Embracing the Cross: Understanding Christian Suffering
Summary
### Summary
Today, we conclude our series on the seven marks of the church by focusing on the cross of Christ and Christian suffering. Martin Luther's words remind us that the Holy Christian Church is outwardly known by the possession of the Holy Cross, enduring all forms of hardship and persecution. True suffering for a Christian is not about lamenting how others treat us or adorning ourselves with religious symbols. Instead, it is about recognizing our sins and the immense price Jesus paid for them. This recognition should lead us to repentance and a deep understanding of our own sinfulness.
Luther emphasizes that Christians must endure suffering not because they are wrongdoers, but because they hold fast to Christ and His Word. This suffering is a reflection of Christ's own suffering and is a mark of true discipleship. We are called to be righteous, obedient, and ready to serve, even as we face hatred and persecution.
True Christian suffering begins with repentance and the acknowledgment of our sins. It involves a deep, personal realization that our sins nailed Jesus to the cross. This leads to a transformation where we suffer not just from our sins but also for doing good and abiding in Christ. The world, the devil, and our own sinful nature will rise against us, but we are called to cling to the cross and trust in Jesus for strength and salvation.
In this journey, we must continually repent, confess our sins, and trust in God's forgiveness. We are encouraged to engage in prayer, study, and the sacraments, living as Christians every day. This daily walk with Christ prepares us for the life to come, where we will be citizens of His eternal kingdom.
### Key Takeaways
1. True Christian Suffering: True suffering for a Christian is not about lamenting how others treat us or adorning ourselves with religious symbols. It is about recognizing our sins and the immense price Jesus paid for them. This recognition should lead us to repentance and a deep understanding of our own sinfulness. [38:02]
2. Endurance in Faith: Christians must endure suffering not because they are wrongdoers, but because they hold fast to Christ and His Word. This suffering is a reflection of Christ's own suffering and is a mark of true discipleship. We are called to be righteous, obedient, and ready to serve, even as we face hatred and persecution. [36:48]
3. Repentance and Transformation: True Christian suffering begins with repentance and the acknowledgment of our sins. It involves a deep, personal realization that our sins nailed Jesus to the cross. This leads to a transformation where we suffer not just from our sins but also for doing good and abiding in Christ. [39:37]
4. Clinging to the Cross: In our journey of faith, we must continually repent, confess our sins, and trust in God's forgiveness. We are encouraged to engage in prayer, study, and the sacraments, living as Christians every day. This daily walk with Christ prepares us for the life to come, where we will be citizens of His eternal kingdom. [43:00]
5. Strength in Christ: The world, the devil, and our own sinful nature will rise against us, but we are called to cling to the cross and trust in Jesus for strength and salvation. By doing so, we find life, strength, hope, and peace in Him, even amidst suffering. [44:41]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[11:04] - Announcements and Prayer
[12:22] - Opening Hymn and Confession
[17:55] - Psalm Reading
[19:24] - Prayers for Peace and Unity
[20:48] - Prayer for Strength and Courage
[29:59] - Gospel Reading
[35:55] - Luther's Words on the Cross
[38:02] - What True Suffering Is Not
[39:37] - True Christian Suffering and Repentance
[41:14] - God's Mercy and Our Transformation
[43:00] - Clinging to the Cross
[44:41] - Daily Christian Living
[46:17] - Nicene Creed
[47:42] - Prayers for the Church and Nation
[48:57] - Offering and Communion
[55:43] - Words of Institution
[57:12] - Lord's Prayer and Benediction
[01:08:57] - Closing Hymn and Fellowship Time
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Psalm 69:1-9, 16-18
2. Matthew 5:10-12
3. Matthew 5:11
#### Observation Questions
1. According to Psalm 69:1-9, 16-18, what are some of the emotions and struggles the psalmist expresses? How do these relate to the theme of suffering?
2. In Matthew 5:10-12, what does Jesus say about those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake? How does this align with the sermon’s message on Christian suffering?
