Resilience Through Christ: Facing Life's Challenges Together

 

Summary

In our journey through life, we are called to make an impact, but this path is fraught with challenges and obstacles. Today, I want to talk about resilience as we strive to make our lives count. Often, we avoid confronting our difficulties, pretending they don't exist. However, in the presence of God, we must face these challenges head-on. Reflecting on a lesson from my New Testament Greek professor, Jerry Hawthorne, we delve into Philippians 4:13, which is often translated as "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Jerry challenged us to think deeply about this verse, questioning whether it means we can achieve anything without effort or preparation. Instead, he emphasized that the true message is about facing life's challenges with Christ's strength.

Paul's use of the word "content" in Philippians is significant. For the Stoics, self-sufficiency was the ultimate goal, but for followers of Jesus, it is not. We are called to depend on God, and this dependence often leads us into difficult situations that require self-sacrifice and love. Paul teaches us that we can face anything, not because of our strength, but because of our relationship with Jesus. This is the essence of resilience—facing life's trials with the assurance that Jesus is with us.

Kate Bowler, a scholar of the Prosperity Gospel, offers a profound insight into the virtue of surrender. Unlike the Prosperity Gospel's promise of health and wealth, true Christian surrender involves letting go of self-rule and embracing God's will. This surrender is not passive; it is an active choice to face life's difficulties with Jesus by our side. We are reminded that control is an illusion, and true resilience comes from acknowledging our limitations and trusting in God's plan.

As we confront our own challenges, whether they be unfulfilled dreams, personal failures, or difficult relationships, we must remember that Jesus is with us. The cross at the heart of history is a testament to God's willingness to face the worst and bring good out of it. This is the resilience we are called to embody—facing each day with the strength that comes from walking with Jesus.

Key Takeaways:

1. Resilience is about facing life's challenges head-on, not avoiding them. In the presence of God, we are invited to confront our difficulties and trust in His strength to guide us through. This requires a deliberate choice to acknowledge our struggles and seek God's presence in the midst of them. [00:32]

2. The true message of Philippians 4:13 is not about achieving anything without effort, but about facing life's challenges with Christ's strength. This involves preparation, effort, and a partnership with God, trusting that He will provide the strength we need to endure. [02:25]

3. For followers of Jesus, self-sufficiency is not the ultimate goal. We are called to depend on God, which often leads us into difficult situations that require self-sacrifice and love. This dependence is a source of strength, enabling us to face life's trials with resilience. [04:22]

4. Surrender is a virtue that involves letting go of self-rule and embracing God's will. It is not passive or apathetic, but an active choice to face life's difficulties with Jesus by our side. This surrender allows us to acknowledge our limitations and trust in God's plan. [08:31]

5. The cross at the heart of history is a testament to God's willingness to face the worst and bring good out of it. As we confront our own challenges, we must remember that Jesus is with us, offering the strength and resilience we need to endure. [09:59]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:32] - Introduction to Resilience
- [00:45] - Facing Challenges Head-On
- [01:16] - A Lesson from Jerry Hawthorne
- [02:09] - Understanding Philippians 4:13
- [03:07] - The Nature of Translation
- [03:34] - Stoic Self-Sufficiency vs. Christian Dependence
- [04:22] - The Call to Depend on God
- [05:22] - Facing Life's Trials with Jesus
- [06:08] - Trusting Jesus in Difficult Times
- [06:41] - Kate Bowler on Surrender
- [07:35] - The Illusion of Control
- [08:31] - The Virtue of Surrender
- [09:23] - Confronting Personal Challenges
- [09:59] - The Cross and Resilience

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: Resilience in Christ

Bible Reading:
- Philippians 4:13 (NIV): "I can do all this through him who gives me strength."

Observation Questions:
1. What does Philippians 4:13 mean in the context of Paul's letter to the Philippians? How does it relate to the idea of facing life's challenges? [02:09]
2. How does the sermon describe the difference between Stoic self-sufficiency and Christian dependence on God? [03:34]
3. What role does the concept of surrender play in the sermon, and how is it contrasted with the Prosperity Gospel? [07:21]
4. How does the sermon illustrate the idea that control is an illusion, and what examples are given to support this? [08:13]

Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the sermon suggest that Philippians 4:13 is often misunderstood, and what is the true message according to the pastor? [02:25]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that dependence on God can lead to difficult situations requiring self-sacrifice and love? [04:38]
3. How does the sermon define true Christian surrender, and why is it considered an active choice rather than a passive one? [08:31]
4. What does the sermon imply about the significance of the cross in understanding resilience and facing life's challenges? [09:59]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a current challenge in your life. How can you actively choose to face it with the strength that comes from your relationship with Jesus? [06:08]
2. Consider a situation where you have relied on your own strength rather than depending on God. How might you approach it differently now, based on the sermon? [04:22]
3. The sermon discusses the illusion of control. Identify an area in your life where you struggle with control. How can you practice surrendering this to God this week? [08:13]
4. Think about a time when you avoided confronting a difficulty. How can you intentionally face it now, trusting in God's presence and strength? [00:45]
5. How can you incorporate the practice of surrender into your daily life, especially in moments of stress or uncertainty? [08:31]
6. Reflect on the idea that the cross is a testament to God's willingness to face the worst. How does this perspective change the way you view your own challenges? [09:59]
7. Identify one specific way you can demonstrate resilience in your life this week, drawing on the strength and presence of Jesus. [05:53]

Devotional

Day 1: Embracing Challenges with God's Presence
Resilience is about facing life's challenges head-on, not avoiding them. In the presence of God, we are invited to confront our difficulties and trust in His strength to guide us through. This requires a deliberate choice to acknowledge our struggles and seek God's presence in the midst of them. [00:32]

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:9, ESV)

Reflection: What is one challenge you are currently avoiding? How can you invite God into this situation today to help you face it with courage and strength?


