Embracing Sacrifice: The True Call of Discipleship

Devotional

Day 1: Embracing Suffering as a Path to Glory

The call to follow Christ is a call to embrace suffering and sacrifice, not for the sake of misery, but to display the glory of God's grace through our trials. This path is not about seeking comfort but about living a life that points others to the eternal hope found in Jesus. The journey of discipleship is marked by a willingness to endure hardships, reflecting the light of Christ in a world filled with darkness. As believers, we are invited to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him, understanding that our trials are opportunities to showcase the transformative power of God's love. [05:13]

"For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal." (2 Corinthians 4:17-18, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you are currently experiencing discomfort or hardship? How can you view this situation as an opportunity to reflect God's grace and hope to those around you today?

Day 2: The Paradox of Risk and Reward in Faith

The Apostle Paul exemplifies a life of risk and suffering for the Gospel, understanding that if there were no resurrection, Christians would be the most pitied. Yet, it is through this suffering that the message of Christ's love is made manifest to the world. Paul’s life was a testament to the paradox of finding true joy and purpose in the midst of trials. He willingly faced persecution and hardship, knowing that his sacrifices were not in vain but were part of a greater narrative of redemption and hope. His life challenges us to consider what we are willing to risk for the sake of the Gospel. [12:05]

"But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ." (Philippians 3:7-8, ESV)

Reflection: What is one risk you feel God is calling you to take for the sake of the Gospel? How can you step out in faith, trusting in the eternal reward that comes from following Christ?

Day 3: Completing Christ's Sufferings Through Our Own

The concept of "filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions" refers to the presentation of Christ's sufferings to those who have yet to hear the Gospel. Our own sufferings become a means of extending Christ's love to others. This does not imply that Christ's work on the cross was insufficient, but rather that our experiences of suffering can serve as a tangible demonstration of His love and sacrifice to those who are unaware of His grace. As we endure trials, we have the opportunity to share in Christ's mission, bringing His message of hope and redemption to a broken world. [16:21]

"Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church." (Colossians 1:24, ESV)

Reflection: How can your current struggles be used to demonstrate Christ's love to someone who has yet to experience it? What practical steps can you take to share your testimony of faith with them today?

Day 4: The Legacy of Sacrificial Love in Christian History

Throughout history, the spread of Christianity has been marked by the suffering of its messengers. Stories of individuals like the Maasai warrior Joseph illustrate the power of sacrificial love and the impact it can have on those around us. These stories remind us that the Gospel has often advanced through the willingness of believers to endure hardship for the sake of others. The legacy of sacrificial love is a testament to the transformative power of the Gospel, inspiring us to live lives that reflect Christ's selfless love and commitment to the mission of spreading His message. [29:49]

"Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body." (Hebrews 13:3, ESV)

Reflection: Who in your life has demonstrated sacrificial love in a way that has impacted your faith journey? How can you honor their legacy by showing sacrificial love to someone in need today?

Day 5: Walking the Calvary Road with Christ

As believers, we are invited to join Christ on the Calvary Road, taking risks for the sake of the Gospel, and displaying the supreme satisfaction found in Him. This is the true calling of a disciple, to live a life that points others to the eternal hope and glory found in Jesus Christ. Walking this road requires courage and faith, as we step out of our comfort zones to follow Christ wherever He leads. It is a journey marked by both challenges and profound joy, as we experience the fullness of life found in Him. [36:16]

"And he said to all, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.'" (Luke 9:23-24, ESV)

Reflection: What does it mean for you to walk the Calvary Road with Christ today? How can you take a tangible step towards living a life that reflects the eternal hope and glory found in Him?

Sermon Summary

In a world filled with turmoil and uncertainty, the call to follow Christ is not one of comfort and ease but of sacrifice and suffering. The essence of this journey is captured in the words of Jesus, who invites us to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him. This path is not about seeking prosperity or comfort but about embracing the suffering that comes with being a true disciple. The world is filled with pain and chaos, and as followers of Christ, we are called to be a light in the darkness, displaying the glory of God's grace through our own trials and tribulations.