3. What does Luther mean when he says, "The Holy Christian Church is outwardly known by the holy possession of the Holy Cross"? [35:55]
4. How does the sermon describe true Christian suffering, and what is it not about? [38:02]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the psalmist’s cry for help in Psalm 69 reflect the Christian’s call to cling to the cross during times of suffering?
2. What does it mean to be "blessed" when persecuted for righteousness' sake, as stated in Matthew 5:10-12? How can this be understood in the context of the sermon’s emphasis on enduring suffering for Christ?
3. Luther mentions that Christians must endure suffering not because they are wrongdoers but because they hold fast to Christ and His Word. How does this perspective change the way we view our own hardships? [36:48]
4. The sermon states that true Christian suffering begins with repentance and the acknowledgment of our sins. How does this process lead to transformation according to the sermon? [39:37]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you faced hardship or persecution for your faith. How did you respond, and what did you learn from that experience about clinging to the cross? [43:00]
2. The sermon emphasizes the importance of daily repentance and confession. What practical steps can you take to incorporate these practices into your daily routine? [44:41]
3. How can you find strength in Christ when the world, the devil, and your own sinful nature rise against you? Share a specific strategy or scripture that helps you in these moments. [44:41]
4. The sermon calls us to live as Christians every day, not just when we have time. What are some specific ways you can live out your faith more consistently in your daily life? [44:41]
5. Think about the concept of suffering for doing good and abiding in Christ. How can you prepare yourself mentally and spiritually to face such suffering? [39:37]
6. How can you support fellow believers who are enduring suffering for their faith? What are some tangible actions you can take to encourage and uplift them?
7. The sermon mentions the importance of engaging in prayer, study, and the sacraments. How can you deepen your commitment to these spiritual disciplines in the coming weeks? [43:00]
This guide is designed to help your small group delve deeper into the themes of Christian suffering, repentance, and endurance in faith as discussed in the sermon. Use these questions to foster meaningful discussion and personal reflection.
Devotional
Day 1: Recognizing Our Sinfulness
True Christian suffering is not about lamenting how others treat us or adorning ourselves with religious symbols. It is about recognizing our sins and the immense price Jesus paid for them. This recognition should lead us to repentance and a deep understanding of our own sinfulness. True suffering for a Christian begins with a personal realization that our sins nailed Jesus to the cross. This understanding should transform us, leading us to suffer not just from our sins but also for doing good and abiding in Christ. The world, the devil, and our own sinful nature will rise against us, but we are called to cling to the cross and trust in Jesus for strength and salvation. [38:02]
Isaiah 53:5 (ESV): "But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed."
Reflection: Think about a specific sin in your life that you have not fully acknowledged. How can you bring this sin before God today in genuine repentance and seek His forgiveness?
Day 2: Enduring Suffering for Christ
Christians must endure suffering not because they are wrongdoers, but because they hold fast to Christ and His Word. This suffering is a reflection of Christ's own suffering and is a mark of true discipleship. We are called to be righteous, obedient, and ready to serve, even as we face hatred and persecution. True Christian suffering involves a deep, personal realization that our sins nailed Jesus to the cross. This leads to a transformation where we suffer not just from our sins but also for doing good and abiding in Christ. [36:48]
1 Peter 4:12-13 (ESV): "Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed."
Reflection: Reflect on a recent situation where you faced hardship for your faith. How can you find joy in sharing in Christ's sufferings and remain steadfast in your commitment to Him?
Day 3: Repentance and Transformation
True Christian suffering begins with repentance and the acknowledgment of our sins. It involves a deep, personal realization that our sins nailed Jesus to the cross. This leads to a transformation where we suffer not just from our sins but also for doing good and abiding in Christ. The world, the devil, and our own sinful nature will rise against us, but we are called to cling to the cross and trust in Jesus for strength and salvation. [39:37]
James 4:8-10 (ESV): "Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you."
Reflection: Consider an area of your life where you need transformation. How can you draw near to God in repentance and allow Him to change you from the inside out?
