Read the text – Isaiah 63:15-65:5, Isaiah 65:17-25
Nick Lindeback speaks on finding satisfaction in this life, and what truly fulfills us. The tension and yearning of Isaiah 64 is met by the promise of Isaiah 65. This sermon recognises our pain and longing, pointing forward to God’s perfect promise. This sermon is part of the Isaiah “Will God help his people” sermon series, and was given at Lower Mountains Anglican Church, Glenbrook Evening service.
Read the text – 1 Peter 5:1-14
In this sermon series, ‘Stand Fast’, we dive into the realities of suffering and Christianity. This sermon, Ken Noakes will discuss the motivation we have for suffering well as Christians, and that the glory of God is worth what we have to face in life. Spoken at LMAP Glenbrook, the evening gathering, the final sermon of ‘Stand Fast’ is a call to hope and perseverance in the face of suffering.
Read the text – John 17:6-19
All Christians face opposition, but that doesn’t mean we are without defense. In this sermon, Paul Hallam speaks on our most powerful weapon against opposition: Prayer.
Read the text – Jude 1-4, 17-25
Jude is a short little letter which packs a punch. It is written to those who know what faith in Jesus is about – and urges them to ‘contend for the faith’ in the face of what are known challenges. This letter is as valuable today as it would have been for those who originally received it and will help equip believers to persevere as we walk in Jesus.
In this sermon, Ken Noakes encourages us to “be in it to win it”, because there is an urgent, pressing need that we fight for our faith. But we aren’t left to our own devices: we have the firm foundation of God’s word, and we have the power of the Holy Trinity behind us, so we can be built up by God’s word, pray in the Holy Spirit, keep in God’s love and wait on the Lord Jesus.
What does it mean to live a gospel life? The Apostle Paul encourages his younger disciple Timothy to stand firm in the truth of the gospel knowing that suffering will come. Timothy is reminded not to be distracted because the reward of life in Christ is worth persevering for today. Erin Lidgerwood, Sarah McConville, Dani Holmes and Tamara Lindeback, teaching from the letter of 2 Timothy, help us to consider what this gospel life might look like for women at each stage of life.
Talk 1 – Living the Gospel Life (Erin Lidgerwood)
Read the text – 2 Timothy 1:1-14 & 2 Timothy 4:6-22
Talk 2 – Living the Gospel Life (Sarah McConville)
Read the text – 2 Timothy 2:1-13
Talk 3 – Living the Gospel Life (Dani Holmes)
Read the text – 2 Timothy 2:14-3:9
Talk 4 – Living the Gospel Life (Tamara Lindeback)
Read the text – 2 Timothy 3:10-4:5
Imagine being the younger brother of Jesus Christ. Always following in the footsteps of the glory child!! James is refreshingly matter of fact and down to earth. As we read the letter by James, we read his concern that those following Jesus don’t only listen, but actually walk in his footsteps. For him righteousness matters, and it is the practical righteousness that you can hear in the words and see in the actions of the follower of Jesus that really counts. This talk explores perseverance in faith.
Read the text – James 1:1-18
Living now in the face of Suffering.
How does a Christian become more resilient in suffering?
Some practical suggestions:
1. Pray – it is a brave person who prays that they may suffer for the sake of Christ! Prayer is one thing that you can do under any circumstance of suffering – and listening, is our Father in heaven. Don’t pray that persecution may stop (the Bible doesn’t say it will!). Don’t pray that you will be rescued (God may have plans for you in your suffering!). Don’t pray that those who make you suffer will be punished (that is not how Jesus prayed!). Instead, pray that you would be strengthened and obedient through your suffering. Pray also for other Christians who experience different degrees of suffering to you (Eph 6:18-20
2. Reset your expectations – The Apostle Peter suggests that Christian take the same attitude as Christ. Expect that a part of the Christian life (not all of it) will involve some tough stuff and that will be most acute when you stand for your faith. Peter’s strategy in the face of the suffering was to remember the Lord, recognise that standing for Jesus does not put you at fault, and realise there is no reason to be ashamed (1 Peter 4:14-16)
3. Proclaim Jesus – know what you believe so that when put on the spot you are able to stand firm for Jesus (c.f. Eph 6:14-17, 19-20). One of the best ways to defend yourself, is to continue to proclaim Christ (John 15:27).
4. Love those who make you suffer – Jesus in the Sermon of the Mount taught his disciples to ‘Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you’ (Matt 5:44 c.f. Romans 12:14, 17-21). There is a humility that demonstrates a Christlike attitude which is on display whenever a Christian suffers.
5. Recharge – You have been given a Christian family who can be a wonderful support. Under God, use them to help you recharge and then return to continue standing firm for Jesus (Heb 10:24-25).
Christian suffering when put into a Christ-shaped perspective calls for a resilience that trusts that God will one day put all things right. Christians should live out the good will of God not just at times of comfort and convenience but also in the times of challenge, conflict or persecution.
‘And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen’. (1 Peter 5:10)
For more in this Series:
Resilient in Suffering
If you are going to live for Christ, are you willing to make a stand?
Living for Christ will involve Suffering!
Strategies for Resilience in Suffering
Suffering and Judgement
How does a Christian become more resilient in suffering?
Suffering and Judgement
Personally, I don’t really like the idea of suffering, even for a good cause. It is a brave person who prays – ‘Lord, make me suffer so that you will get the glory!’
I wonder, what the original readers of 1 Peter might have been thinking as they contemplated all the different kinds of suffering that might lie before them. Like us, I am sure they would have been uncertain.
Peter, seems to have understood that uncertainty and offers some perspective by looking at the role judgement plays in suffering.
It is a reality that Christians will suffer for their faith – what strategies could Christians employ to help them persevere resiliently in the face of suffering?
The Apostle Peter offers three quick strategies:
Here is a truth that is hard to swallow: Living for Christ will involve suffering!
Peter puts this truth into perspective in his first letter. First he spoke of a a Christ-centred hope (1:3-2:10), then he taught his readers how to live with a Christ-centred hope (2:11-4:11). In the final section of his letter, Peter wants to ensure that his readers understand what it means to suffer under a Christ-centred hope (4:12-5:11).
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