Suffer Like Your Savior

Suffer Like Your Savior Pastor Greg Stansel Acts 6:8-15; 7:58-60 January 23, 2022 Snap shot: All of our suffering is working together to make us look like Jesus. I. Suffering to be like Jesus (6:5, 8, 10, 15) II. Suffering like Jesus (6:9–15; 7:58–60) Connect Describe a time that you have suffered (not necessarily for the Gospel). Study Point 1: Suffering to be like Jesus (Acts 6:5, 8, 10, 15) READ Romans 5:1–11 1) How does Paul ensure that we understand our suffering is not a means to salvation, but instead, a means to our sanctification? How does understanding salvation help us in our suffering? 2) In what way does Jesus’ suffering and death develop our faith in our own suffering? How should we define suffering? What assurance do we have in our suffering because of the work of Christ Jesus on the cross? 3) Why does Paul say we can rejoice in our suffering? What is the development process of suffering? How do we make sure in our own suffering that we do not miss out on this sanctifying process? Point 2: Suffering like Jesus (6:9–14; 7:58–60) READ 1 Peter 3:8–18; 4:12–19 4) Describe what it looks like to suffer like Jesus. Then, use 1 Peter to identify ways he encourages us to suffer like Jesus (identify how we see Jesus suffer in these ways too). 5) What are the ways Peter warns us not to suffer? How are these ways contrary to Jesus’ suffering? Name other ways we should not suffer. 6) How did Jesus entrust Himself to the Father in His suffering? What are ways that we can entrust our souls to our faithful Creator while doing good? Pray the passage O heavenly Father, we praise your holy name! You alone are perfect in grace and power and wisdom. We ask, as your people, that you would continue to increase our faith and reflection of you as we grow in the knowledge of Jesus your Son and continue to be filled with your Spirit. We ask for your wisdom as we go about our days and as we speak of you to others. Lord, in our persecution, would you make us like Jesus? Create in us a steady heart that is full of faith and reliance on you to fill our mouths with the words that you desire. May you be glorified in all that we do and say, in Jesus name. Amen. Memorize & Meditate “But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed” (1 Peter 4:13). Preparing for next week Read: Acts 7:1-60 Ask: questions of the text. Pray: through text, for pastor as he prepares, for your heart to hear, for the congregation to hear, for all of us to be obedient.