Text: Romans 5:1-5

Topic: Why we can rejoice in suffering

Introduction:

• Illustration: May quotes a young woman's testimony to illustrate the common the misperception that the Christian life is free from trouble.

• Scripture promises the opposite.

• Philippians 1:29

• 1 Peter 4:12

• Matthew 5:45

• Everyone's life is filled with sunshine and rain.

• Romans 8:28

• When you suffer, it is crucial that you approach your suffering with the right attitude, so that you will ultimately benefit from the problems you face.

• Romans 5:3

• Illustration: May illustrates that suffering can make us stronger, and thus free us, through an analogy of carrying stones for a jailor, all the while growing strong enough to overtake the jailor.

• You can give up and let your problems destroy you, or you can use them to become a stronger and better person.

• Big Idea: We rejoice in suffering, because there are certain benefits that we can claim whenever we are faced with it.

• Romans 5:3

• Illustration: May illustrates the importance of being able to face pressure through two examples—Michael Jordan's success in the last minute of basketball games, and David's confrontation of Goliath.

• Romans 5:3

• When you weather storms you have a chance to prove to the world what you're made of, and prove to the world how God is faithful to protect you through trials.

• Illustration: May uses the words of Bible teacher, Steve Brown, to illustrate that believers grow in character when faced with suffering.

• Illustration: May points to Cal Ripken Jr.'s consecutive game streak as evidence that staying power is a sign of character and greatness.

It helps you develop optimism.

• Romans 5:3

• Suffering produces an attitude of confident optimism, because once you have suffered you realize that problems aren't all they're cracked up to be.

• Illustration: May uses the story of a bull-riding friend who can't wait until next week to try to ride the bull that just fell him, illustrating the persistent hope of someone who isn't afraid of the suffering they've already faced.

• Job 42:12

• When you suffer, and you stay with it, you become stronger and your problem becomes weaker.

Conclusion:

• Suffering makes you stronger.

• Followers of Jesus Christ need not fear suffering.

• When suffering comes (and it will from time to time) you can rejoice in the midst of it, because the end result will be that you become stronger, and God is glorified in your life.