Idea: Suffering for Christ is a mark of discipleship, therefore take up your cross daily and follow Him.
Intro: From time to time you might hear people talk about being an apostolic church, or being a New Testament church. It usually refers to a desire to have the gifts of the Holy Spirit that God gave during that time. But rarely do I hear people longing to be like the New Testament church in the same way Paul speaks of it here. Paul thanks God that the Thessalonian church became imitators of the churches in Judea in their suffering for the name of Christ. The New Testament church suffered opposition from those who ultimately showed themselves to be enemies of God. Paul marks their experience as nothing less than part of the cost of discipleship. In doing so, he urges them on, to persevere in their faith and witness for Christ. So, too, today. Suffering for Christ is a mark of discipleship, therefore take up your cross daily and follow Him.
1. Suffering is part of the cost of discipleship. 2. Suffering unites believers with the NT church. 3. Suffering rises out of the larger context of spiritual battle.
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