Setting our Sights on Suffering and the Radical Hospitality of the Gospel

REFLECTION QUOTES

"This horror of pain is a rather low instinct and…if I think of human beings I’ve known and of my own life, such as it is, I can’t recall any case of pain which didn’t, on the whole, enrich life.”

“I can say that I never knew what joy was like until I gave up pursuing happiness, or cared to live until I chose to die. For these two discoveries I am beholden to Jesus.”

~Malcolm Muggeridge (1903-1990), English journalist

“It is almost taken for granted throughout the New Testament that tribulation is the normal lot of Christians in this age: it is those who suffer for and with Christ now who will share his glory. ‘No cross, no crown.’”

~F.F. Bruce (1910-1990), noted biblical scholar

“The wound is the place where the Light enters you.”

~Rumi, 13th century Persian poet

“…as concerning faith we ought to be invincible, and more hard, if it might be, than [a] stone; but as touching charity, we ought to be soft, and more flexible than the reed or leaf that is shaken with the wind, and ready to yield to everything.”

~Martin Luther (1483-1546)

“Suffering, then, is a badge of true discipleship.”

~Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945), pastor-theologian

executed for his opposition to the Nazis

“Paul paid dearly for his loyalty to the freeness and universality of the gospel.”

~John Stott (1921-2011), British theologian and pasto

SERMON PASSAGE

selected passages from Acts and Luke (NASB)

Acts 9:11,13-16 - The Calling of Paul

11 And the Lord said to [Ananias], “Get up and go…inquire at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul…. 13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he did to Your saints at Jerusalem; 14 and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.” 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel; 16 for I will show him how much he must suffer for My name’s sake.”



Acts 14:19-22 - Paul’s first missionary journey

19 …having won over the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead. 20 But while the disciples stood around him, he got up and entered the city. The next day he went away with Barnabas to Derbe. 21 After they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, 22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.”



Acts 16:22-25 - Paul in Philippi

22 The crowd rose up together against [Paul and Silas], and the chief magistrates tore their robes off them and proceeded to order them to be beaten with rods. 23 When they had struck them with many blows, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to guard them securely; 24 and he, having received such a command, threw them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. 25 But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them….



Luke 19:37-41 - Jesus’s entry into Jerusalem

37 As soon as [Jesus] was approaching, near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the miracles which they had seen, 38 shouting: “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord; Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” 39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.” 40 But Jesus answered, “I tell you, if these become silent, the stones will cry out!” 41 When He approached Jerusalem, He saw the city and wept over it….