SUFFERING
FOR CHRIST I. TEXTUAL THOUGHTS 1. Suffering for Christ is not: a. Doing without the things the world values - Philippians 3:4-8. b. Punishment you deserve - 1 Peter 2:20, 4:15. 2. Suffering for Christ is: a. Getting punished for preaching - Philippians 1:12-14; Acts 16:22-25. b. Getting sick while serving the saints - Philippians 2:25-30. c. Public humiliation - Hebrews 10:32-34. d. Undeserved, unjust mistreatment - 1 Peter 2:20-21. e. Being misunderstood, maligned and isolated by former friends because of your Christian lifestyle - 1 Peter 4:1-4. II. MAIN THEME - Suffering, when evaluated carefully, can be helpful as we live the Christian life, because it may help us: 1. Become like Christ - Matthew 10:24-25. 2. Trust in God - 2 Corinthians 1:8-10. 3. Demonstrate the life of Jesus in our lives - 2 Corinthians 4:7-11. 4. Be considered worthy of the kingdom - 2 Thessalonians 1:5. 5. Aid others who are suffering - Hebrews 2:18. 6. Learn obedience like it did Jesus - Hebrews 5:8-9. 7. Share in Christ's lifestyle of suffering - Philippians 1:29; Colossians 1:24. III. APPLICATION 1. Because suffering can, in many ways, be God's way of helping us grow; suffer without fear, complaining or arguing - Philippians 1:27-28, 2:14. 2. Take courage, God's grace is sufficient for any suffering - 2 Corinthians 12:9-10. 3. Since suffering is inevitable, 2 Timothy 3:14, be mentally prepared for it, 1 Peter 4:1. 4. Bear your suffering for God's sake - 1 Peter 2:18-19. 5. Follow Jesus by not retaliating; trust God for justice - 1 Peter 2:21-23. 6. Consider the future joy - 1 Peter 5:9-10; Hebrews 12:2. IV. MEMORY VERSE - Philippians 1:29 |