Why Are Things So Bad?

CURRENT MESSAGE SERIES

When Life Doesn't Make Sense, God's Truth Still Does

In a world filled with pain, injustice, natural disasters, broken relationships, and personal struggles, one of the most honest questions people ask is: "Why are things so bad?"

This three-week journey explores what Scripture teaches about the reality of suffering in our world. We'll examine the biblical understanding of why we face hardship and discover how God uses even our darkest moments for His glory and our good. Each message addresses a different source of suffering while pointing to the hope we have in Christ, who has overcome the world.

While suffering is real and painful, God is sovereign and working all things together for the good of those who love Him. This series emphasizes that our present struggles, when viewed through the lens of Gospel Culture, become opportunities for spiritual Growth as we deepen our Identity in Christ, strengthen Community bonds through shared trials, and create Kingdom Impact by how we respond to hardship.

Series Memory Verse

"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." — Romans 8:28

Weekly Messages

Week 1: When Creation Groans

January 5 | Romans 8:18-25 & Genesis 3:14-19

The cosmic consequences of sin and the Fall affect every aspect of our world. We'll explore how Adam and Eve's rebellion subjected all creation to futility, leading to natural disasters, disease, death, and decay. Yet even in creation's groaning, we find hope in the promise of future glory that outweighs our present sufferings.

Week 2: When We Reap What We Sow

January 12 | Galatians 6:7-10 & Proverbs 14:12, 16:25

Sometimes our struggles come from the personal consequences of our own choices. We'll examine God's unchanging principle of sowing and reaping, understanding how our decisions can lead us down paths that seem right but end in destruction. Discover the grace available even when facing consequences for poor decisions.

Week 3: When Following Jesus Costs Us

January 19 | 1 Peter 4:12-19 & 2 Timothy 3:12

Suffering for righteousness' sake is a normal part of the Christian life. We'll learn how trials and persecution refine our faith, bring glory to God, and are actually privileges for those who follow Christ. Find practical ways to respond to opposition with grace while growing stronger in your Identity as God's treasured possession.

Join Us This Sunday

Sundays | 9:00 AM & 11:00 AM
48 Manor St. Bakersfield, CA 93308

Whether you're struggling with personal pain, questioning why bad things happen to good people, or simply seeking to understand God's heart in the midst of suffering, this series will equip you with biblical truth and practical hope.

Going Deeper

This series embodies the same culture of authentic Community and vulnerable Growth we pursue throughout Rez Church. Consider joining a small group to process these truths in intimate settings over time, where real spiritual change happens.

Connect with others who understand that following Jesus doesn't exempt us from hardship but transforms how we navigate it. Together, we'll discover that our present sufferings are producing an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.

Ready to take your next step in community? Contact us about joining a small group.

Questions about the series? Ready to connect?

hello@resurrect.church

Rez Church | 48 Manor St. Bakersfield, CA 93308