Sermon Tone Analysis

Playing Hurt

2 Thess 1:3-10

 

 

·         2001, Dr. Pierce Scranton, wrote /Playing Hurt, / a book about his 17 year career as team physician for the Seattle Seahawks

·         Chapter, “Catastrophic Injuries and the Toughest Players I’ve Ever Known” – writes about former Seahawk linebacker Greg Gaines.

·         Dislocated toe – attached a steel-toe orthotic to his shoe, taped up his toe, and back in he went.

·         Dislocated shoulder in playoffs – Simply popped the shoulder back in, and back in he went.

After the game, tests revealed a muscle tear, but Greg just strapped on a shoulder harness for the next game.

·         Also played the entire season with a dislocated finger taped up to the next finger.

·         Ruptures the long head of his bicep, but keeps playing anyway.

Today, he still has a balled up “Popeye muscle” in his forearm as a result

·         When he tears open his finger during a game, Dr. Scranton just staples it shut without anaesthetic, and he keeps playing.

·         Only after rupturing rupture disks in his back twice, did Gained finally decide to retire.

·         For many athletes, playing hurt is just part of the game.

If you want to win, sometimes you gotta  play hurt.

·         Today: A sport in which everyone has to learn to play hurt: LIFE.

·         Life is a full-contact sport!

·         One of the features of contact sport is – sooner or later, you have to play hurt.

·         The wisdom of “playing hurt” in sports might be  debateable, but the reality of “playing hurt” in life simply IS.

·         The apostle Paul knew what it was like to play hurt.

He experienced his share of suffering, persecution, and “full-contact” Christianity.

·         Church in Thessalonica also seems to have experienced playing hurt.

·         (Acts 17) – Paul in Thessalonica caused a riot.

·         Accused of insurrection against Rome.

·         Couldn’t find Paul, they went after Paul’s friends in Thessalonica, specifically Jason.

·         That very night (to spare Jason further trouble) Paul was sent on to another city - Berea.

·         Cf.

Romanian pastor repeatedly thrown in prison.

When they couldn’t stop him, they started harassing his parents, until he left for Hungary.

·         Evidence from Paul’s 2 letters to the Christians in Thessalonica suggests ongoing opposition~/persecution.

·         So, when the veteran Paul writes to the young Christians in Thessalonica, one of the things he talks about is how to “Play Hurt”

·         *Text: 2 Thess 1:1-12*

·         Paul writes, in part, to encourage the believers who are under pressure because of their faith, and are perhaps beginning to feel discouraged and beaten down.

·         Paul’s understanding of suffering is critical to understanding this letter.

!

I.

Paul’s Perspective on Playing Hurt

·         Common Christian logic:

1.       /Pain and suffering are caused by sin./

/2.       //Christ died and rose again to free us from the pain and penalty of sin.

/

/3.       //Therefore, those who have new life in Christ should be able to live free from all pain and suffering.

/

·         This logic is Biblically grounded, and ultimately true; but it is also incomplete.

·         There is also a suffering that is a /direct result/ of our association with Christ.

Sometimes …

!! 1A.

Suffering is a proof of our calling & identity

·         *Suffering proves that we are worthy of Christ’s name.*

·         This is not suffering caused by sin or stupidity (i.e.

making poor choices and paying the price).

·         It is a suffering that happens /as a direct result of our choice to follow Jesus./

·         *v.4*

- kind of suffering that leads to a steadfastness and endurance that we can celebrate.

(“I boast about you, because of how you have persevered.”)

·         *v.5b*

– it is a kind of suffering that God uses to refine us and prove that He has indeed made us worthy of His Kingdom.

·         v.4 – May be linked to “persecution” (v.4) – opposition & attack.

If you obey God fully, somebody won’t be happy.

·         May also simply come from “hardships” (= trials, pressures, troubles) in a more generic sense.

·         New Testament’s perspective on suffering is very consistent.

·         Paul - *2 Tim 3:12* “/Everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution/”

·         Preacher: “If the Devil’s not attacking you, you might want to stop and ask why he isn’t particularly concerned about you.”

·         *James 1:2-4* - /2 //Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing/.

(NLT)

·         *1 Peter 1:7* - /7 //These trials will show that your faith is genuine.

It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold.

So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world/.

(NLT)

·         *1 Peter 4:12-14* - /12 //Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you.

13 Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world.

14 So be happy when you are insulted for being a Christian, // for then the glorious Spirit of God rests upon you/.

(NLT)

·         *Matthew 5:11-12* - /11“God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers.

12 Be happy about it!

Be very glad!

For a great reward awaits you in heaven.

And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way./

·         In this broken world, when we suffer for following Christ, that /very act of suffering becomes a sign of the validity of our faith in Christ./

·         Suffering for Christ marks us out as true followers of conviction, not just consumers of convenience.

·         Suffering for Christ helps us understand the ugliness of sin and appreciate the hope of salvation

·         Suffering for Christ helps us feel how much sin hurts Christ – and helps us develop a holy hatred of sin.

·         Suffering for Christ helps us relate to the pain of rejection that the God of the Universe feels when His own creation refuses Him.

·         Suffering for Christ builds strong faith and character that is certified under testing and pressure, and proves that God is at work in us.

·         Suffering for Christ proves we belong in his family, his army, his battle.

If the world opposes Christ, why wouldn’t it oppose us as well?

·         Enduring through suffering is one of the ways we demonstrate our identity as true Christ-followers … because we endure the same kinds of trials and persecutions that He endured.

!! 2A.

Suffering is a path to our future hope

·         v.

6-7 – Even though suffering is painful, do not despair.

You will find

·         God will provide justice and relief.

·         *God will bring justice.

*

·         *Cf.

Psalm 73 (esp.

v.17)*

·         Pt A – Why do the wicked prosper while the righteous suffer?

It’s unfair.

Is it pointless to follow God?

·         V.17

– then I entered God’s sanctuary (presence).

/Then /I understood.

·         There is a day of justice coming, when God will address the unfairness of life and reward the righteous.