Finding Growth and Meaning in Suffering
Summary
In today's gathering, we explored the profound theme of suffering, particularly through the lens of Jesus' journey to the cross. We delved into the symbolism of the whip and the rod, representing the immense suffering Jesus endured for our salvation. This suffering is not something we can bypass; it is a part of life in a fallen world. The question we must ask ourselves is, "What are we going to do with our suffering?" Suffering, whether from good choices, bad choices, or simply living in a broken world, is inevitable. Yet, it is through suffering that we often find meaning and growth.
We reflected on the reality that meaningful things in life often require sacrifice and pain. Whether it's pursuing education, building a career, nurturing a marriage, or raising children, these endeavors involve trials and challenges. However, they are worth the effort because they lead to growth and fulfillment. Similarly, Jesus' suffering was not in vain. It was a deliberate act of love, fulfilling the scriptures and bringing us back into a relationship with God.
Jesus' suffering was not just a historical event but a divine mission. He willingly endured the pain, setting His face towards Jerusalem with determination to accomplish His task. His suffering was not for a temporary trophy but for an eternal victory over sin and death. This victory offers us forgiveness, grace, and a restored relationship with God.
As we navigate our own suffering, we are reminded not to waste it. Our pain can be a season of growth if we lean into it and allow God to work through us. Our suffering does not have the last word; God does. He promises to work all things together for good for those who love Him. Our trials do not mean God is punishing us or has abandoned us. His steadfast love endures forever, and He is with us in every valley.
Key Takeaways:
1. Suffering is an inevitable part of life in a fallen world, but it is also an opportunity for growth and deeper relationship with God. We must ask ourselves how we will respond to our suffering and allow it to shape us. [29:01]
2. Meaningful endeavors in life often require sacrifice and pain. Whether it's education, career, marriage, or parenting, these challenges lead to growth and fulfillment. Jesus' suffering was a deliberate act of love, fulfilling scripture and restoring our relationship with God. [33:21]
3. Jesus' suffering was not in vain; it was a divine mission with eternal significance. He willingly endured pain to bring us victory over sin and death, offering us forgiveness and grace. [36:12]
4. Our pain can be a season of growth if we choose not to waste it. God can use our past, present, and future situations for His glory, stretching and molding us to shine His light to others. [53:46]
5. Our suffering does not have the last word; God does. He promises to work all things together for good for those who love Him. Our trials do not mean God is punishing us or has abandoned us. His steadfast love endures forever. [58:30]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:30] - Senior Trip and Community Updates
[02:15] - Upcoming Events at Asbury Church
[04:45] - Introduction to the Sermon Series
[06:30] - The Symbolism of the Whip and Rod
[08:00] - The Inevitability of Suffering
[10:30] - The Meaning of Sacrifice and Pain
[13:00] - Jesus' Deliberate Path to Suffering
[15:45] - The Purpose of Jesus' Suffering
[18:30] - Our Response to Suffering
[21:00] - The Promise of Growth Through Pain
[23:30] - God's Sovereignty Over Our Trials
[26:00] - Assurance of God's Presence and Love
[28:30] - Closing Prayer and Invitation to Worship
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Matthew 26:62-68
2. Isaiah 53:5
3. Romans 8:28
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Observation Questions:
1. In Matthew 26:62-68, how does Jesus respond to the accusations against Him, and what is the reaction of the high priest? How does this reflect His mission? [36:12]
