Paul’s Prayer for the Colossians (3) That They may be Strengthened and Thankful
Jesus’ message to the Church in Ephesus
Tribulation and the Exalted Jesus
Suffering for the Sake of Christ
Read: 2 Corinthians 12:1-10
“The call of the gospel is a call to embrace a life of suffering due to persecution. It is assumed that all followers of Christ will be persecuted to some extent and being willing to experience that suffering is an essential part of the response to the gospel as it is presented in the New Testament. That is explicit and unmistakable in Jesus’ call to follow him. “[W]however does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.” To follow Jesus is to follow a Saviour and a Lord who was a magnet for persecution and the assumption is that his followers will be as well.”
Encouragement, Harmony and Concluding Remarks
Read: Romans 15
“The Christian life is profoundly corporate. We live in a time that is profoundly individualistic, but that is very much contrary to the teaching and the emphasis and the concern of the Scriptures and of the gospel. Being a believer in Jesus has an individual aspect to it that is vital, of course. We must believe as individuals and we must have a personal relationship with the Lord. But from a biblical perspective it is never just about me and Jesus. By believing in Jesus we become members of his body and that had huge implications for the nature of the Christian life.”
Sermon Series: An Overview of Paul’s Letter to the Romans