Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth;
    break forth, O mountains, into singing!
For the Lord has comforted his people
    and will have compassion on his afflicted.

Isaiah 49:13

Song 1 – Arise, My Soul, Arise

Song 2 – On That Day

Song 3 – In the Valley

Song 4 – Grace Alone

Our welcome team members will pass an offering basket during this song.

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Praise God, from whom all blessings flow
Praise Him, all creatures here below
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.

Amen

Holy God, 
We confess that we all have sinned
and have fallen short of your glory.

Gracious God,
our sins are too heavy to carry,
too real to hide, and too deep to undo.

Merciful God,
Forgive us, renew us, and
set us free from the weight of our sins.
Grant us grace to grow more and
more in your likeness and image;
through Jesus Christ, the light of the world.
Amen.

Psalm 145:8 
The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

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If you have children, they are welcome to join our Sunday school classes! 

 Our Scripture reading today is 2 Corinthians 1:3–11 (ESV). Hear the Word of God:

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. 6 If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. 7 Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort.

8 For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. 9 Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. 10 He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. 11 You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.

This is the Word of the Lord.

Don’t Waste Your Suffering

Suffering is not wasted in the hands of God; it drives us to depend on Him, equips us to comfort others, and magnifies His power and glory.

Points:
I. The Source of All Comfort vv 3-4
II. Sharing in Suffering, Sharing in Comfort vv 5-7
III.  Delivered for a Purpose vv 8-11

Introduction to “It Is Well with My Soul”

Today, as we reflect on the truths of 2 Corinthians, we’ll close by singing the hymn It Is Well with My Soul. This song was written by Horatio Spafford after unimaginable tragedy—the loss of his four daughters in a shipwreck. Despite his grief, Spafford penned these words as a declaration of faith, anchoring his soul in the unshakable promises of God.

This hymn reminds us that, even in our greatest trials, we can trust the God of all comfort, the One who brings life out of death and uses our suffering for His glory and our good. As we sing, let this be more than a song. Let it be a prayer of surrender, a declaration of hope, and a reminder that, in Christ, it truly is well with our souls.

Song 5 – It Is Well

Song 6 – Blessed Be Your Name

Our Father in heaven, 
hallowed be your name;
your kingdom come;
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven. 
Give us this day our daily bread. 
And forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who have sinned against us.
And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. 
For yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever.
Amen.

“‘The Lord bless you
    and keep you;
the Lord make his face shine on you
    and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face toward you
    and give you peace.”’

– Numbers 6:24-26

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Intro:
1. Can you think of a time when you faced a difficult situation and later saw how it brought you closer to God or helped you encourage someone else?

Into the Text:
2. Read 2 Corinthians 1:3-4. How does Paul describe God in these verses, and why is this significant for understanding comfort?
3. In verses 5-7, Paul talks about sharing in both Christ’s sufferings and His comfort. What does this mean practically for our lives?
4. What does Paul say about his affliction in Asia (vv 8-9)? How did it deepen his reliance on God?
5. How does the role of prayer in verse 11 reveal the communal aspect of God’s work in our lives?

Apply the Text:
6. When you face trials, where do you tend to turn first: to self-reliance, distraction, or dependence on God?
7. How can you begin to lean more on Him in times of difficulty?
8. Who in your life needs comfort right now, and how can you use what God has taught you through your experiences to encourage them?