Week 3 | Followers of the Way | Resurrection Suffering
SUMMARY
The early church went from massive growth to persecution. That kind of hardship can cause us to think something is wrong with us, or something is wrong with God. But what the enemy intended for evil, God used for good.
Steven was a man full of the Holy Spirit who became the first Martyr for Jesus. God used this suffering of his church to advance his kingdom and spread the gospel across the Roman Empire and beyond.
Hardship is not a sign something is wrong with you or with God. We shouldn’t be surprised when we come upon hardship. In fact, James tells us that we should consider it pure joy. God doesn’t waste our suffering, he uses it to help us learn to trust and treasure him. So when we engage in hardship, we should ask for courage to endure rather than control over the situation.
TALK IT OUT
•Pastor Scott said “We assume that hardship means something is wrong with me or with God.” How have you ever experienced that to be true?
•Read Acts 6:3 – why do you think that list of qualifications for leadership was important?
•Read Acts 6:8-11. If you were Stephen, how would you react to these accusations?
•Read Acts 8:1-4. How did the execution of stephen advance God’s Kingdom?
•Read 1 Peter 4:12-16. How does this passage agitate you? How does it encourage you?
•What hardship are you engaging with, and what does it mean to ask for courage over control? How can we pray for you in this trial?
DEEPER DIVE (Sources cited and recommended reading)
The Insanity of God – Nik Ripken
Suffering – Paul David Tripp
Walking With God through Pain and suffering – Timothy Keller