Serving and Suffering
Weekly Reading
Monday: Philippians 1
Tuesday: Philippians 2
Wednesday: Philippians 3-4
Thursday: Colossians 1
Friday: Colossians 2
Saturday: Psalm 109-112, Proverbs 25
Sunday: Jeremiah 50-52, Lamentations 1-4
Tuesday: Philippians 2
Wednesday: Philippians 3-4
Thursday: Colossians 1
Friday: Colossians 2
Saturday: Psalm 109-112, Proverbs 25
Sunday: Jeremiah 50-52, Lamentations 1-4
Sermon Notes
Key Passage: Colossians 1:24-29
Hebrews 12:2
1 Corinthians 15:58
Galatians 6:9
Luke 10:24
1 Peter 1:10-12
John 15:5
Colossians 4:12
Philippians 1:9-11
2 Thessalonians 1:11-12
Life's mission statement
Suffering Ministry Requirement
Rejoice in the sufferings
Attitude Makes the Difference
The Fruit that Comes
Christ in You the Hope of Glory
Life Motto continued
Maturity in Christ
Toil but with God’s energy
Struggling
Hebrews 12:2
1 Corinthians 15:58
Galatians 6:9
Luke 10:24
1 Peter 1:10-12
John 15:5
Colossians 4:12
Philippians 1:9-11
2 Thessalonians 1:11-12
Life's mission statement
Suffering Ministry Requirement
Rejoice in the sufferings
Attitude Makes the Difference
The Fruit that Comes
Christ in You the Hope of Glory
Life Motto continued
Maturity in Christ
Toil but with God’s energy
Struggling
Discussion Questions
3DQ - 3 discipleship questions to ask each other: What is God saying to you? What are you going to do about it? How can I help?
1. REFLECT: What did God highlight to you in the passage or the sermon? What challenged you? What encouraged you?
2. Verse 26 says, “the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints.”. Share when this ‘mystery’ was first revealed to you (This is an opportunity for the group to hear the short version of how each person came to faith - how the ‘mystery’ was revealed to them personally).
3. Verse 24 says, “Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church…” Since coming to faith, I am sure all of us have experienced suffering and difficulty.
1) In what area of your life are you in a season of suffering? Knowing God will not leave us or forsake us share a story of God’s faithfulness in a prior season of suffering.
2) In what ways are you suffering or experiencing difficulty right now (it could be physical or spiritual)? How can we support you as a community? What do you need from us as your spiritual family?
3) Our comfort bears no fruit and may in fact be in the way of God’s pruning in our life. Is there an area of your life where you are running from the discipline that God is calling you into?
(Encourage everyone to share something - even if it's small and seemingly insignificant. This is a great opportunity to speak about “how we do community” as a home group. Be ready to circle back to these people for prayer at the end of the night).
4. Verse 28 says, “Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.” Firstly, share a story/example of when a fellow believer proclaimed/warned/taught you in a helpful & empowering way (Be mindful that this is often a pain point for people if they have had bad church experiences - we want people to share moments when this has happened in a healthy and loving way). Secondly, discuss as a group how we can learn to do this more effectively and intentionally as a community of believers.
5. Verse 29 says, “For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.” What is Paul’s main goal for which he is toiling? What do you notice about verse 29 with regards to who does the work to achieve this goal? What encourages you from this verse?
1. REFLECT: What did God highlight to you in the passage or the sermon? What challenged you? What encouraged you?
2. Verse 26 says, “the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints.”. Share when this ‘mystery’ was first revealed to you (This is an opportunity for the group to hear the short version of how each person came to faith - how the ‘mystery’ was revealed to them personally).
3. Verse 24 says, “Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church…” Since coming to faith, I am sure all of us have experienced suffering and difficulty.
1) In what area of your life are you in a season of suffering? Knowing God will not leave us or forsake us share a story of God’s faithfulness in a prior season of suffering.
2) In what ways are you suffering or experiencing difficulty right now (it could be physical or spiritual)? How can we support you as a community? What do you need from us as your spiritual family?
3) Our comfort bears no fruit and may in fact be in the way of God’s pruning in our life. Is there an area of your life where you are running from the discipline that God is calling you into?
(Encourage everyone to share something - even if it's small and seemingly insignificant. This is a great opportunity to speak about “how we do community” as a home group. Be ready to circle back to these people for prayer at the end of the night).
4. Verse 28 says, “Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.” Firstly, share a story/example of when a fellow believer proclaimed/warned/taught you in a helpful & empowering way (Be mindful that this is often a pain point for people if they have had bad church experiences - we want people to share moments when this has happened in a healthy and loving way). Secondly, discuss as a group how we can learn to do this more effectively and intentionally as a community of believers.
5. Verse 29 says, “For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.” What is Paul’s main goal for which he is toiling? What do you notice about verse 29 with regards to who does the work to achieve this goal? What encourages you from this verse?
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