Man's Search for Meaning | The Sage E2
John Mark Comer Teachings
Practicing the Way
4.9 • 1.6K Ratings
🗓️ 10 January 2025
⏱️ 52 minutes
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Summary
Can we be happy in the midst of our suffering? John Mark argues that meaning, more than being happy or healthy, is our core need as humans, and that suffering is one of the primary ways that we live into that meaning. He challenges us to embrace suffering as the forge of our transformation into Christ-like love, where true joy can be found.
Key Scripture Passage: Job 23v1-10
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Hello and welcome to the John Mark Coma teachings podcast. |
| 0:07.0 | I'm Strawn Coleman, your host and part of the teaching team here at Practicing the Way. |
| 0:12.0 | Each week on this podcast we share a teaching from John Mark or other trusted voices in the formation space. |
| 0:18.0 | And it's great to have you with us. |
| 0:24.8 | Today in our final teaching in the Sage series, |
| 0:26.9 | John Mark proposes that meaning, |
| 0:31.2 | rather than happiness, is humanity's greatest need. |
| 0:35.2 | Exploring the way the gospel can offer transformational hope in the midst of our very real suffering. |
| 0:39.3 | As you listen, you may like to ask yourself, |
| 0:42.3 | if I look at my actions and behaviors today, |
| 0:45.3 | do I live predominantly for meaning or for happiness? |
| 0:49.3 | Here's John Mark. |
| 0:59.1 | You read this a few weeks ago, hopefully in your read through the Bible, but let's circle back and read it again. |
| 1:02.8 | And Jesus, we just ask you to come and do something really beautiful tonight. |
| 1:09.4 | And even as we move into prayer after this, we just pray for the Holy Spirit |
| 1:13.1 | to really do something special and unique. Chapter 23, verse 1. Then Job replied, even today, |
| 1:22.0 | my complaint is bitter. His hand, God's hand, is heavy in spite of my groaning, my pain, my angst. |
| 1:31.3 | If only I knew where to find God, if only I could go to his dwelling, I would state my case before him and fill my mouth with arguments. |
| 1:39.3 | I would find out what he would answer me and consider what he would say to me. |
| 1:42.3 | Would he vigorously oppose me with great power? No, he would not press charges against me. There, the upright, can establish their |
| 1:50.6 | innocence before him, and there I would be delivered forever from my judge. But if I go to the |
| 1:58.8 | east, he's not there. If I go to the west, I do not find him. When he is |
... |
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