{"permissions":{},"commerce":{"user_subscriptions":null,"subscription_plans":[{"id":6,"image":"https://coursebook-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/school_sub_plan_images/p6.png","school":960,"page_body":"

\r\n Take Unlimited Individual ChurchNext courses for only $9 a month.\r\n

Take as many of the ChurchNext for Individual courses as you would like at no extra cost.
24/7 access to all video lectures, downloads, and course content.
Interact with other ChurchNext members from around the world.
This subscription does not include For Groups classes (upgrade to Congregation Plan)
New courses come out every week.

\r\n

","giftable_cycles":"1,3,6,12","name":"ChurchNext Unlimited Plan","amount":9.0,"plan":{"id":26,"amount":9.0,"interval":5,"trial_period_days":0,"trial_type":10},"resources_count":547,"url":"https://www.churchnext.tv/subscribe/","currency_display":"$9","currency_display_per_month":"$9","currency_display_giftable_cycles":{"1":"$9","3":"$27","6":"$54","12":"$108"}}],"global_tracking_code":"","conversion_tracking_code":"","payment_requires_zip_code":false,"currency_code":"usd"},"media":{"image":"https://pathwright.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.filestackcontent.com%2Fapi%2Ffile%2FMIKqMis7Tly1UvF9Jolj%3Fsignature%3D888b9ea3eb997a4d59215bfbe2983c636df3c7da0ff8c6f85811ff74c8982e34%26policy%3DeyJjYWxsIjogWyJyZWFkIiwgInN0YXQiLCAiY29udmVydCJdLCAiZXhwaXJ5IjogNDYyMDM3NzAzMX0%253D?fit=crop&ixlib=python-1.1.0&w=500&s=e3c98e523c2ce286b19cf061c50ecd8d","thumb":"https://pathwright.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.filestackcontent.com%2Fapi%2Ffile%2FMIKqMis7Tly1UvF9Jolj%3Fsignature%3D888b9ea3eb997a4d59215bfbe2983c636df3c7da0ff8c6f85811ff74c8982e34%26policy%3DeyJjYWxsIjogWyJyZWFkIiwgInN0YXQiLCAiY29udmVydCJdLCAiZXhwaXJ5IjogNDYyMDM3NzAzMX0%253D?fit=crop&h=250&ixlib=python-1.1.0&w=250&s=dc4bc5a0f192bbb6cffec79a175adf23","logo":null,"url":"//d1do9mm1n6degf.cloudfront.net/","theme":{"id":26,"name":"ChurchNext (960) Theme","description":"ChurchNext custom theme","primary_color":"329544","background_image":"https://pathwright.imgix.net/http%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Fcoursebook-uploads%2Fuploads%2Ftheme_images%2Ft26-background-tile.png?balph=40&blend=666666&blur=500&bm=screen&fit=max&fm=jpg&high=-80&ixlib=python-1.1.0&q=100&w=1400&s=25ac4e5120a52867ccfc3603a42c227b","heading_font":null,"typekit_id":"","custom_css":"","processed_custom_css":"","theme_css_url":null,"typekit_scripts":null,"background_image_blurred_cdn":"https://pathwright.imgix.net/http%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Fcoursebook-uploads%2Fuploads%2Ftheme_images%2Ft26-background-tile.png?balph=40&blend=666666&blur=500&bm=screen&fit=max&fm=jpg&h=250&high=-80&ixlib=python-1.1.0&q=100&w=250&s=fa1ebb1bf48257b04388a67caa0a3f3d","background_overlay":"","background_type":5,"background_image_raw":"http://s3.amazonaws.com/coursebook-uploads/uploads/theme_images/t26-background-tile.png","theme_type":50},"pages":[{"id":110,"name":"The Good Book Club","order":1,"url":"https://churchnextblog.wordpress.com/2023/11/27/the-good-book-club/","show_in_nav":true,"using_blocks":false,"page_type":0,"template_type":"blank","is_live":true},{"id":24,"name":"Donate","order":2,"url":"https://churchnextblog.wordpress.com/donate/","show_in_nav":true,"using_blocks":false,"page_type":0,"template_type":"open","is_live":true},{"id":3,"name":"Home","order":3,"url":"/p/churchnext/","show_in_nav":true,"using_blocks":false,"page_type":10,"template_type":"open","is_live":true},{"id":13,"name":"Gift Subscriptions","order":4,"url":"/gift-subscription/","show_in_nav":true,"using_blocks":false,"page_type":0,"template_type":"open","is_live":true},{"id":7,"name":"Blog","order":5,"url":"https://churchnextblog.wordpress.com/","show_in_nav":true,"using_blocks":false,"page_type":0,"template_type":"open","is_live":true},{"id":8,"name":"About","order":6,"url":"http://churchnextblog.wordpress.com/about/","show_in_nav":true,"using_blocks":false,"page_type":0,"template_type":"open","is_live":true},{"id":206,"name":"The Big Class","order":7,"url":"https://www.churchnext.tv/library/civil-conversations-in-uncivil-times-practicing-our-faith-in-the-public-square/about/","show_in_nav":false,"using_blocks":false,"page_type":0,"template_type":"blank","is_live":true},{"id":296,"name":"FAQs","order":8,"url":"https://blog.churchnext.tv/frequently-asked-questions/","show_in_nav":false,"using_blocks":false,"page_type":0,"template_type":"open","is_live":true}]},"school":{"id":960,"name":"ChurchNext","platform_version":2.6,"url":"https://www.churchnext.tv/","is_ssl_disabled":false,"is_curriculum_licensor":true,"is_curriculum_subscriber":false,"is_activated":true,"is_activated_via_override":false,"resource_licensing_enabled":true,"trial_has_expired":false,"trial_days_remaining":null,"is_curriculum_enabled":true,"has_public_resources":true,"billing_model_display":"PW2","billing_model":10,"website":"","has_certificate":false,"subdomain":"churchnext","ietf_language_tag":"en-US","short_description":null,"has_consent_description":false},"support":{"has_faqs":false,"support_email":"christina@churchnext.tv","support_phone":"888-963-9328","support_link":"","support_policy":"

