Happy Hurt: Embracing Disruption for Spiritual Growth

Devotional

Day 1: The Resurrection Disrupts Our Beliefs

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is not just a historical event; it is a transformative truth that disrupts our conventional beliefs and calls us to a new way of living. This disruption is deeply personal, cutting to the heart and revealing our need for a Savior. When we truly grasp the reality of the resurrection, it compels us to re-evaluate our lives and align them with the profound truth that Jesus is alive. This disruption is not merely intellectual but affects every aspect of our being, urging us to live in a way that reflects the power and hope of the resurrection. [47:59]

Acts 2:24 (ESV): "God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it."

Reflection: How has the reality of the resurrection disrupted your beliefs and way of living? What changes do you need to make to align your life more closely with this truth?

Day 2: The Gospel Afflicts and Comforts

The gospel of Jesus Christ has a dual effect: it afflicts the comfortable and comforts the afflicted. It challenges us to examine where we find our meaning and significance, urging us to place our faith in Jesus rather than in worldly things. This process can be painful, as it exposes our misplaced priorities and idols. However, this "happy hurt" leads to true spiritual growth and transformation. The gospel comforts those who are afflicted by reminding them of the hope and redemption found in Jesus. It assures us that in Christ, we have everything we need, even in the midst of our struggles. [59:10]

2 Corinthians 1:4 (ESV): "Who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God."

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you feel comfortable and need the gospel to challenge you? How can you allow the gospel to comfort you in your current struggles?

Day 3: Personal Conviction and Repentance

Becoming a Christian involves a deep, personal conviction that cuts to the heart. This conviction reveals our sinfulness and our need for a Savior, leading us to repentance and a renewed relationship with Jesus Christ. The gospel comes to afflict the comfortable and comfort the afflicted, offering a profound comfort for our souls. This personal conviction is a necessary part of our spiritual journey, as it brings us to a place of humility and dependence on Jesus. It is through this process that we experience true transformation and growth in our faith. [55:22]

Acts 2:37 (ESV): "Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, 'Brothers, what shall we do?'"

Reflection: When was the last time you felt a deep, personal conviction about your sin? How did it lead you to repentance and a renewed relationship with Jesus?

Day 4: Community and Transformation

The gospel is not just for the individual but for the community. Peter's call to repentance and baptism led to the addition of 3,000 souls to the church. This transformation is a testament to the power of the gospel to bring about profound change in our lives and in our communities. The gospel calls us to live in community with other believers, supporting and encouraging one another in our faith journeys. It is through this communal aspect of the gospel that we experience the fullness of God's love and grace, as we grow together in our relationship with Him. [01:02:40]

Acts 2:41-42 (ESV): "So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers."

Reflection: How can you contribute to the spiritual growth and transformation of your community? What steps can you take to foster deeper relationships with other believers?

Day 5: Comfort for the Soul

The gospel offers a profound comfort for our souls, reminding us that in Christ, we already have everything we need. This comfort comes through confession, repentance, and trusting in Jesus. It addresses the deep-seated shame and longing in our souls, offering forgiveness and redemption through Jesus Christ. When we embrace this comfort, we experience a peace that surpasses all understanding, knowing that our identity and worth are secure in Christ. This comfort is not just for our individual benefit but also empowers us to extend God's love and grace to others. [01:03:13]

Psalm 34:18 (ESV): "The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit."

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to experience the comfort of the gospel? How can you extend this comfort to others who are hurting and in need of God's love?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Good morning, Orangewood. Today, we delved into the concept of "Happy Hurt" through the lens of Acts chapter 2. We explored how the gospel of Jesus Christ, with its resurrection power, disrupts our beliefs and brings a profound transformation to our lives. Peter's first sermon at Pentecost serves as a powerful reminder that becoming a Christian involves a disruption of our beliefs and a deep, personal conviction that cuts to the heart. This "happy hurt" is a necessary part of our spiritual journey, leading us to repentance and a renewed relationship with Jesus Christ.

Peter's message to the Jewish audience emphasized that while King David was revered, he was merely a precursor to the ultimate King, Jesus Christ. The resurrection of Jesus is a historical fact that disrupts our conventional beliefs and calls us to a new way of living. This disruption is not just intellectual but deeply personal, cutting to the heart and revealing our need for a Savior.

