What Did He Mean by That? 🎙 Episode Title: What is the Sovereignty of God?📅 Release Date: February 27, 2025🎧 Host(s):  Dr. Christopher Cali, Pastor Chris Heimerle, Ashley Cali, & Robby McKinney.  Episode OverviewIn this episode, we dive into a profound and often difficult topic: Why is there evil and suffering in the world? As we kicked off our new series this past weekend, we explored the sovereignty of God, the presence of evil, and how these truths shape our understanding of suffering. Key Topics & Takeaways• Wrestling with God’s Sovereignty – Dr. Christopher Cali shares a personal journey of grappling with God’s providence and sovereignty after reading Chosen by God by R.C. Sproul. The initial struggle with this doctrine is common, even among church fathers like Augustine, but ultimately leads to a deeper trust in God’s goodness. • God’s Goodness & Sovereignty – While the doctrine of God’s sovereignty can be unsettling at first, understanding His goodness transforms how we perceive suffering. God is not just loving; He is the essence of love and goodness. • The Nature of Evil – Evil is not outside of God’s sovereignty. While He is not the author of evil, He permits it and uses it for His greater purposes. This understanding challenges us to trust Him even when we don’t fully grasp His ways. • How Did Evil Enter the World? – A preview of next week’s discussion: God’s immutability (unchangeability) versus humanity’s mutability (ability to change). God created Adam and Eve as good but gave them the freedom to obey or disobey. Their choice to sin introduced evil into the world. • Why Doesn’t God Just Fix Everything Now? – God’s promise is that He will fix it. If we try to remove evil from God’s sovereignty, we create a dualistic worldview where evil competes with God. But if God is not sovereign over everything, He is not truly God. • Living in a Fallen World – Understanding that God is the ultimate definer of good helps us trust Him even when we face suffering. • Faith in the Midst of Suffering – Many in the congregation, despite personal losses and hardships, were able to lift their hands in worship, declaring God’s goodness. This echoes the biblical examples of Job and David, who trusted in God’s sovereignty even in the face of profound pain. • Grieving with Hope – Suffering is real, and it’s okay to lament and ask “why?” But ultimately, trusting in God’s goodness and sovereignty allows us to worship even in our trials.Looking AheadNext week, we’ll dive deeper into the origins of evil and discuss why God allows suffering in our world. If you’ve ever wrestled with these questions, this series is for you. Resources & Next Steps💒 Get Involved: Support your local church and its mission🎧 Listen & Subscribe: Spotify | Apple Music📩 Questions or Feedback? Contact us!🔔 Follow us on social media: Instagram | Facebook | YouTube 

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