Day 2: Strength Through Partnership with Christ
The true message of Philippians 4:13 is not about achieving anything without effort, but about facing life's challenges with Christ's strength. This involves preparation, effort, and a partnership with God, trusting that He will provide the strength we need to endure. [02:25]

"Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." (Isaiah 41:10, ESV)

Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to rely more on Christ's strength rather than your own? What steps can you take to actively partner with Him in this area?


Day 3: Dependence on God Over Self-Sufficiency
For followers of Jesus, self-sufficiency is not the ultimate goal. We are called to depend on God, which often leads us into difficult situations that require self-sacrifice and love. This dependence is a source of strength, enabling us to face life's trials with resilience. [04:22]

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6, ESV)

Reflection: How can you practice greater dependence on God in your daily life? Identify one area where you can let go of self-sufficiency and trust in His guidance.


Day 4: Active Surrender to God's Will
Surrender is a virtue that involves letting go of self-rule and embracing God's will. It is not passive or apathetic, but an active choice to face life's difficulties with Jesus by our side. This surrender allows us to acknowledge our limitations and trust in God's plan. [08:31]

"And he said, '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." (2 Corinthians 12:9, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself holding back from surrendering to Jesus? What would surrendering this area to Him actually look like in terms of daily habits?


Day 5: The Cross as a Symbol of Resilience
The cross at the heart of history is a testament to God's willingness to face the worst and bring good out of it. As we confront our own challenges, we must remember that Jesus is with us, offering the strength and resilience we need to endure. [09:59]

"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us." (Romans 8:18, ESV)

Reflection: How does the example of the cross inspire you to face your own challenges with resilience? What is one practical way you can draw strength from Jesus' presence in your life today?

Quotes


I want to invite you for a moment to think directly about a challenge or a difficulty or a barrier or an obstacle in your life. If you're like me very often especially when life feels like maybe it could be manageable I will find myself not wanting to think about those things not wanting to face them directly pretending as though they do not exist. [00:00:40]

Paul uses a really interesting word at our case, and it was a big word for the stoic it had to do with self-sufficiency, and for the stoic self-sufficiencies may be the ultimate value the ultimate good. They believed in lots of things that Christians also wanted to work towards courage and wisdom and justice. [00:03:30]

We are in a world that is made by God and loved by God and we were made to depend on God and that doesn't mean that life becomes easier it actually means that part of what we sign up for is the experience of hardship that there will be times that we are called to offer ourselves in really difficult situations. [00:04:32]

I can face all things Jerry said, not I can do anything effort training learning struggle that is our lot that's not opposed to trusting God those are things that we're able to in partnership with God precisely because we do trust him but what Paul says what I've learned is I can face anything whatever it is that life throws at me. [00:05:28]

When I have moments where I feel deeply sad or deeply troubled or deeply worried while I Retreat will I withdraw into a shell will I crawl back into bed no I will not. I will face it as best I can even though it disturbs my self-sufficiency and troubles my emotions. [00:06:11]

Kate Bowler is this remarkable writer scholar who is a student of the Prosperity Gospel the idea that if you just trust God enough you will have health and wealth and external circumstances will go great for you, and she was both a student of that and someone who is diagnosed with stage four cancer. [00:06:39]

For Christians not of the Prosperity Gospel persuasion surrender is a virtue not self-sufficiency surrender to the will of God, the writings of the Saints are full of commands to let go and submit yourself to what seems to be the will of the almighty all of American culture and pop psychology scream against that. [00:07:16]

To surrender is to stand with Paul in a prison in Chains in difficulties in persecution with your reputation in shreds with a family that didn't turn out anywhere like what you had wanted or hoped with disappointment in circumstances and to say I can face it I can endure this day because I walk together with Jesus not because I am self-sufficient. [00:08:47]

Take a moment right now, what is it that would weigh on your mind and press down on your heart, somebody that you love that's going to Direction that's really difficult for you, a dream that has not been fulfilled, hopes for your work that seem to be dashed, a betrayal a failure. [00:09:13]

Look directly at it don't look away don't try to escape, and then remember Jesus is with you, there is a cross at the heart of history and that cross tells us that we follow a God that faces the worst directly that takes it on himself and then will bring good out of it will ultimately redeem it that's resilience. [00:09:41]

God your will be done, now show me what to do, help me not to run and hide, I can face anything with my friend. [00:10:17]

I can face anything with my friend. [00:10:23]

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Transcript
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