The Apostle Paul understood this deeply, as he willingly chose a life of risk and suffering for the sake of the Gospel. He recognized that if there were no resurrection, Christians would be the most pitied of all people, for they have chosen a path of sacrifice over worldly pleasures. Yet, it is through this suffering that the message of Christ's love and redemption is made manifest to the world. Paul speaks of filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions, not in terms of atonement, but in the presentation of Christ's sufferings to those who have yet to hear the Gospel.

Throughout history, the spread of Christianity has been marked by the suffering of its messengers. From the blistered feet of missionaries to the beatings endured by evangelists, the message of Christ has been carried forward through pain and sacrifice. This is not a call to a miserable life but to a life of profound joy found in the midst of suffering. The stories of individuals like the Maasai warrior Joseph and the Haitian man Edmond illustrate the power of sacrificial love and the impact it can have on those around us.

As believers, we are invited to join Christ on the Calvary Road, to take risks for the sake of the Gospel, and to display the supreme satisfaction found in Him. This is the true calling of a disciple, to live a life that points others to the eternal hope and glory found in Jesus Christ.

Key Takeaways

1. The call to follow Christ is a call to embrace suffering and sacrifice, not for the sake of misery, but to display the glory of God's grace through our trials. This path is not about seeking comfort but about living a life that points others to the eternal hope found in Jesus. [05:13]
2. The Apostle Paul exemplifies a life of risk and suffering for the Gospel, understanding that if there were no resurrection, Christians would be the most pitied. Yet, it is through this suffering that the message of Christ's love is made manifest to the world. [12:05]
3. The concept of "filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions" refers to the presentation of Christ's sufferings to those who have yet to hear the Gospel. Our own sufferings become a means of extending Christ's love to others. [16:21]
4. Throughout history, the spread of Christianity has been marked by the suffering of its messengers. Stories of individuals like the Maasai warrior Joseph illustrate the power of sacrificial love and the impact it can have on those around us. [29:49]
5. As believers, we are invited to join Christ on the Calvary Road, taking risks for the sake of the Gospel, and displaying the supreme satisfaction found in Him. This is the true calling of a disciple, to live a life that points others to the eternal hope and glory found in Jesus Christ. [36:16]
** [36:16]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:10] - Rumors and Reality
[01:04] - Biblical Foundation
[02:21] - Persecution and Endurance
[03:34] - Suffering and Glory
[05:13] - The Call to Suffer
[06:47] - The Mind of Christ
[07:34] - Stories of Sacrifice
[09:02] - The Good Life?
[11:14] - The Reality of Risk
[12:37] - Maximizing Pleasure
[14:06] - Paul's Peril and Purpose
[15:28] - Colossians 1:24 Explained
[18:21] - The Role of Suffering
[22:04] - Suffering in Missions
[25:00] - Stories of Sacrificial Love
[32:39] - The Widow's Might
[35:21] - The Aim of God

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:

Matthew 16:24 - "Then Jesus said to his disciples, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.'"
Colossians 1:24 - "Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church."
2 Timothy 3:12 - "Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted."

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Observation Questions:

What does Jesus mean when He calls His followers to "deny themselves and take up their cross" in Matthew 16:24? How does this relate to the theme of sacrifice and suffering? [01:23]
In Colossians 1:24, Paul speaks of "filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions." What does this phrase suggest about the role of suffering in the life of a believer? [16:21]
According to 2 Timothy 3:12, what is promised to those who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus? How does this align with the sermon’s message about the inevitability of suffering for believers? [02:37]
How does the story of the Maasai warrior Joseph illustrate the concept of sacrificial love and its impact on others? [29:10]

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Interpretation Questions:

How might the call to "deny oneself" and "take up one's cross" challenge modern cultural values of comfort and prosperity? What does this mean for a believer's daily life? [05:13]
What does Paul mean by saying he rejoices in his sufferings for the sake of the church? How can suffering be a source of joy for believers? [15:43]
How does the sermon suggest that the sufferings of believers serve to present Christ's afflictions to those who have not heard the Gospel? [21:32]
In what ways does the sermon challenge the idea of Christianity as the "good life" if there is no resurrection? How does this perspective affect a believer's approach to risk and sacrifice? [09:02]

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Application Questions:

