Suffering is a common, defining experience for humanity Suffering is not inherently good (not made for it), yet it is a key means of growth in the Gospel

Suffering is a common, defining experience for humanity

Suffering is not inherently good (not made for it), yet it is a key means of growth in the Gospel & a key means through which the Gospel advances in our world

Suffering is a common, defining experience for humanity

The “suffering” that the New Testament almost exclusively speaks directly to and about is suffering for the Gospel

Joy AND Pain???

Matthew 5:11-12 11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

John 16:20-22 20 Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. 21 A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. 22 So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.

Joy AND Pain???

Joy AND Pain???

Acts 5:41-42 41 The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. 42 Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.

2 Cor. 8:1-2 1 And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. 2 In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.

Joy AND Pain???

Philippians 3:10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death

Joy AND Pain???

1 Thess. 1:6 You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.

Joy AND Pain???

Hebrews 10:32-34 32 Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you endured in a great conflict full of suffering. 33 Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. 34 You suffered along with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions.

Joy AND Pain???

Hebrews 12:1-3 1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Joy AND Pain???

James 1:2-4 2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Joy AND Pain???

1 Peter 1:6 In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.

Joy AND Pain???

1 Peter 4:12-14 12 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.

Joy AND Pain???

Something is wrong not when we suffer for Christ, but when we are without the joy of the Lord.

Joy AND Pain???

Joy & Pain in & for the Gospel

Joy’s Painful Joy’s Painful CounterfeitsCounterfeits

Joy in Pain for the Joy in Pain for the GospelGospel




Theological sophistication leads to joy





Suffering for the Gospel brings intimacy with Jesus






Bursts of pleasure (sex, vacation) lead to joy







Joy in Christ must be fought for in the daily grind








Ignoring my pain & suffering leads to joy









Lamenting opens us up to be filled with joy










Listening to my heart leads to joy











Preaching the Gospel to yourself fills you with joy












Finding/developing the perfect spouse leads to joy












Finding/developing the perfect spouse leads to joy

Treasuring Christ & laying down life for spouse & others is the gateway to a life of joyful surrender




Having & raising perfects kids leads to joy





If we have kids, helping them embrace & live for Christ is the ultimate joy…if don’t have kids there is joy in the goodness of God






Avoiding tough decisions & difficult people leads to joy






Avoiding tough decisions & difficult people leads to joy

Joy in the Lord frees us to move into difficulty full of grace & truth






Avoiding tough decisions & people leads to joy


Personal safety & security leads to joy






Avoiding tough decisions & people leads to joy


Personal safety & security leads to joy

Joy in the Lord frees us to give our lives & the Gospel away in the world’s most difficult & treacherous places




Dabbling in the Word & prayer leads to joy





Sacrificing to study & pray refreshes us in the Lord






Disappointments in disciple-making are to be avoided for the sake of my joy






Disappointments in disciple-making are to be avoided for the sake of my joy

Strenuous struggle to disciple others who will disappoint us & betray us leads to depth of joy

The Core Conviction & Commitment

Psalm 34:8-9 8 Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. 9 Fear the LORD, you his holy people, for those who fear him lack nothing.

The Core Conviction & Commitment

Psalm 34:8-9 8 Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. 9 Fear the LORD, you his holy people, for those who fear him lack nothing.

The Gospel advances on the backs of people passionate for Christ & His Gospel• “Passion” comes from the Latin ‘passio’ which means “suffering”

How can we live this joyfully painful life?

Colossians 1:24-29 24 Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. 25 I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness— 26 the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people. 27 To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. 29 To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.


Must root your identity in being a servant of others for the Gospel

24 Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. 25 I have become its servant… Revisit Jesus’ call to discipleship

Luke 9:23-24 23 “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.

Get in there with people!


Must root your identity & calling in God 25 I have become its servant by the commission

God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness— 26 the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people. 27 To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. God is the One who has called you to make

disciples…to lay down your life for others…


Must root your identity & calling in God 25 I have become its servant by the commission

God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness— 26 the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people. 27 To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. God is the One who has called you to make

disciples…to lay down your life for others…

Acts 20:17-20,31,36-38 17 From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church. 18 When they arrived, he said to them: “You know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I came into the province of Asia.19 I served the Lord with great humility and with tears and in the midst of severe testing by the plots of my Jewish opponents. 20 You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. . . 31 So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning (admonishing) each of you night and day with tears. . . 36 When Paul had finished speaking, he knelt down with all of them and prayed. 37 They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him. 38 What grieved them most was his statement that they would never see his face again.


Must root your identity & calling in God 25 I have become its servant by the commission God

gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness— 26 the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people. 27 To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. God is the One who has called you to make

disciples…to lay down your life for others… It is God’s Word that we are calling

people to embrace & follow


Must commit yourself to long-haul investment in people for the sake of the Gospel

28 He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. 29 To this end I strenuously contend To fight for people, you will often have to fight them…

Your end goal is full maturity in Christ This will take lots of strenuous work, study, prayer, time, etc.


Must commit yourself to long-haul investment in people for the sake of the Gospel

28 He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. 29 To this end I strenuously contend To fight for people, you will often have to fight them…

Your end goal is full maturity in Christ This will take lots of strenuous work, study, prayer, time, etc.

Colossians 4:12-13 12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a slave of Christ Jesus, greets you. He is always contending for you in his prayers, so that you can stand mature and fully assured in everything God wills. 13 For I testify about him that he works hard for you, for those in Laodicea, and for those in Hierapolis.


Must labor for others in the strength of the Lord

29 To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me. It will take intentionality & sacrifice

to stay engaged with God’s power

Joy AND Pain???

Something is wrong not when we suffer for Christ, but when we are without the joy of the Lord.

Please RAISE YOUR HAND

and wait for a MIC

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Suffering is a common, defining experience for humanity Suffering is not inherently good (not made for it), yet it is a key means of growth in the Gospel