✓ Read FAQs: Quickly find an answer by reading our FAQs

✓ Ask Us: Didn't find an answer to your question?

Email us anytime - we answer the phone whenever we're around - but leave a message if we're not!

","support_faqs":null},"security":{"terms_of_service":"https://www.churchnext.tv/pages/terms-of-use.html","privacy_policy":"https://www.churchnext.tv/pages/privacy-policy.html","csrf_token":"0HkUOxatYYEMwxGeZRjIKHcmsrqc1akiGVgptZsNHzrWNenFiTBngiJAWAZaNlON","terms_agreement_prompt_override":""},"social":{"twitter_username":"","facebook_username":"","google_plus_username":"","pinterest_username":""},"integrations":{"facebook":"620621097978811","filepicker":{"read_policy":"eyJjYWxsIjogWyJyZWFkIiwgInN0YXQiLCAiY29udmVydCJdLCAiZXhwaXJ5IjogNDYyMDM3NzAzMX0=","read_signature":"888b9ea3eb997a4d59215bfbe2983c636df3c7da0ff8c6f85811ff74c8982e34"},"algolia":{"library_resource":{"key":"MDk3OGRhOGY2YjIxOTQwYTMzMDFlMTU2OTg1MjYwOTUxOWQ2MTBhZmFhOWRmNTAwYzJmN2U0YzI4ZjUzMzM5N3Jlc3RyaWN0SW5kaWNlcz1wcm9kX2xpYnJhcnlfcmVzb3VyY2UmdGFnRmlsdGVycz0lNUIlNUIlMjJzY2hvb2xfOTYwJTIyJTJDKyUyMnMlM0E5NjAlMjIlNUQlMkMrJTVCJTIydmlzaWJpbGl0eV9wdWJsaWMlMjIlMkMrJTIydiUzQXB1YmxpYyUyMiU1RCU1RCZ2YWxpZFVudGlsPTE3NTE1MzQzODM=","params":{"validUntil":1751534383,"restrictIndices":"prod_library_resource","tagFilters":[["school_960","s:960"],["visibility_public","v:public"]]}},"library_author":{"key":"MjdhNWZiZDQ3Y2JmZWIxYjVkZTA0NGY0OTY4YTg3NWY0M2Y5NTVhZTZmMGE4NmFlODRkMWQ5NTg2ODA2ZmVhZXJlc3RyaWN0SW5kaWNlcz1wcm9kX2xpYnJhcnlfYXV0aG9yJnRhZ0ZpbHRlcnM9JTVCJTIyc2Nob29sXzk2MCUyMiU1RCZ2YWxpZFVudGlsPTE3NTE1MzQzODM=","params":{"validUntil":1751534383,"restrictIndices":"prod_library_author","tagFilters":["school_960"]}},"library_category":{"key":"ZTAyNjI3MGEzZDQ2Y2EzNWNhMmEwY2JmN2Y3OTJiYTk2NDM0NjFjOWJjNzY5NmEzMWFmNDYxYjM2OWU0ODMxZXJlc3RyaWN0SW5kaWNlcz1wcm9kX2xpYnJhcnlfY2F0ZWdvcnkmdGFnRmlsdGVycz0lNUIlMjJzY2hvb2xfOTYwJTIyJTVEJnZhbGlkVW50aWw9MTc1MTUzNDM4Mw==","params":{"validUntil":1751534383,"restrictIndices":"prod_library_category","tagFilters":["school_960"]}},"index_prefix":"prod_"},"intercom":{"user_hash":null,"app_id":"c0f1c8a06508adf88781e5cdc6c4e1dc97b0dd87","school_app_id":"c0f1c8a06508adf88781e5cdc6c4e1dc97b0dd87","school_staff_app_id":null,"pathwright_app_id":"5txzvi2k","school_profile":null},"stripe":{"publishable_key":"pk_live_41KJsgTPUbsFsEXtgj97b4aZ0yBzvph0IniofsNRE85QpcRIp7ya5UFvx457GDZ6m6Jv0wehDCmQKONjm2DVD9WKw00fqswaMBl"},"firebase":null,"google_analytics":{"account_id":"UA-7338306-3","domain_name":"pathwright.com"},"sso":{"pathwright_login_enabled":true,"providers":[],"current_provider":null}},"customizations":{"head_markup":[""],"script_markup":["\n\n\n"],"global_tracking_code":""},"pathwright_account":{"is_on_legacy_plan":false,"is_activated":true,"payment_key":"pk_live_1EFaBZz7SRVXYhX7V70P4dhCC2tOEVWu0f6r3WNUvnxmc3lGpxhOlp3CIPzgfFjihpeAG08yyda1lpRhIINEScEPn00qXGNBhT6","subscription":{"id":2243,"school":960,"plan":{"id":24,"name":"Complete","image":null,"description":"Expand