Reflect on a time when you faced a challenge or suffering for your faith. How did you respond, and what did you learn from that experience? How might you approach similar situations differently in the future? [03:34]
Consider the concept of "filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions." How can you actively participate in sharing Christ's sufferings with those around you? [16:21]
The sermon mentions the importance of taking risks for the sake of the Gospel. What is one specific risk you feel called to take in your faith journey, and what steps can you take to move forward with it? [36:16]
How can you cultivate a mindset that finds joy in suffering, as Paul did, rather than seeking comfort and ease? What practical changes can you make in your daily life to align with this mindset? [15:43]
Reflect on the story of the Maasai warrior Joseph. How can you demonstrate sacrificial love in your community, and what impact do you hope it will have? [29:10]
The sermon challenges the idea of Christianity as merely a path to personal prosperity. How can you shift your focus from seeking material blessings to seeking spiritual growth and impact? [05:52]
Identify one area in your life where you can be a "light in the darkness" and display the glory of God's grace through your trials. What specific actions can you take to be that light this week? [05:13]

Sermon Clips

The purpose of God in creating the universe is to display the greatness of the glory of his grace supremely in the suffering of his son. That's yesterday. Today, the summons will you join the son in displaying the Supreme satisfaction of the glory of Grace in joining him on the Calvary Road of suffering because there's no other way. [00:04:48]

The world is going to see the Supreme Glory of Christ today except that we break free from the Disneyland of America and begin to live lifestyles of missionary sacrifice that looks to the world like our treasure is in heaven and not on the earth. It's the only way the Prosperity Gospel will not make anybody Praise Jesus. [00:05:23]

Paul said if there's no Resurrection, we are of all men most to be pitied. Listen to how he puts the point on his own experience he said if the dead are not raised why am I in Peril every hour. I protest Brothers by my exaltation in which I have which I have in Christ Jesus our lord I die every day. [00:13:54]

I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, talking to the church, and in my flesh, I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is the church. That's almost heresy, almost, to say in my body my Fallen sinful body, I am completing or filling up what is lacking in the sufferings of Christ. [00:16:20]

He is saying it is through my body and my sufferings that the sufferings of Christ arrive in the unreached peoples of the world on your campus. How do the sufferings of Jesus arrive on your campus? They arrive through your sufferings. That's the meaning of Colossians 1 24. I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ in my own flesh. [00:22:04]

There never has been a breakthrough into an unreached place or people without suffering if you're going to be a missionary mark it down pain loss of a child malaria marital Strife tensions on the team demonic opposition martyrdom it's going to come don't think it's strange when it comes it's the price he paid his life for our Salvation. [00:22:52]

We join him in that suffering to display the nature of it how are they going to see how satisfying he is in us if we look like it's the computer toy that is really satisfying it is wonderful I think that Paul in this verse says now I rejoice in the sufferings for your sake I'm not summoning you to a miserable life. [00:23:26]

I am suffering summoning you to a painful life, but in this pain all over the Bible you find Christians rejoicing in Tribulation rejoice in Tribulation for tribulation Works patience and patience Works a provenness and a proven this works hope and hope will not put us to shame because the love of God is poured out in our heart. [00:24:01]

You want to experience the Deep Joy of knowing yourself loved by God lay out your life for another person take a risk with your body take a risk with your mind take a risk with your money your schooling what an amazing thing God calls us to do and to be the Cross of Christ is for propitiation our cross is for propagation. [00:24:41]

I think that is a perfect picture of I complete in my body my sufferings what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ Christ can't be there in that Village but we are his body on the Earth and Christ has mainly a suffering to offer the world and he means for the missionaries to offer themselves to the people. [00:28:00]

The aim of God in creating the universe, creating all eighteen thousand of you, the aim of God in creating all of you and your parents and your schools in this world the aim of God in creating you was to display the greatness of the glory of his grace supremely through the sufferings of his son. [00:35:21]

And so on behalf of Jesus I simply beseech you to come and to join him on this Calvary Road for the sake of the Nations there are so many nations and so many campuses and so many of your friends that need you to take risks to display Christ to them. [00:36:40]

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Embracing Sacrifice: The True Call of Discipleship

Devotional

Day 1: Embracing Suffering as a Path to Glory

Day 2: The Paradox of Risk and Reward in Faith

Day 3: Completing Christ's Sufferings Through Our Own

Day 4: The Legacy of Sacrificial Love in Christian History

Day 5: Walking the Calvary Road with Christ

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Embracing Sacrifice: The True Call of Discipleship

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