We also discussed how the gospel afflicts the comfortable and comforts the afflicted. The gospel challenges us to examine where we find our meaning and significance, urging us to place our faith in Jesus rather than in worldly things. This process can be painful, but it is a "happy hurt" that leads to true spiritual growth and transformation.

Peter's call to repentance and baptism is a call to receive the comfort of the Holy Spirit and the forgiveness of sins. This comfort is not just for the individual but for the community, as seen in the 3,000 souls who were added to the church that day. The gospel offers a profound comfort for our souls, reminding us that in Christ, we already have everything we need.

###

Key Takeaways

1. evaluate our lives in light of this profound truth. [47:59]
2. Affliction and Comfort: The gospel afflicts the comfortable and comforts the afflicted. It challenges us to examine where we find our meaning and significance, urging us to place our faith in Jesus rather than in worldly things. This process can be painful, but it is a "happy hurt" that leads to true spiritual growth and transformation.

3. Personal Conviction: Becoming a Christian involves a deep, personal conviction that cuts to the heart. This conviction reveals our sinfulness and our need for a Savior, leading us to repentance and a renewed relationship with Jesus Christ. The gospel comes to afflict the comfortable and comfort the afflicted, offering a profound comfort for our souls.

4. Community and Transformation: The gospel is not just for the individual but for the community. Peter's call to repentance and baptism led to the addition of 3,000 souls to the church. This transformation is a testament to the power of the gospel to bring about profound change in our lives and in our communities.

5. Comfort for the Soul: The gospel offers a profound comfort for our souls, reminding us that in Christ, we already have everything we need. This comfort comes through confession, repentance, and trusting in Jesus. It addresses the deep-seated shame and longing in our souls, offering forgiveness and redemption through Jesus Christ.

### [47:59]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[38:30] - Financial Update
[39:22] - Introduction to the Sermon Series
[40:16] - Scripture Reading: Acts 2
[41:35] - Peter's Call to Repentance
[42:20] - Introduction to "Happy Hurt"
[43:25] - Personal Story: CrossFit and Happy Hurt
[44:40] - Faithful Wounds of a Friend
[46:07] - Disruption of Beliefs
[47:59] - The Resurrection Changes Everything
[50:12] - Charles Coulson's Testimony
[52:36] - The Need for a Belief Disruption
[54:05] - Living for Christ's Glory
[55:22] - Cut to the Heart
[57:37] - The Heart's Condition
[59:10] - The Concept of Sin
[62:40] - Comfort for the Afflicted
[63:13] - Repentance and Forgiveness
[65:19] - The Human Condition and Shame
[67:41] - Peter's Transformation
[70:01] - Personal Story: Searching for AirPods
[72:01] - The Gospel's Promise
[74:37] - Closing Prayer and Benediction

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What was the reaction of the Jewish audience when Peter preached about Jesus in Acts 2:37? ([41:35])
How did Peter describe King David's role in relation to Jesus in Acts 2:29-31? ([40:16])
What promise does Peter mention in Acts 2:38 for those who repent and are baptized? ([41:35])
How many people were added to the church after Peter's sermon at Pentecost? ([41:35])

Interpretation Questions

Why does Peter emphasize the resurrection of Jesus as a disruption to the audience's beliefs? ([47:59])
How does the concept of "happy hurt" relate to the process of repentance and transformation in a Christian's life? ([42:20])
What does it mean for the gospel to "afflict the comfortable and comfort the afflicted"? How does this dual role impact a believer's spiritual growth? ([59:10])
In what ways does Peter's call to repentance and baptism extend beyond individual transformation to impact the community? ([41:35])

Application Questions

Reflect on a time when your beliefs were disrupted by a new understanding of the gospel. How did this experience change your perspective or actions? ([47:59])
The sermon mentioned that the gospel afflicts the comfortable. Are there areas in your life where you feel too comfortable and need a "happy hurt" to grow spiritually? ([59:10])
Peter's message led to a deep personal conviction for his audience. Have you experienced a moment where you felt "cut to the heart" by the gospel? How did you respond? ([55:22])
The sermon highlighted the importance of community in the transformation process. How can you contribute to the spiritual growth of your church community? ([41:35])
Peter's call to repentance and baptism offers comfort for the soul. Are there areas of shame or guilt in your life that you need to bring to Jesus for forgiveness and healing? ([01:03:13])
The sermon discussed the need to place our faith in Jesus rather than worldly things. What are some specific worldly things you find yourself relying on, and how can you shift your focus to Jesus? ([59:10])
How can you practically live out the truth that in Christ, you already have everything you need? Identify one area of your life where you can apply this truth this week. ([01:12:01])

