Suffering for Jesus
April 28, 2013 Evening Service
Immanuel Baptist Church, Wagoner, OK
Rick Boyne
Message Point: All followers of Jesus WILL suffer for His sake.
Focus Passage: 1 Peter 4:12-19
Supplemental Passage: For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. (Romans 8:18 NASB)
Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (James 1:2-4 NASB)
Introduction: Suffering is the heritage of the bad, of the penitent, and of the Son of God. Each one ends in the cross. The bad thief is crucified, the penitent thief is crucified, and the Son of God is crucified. By these signs we know the widespread heritage of suffering. Oswald Chambers in Christian Discipline.
I. Suffering Humiliation
a. Christ gives the example on the cross
b. Prevalent among 3rd world Christians
c. Probably the most common among American Christians
d. People will make fun of our values, our actions, or our beliefs
II. Suffering Mis-treatment
a. Christ gives the example on the way to the cross
b. Prevalent among 3rd world Christians
c. The next step in American Christian persecution
d. We will be arrested for our values, our action, and/or our beliefs
III. Suffering Martyrdom
a. Christ gives the example on the cross
b. Prevalent among Christians in China, Islamic countries, & India
c. On the horizon for persecution of American Christians
d. We will be executed for our values, our actions, and our beliefs
Invitation:
