North Main Street Church of God
Where is GOD When Evil is Everywhere?
1201 North Main Street Ext. Butler, PA 16001 05/07/2023
Locations & Times
North Main Street Church of God
1201 N Main St Ext, Butler, PA 16001, USA
Sunday 10:30 AM
Sunday Morning
Join us on Sunday Mornings online where you can Check-in/Connect, Give, and Watch along with us.
https://northmaincog.org/online/Know Christ intimately,
Grow in Christ continually, and
Go for Christ daily
Check-in Here
Thanks for joining us! If it's your first time here we'd love to connect with you! Fill out the form below. <br> For our regular attenders, please check in with your name and email, if you need to update information
https://northmaincog.org/online-connection-form/Joining us online?
Thank you for joining us today! Please check in here:
https://northmaincog.org/online-connection-form/
Newcomers to North Main
If you are a newcomer, we’re so glad you’ve joined us! If you’re here in person, make sure to stop by the Welcome Center where we have a gift bag for you with some information about us and some delicious homemade chocolate chip COOKIES. <br> For those online please visit the website below and make sure to click the COMMUNICATION CARD button and fill that out so we can send you a free gift!
https://northmaincog.org/onlineChurch Mobile App
Did you know North Main has a church mobile app? Access videos anytime from your device and never miss a sermon. Securely and easily give your tithes, offerings, and donations. Instantly register for upcoming events, and stay in the know of what's happening. Contact Us at any time with a simple message. Find others in the North Main directory. To download go to:
https://northmaincog.org/app/Bible Reading Plan
Join us in 2023 as we read through the Bible in a year and highlight evidence of “KINDNESS” throughout our daily Scripture readings. Reading Guides and GREEN highlighters, the color that represents KINDNESS, are available at the Welcome Center. You can also access the resources digitally on NORTHMAINCOG.ORG/BIBLE
https://northmaincog.org/bible/
Events
We want to highlight a few events for you today, but feel free to check out our other upcoming events on our website at:
https://northmaincog.org/eventsGraduates
Our Graduation season is upon us! We would love to celebrate your 2023 Graduates with you during our Sunday Service on June 4th. Please go to our Welcome Center or Website at NORTHMAINCOG.ORG/GRADUATE to register them.
https://northmaincog.org/graduate/Connection Luncheon
Join us after service today for our Connection Luncheon. If you’re new to North Main make sure to get your ticket from the Welcome Bag at the welcome center for your free meal! Cost: $6/adult $4/child and a max of $20/household. ON THE MENU: Hamburgers, Corn Dogs, Home Made Redskin Potato Salad, baked Macaroni and Cheese, and Salted Caramel Brownies.
https://northmaincog.org/event/13995055-2023-05-07-connection-luncheon/Child Dedication Service
Our church commits to partnering with you as you strive to raise your children in the ways of the Lord & teach them to know, love, & serve Jesus. The next child dedication service is coming up on May 14th with a required class beforehand. Registration is required so make sure to go to our website or Welcome Center to sign up!
https://northmaincog.org/events/child-dedication/Give
We thank you for your faithful gifts. You can give online and, of course, on Sundays by using the secure drop boxes located outside the doors of the Sanctuary. THANK YOU FOR YOUR FAITHFULNESS.
https://northmaincog.org/give/
(Habakkuk 1:1-11)
Yearly Theme: “Kindness is… Action”
Series Title: “In the Meantime”
May 7th, 2023
Where is GOD when life doesn’t make sense? Where is GOD when everything in life seems to be going wrong?
In an article from October 2005 in the Toronto Star, a convicted murderer in Romania sued God for his troubled life.
“The man, identified as Pavel M., filed a suit in which he requested ‘legal action against God, resident in Heaven, and represented here by the Romanian Orthodox Church, for committing the following crimes: cheating, concealment, abuse against people's interest, taking bribes, and traffic of influence.’
“In the lawsuit, Pavel also noted that ‘God even claimed and received from me various goods and prayers in exchange for forgiveness and the promise that I would be rid of problems and have a better life.’ According to the news report, none of the ‘good’ things God claimed actually happened, and, thus, the plaintiff found himself in the devil's hands.
“Pavel's complaint was forwarded to the prosecutor's office but was eventually dropped because the defendant, God, was not an individual or corporation, and therefore not subject to a civil court's jurisdiction.”[1]
Have you ever wanted to blame GOD for the problems in life? Have you ever doubted the existence of GOD in light of all of the evil and chaos in the world? Has there ever been a moment when you became frustrated with GOD because it seems that “bad” people around you seem to prosper while you suffer?
In the Old Testament there is a very short book named Habakkuk, written by a man of the same name. In the short three chapters that comprise this book, Habakkuk questions GOD with the same argument and question that we do today: “Where is GOD when evil seems to be everywhere?”
Let’s take a look at Habakkuk’s cry for answers, and GOD’s response:
[1] Source: "Prisoner Sues God," Toronto Star. Submitted by Bill White, Paramount, California.
Key Point: "God is always at work, even thought we don't see it."
In order to flesh out our key point today, we need to take a deeper/closer look at Habakkuk’s plea and GOD’s response:
So, when we, like Habakkuk, ask the same questions that he did of GOD, we must always remember that GOD is always at work even when we don’t see it. And in addition to this, even when we don’t understand His methods or His ways of dealing with things, we can trust that:
Romans 8:28 (NLT), … God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
Key Point: "God is always at work, even when we don't see it."
What are some things you see in this world which confuse you? When you have doubts or are confused about your experiences, or struggle in circumstances, how do you deal with it before God?
What lessons can you see in this passage about prayer and our relationship with God? Try to list as many different lessons as you can find from the passage. What are the most important points for you to learn for your own prayer life?
Have you ever seen people “get a taste of their own medicine” or “fall into their own traps”? How did that make you feel? Did you ever take it as a warning for yourself?
What idols do people worship today? In what ways are they powerless and foolish compared to God? What sins of this nation are deplorable to you? What "woes" might Habakkuk pronounce on our culture today?
Past Sermons
To view past sermons, please visit our website below.
https://northmaincog.org/media-resources/sermons/Contact Us
If you would like to update your information or have a prayer request, please fill out the link below.
https://northmaincog.org/media-resources/contact-us/North Main Street Church of God
1201 North Main Street Ext.Butler, PA 16001 (724) 285-4214 info@northmaincog.org
http://www.northmaincog.org/Give
We thank you for your faithful gifts. You can give online at NORTHMAINCOG.ORG/GIVE, text "give" to (724) 313-2211, and, of course, on Sundays by using the secure drop boxes located outside the doors of the Sanctuary. THANK YOU FOR YOUR FAITHFULNESS.
https://www.northmaincog.org/giveMonday - Thursday
9:00am - 4:00pm