This document discusses the purposes and types of Christian suffering. It notes that through suffering, believers share in the death of Jesus so His life is seen in them (2 Cor 4:10). Suffering develops strength of character and hope (Rom 5:3-5) and allows believers to know Christ by suffering with Him and experiencing His resurrection power (Phil 3:7-11). It was necessary for Jesus to suffer to be our merciful High Priest (Heb 2:17-18). In the end, meditation sections encourage applying these purposes of suffering to grow closer to Christ.

1. Suffering: The Necessity Of The Christian Life
part 3

2. SUFFERING
(The Necessity Of The Christian Life, part 3)
Purposes Of
Suffering
Types Of
Suffering
Jesus Seen
In Us
2 Cor 4:10
Christ’s Suffering
On The Cross
Ministerial
Suffering
Physical/Emotional
Suffering
Your Poor
Choices
Poor Choices
Of Others
Copyright, Michael F. Sabo

3. 2 Corinthians 4:10 - Through
suffering, these bodies of
ours constantly share in the
death of Jesus so that the life
of Jesus may also be seen in
our bodies. NLT

4. SUFFERING
(The Necessity Of The Christian Life)
Purposes Of
Suffering
Types Of
Suffering
Jesus Seen
In Us
2 Cor 4:10
Character
&
Hope
Rom 5:3-5
Christ’s Suffering
On The Cross
Ministerial
Suffering
Physical/Emotional
Suffering
Your Poor
Choices
Poor Choices
Of Others
Copyright, Michael F. Sabo

5. Romans 5:3-5 – We can
rejoice, too, when we run into
problems and trials, for we
know that they are good for
us —they help us learn to
endure.

6. 4And endurance develops
strength of character in us,
and character strengthens
our confident expectation of
salvation.

7. 5And this expectation will not
disappoint us. For we know
how dearly God loves us,
because he has given us the
Holy Spirit to fill our hearts
with his love. NLT

8. Ephesians 1:13-14 – In him
you also, when you heard the
word of truth, the gospel of
your salvation, and believed
in him, were sealed with the
promised Holy Spirit,

9. 14who is the guarantee of our
inheritance until we acquire
possession of it, to the
praise of his glory. NLT

10. 1 Thessalonians 3:2-4 – …we
sent Timothy to visit you. He
is our co-worker for God and
our brother in proclaiming
the Good News of Jesus
Christ.

11. We sent him to strengthen
you, to encourage you in
your faith, 3and to keep you
from becoming disturbed by
the troubles you were going
through. But, of course, you
know that such troubles

12. are going to happen to us
Christians. 4Even when we
were with you, we warned
you that troubles would
soon come—and they did,
as you well know. NLT

13. SUFFERING
(The Necessity Of The Christian Life)
Purposes Of
Suffering
Types Of
Suffering
Jesus Seen
In Us
2 Cor 4:10
Character
&
Hope
Rom 5:3-5
Christ’s Suffering
On The Cross
Ministerial
Suffering
Physical/Emotional
Suffering
Your Poor
Choices
Poor Choices
Of Others
To Know Christ
Phil 3:7-11
Copyright, Michael F. Sabo

14. Philippians 3:7-11 – I once
thought all these things were
so very important, but now I
consider them worthless
because of what Christ has
done. 8Yes, everything else
is worthless

15. when compared with the
priceless gain of knowing
Christ Jesus my Lord. I have
discarded everything else,
counting it all as garbage, so
that I may have Christ 9and
become one with him.

16. I no longer count on my own
goodness or my ability to
obey God’s law, but I trust
Christ to save me. For God’s
way of making us right with
himself depends on faith.

17. 10As a result, I can really
know Christ and experience
the mighty power that raised
him from the dead. I can
learn what it means to suffer
with him, sharing in his death,

18. 11so that, somehow, I can
experience the resurrection
from the dead! NLT

19. Romans 6:4-5 – For we died
and were buried with Christ
by baptism. And just as
Christ was raised from the
dead by the glorious power
of the Father, now we also
may live new lives.

20. 5Since we have been united
with him in his death, we will
also be raised as he was. NLT

21. Hebrews 2:17-18 - Therefore,
it was necessary for Jesus to
be in every respect like us,
his brothers and sisters, so
that he could be our merciful
and faithful High Priest
before God.

22. He then could offer a sacrifice
that would take away the sins
of the people.

23. 18Since he himself has gone
through suffering and
temptation, he is able to help
us when we are being
tempted. NLT

24. SUFFERING
(The Necessity Of The Christian Life)
Purposes Of
Suffering
Types Of
Suffering
Jesus Seen
In Us
2 Cor 4:10
Character
&
Hope
Rom 5:3-5
Christ’s Suffering
On The Cross
Ministerial
Suffering
Physical/Emotional
Suffering
Your Poor
Choices
Poor Choices
Of Others
To Know Christ
Phil 3:7-11
Copyright, Michael F. Sabo

25. Meditation & Application – Jesus Seen in Us
Suffering
uniquely
prepares
us to be
more like
Christ.
What is the
application
for you?

26. Meditation & Application – Character & Hope
The best arena for
character development is
not getting what you want.
Is this an opportunity for
your character to become
more like Jesus?

27. Meditation & Application – To Know Christ
Intimacy & Suffering
go hand-in-hand
At your conversion you
died With Christ and now
in your life on earth you
learn to suffer With Him.