Sermon Clips

1. "The gospel comes into our lives first to afflict the comfortable. The gospel comes and wants you to answer this question, where am I looking for meaning and significance in my life? Where am I looking for purpose? Where am I looking for happiness? And sin is looking to anything else in life to save me other than Jesus. Sin is anything or anyone I have put my identity in other than Jesus Christ to give me meaning and significance." [59:40] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "If the resurrection is true, everything has now changed. You and I need this same disruption this morning. If Jesus is truly risen from the grave, what does that mean for your life? I'll tell you. It means there is a new life and a new power despite the darkness around you. It means that God is not done with this world and God is not done with you. It means no matter what you are going through this morning, there is a king and a kingdom breaking into this world and he wants your allegiance." [53:17] (59 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "Peter says, something happened. This Jesus, we thought he was dead. We thought he was in a tomb over there, just like David, but he is alive. And that means everything has changed. Peter says, this is how you know you are becoming a Christian. The resurrection, is bringing a disruption to your beliefs." [47:59] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "Peter says, This comfort comes through confession. It comes through repenting and trusting in Jesus. There's a lot of talk today about what we need to do to fix our society. Some say the main thing is we need to fix our trillion dollar national debt issue. Others say we have to get the right person in office. Others say we need more programs to lift up the poor. Others, it's the mental health crisis in our country and the loneliness epidemic. And the list goes on and on, but Peter's answer to our society's greatest need and humanity's greatest need is to receive the comfort for our souls through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ and his declaration over you. Your sins are forgiven. They're covered." [01:03:13] (74 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "The gospel tells us we are more sinful than we ever dared believe. And at the same time, the gospel tells us we are more loved in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope. And Jesus has died on the cross for anyone longing to have their shame forgiven and redeemed. There is comfort for our souls." [01:06:05] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "Friends, have you received the heart wound? Has the old ground been broken up in you? The gospel comes to afflict the comfortable. And when you are experiencing the happy hurt, you will see the final thing we need in our passage, which is the comfort for our souls. The gospel comes to afflict the comfortable this morning. It also comes to comfort the afflicted." [01:02:40] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "Peter, at one point in his life, was brash and self-confident and a know-it-all. But at the end of Jesus's life, when Jesus was arrested and brought to trial, people began asking Peter questions. Hey, were you one of that guy's disciples? Were you one of the followers of Jesus? Peter, of course, denied he ever knew Jesus, and the shame consumed his soul. He returned to fishing, because he believed the lie that God was done with him. This is the lie we can all believe, that we are all failures. But Peter's sermon enacts as the reminder that no matter how far our failures feel inside of us, the gospel reaches deeper to remind us that the sins we can't forget are the sins God cannot remember, because he's covered them in Jesus Christ." [01:07:41] (67 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "What I know is every person has, every person who has ever lived has a set of beliefs. Everyone has something they are putting their faith in this morning. We're all looking to something that we believe is the source of happiness and meaning. The Jews had their own beliefs that they were looking to. Here is what, what their belief system was in very theological terms. Dead people stay dead. That's it. But the Gospel and the resurrection of Jesus means they needed a disruption." [52:36] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "The biggest threat is always me over us. What's he saying? I'll tell you. He's saying the relational problems in our lives, the personal problems, are when you think you are not the issue. The real problem is when you think everyone else is the problem. The gospel of Jesus is becoming real to you, Peter says, when you're cut to the heart. When sin is not an abstraction out there, those people, if you will. How you become a Christian, Peter says, is there's this concept of sin is getting personal. You are cut to the heart. There is a happy hurt. You're aware of your need. You know as much as you have tried and tried and tried, you cannot save yourself. And you know you need a savior." [59:10] (71 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

10. "Friends, the one thing you and I are looking for, the one thing we are already searching for, Peter tells us in Christ, in Christ you already have. We have the forgiveness of sins. We now have the promise of the Holy Spirit to lead us and guide us through life. We now have, as Pastor Mark will cover next week, the community of the church that we are invited into as his body, and we have now the salvation of our souls for all eternity because we have been redeemed and rescued by Jesus our King." [01:12:01] (46 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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