Introduction
Suffering for your faith shows love and loyalty to your Lord.
The challenge: It’s always worth it to follow Jesus.
1. Suffering – ‘Why me?’ (v1-6)
- This is about loving God. (1 Peter 3:18)
- “Not my will, but yours be done.” (Luke 22:42)
- Arm yourselves with the same attitude.
- Learn to think Christianly about your life. (Take your troubles to Jesus).
- Cancel culture is nothing new.
- Why must I suffer? Reason #1 – Because God loves you.
2. The End of All Things is Near (v7-11)
- Jesus may return at any moment.
- Don’t neglect your prayer life.
- Love each other deeply.
- Every Member ministry.
- Use your God-given gifts to serve others.
- This leads to faithful and fruitful ministry: worship and outreach.
3. Christ’s Suffering, and Ours (v12-19)
- Even in the midst of joy, there will be suffering.
- Suffering for Christ; suffering for doing good.
- This is the hardest part of being a Christian. Can you accept it?
- ‘Painful’: Fiery, burning
- ‘Trial’: Test.
- God will melt you down, purge your sin, prepare you for eternity.
- God’s answer to our questions: ‘I am coming soon. Wait for the Judge.’
Conclusion
- God has ordained such trials.
- Patience shows love and loyalty to the Lord.
- The deep mystery of God’s grace.
- ‘So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.’ (v19)

# Offer people care, not pity. # Offer simple, practical assistance. # Stand
with one another in times of trial. # Fight back against the evil of ‘cancel
culture’. # Make use of the Psalms, and good Christian music.