Week 3: Partner in Suffering

Paul was intimately familiar with suffering. He wrote his letter to the Philippians while imprisoned in Rome. On his first mission trip to Philippi, he was beaten with rods and thrown in jail. Elsewhere during his missionary journeys, he was mocked and stoned. An assassination plot was hatched against him as well. Jesus was clear that his disciples would face persecution (see John 15:18-25 & John 16:33), suffering, and trials of various kinds (James 1:2-4). Yet despite these ample warnings, when trials hit it never ceases to amaze us. Whenever we run up against suffering, we interpret it as a sign that something has gone drastically wrong. The human pain response causes us to cry out and look for escape. In this passage Paul deconstructs and re-casts suffering not as a warning flag but as God’s chosen means to advance the gospel. It is not despite Jesus’ suffering but precisely through the suffering of the Cross that he crushes the head of Satan and advances his divine rescue plan. What’s more is that we can learn to embrace the Cross, because we serve a risen Savior who promises that life—not death—gets the final word.

Reflection Questions:

1. What is your default response to suffering? How does suffering for the gospel differ from suffering in general?

2. How does the example of the persecuted Church serve to encourage and spur us on? What trials does your church face? How does suffering together differ from suffering alone?

3. Read 1 Corinthians 1:18-31. What is the difference between God’s wisdom and worldly wisdom? Why does the Cross appear “foolish?”