Trinity Baptist Church

Preparing for Graduation

Episode Summary

It’s one of the great paradoxes of our faith: the most hopeful words in all of history were penned in a prison cell. Yet as Senior Pastor David Rose shows, Christ often uses suffering to shape us, giving us a hope and a purpose beyond ourselves.

Episode Notes

Drawing from Paul’s example, he highlighted ways God sustains us:

1. Jesus gives us a new perspective on suffering. (v. 24)
2. Jesus compels us to serve Him and one another. (v. 25)
3. Jesus helps us see reality as He does. (v. 26-29)
4. Jesus gives us a purpose beyond ourselves. (v. 2:1-3)
5. Jesus protects us from false teaching. (v. 4-5)

Next week: Colossians 1:24-2:5

Further Study

• What does it mean that the mystery revealed to Paul is “Christ in you, the hope of glory”? What enduring glory does this promise? How can this hope sustain us when we’re suffering? (John 14:23, Romans 8:9-11, 1 John 4:15)
• Think about the people around you─family, friends, co-workers, etc. In what ways can you help bear their burdens through difficulty? Spend some time meditating on Philippians 2:3-4 and the jot down some ideas on how you can come alongside those around you.
• What “deceptions” might try to move us from the fullness we have in Christ? How does clearly grasping the Gospel keep us from being “taken captive”? (2 Corinthians 11:3-4, Ephesians 4:14, Colossians 2:18-19)

The Gospel

The gospel is the good news that through Jesus Christ’s death on the cross and resurrection from the grave, we can be forgiven of our sins and brought into a right relationship with God. He bore the penalty for our sins in His own body when He died on the cross. He paid the debt we could never pay and gave us righteousness we could never earn.

But the gospel also gives us hope for today. Because of His resurrection, we know that this physical life is not all there is. Pain has a purpose and death no longer has the final say over those who trust in the Savior. This is the hope that enables us to face suffering by the power and promise of Jesus.