2. According to Isaiah 53:5, what are the reasons given for Jesus' suffering, and what are the outcomes of His wounds?
3. How does Romans 8:28 describe God's promise to those who love Him, especially in the context of suffering? [53:46]
4. What examples from the sermon illustrate the inevitability of suffering in life, and how does this relate to Jesus' journey to the cross? [29:01]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does Jesus' willingness to endure suffering for a divine mission challenge our understanding of purpose and sacrifice in our own lives? [36:12]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that suffering can lead to personal growth and a deeper relationship with God? How does this align with the message in Romans 8:28? [53:46]
3. How does the sermon use the metaphor of "going on a bear hunt" to explain the necessity of facing suffering head-on? What does this imply about our approach to life's challenges? [29:01]
4. How does the sermon interpret the significance of Jesus' suffering as fulfilling scripture, particularly in relation to Isaiah 53:5? [45:03]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a recent experience of suffering or challenge in your life. How did you respond, and what might you do differently in light of the sermon’s message about not wasting suffering? [53:46]
2. Consider a meaningful endeavor in your life, such as a relationship or career. What sacrifices have you made, and how have they contributed to your growth? How does this relate to the idea that meaningful things often require sacrifice? [33:21]
3. How can you actively lean into your current struggles and allow God to work through them for growth and His glory? What practical steps can you take this week to embrace this mindset? [53:46]
4. Identify a specific area in your life where you feel God might be using your past or present pain for a greater purpose. How can you cooperate with His work in this area? [53:46]
5. Reflect on the promise in Romans 8:28. How can you remind yourself of this promise during difficult times, and what role does community play in supporting you through these challenges? [53:46]
6. How does understanding that Jesus' suffering was a deliberate act of love change your perspective on your own suffering? How can this understanding influence your daily walk with God? [36:12]
7. What specific actions can you take to ensure that your pain does not have the last word in your life, but rather, that God’s promises and love do? [58:30]
Devotional
Day 1: Embracing Suffering as a Path to Growth
Suffering is an inevitable part of life in a fallen world, but it is also an opportunity for growth and a deeper relationship with God. We must ask ourselves how we will respond to our suffering and allow it to shape us. Suffering can come from various sources, whether from our own choices or simply from living in a broken world. However, it is through these trials that we often find meaning and growth. By leaning into our suffering and allowing God to work through us, we can transform our pain into a season of growth. [29:01]
"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: Think of a current challenge you are facing. How can you invite God into this situation to help you grow through it rather than be defeated by it?
Day 2: The Cost of Meaningful Endeavors
Meaningful endeavors in life often require sacrifice and pain. Whether it's education, career, marriage, or parenting, these challenges lead to growth and fulfillment. Jesus' suffering was a deliberate act of love, fulfilling scripture and restoring our relationship with God. Just as Jesus' journey to the cross was filled with purpose, our own sacrifices can lead to profound growth and fulfillment. By embracing the trials that come with meaningful pursuits, we can experience the richness of life that God intends for us. [33:21]
"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." (James 1:2-4, ESV)
Reflection: Identify a meaningful pursuit in your life that requires sacrifice. How can you find joy in the challenges it presents, knowing that it leads to growth and fulfillment?
Day 3: Jesus' Suffering as a Divine Mission
Jesus' suffering was not in vain; it was a divine mission with eternal significance. He willingly endured pain to bring us victory over sin and death, offering us forgiveness and grace. His journey to the cross was not just a historical event but a deliberate act of love that fulfilled the scriptures. By understanding the purpose behind Jesus' suffering, we can appreciate the depth of His love for us and the eternal victory He achieved on our behalf. [36:12]
"For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Mark 10:45, ESV)
Reflection: Reflect on the significance of Jesus' suffering for your own life. How does His sacrifice inspire you to live with purpose and love others sacrificially?
Day 4: Transforming Pain into Growth
Our pain can be a season of growth if we choose not to waste it. God can use our past, present, and future situations for His glory, stretching and molding us to shine His light to others. By embracing our suffering and allowing God to work through us, we can transform our pain into a powerful testimony of His grace and love. Our trials do not define us; rather, they are opportunities for God to shape us into the people He created us to be. [53:46]
"Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope." (Romans 5:3-4, ESV)
Reflection: Consider a painful experience from your past. How can you use what you learned from that experience to encourage and support someone else who may be going through a similar situation?
Day 5: God's Sovereignty Over Our Trials
Our suffering does not have the last word; God does. He promises to work all things together for good for those who love Him. Our trials do not mean God is punishing us or has abandoned us. His steadfast love endures forever, and He is with us in every valley. By trusting in God's sovereignty, we can find peace and assurance in the midst of our trials, knowing that He is working for our good and His glory. [58:30]
"The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all." (Psalm 34:18-19, ESV)
Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to trust God's sovereignty more fully? How can you remind yourself of His presence and love during difficult times?
