The Suffering Leader Notes: As Christians, one of our primary and most powerful means of ministry is to suffer and sacrifice joyfully for the sake of the gospel.

The truth that Christians are to expect and embrace suffering for the gospel with joy is everywhere in Scripture

  • Matthew 16:24
  • Matthew 10:21
  • 2 Timothy 3:12
  • Philippians 1:29
  • 2 Timothy 1:8

Compare the 2 ways to live that Paul lays out in 1 Corinthians 15

  • Way 1: Live as if the resurrection happened--if this is true then our lives ought to look foolish to unbelievers
  • Way 2: Live as if the resurrection DIDN'T happen--if this true then our lives ought to look the same as unbelievers


Back in the early church, in the Greco Roman world, in the 2nd and 3rd century these horrible plagues hit and devastated the cities. Everyone was dying. As expected, most people fled, often leaving their friends, families and neighbors behind. But the Christians stayed. And they took care of the sick. And one eye witness wrote:

“Most Christians in the plague showed unbounded love and loyalty. Never sparing themselves and thinking only of others. Heedless of danger, they took charge of the sick attending to their every need and ministering to them in Christ and many departed their lives serenely happy. For they were infected by their neighbors and cheerfully accepted their pains. So many in nursing and curing others transferred their death to themselves and died in their stead.”

These early Christians died taking care of their enemies…because that’s what Jesus did…and they were following him…and because of that, the Greco-Roman world went from 3% Christian to over 50%. They saw the beauty and worth of Christ in the life of his followers.

Suggested Sermons

Treasuring Christ and the Call to Suffer Series by John Piper

Suggested Reading

Risk is Right by John Piper

The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Suggested Actions

Pray as a community for more risky faith

Look at the places in your community where the shalom of God is most broken and pray about serving there

Success: Believers' lives and choices cause the world to see the "surpassing greatness of knowing Christ" as they choose Jesus over their worldly security, over their worldly treasures on earth and even over their very lives.


Last modified: Thursday, August 4, 2022, 10:11 AM