Suffering?

This last weekend I had all these wonderful plans of hanging out with friends in Simi Valley, going to concerts, going to church, all this "fun-ness." Well, Friday night I went to Collide, stayed the night at the girl's house, woke up Saturday morning to get ready for the day, and felt AWFUL! I knew there was no way I was going to survive the day and still make it to the concert that night. I packed up my stuff and headed home to Lancaster where I literally slept the weekend away.

Given that I had been looking forward to this weekend of fun, and especially the concert, I was super bummed and feeling quite the martyr for having to suffer giving up my fun to fight off a cold. Meanwhile, my pastor in Simi Valley preached about suffering and it had nothing to do with being sick or missing out on a little bit of fun... it was actually SUFFERING!

He outlined his sermon by presenting a verse from every book of the New Testament that referred to suffering... whether it was Jesus telling us we would suffer, examples of people suffering for Christ, or examples of what people would (and will) do to avoid suffering for Christ. Because God's word stands alone, I am presenting (also) the same list of Bible verses. Although I do recommend listening to his sermon sometime (http://www.cornerstonesimi.com/), one doesn't need to in order to see what the Bible says about suffering...


Matthew 10:34-35

Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.

Mark 8:34-36

If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?

Luke 6:22-26

Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man! Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets.

But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation.
Woe to you who are full now, for you shall be hungry.
Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep.
Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets.

John 15:18-20

If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.

Acts 5:40-41

and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name.

Romans 8:16-18

The spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs - heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

1 Corinthians 15:19; 30-32

If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied...
Why are we in danger every hour? I protest, brothers, by my pride in you, which I have in Jesus Christ our Lord, I die every day! What do I gain if, humanly speaking, I fought with beasts at Ephesus? If the dead are not raised, "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die."

2 Corinthians 1:5-7

For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort.

Galatians 6:12

It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh who would force you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ.

Ephesians 6:11-12

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

Philippians 1:29

For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.

Colossians 1:24

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

1 Thessalonians 3:4

For when we were with you, we kept telling you beforehand that we were to suffer affliction, just as it has come to pass, and just as you know.

2 Thessalonians 1:5

This is the evidence of the righteous judgement of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering.

1 Timothy 1:18

This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophesies previously made about you, that by them you may wage a good warfare

2 Timothy 1:8

Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God.

2 Timothy 2:3

Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.

2 Timothy 3:12

Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted

2 Timothy 4:5

As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill you ministry.

Titus 1:10-11

For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party. They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach.

Philemon 13

I would have been glad to keep him with me, in order that he might serve me on your behalf during my imprisonment for the gospel.

Hebrews 13:12-13

So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured.

James 5:10-11

As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.

1 Peter 2:19-21

For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it is, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow his steps.

1 Peter 4:12-13

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.

2 Peter 2:2-3

And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. And in their greed they will exploit you with false words.

1 John 3:13

Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you.

1 John 3:16-18

By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world's goods, and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.

2 John 7

For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist.

3 John 9-10

I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority. So if I come, I will bring up what he is doing, talk wicked nonsense against us. And not content with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers, and also stops those who want to and puts them out of the church.

Jude 8

Yet in like manner these people also, relying on their own dreams, defile the flesh, reject authority, and blaspheme the glorious ones.

Revelation 2:10

Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.


Do we, as Christians, have a choice as to if we want to live comfortably or suffer?