 that needs comfort, do something practical for him/her this week. It could be to give your friendship and listening ear over a meal; write a note of encouragement and prayer; give a simple gift he/she might like etc.

Writing Team: Agnes Goh, Foo Ming Tay, Hannah Ng, Lye Kuan Loy, Ravi Cuttilan | 2 / 2