to multiple teams, departments, and groups.","amount":499.0,"fee_per_additional_learner":0.0,"features":{"10-staff-members":true,"offer-multiple-subscription-plans":true,"course-certificates":true,"1-staff-member":true,"start-at-1000-active-learners":true,"friendly-email-support":true,"starts-with-5-staff-members":true,"sell-subscriptions":true,"free-course-design-courses":true,"use-your-own-domain-name":true,"member-created-group-courses":true,"priority-email-support-live-demos":true,"create-unlimited-courses":true,"add-more-members-and-staff":true,"sell-courses-with-commerce":true,"1-cohort-per-course":true,"essential-app-integrations":true,"guided-course-design-courses":true,"priority-email-support":true,"3-cohorts-per-course":true,"Unlimited-cohorts-per-course":true,"1-mentor-group":true,"5-mentor-groups":true,"20-mentor-groups":true,"sign-in-with-apple-or-google":true},"plan_order":3,"plan_color":"47acd7","visibility":10,"learners_included":1000,"should_contact_for_pricing":false,"intervals_by_month":[{"interval_id":5,"months":1,"amount_per_cycle":499.0,"amount_per_month":499.0,"discount_percent":0.0,"discounted_amount_per_month":499.0,"discounted_amount_per_cycle":499.0,"discount_per_month":0,"discount_per_cycle":0},{"interval_id":7,"months":6,"amount_per_cycle":2994.0,"amount_per_month":499.0,"discount_percent":0.05,"discounted_amount_per_month":474.0,"discounted_amount_per_cycle":2844.0,"discount_per_month":25,"discount_per_cycle":150},{"interval_id":10,"months":12,"amount_per_cycle":5988.0,"amount_per_month":499.0,"discount_percent":0.1,"discounted_amount_per_month":449.0,"discounted_amount_per_cycle":5388.0,"discount_per_month":50,"discount_per_cycle":600},{"interval_id":20,"months":1,"amount_per_cycle":499.0,"amount_per_month":499.0,"discount_percent":0.0,"discounted_amount_per_month":499.0,"discounted_amount_per_cycle":499.0,"discount_per_month":0,"discount_per_cycle":0}],"scholarships_available":true},"subscription":null,"interval":10}},"user":null,"session":{"user":null,"school_membership":null,"csrf_token":"OwzhgSSYYadLXWXpd1nKo4ehEYhPchrGuKvMVkaiHL0VeDEQw3FpUFLv87QNYsVb","is_authenticated":false},"DEBUG":false,"resource":{"id":35740,"name":"Why Suffering? For Groups","description":"

