Secret Church 12 Live-Blog: Session 4

11:19 — Session 4 – the final session – is now beginning.

Don’t forget to go to the Secret Church website if you missed anything. You can find Study Guides with the answers filled in. In about a week, you’ll be able to get the audio of tonight’s Secret Church right here.

Video showing for Radical – this is the new name for DMI (Disciple-Making International). Visit radical.net for resources from David Platt. There will also be a blog updated daily on the website beginning Monday April 9th. Go to the website and click around.

 

11:21 — Platt says the next Secret Church will be next Spring (2013). In the Fall, he and Francis Chan will be simulcasting on the topic of disciple-making.

We’re now on the book of Acts.

Acts 4:23-31 – Confidence in Prayer amidst Suffering

Acts 4:32-37 – Generosity with Possessions

Acts 5-7 – Joy Amidst Persecution

The church’s mission is unstoppable. The church spreads BECAUSE of persecution. As believers suffer, they’re scattered, and as they scatter, they spread the gospel.

Acts 8: Boldness in Proclamation

Acts 9: God’s Sovereignty over Disease and Death

Acts 9: Paul is Converted by Christ to Suffer

Paul was saved to suffer for Christ.

Acts 12: God’s Sovereignty over Persecuted Disciples

Acts 13-14: Paul’s First Missionary Journey

Acts 16-18: Paul’s Second Missionary Journey

A jailer comes to Christ in Acts 16 – God may bring suffering for the purpose of salvation.

Acts 19-28: Paul’s Third Missionary Journey

The proclamation of the gospel will always be challenged in this world. Are you willing to go wherever He leads? This is what it means to follow Jesus.

 

11:32 — Paul’s Epistles – Platt apologizes for having to cover this much on Paul’s teaching on suffering in this short of a time span. Apology noted.

First, Romans 5. Then Romans 8.

Romans 8 is the mountain-top when it comes to the theme of suffering. God ordains suffering as part of the process to make us like Christ. Suffering is used to tether us to the hope of Christ. We are reminded that our hope is in something to come. We are driven to Christ.

2 Corinthians 1, 4, 12: Suffering for God’s Sake

God’s comfort always outweighs our suffering. Comfort shows up over and over in 2 Corinthians. As we experience this suffering, we extend it to others. The church is a fellowship of the broken. We strengthen and hold up one another.

All affliction for the Christian is light and temporary in view of the coming glory (See 2 Cor 4:16-18).

11:41 — Galatians is up.

Christianity is not about human achievement, but about God’s provision. The cross frees us to suffer. We boast in the cross because it keeps us from wasting our lives in this world. It supplies us with every good thing we have.

Philippians 1 and 3.

Paul says that all his goodness, including his religious pedigree, is as good as a pile of dung when compared to knowing Christ. Death is a reward for the Christian. This allows you to endure suffering.

David is giving a story about Josef Tson, a Romanian pastor persecuted for the preaching Christ in that country.

Colossians 1 – Filling Up Christ’s Afflictions

Paul says he is filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions in Col 1:24-29. What does that mean? Was Christ’s death insufficient? No. Christ’s suffering was for propitiation, while ours is for proclamation. Paul suffered to take the message of the gospel to the lost. His suffering was of a different kind than Christ’s.

 

11:50 — Passages we’re covering now – too fast to keep up. Or too late.

2 Thessalonians 1:1-12; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Hebrews 10:32-39; Hebrews 11:23-26; Hebrews 11:29-40; Hebrews 11; Hebrews 12:1-3; Hebrews 12:3-11; Hebrews 13:11-14

Hebrews message – will we retreat from the mission, or will we risk everything for the mission?

James 1 – Faith that Perseveres

God is sovereign over our trials. We are responsible in our temptations.

James 4-5 – Faith that Perseveres (part 2)

Pictures of faith that perseveres – it’s humble, obedient, confident, patient, prayerful, and loving toward sinners.

1 Peter: Suffering in Christ and the Christian

Suffering has many benefits for the believer according to 1 Peter.

1 John: His Work and Our Wait

Revelation 2

Revelation is for the purpose of encouraging persecuted churches to persevere.

Revelation 5 – The Conquering Lamb

That’s it – 75 key texts.

 

5 Conclusions to stand on:

1) High view of God

(Platt has taken some time to respond to the objections of atheists). We cannot conclude that God doesn’t exist as a reaction to suffering and evil. Any attempt to deny God’s sovereignty goes against the biblical witness and destroys the hope of sufferers.

2) A humble view of man

3) Suffering ultimately exists to exalt the glory of God’s grace through the suffering of God’s Son for the salvation of undeserving sinners.

4) God ordains suffering for the Christian in a variety of ways for a variety of purposes.

5) The completion of the Great Commission will include great suffering, but eternity will prove it was worth the price.

Platt is unpacking each of these points.

 

12:16 — Platt is continuing to unpack these 5 conclusions.

Why do bad things happen to good people? Bad question. There is none good. The real problem is our sin. Let us repent in heartfelt brokenness.

All of the sin and suffering is ultimately leading to Good Friday and the cross. This was not Plan B.

 

12:24 — Still unpacking the 5 conclusions.

God doesn’t just permit suffering. He ordains it. Platt is warning us about the errors of the prosperity gospel so prevalent today. Paul’s gospel is more like the adversity gospel.

The Christian has his best life, not now, but later.

 

12:31 — Unpacking the fifth and final conclusion.

Platt is talking about what it means to be unreached. 6619 people groups still unreached.

Revelation tells us there will be a day when the mission will be complete. Christ has not yet returned, so the task is not yet done. Completing the Great Commission will involve great suffering.

“The blood of Christians is seed.” — Tertullian

Christian, are you willing to embrace suffering for the accomplishment of the Great Commission? Who might God be calling tonight to go to the Horn of Africa? Or East Asia? Or to some unreached people group across the world?

 

12:42 — We’re ending where the Bible ends. Amen, Come, Lord Jesus!

We are getting ready to close by singing  “It is Well with My Soul”

This will conclude the night. Don’t forget to check www.secretchurch.org for the video of tonight – should be up in approximately a week. Also, answers to the study guide will be provided.

A great evening. Convicting. Challenging. Encouraging.

May the cross be the ground of our hope in the midst of suffering.