The Sovereignty of God: He is in charge; we are not.

Text Ephesians 1:3-6; 1 Cor 3:5-9
The first reading talks about the sovereignty of God and our salvation, and the second is about the sovereignty of God and our labour in God’s kingdom.

One of the lessons God teaches us in His word or through experience is that He is in charge of everything.

In Christianity, this doctrine is called the sovereignty of God: God is the supreme authority, and all things are under His control, and nothing good or bad happens outside His perfect or permissive will.  

Understanding that God is sovereign over everything, good or bad, takes away anxiety ( 2 Chro 20; Phil 4:6-7)

Humans cannot destroy the world: God builds and uproot kingdoms (Jeremiah 18:7-10; Daniel 2).

God’s sovereignty answers all questions, such as why suffering, purpose, …

Good and bad happenings:  When something good happens, it means someone allows God to use him/her as a vessel. In the same way, when something bad happens, someone is used as a vessel.

Yes, God allows suffering within His permissive will. I use the term ‘Natural level expressions’ to describe the situation whereby everyone or everything is allowed to express themselves freely, which can breed good, evil and suffering. John Polkinghorne calls this the free-process-defence. 

Your free will: The most powerful force you have
You can use your free will to control or sway your life, but you are still not in charge; God is in charge (Genesis 2:15-17; Prov 19:21).

The sovereignty of God and our salvation in Christ Jesus (Eph. 1:3—10).
It tells about the sovereignty of God and the process He uses to save us.

The Sovereignty of God and our labour in preaching of the gospel (1 Cor 3:5-15).
We have the responsibility to preach the gospel, and the hearer has the responsibility to decide ‘freely’, and it is the duty of God to save.