Day 4: Clinging to the Cross
In our journey of faith, we must continually repent, confess our sins, and trust in God's forgiveness. We are encouraged to engage in prayer, study, and the sacraments, living as Christians every day. This daily walk with Christ prepares us for the life to come, where we will be citizens of His eternal kingdom. By doing so, we find life, strength, hope, and peace in Him, even amidst suffering. [43:00]
Hebrews 12:1-2 (ESV): "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."
Reflection: What daily practices can you incorporate into your life to help you cling to the cross and trust in Jesus for strength and salvation?
Day 5: Strength in Christ
The world, the devil, and our own sinful nature will rise against us, but we are called to cling to the cross and trust in Jesus for strength and salvation. By doing so, we find life, strength, hope, and peace in Him, even amidst suffering. This daily walk with Christ prepares us for the life to come, where we will be citizens of His eternal kingdom. We are encouraged to engage in prayer, study, and the sacraments, living as Christians every day. [44:41]
2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (ESV): "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
Reflection: Identify a current struggle or weakness in your life. How can you rely on Christ's strength and grace to find hope and peace in the midst of this challenge?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "We run to Jesus and to his word and sacraments whenever we can, because in this we have life, we have strength, we have hope, and we have peace. We pray to our Heavenly Father that he continues to forgive, strengthen, renew, and protect us in this valley of the shadow of death. We fear not any evil, but we instead trust Jesus who defeated evil." [43:00] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "But when you acknowledge your sin, when the knowledge and sober reality of your sin is spoken out, confessed to God, then what comes is not God's judgment but his mercy. He who must rightly judge and pour his wrath down upon the sons of men for their sins, he instead judges and pours his wrath down upon the son of man, the Lord and Savior Christ Jesus, so that we who deserve it do not receive it." [41:14] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "For the Christian, true suffering is first repentance and suffering the despair of our sins, the nails which we ourselves pierced into our Lord's body. You murdered God. You saw fit that he suffer and he face the unjust judgment. Your sins did this. This is the thunderbolt of God's holy law and you must face the reality whenever you look in the mirror." [39:37] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "True suffering for the Christian is first and foremost learning how your sin and your transgressions, learning about them and coming to a sober and true knowledge of yourself and truly terrified that God could rightly strike you down and condemn you. For without this sobering truth and knowledge, the suffering of Christ is meaningless and his death is a wasted death." [41:14] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "But this wonderful and eternal gift of salvation and eternal life, one for us in Christ, what does this do in our being and in our hearts? It changes us so that we suffer in a new way. We suffer not because of the evil and depravity of our old flesh and its futile grasping for dominance, but we suffer with our Lord. We suffer for doing good and loving and serving, for abiding in Christ." [43:00] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "For, no one can call himself Christian that does not look at our Lord's suffering and death and in the light of the commandments see the horrific price he paid for our improprieties, our adulteries, our gossip and lies, our fruitless worship of the created things, or our hatred toward our brothers." [39:37] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "We pray to our Heavenly Father that he continues to forgive, strengthen, renew, and open heaven to you. You are a citizen of his kingdom, and the walls of this holy city will never fall to the enemy. Daily repent, daily confess your sins, and daily trust with all your heart in his forgiveness. Pray, learn, study, come to the holy sacrament of his body and blood, look to your baptism, but be not just a Christian when you have time, which will never help you in your suffering, but live as the Christian every day, as long as we have today, and patiently wait and prepare for the life to come." [44:41] (49 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "What is the cross or sufferings of Christ? Well let me tell you what it is not first, second, and third. First, suffering is not about complaining about others or condemning the acts of others in how they deal with, think about, or consider Christ. We do not suffer by lamenting about how others treat us or our Lord. Second, suffering is not about looking at the sufferings of Jesus day in and day out or trying to avoid suffering altogether by adorning oneself in images of Jesus or crosses or emblems of holy people. Suffering isn't about superstition or soothsaying. Third, suffering isn't about weeping or lamenting over the suffering of Jesus on account of his innocence. Suffering isn't merely recognizing his suffering." [38:02] (55 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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