Hopeful Suffering

The term Christian once meant something greater than it does today! From all accounts of Scripture, followers of Christ were honored to carry that name, and their lives of sacrificial surrender, bravery, holiness, and radical love for each other identified them as belonging to Christ. But today, people label themselves Christians without the works to back it up. What has happened to the majority of Christianity when we can carry a title which we don't labor to respect and honor through action? I believe it is because we have side-stepped a key component in the equation...the need to suffer! Most people believe it is a blessing to not have to suffer for our faith in America, but that couldn't be farther from the truth of God's Word! This sermon will at the least, get you thinking and at best, get you doing! For we cannot walk in the Life of Christ without going through the cross! Strap up because this sermon will challenge your way of thinking in order to retrain it in line with the Word of God...if you allow your heart to be enlightened through the grace of God.