Key Bible Passage(s):

Matt.16:21-25, 26:31-35 & 69-75; I Peter 1:6-7 & 2:21-25

Tier 1:

Peter was a man who had to learn how to suffer for Christ himself, before he could teach others. He started where so many do: with the idea that we can follow Christ without having to suffer. In Matt.16:21-25 there is a famous exchange between Jesus and Peter, where first, Peter rebukes Jesus for knowing the cross is inevitable; and then in turn Jesus rebukes Peter for trying to think about Jesus without reference to His passion and death. It is worth pondering the strength of Jesus’ words and seeing that to think of the ways of God as somehow avoiding suffering, is describes as satanic!

Tier 2:

Like Peter, we feel the temptation to live our Christian discipleship in ways that avoid the prospect of hostility, suffering and persecution. We are anxious and fearful about the repercussions of speaking and living fully and faithfully as a Christian. This can easily result in a hiddeness to our faith that is the fruit of compromise. Peter’s contention is that following Christ in suffering is genuine faith, and proves the genuineness of our faith. He is too good a pastor to simply tells us this. Through his letter he teaches these elect exiles how they can follow the example and teaching of Jesus.

Tier 3:

Endurance is, like everything in our disicpleship, a gift of His grace. Our perseverance will result in His glory, not ours. But it is a gift we can decline. Peter warns us again of the role of Satan in both the Church’s marginalisation and suffering, but also in sub-Christian responses to that marginalisation and suffering. Yet Christ seeks us in order to restore us. Where we are scarred by our experience of suffering; where we fail; where we are broken or damaged we can know restoration, forgiveness, healing, and we can be further conformed to the image of Christ through our experience of that grace.

Princes, kings, and other rulers of the world have used all their strength and cunning against the Church, yet it continues to endure and hold its own … But, though persecuting malice raged, yet the Gospel shone with resplendent brightness; and, firm as an impregnable rock, withstood the attacks of its boisterous enemies with success.

John Foxe

author of Foxe’s Book of Martyrs

Groups Discussion:

(picking up on the Tson video we watched for homework)

Do you agree with Tson’s comparison of ‘the two evil empires’ of Communism and Islam? … and that God is working to ‘open minds’ through politicians and policies to undermine totalitarian regimes?

“The biggest failure in mission to the muslim world is to tell them to keep their conversion secret so they aren’t killed ... Do you think you can conquer with people who are afraid of dying? That’s ridiculous!”

What do you make of this as a mission strategy? Do you think this is confined to the Muslim world, or is it an expectation for any Christian?

[new slide]

Can you identify with Tson’s problem with Ps.119, that calls us to love God’s commandments?

Do you ever go to your devotions just to have a session of love with the Lord?

Why would this be particularly important in a context of persecution? How does it make sense to talk about the love of God in the midst of experiencing suffering and / or persecution?

…and later in the session:

Read I Peter 2:20-25

What does Peter mean when he says we are ‘called’ to suffer for doing good? (see also 3:17, where we are told it is God’s will)...

Why is suffering for doing good commendable before God?

What is the example Christ left for us to follow? What mindset / beliefs need to be in place before we can follow it (see also 4:19)?

Christ death doesn’t only give us an example; His death enables us to follow it. To not follow Jesus’ example is sin. How does Peter teach us that the death of Jesus enables us to die to such sin?

Why do you think Peter chooses to refer to Jesus as the ‘Shepherd (see also 5:4), and ‘Overseer of our souls’? How does that affect suffering Christians?

…and towards the end of the session:

Read I Peter 4:12-19

How can we rejoice and praise God in the midst of persecution?

What does it mean to ‘participate in the sufferings of Christ?

Is Peter suggesting that the Church’s experience of persecution is ‘judgment’ beginning with God’s household? What does he mean by this?

Didn’t Jesus take our judgment? in what sense does the Church still need to be judged? How does persecution fulfil that purpose? How should this then affect our engagement with evangelism?

Homework:

Read and Reflect on Philippians ahead of next session.

Let me know if you would be willing to talk about your experience of DTP from the front of Church. As we prepare to start a second cycle, it would be great if folk could get a vision of the difference DTP can make!

Watch this video of a talk given by Josef Tson. We will begin our next session discussion what he says.

Revisit Matthew 5:3-12.  Perhaps memorise I Peter 2:21-25.