Few questions have drawn people closer to God and pushed people farther away than this one: Why Suffering?

The Christian faith offers many responses, but the Dean of Virginia Theological Seminary, Ian Markham, really helps frame these responses in a thoughtful and reasoned way. His four video presentations are entitled:

Origins
Suffering and the Bible
Suffering and Blessing
Coping with Suffering

This course offers hope and encouragement for those who are struggling over this perennial mystery.

For Groups

This course is designed for group study. We've formatted the material so that you can begin at the next step - then pause at the end of each video lecture and talk about what you've learned. Pick and choose the videos you want or proceed in the sequence we've designed - your call.

Included are two manuals you may find helpful - a Facilitator's Guide and a Participant's Guild. Both contain helpful material for your learning, including tips, prayers and discussion questions for each lecture. You may want to print these up and make copies before you proceed. You will notice that each video features a brief introduction, which the leader or someone else might want to read before each lecture.

Here's a video preview:

Frequently Asked Questions

How long will it take me to complete this course?
It will take an average group about 45 minutes to complete this course. You can pause at any time and come back. You can even re-take lessons. Each course features 3-6 video lectures that are from 5-7 minutes in length. Also included are downloadable Facilitator's and a Participant's Guides.

Who’s teaching this course?
Our instructors come from a variety of traditions, mostly mainline Christianity - Baptist, Episcopal, Methodist, Presbyterian. They meet two criteria: 1) they are well-studied, even experts, in their fields, 2) they offer a moderate viewpoint.

Is this course downloadable?
Parts of the course are - the Facilitator's Guide and a Participant's Guide. However, the video lectures, introductions, and other texts are only accessible online.

Can I cancel my subscription anytime?
You bet. It's easy, click here for instructions as well as answers to more Frequently Asked Questions.

Also, a technical note:
This platform works best on Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox, which are both free downloads. Internet Explorer 9 and above also works well. However different computers have different anti-virus and spam filters installed that can inhibit the downloading of lots of different materials, so if one browser is not working for you then try another.

