Hurts So Good

Start with eating something gross for a reward. Bring a few up, whoever eats it gets the prize, whoever doesn’t finish it gets a really lame prize. This is like the joy we get from the Gospel and the joy we get from the world. One is clearly better, but not the easiest to get.

or

Ask about things you want but have to experience pain to get. Tell the story about getting ears pierced at Claire’s. Bring up training our bodies. Training our minds. The Christian life and the eternal rewards of it are so worth the suffering we may go through to get it.

Why should I suffer for the Gospel? Why should I be uncomfortable for the Gospel?

Why do people die for the Gospel?

Paul is sitting in prison, happy as a clam, telling the Philippians that a life worthy of the Gospel will involve some suffering.

The joy of a life lived for Jesus is worth whatever God may see us through.

Pray.

Live or Die, Christ Be Honored

Paul tells us that no matter what happens, Christians can’t lose. So we can rejoice no matter what!

So exams aren’t really fun. Does anyone enjoy exams? Usually I didn’t. If it was a class that I really liked then I might, but usually I didn’t. My senior year of high school I was allowed to be exempt from exams… tell story of sleeping in and having to take gvmt and communication exam.

The one thing that could get me excited about an exam was the rare occasion when a teacher would say the exam would only help. They make the exam optional and say if you do bad, it won’t count, but if it’ll help your grade then we’ll count it. You can’t lose in that situation! You can take the test with no fear!

As Christians, we can live with this same fearless mentality, knowing that no matter what we win.

read verses 18b-26

Preach

Romans 8:18 ESV

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die. Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Luke 9:23–24 ESV

And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.

Paul rejoices knowing that Christ will be honored in his life or death. He rejoices that, even though he would rather see Christ, he can help others feel this joy in Christ. We should strive for this same attitude and understanding.

And we should strive to help others progress and have joy in the faith. Paul talks about what that looks like in the next verses.

Live Worthy of the Gospel

Christians must stand together and proclaim the Gospel, even when it gets a little scary!

Read verses 27-30

Come up with some task –like keeping balloons in the air!– and have one student try to do it on their own and then have a group doing it. Try to mess them up. Show how working together makes it easier.

Preach

Proverbs 27:17 ESV

Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.

2 Corinthians 4:17 ESV

For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,

2 Corinthians

We think this way, we stand together this way, because this was what Jesus did. We are willing to die for Him because He died for us, and because if we do die, we get to be with him!

Some of you are wondering how this could be worth dying for. That’s an understandable question. Let me tell you…