"Answer for Evil" Discussion Guide

Main Thought

“If God is so good and powerful, then why is there so much evil in the world?” It’s a daunting question that often touches people on a deeply personal level. But the recognition of good and evil in our world actually points to the existence of God. We can only say that a line is crooked or curved because we know what a straight line looks like. In a similar manner, we can recognize evil because we were made in the image of a good God. He wrote His standards for goodness on our hearts. Evil entered the world because man rejected God through sin. Evil increases on a societal level when the knowledge of God decreases. Almost everyone longs for an answer to evil, regardless of their beliefs. Yet atheism fails to give provide answers. It only succeeds in taking away hope. God sent Jesus Christ to eliminate the evil inside us; when this process reaches its conclusion, God will destroy all evil for all of eternity.

Main Passage

And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness…
- Romans 1:28-29

For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.
- Romans 8:20-21

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.
- 1 Peter 2:24

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
- Revelation 22:3-4

Discussion Questions

  1. Have you ever struggled with doubts about God’s goodness? How have you dealt with those doubts?

  2. What areas in your life can be steered more toward God and away from evil? How might that benefit you or others around you?

  3. Are you participating in God’s mission to rid the world of evil? If you aren’t, then how can you do so?