The Righteous Sufferer

Dennis McCallum

Isaiah 53:5-56

A remarkable, messianic psalm predicting Jesus' experience on the cross. Written over 1,000 years before His crucifixion, this psalm was known and sung by the Jews. When Jesus cried out on the cross, ?My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?,? He was trying to get their attention that this prophetic psalm was being fulfilled. This is incredible evidence for the Christian faith -- will you pay attention to His death on the cross?

Cries of Anguish

Conrad Hilario

Mark 15:33-36

My God, my God; why have you forsaken me? Why were these words spoken by Christ on the cross? Christ experiences separation from the Father in order to pay for the sins of the world. This Psalm details the event of the Messiah's death at the hands of His enemies.

Power In Weakness

Mike Sullivan

1 Corinthians 1:26-29

Many hold the view that weakness interferes with our service to God. But according to the Bible, spiritual power is found in weakness. Adverse circumstances can actually turn out to be opportunities to experience God's power. Honesty concerning weakness protects us from two pitfalls that can prevent us from receiving spiritual power: self-exaltation and self-sufficiency.

Hope through Despair

Gary DeLashmutt

Romans 7:15-8:4

In normal life, hope and despair are antithetical. But the path to true hope in God comes through a process of suffering that causes us to despair in ourselves and to trust in God. This principle of despair leading to hope is operative both in the way we come to Christ and in the way we reach maturity in Him.

Spiritual Complacency

Ryan Lowery

Nehemiah 1:1-11

Many Christians have chosen to go through the process of sanctification, but still encounter bumps along the way. They recognize that God has shown them incredible grace, yet still are susceptible to distractions that can turn a spiritual life into something mediocre. It is common to enter into these states of spiritual complacency. The story of Nehemiah contains seven steps toward spiritual renewal: 1) face the reality of our complacency; 2) rely on the promises and grace of God; 3) spiritual dedication; 4) repentance; 5) depend on God's Word; 6) ask God to move in big ways; and 7) be willing to take big steps of faith.

Introduction

Ryan Lowery

Jeremiah 29:4-14

Throughout the history of Israel, the nation experienced incredible peaks where they had intimacy with God and incredible lows where they completely lost their faith. Often, we can relate with the despair of the Israelites as they go through a period of suffering. By looking at God's plan in human history, it is apparent that God has an overarching plan that includes both refreshing periods of spiritual highs and difficult periods of spiritual lows. Ultimately, God's most impactful work for his people often comes after years of difficult preparation.

Keeping your Spiritual Edge

John Cleary

Jeremiah 29:4-14

Keeping your spiritual edge in the spiritual war includes understanding three things: 1) the reality of the war; 2) the description of who the war is with; 3) having a personal Combat Field Manual to fight with. God's word is our weapon and it is essential to read it daily. There are many approaches in developing a personal Combat Field Manual but the important thing is to do it. To stand firm and fight this battle we need to have a mind to engage in the war.\r\n

A Life Filled With Meaning & Purpose

Conrad Hilario

1 Corinthians 9:16-17

Paul explains to the Colossians the costliness of their reconciliation: Christ's death on the cross. He expresses how salvation has impacted his life purpose such as being able to understand suffering, having a passion to share the gospel, and a deep commitment to instructing others. Paul's life showcases an example of a sanctified life that Christians today should aspire to.

An Invitation To Suffer

Ryan Lowery

Philippians 3:8-9

God's love and grace gave Paul the motivation to become a servant with a purpose, but it did not spare him of a life free of suffering. In fact, serving God requires Christians to wade into suffering so that others may know Him just as Christ was willing to undergo suffering for our sake. This sort of service requires that: we become servant leaders by laying down our lives for others, we bring the truth of God to those who don't know Him, and we commit to other people through discipleship.