Quotes
We can't go over it. We can't go around it. We have to go through it. And that's what God invites us to, is that suffering is just simply a part of life. It is a part of living in a fallen world, and we have to go through it. And just because we bow our knee to Christ and we say, we're a Christian, we accept him as our Lord and Savior. He is the King of kings. We know we are forgiven. It doesn't give us a pass card. We can't pass go. We have to go through it. [00:29:01] (35 seconds)
And if you do, you have very little of things that exist in your life that you're saying that they're meaningful. They mean something to me. That didn't involve some sort of sacrifice. Some sort of pain and difficulty that entered into your life because of a choice. You think about getting degrees and going to school. You think about the sacrifices that it took to be able to get those degrees. Think about just investing in a career. [00:30:39] (25 seconds)
And when we come into the suffering of Christ, the suffering Jesus went through didn't end with a trophy that's going to fade over time, but it's something that will last for all of eternity. It will never fade away. His suffering ended on the cross with us being forgiven, with us receiving grace. We stand on his victory over sin and death. [00:36:12] (30 seconds)
The suffering of Jesus was a necessary step as he journeyed to the cross, and that's exactly where we're going to be picking up our story in the gospel of Matthew. And so if you have your Bibles, I hope you do, we're going to be reading from Matthew 26, starting in verse 62, and we're going to be jumping around a little bit, so if you have your Bibles, keep those open. I'm reading out of the ESV, and so we're picking up this again in verse 62. [00:37:26] (28 seconds)
We don't need the details. You're going to get distracted by those, all those details. What I need you to see is why he went through this and what was actually happening because, because he went through this, because he was beaten with rods, because he was scores by Roman soldiers, he was actually fulfilling scripture, right? He was doing exactly what he was supposed to be doing, what God, God had for his mission. He was walking in obedience to bringing us back into relationship with him. [00:44:17] (34 seconds)
But as this text points out, this suffering took place due to our lack lack of obedience. Due to our lack. Not just their lack and their time, but our lack of obedience. Because God didn't just have envisioned those who are in Israel at that time or just Rome. He was looking through past and present and future. He was saying all of that, your, our lack of obedience, our betrayal to God's words. [00:45:51] (34 seconds)
Because of what he went through, every single time he was beat, every single time that whip hit him, God was bringing us back in. So we could experience this peace that we have not experienced. The suffering took place so we could actually be healed and made whole once again. Think about that amazing promise that we can experience peace from God, that we can experience healing, all because of what God did for you and for me. [00:47:12] (38 seconds)
When Jesus sets his face to Jerusalem, he's setting it to go through that suffering, to go to the rod, to go through the whips, to ultimately go to the cross. He was setting his face to die with the purpose of bringing us back into relationship with God. There was no accident about it. And what I love about this is how intentional about this is that we were not an afterthought. [00:49:36] (32 seconds)
As Jesus says in John 10, he says, no one takes my life from me, but I lay it down on my own accord. His suffering had purpose to bring glory to God. His suffering has purpose to declare his steadfast love that endures forever and ever and ever. His suffering had a purpose. Us. Us. We are that purpose. And it's an amazing thing to ponder and to sit with, is that his suffering had a purpose. [00:50:41] (35 seconds)
What do you do with that? First, don't waste it. Right? Don't waste it. Your pain is not wasted, not in the kingdom of God. In James 1, it says, count it all joy, which is crazy to think. Joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness, and let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect, and complete, and lacking in nothing. A season of pain can be a season of growth. [00:52:03] (32 seconds)
It's hard to remember though in the middle of that season, in the middle of a valley, that is so hard to remember and yet God is calling us to remember of what he is able to do. Only a God who is all -powerful, all -knowing, and eternal could actually accomplish something. But what this text is not saying is that your bad situation is somehow gonna turn out to be like it's gonna go from bad to good. No, it's still a bad situation. Hear that. [00:54:46] (26 seconds)
But he is gonna do his work and that's because of who he is. And when we look at a text like this, it's a text of promise that you are called. You have a purpose, so don't let your trial, your season of suffering defeat you and push you down. Our enemy, the thief, only has a purpose of killing and stealing and destroying things in your life. He wants you to fail. He wants you to give in to that suffering. [00:55:59] (31 seconds)
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