If God Is Good, Why Do Bad Things Happen?

John 3

The biggest challenge to many people’s faith is the problem of evil and injustice in the world. Many struggle to reconcile the idea of a loving and just God with the reality of suffering and pain. This question—“Why does God allow evil?”—has caused countless people to doubt or turn away from faith, making it one of the most difficult and universal issues believers face. This week, we will explore how God actually overcomes evil through His people.

If you could ask God one question and were guaranteed an answer, what would you ask? Why do you think so many people (according to the sermon) would ask about evil and suffering?

  1. Read John 3:12-13. Jesus discusses earthly and heavenly things. Why do you think it’s sometimes hard for us to understand God’s view on suffering and evil?
  2. Pastor James talked about the common argument: “If God is so powerful, then He could… If God is so good, then He would…” How have you heard this argument expressed before?
  3. Read John 3:16-17. Before Jesus, there was no widespread concept of a God who was good, just, and loved everyone. How does this historical perspective change how you view Jesus’s message?
  4. How does John 3:16-17 address the problem of evil and injustice in the world? What solution does Jesus offer?
  5. In the sermon, Pastor James challenges us to think about where our standards of “good” and “just” come from. How would you define these terms, and where do you think humans get their sense of right and wrong?
  6. Read Romans 2:15. Pastor James said, “Evil doesn’t disprove God but points to Him.” According to the verse that you just read, how does our moral conscience serve as evidence for God’s existence?
  7. Read John 3:19-20. These verses talk about people loving darkness rather than light. How does this relate to the problem of evil in our world?
  8. Pastor James also stated that “Jesus exposed the problem of evil” as being within us; it isn’t just the evil around us, but the evil in us. What does he mean when he says that we all have “loved ourselves far more than loving God and loving others”?
  9. When we talk about addressing evil, we need to look in the mirror, rather than out the window. We often want “justice for others but mercy for ourselves.” Can you think of a time when you held this double standard? How does recognizing this change your perspective?
  10. What is one area of injustice or evil that you contribute to (even in small ways) that you could work on changing this week?
  11. God redeems us to work through us for good and justice. What is one specific way you could be God’s agent for good and justice in your community this week?