the purpose of suffering
Exclusive clip from RVL Discipleship: The Study
Clip from: RVL Discipleship: The Study – Season 2 – Episode 7
What is the purpose of suffering?
We don’t know why God allows suffering, but what is the purpose of suffering in the first place? In this clip, Ray Vander Laan (RVL) discusses the Hebrew word “ze’akar,” meaning “cry.” Scripture tells us that God listens to the ze’akar of His people and responds with compassion. This implies that our suffering is not purpose-less because it doe snot go unheard; God is moved by them and takes action.
The purpose of suffering to to allows us to imitate Christ. In order to imitate Christ we must be able to listen and respond to the pain and suffering of others like God does for us. This involves more than just hearing their cries; it requires us to be empathetic and take compassionate action. God calls us to remember our own suffering and use it as a means to connect with others who are hurting. By acknowledging and responding to the cries of others, we fulfill our role as followers of Christ, demonstrating His love and care in tangible ways. Through helping others, we can find purpose in our own pain.
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About Ray Vander Laan
Ray Vander Laan is a master in biblical context who, for the first time, is sharing his methods to a wider audience. Ray’s passionate style of teaching connects with students of all ages and inspired his founding of That The World May Know, a ministry focused on location-based teaching of scripture. He has personally guided thousands of people on study tours and released 18 volumes of educational content. RVL Discipleship™ is the culmination of his time in the physical steps of the Rabbi.
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RVL’s teaching style brings the Bible to life with real-world insights that are rooted in deep scriptural truth, each session connects ancient wisdom with modern living. Witness how these teachings can inspire your small group to live boldly for Christ.
Season 1
Jesus’ original disciples really knew their Bible. As modern-day followers of Christ, it is vitally important that we value Scripture in the same way. Season 1 of The Study outlines how we are meant to interact with the Text.
Season 2
Discipleship was formalized with the rise of rabbis in Jewish culture, but the concept really started much earlier than that. Season 2 explores the roots of discipleship, examining how God trained and established the nation of Israel in preparation for Jesus’ ministry to come.
Season 3
What was daily life like for the Jews of Jesus’ day? Season 3 of The Study focuses on Jesus as a man, our God made flesh, who chose to reveal Himself as a first century rabbi to a first century Jewish audience.
Season 4
The fourth and final season of The Study focuses on the practical role of a rabbi’s followers in the first century, unpacking cultural and scriptural implications and applying them to our lives as modern-day followers of Jesus.
RVL Bundle
In RVL Discipleship: The Study, join Bible scholar Ray Vander Laan as he guides you from simply knowing Scripture to experiencing it as a disciple of Jesus. Through the lens of culture, history, and context, you’ll explore what it meant to be one of Jesus’ original disciples—and what that means for us today. This four-season video series invites small groups and individuals to take steps of faith, moving from learning about Christ to living like Him.
RVL Bundle
In RVL Discipleship: The Study, join Bible scholar Ray Vander Laan as he guides you from simply knowing Scripture to experiencing it as a disciple of Jesus. Through the lens of culture, history, and context, you’ll explore what it meant to be one of Jesus’ original disciples—and what that means for us today. This four-season video series invites small groups and individuals to take steps of faith, moving from learning about Christ to living like Him.
RVL Discipleship: The Study Guides
Embark on a transformative journey with our RVL Discipleship: The Study printed participant guides. These guides are your trusted companion to the video episodes as they expertly lead you through the lessons for each of the four seasons of RVL Discipleship: The Study. Within its pages, you’ll uncover thought-provoking discussion questions, and a treasure trove of tools designed to ensure that your study experience is nothing short of enriching and inspiring.
RVL Bundle
In RVL Discipleship: The Study, join Bible scholar Ray Vander Laan as he guides you from simply knowing Scripture to experiencing it as a disciple of Jesus. Through the lens of culture, history, and context, you’ll explore what it meant to be one of Jesus’ original disciples—and what that means for us today. This four-season video series invites small groups and individuals to take steps of faith, moving from learning about Christ to living like Him.