","short_description":"Hear how one of the Church's brightest minds takes on one of humanity's biggest questions in this insightful, thought-provoking course.","categories":[],"image":"","cover_image":"https://cdn.filestackcontent.com/3CxodWCtQMG7dWfJ8yQR","thumb":"https://pathwright.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.filestackcontent.com%2Fapi%2Ffile%2F3CxodWCtQMG7dWfJ8yQR%3Fsignature%3D888b9ea3eb997a4d59215bfbe2983c636df3c7da0ff8c6f85811ff74c8982e34%26policy%3DeyJjYWxsIjogWyJyZWFkIiwgInN0YXQiLCAiY29udmVydCJdLCAiZXhwaXJ5IjogNDYyMDM3NzAzMX0%253D?dpr=1&fit=crop&h=232&ixlib=python-1.1.0&w=310&s=528c2ecc7d14ba27b274e98913e87b7a","thumb_2x":"https://pathwright.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.filestackcontent.com%2Fapi%2Ffile%2F3CxodWCtQMG7dWfJ8yQR%3Fsignature%3D888b9ea3eb997a4d59215bfbe2983c636df3c7da0ff8c6f85811ff74c8982e34%26policy%3DeyJjYWxsIjogWyJyZWFkIiwgInN0YXQiLCAiY29udmVydCJdLCAiZXhwaXJ5IjogNDYyMDM3NzAzMX0%253D?dpr=2&fit=crop&h=232&ixlib=python-1.1.0&w=310&s=2a1376a9d9ca16f1b8b1f5cc7ba5a412","icon":"https://pathwright.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.filestackcontent.com%2Fapi%2Ffile%2F3CxodWCtQMG7dWfJ8yQR%3Fsignature%3D888b9ea3eb997a4d59215bfbe2983c636df3c7da0ff8c6f85811ff74c8982e34%26policy%3DeyJjYWxsIjogWyJyZWFkIiwgInN0YXQiLCAiY29udmVydCJdLCAiZXhwaXJ5IjogNDYyMDM3NzAzMX0%253D?fit=crop&h=35&ixlib=python-1.1.0&w=35&s=4b2a2bfa2f64c3afdaeeaf528b5ac39c","background_image":"https://pathwright.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fpathwright-static-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fdefault-image-set-v1%2Fcover-image-46.png?balph=40&blend=666666&blur=500&bm=screen&fit=max&fm=jpg&high=-80&ixlib=python-1.1.0&q=100&w=1400&s=fe1218f4b6e001a9e55e00dbb298bbeb","background_overlay":null,"background_image_blurred_cdn":"https://pathwright.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fpathwright-static-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fdefault-image-set-v1%2Fcover-image-46.png?balph=40&blend=666666&blur=500&bm=screen&fit=max&fm=jpg&h=250&high=-80&ixlib=python-1.1.0&q=100&w=250&s=4c6ebed4caeb5b4e5af52f8974ea5732","background_type":5,"authors":[],"created":"2018-06-18T15:16:07.306164-04:00","url":"https://www.churchnext.tv/library/why-suffering-for-groups-35740/","offering_counts":{},"resource_type":10,"resource_type_display":"Course","slug":"why-suffering-for-groups-35740","trailer_embed_code":"","list_order":924,"total_registration_count":null,"sum_registration_count":9,"lowest_public_offering_price":15.0,"highest_public_offering_price":15.0,"curriculum_offering":null,"num_offerings":1,"visibility_level_override":null,"licensing_enabled":true,"license_offerings":[],"licensed_from_resource":null,"certificate_generator_class":"","lowest_price_currency_display":"$15","highest_price_currency_display":"$15","discussion_enabled":true,"licensed_from_school":null,"highest_visibility_level":15,"certificate_json":{}},"offering":{"id":76513,"name":"ChurchNext for Groups","access_starts":null,"access_ends":null,"enrollment_starts":null,"enrollment_ends":null,"description":"

This course is specifically designed for groups. Registration includes:

24/7 access to all video presentations, downloads, and course content.
Video presentations with Ian Markham.
Downloadable Facilitator's Guides designed so anyone can lead.
Downloadable Participant Guides.

","visibility":15,"price":15.0,"seats":null,"seats_filled":9,"seats_available":-1,"currency_display":"$15","include_in_subscription_plans":[6],"include_with_products":[],"is_subscription_only":false,"resource_id":35740,"path_id":2417932,"permissions":{"can_participate":false,"can_access":false,"can_edit":false,"can_edit_resource":false,"can_facilitate":false,"can_view_analytics":false,"can_invite_editor":false,"can_invite_teacher":false,"can_invite_moderator":false,"can_invite_student":false,"can_invite_observer":false},"due_dates_enabled":false,"is_group_offering":false,"step_counts":{},"is_curriculum":false,"url":"/library/why-suffering-for-groups-35740/76513/","invite_urls":{},"access":{"is_full":false,"has_registration_ended":false,"has_registration_started":true,"has_access_started":true,"has_access_ended":false},"analytics_visibility":5,"resource_license":null,"discussion_enabled":true,"parent_offering_id":null,"created_by_id":92321,"status":1,"analytics_disabled":false}}

Loading Why Suffering? For Groups...