'Going Deeper into the Disciplines for Ordinary

Disciples'

A life of Endurance: The Experience of Suffering

1. Enduring the mini-trials of life

James 1:2ff When all kinds of trials and temptations crowd into your lives my brothers, don’t resent them as intruders, but welcome them as friends! Realise that they come to test your faith and to produce in you the quality of endurance. But let the process go on until that endurance is fully developed, and you will find you have become people of mature character with the right sort of independence.

1. Enduring the mini-trials of life

• Welcome them / Embrace them• Testing of our faith• Perseverance must finish its work

“Life is filled with mini-trials. When someone interrupts me I can learn to graciously hold my tongue. When my co-worker borrows something and doesn’t return it immediately, I can learn patience. When I have a headache, I can discover that it is possible to suffer and not tell everybody about it. As simple as it sounds, the place to start being formed by trials is with the mini variety.” John Ortberg

1. Enduring the mini-trials of life

“Dear woman, why do you involve me? My time has not yet come” John 2:4

“This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed in

Cana in Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him.” John 2:11

2. Suffering that’s worth it in the end

“Pain is God’s megaphone to rouse a deaf world” C.S. Lewis

– The Persecuted Church– 400million Christians per year around the

world (not including forms of ridicule) will be constantly harassed in forms of persecution

– 160,000-250,000 of these will loose their lives this year for their stand in Christ

2. Suffering that’s worth it in the end

Philippians 1:29 (MSG)There's far more to this life than trusting in Christ. There's also suffering for him. And the suffering is as much a gift as the trusting

Philippians 3:10 (NIV)I want to know Christ and the

power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings…

2. Suffering that’s worth it in the end

1Timothy 3:12…everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.

“That strong mother doesn't tell her cub, Son, stay weak so the wolves can get you. She says, Toughen up, this is reality we are living in.”Lauryn Hill “The purpose of training is to tighten up the slack, toughen the body, and polish the spirit.” Morihei Ueshiba

3. The Joy of the Cross Hebrews 12:1-3 (NLT)

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the

race God has set before us. 2 We do this

by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.

3. The Joy of the Cross Hebrews 12:1-3 (NLT)

Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honour beside God’s throne. 3 Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up.

God wants mature Christ-followers who will joyfully persevere

through all kinds of suffering