Joy in Suffering for Christ

Joy in Suffering for Christ

“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” These words from Philippians 1 are perhaps some of the most famous words ever penned by the Apostle Paul. What’s fascinating is the context in which Paul wrote them: being imprisoned in Rome. Not entirely sure of how his situation is going to shake out, Paul admits to the church in Philippi that he is torn. If he is to be released from imprisonment, Paul knows that “to live is Christ.” Paul knows that he will seize this second chance (or, more realistically, his third, fourth, fifth…) and he will continue to minister, proclaim the gospel, and uplift churches everywhere he goes. On the other hand, if things don’t seemingly end well for Paul, he knows that “to die is gain.” Paul freely admits that he longs to depart and be in the presence of Jesus Christ. That he will have run his race well and can truly enjoy victory on the other side of the finish line. In Paul’s eyes, there is no bad option here. It’s because of this Christ-oriented perspective that Paul can find joy in the midst of his suffering. It’s also why he writes to the Philippians and seeks to encourage them when they encounter suffering. Notice Paul’s usage in Philippians 1:29. Paul is presuming that the Philippians will encounter suffering. For Paul, it’s not a matter of if Christians will suffer, it’s a matter of when will Christians will suffer. And when Christians do encounter suffering, how will they respond? In other words, how do we find joy during pain, trouble, and hardship? To answer this question, we need to understand Paul’s foundation amidst suffering, the false dilemma of suffering, and the necessity of suffering. That’s what we’ll be exploring this week.

Caleb McCaughan, Preaching Minister

Dinner Table Conversations: 

Adult & Teen Table Talk: 

• Paul says, “to live is Christ and to die is gain” (v. 21). What would it look like practically for your daily life to reflect that “to live is Christ”? What activities, relationships, or priorities might need to change?
• aul says opposition and suffering are “granted” or given as gifts (v. 29). This is a radical perspective on hardship. How might viewing your struggles as gifts from God change how you handle them?

Little Learners’ Table Talk: 

• Paul knew that God had a special job for him to do – to tell people about Jesus. What are some special jobs God might have for kids to do?