Suffering for Doing Good (an adoption story)

An Adoption Story

Peter is reminding us again, don’t be surprised if you suffer, even if it’s suffering for doing good.  Keep your focus in the right place.  Don’t worry, or be afraid, or only see the ugly of your situations.  Look for the beauty of what God is doing.

In this message Brian shares his family’s story of adoption of their youngest daughter, and how God made beauty from suffering.

Sermon Audio

Sermon Scripture

1 Peter 3:13–18 NLT

¹³ Now, who will want to harm you if you are eager to do good? ¹⁴ But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don’t worry or be afraid of their threats. ¹⁵ Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it. ¹⁶ But do this in a gentle and respectful way.  Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ. ¹⁷ Remember, it is better to suffer for doing good, if that is what God wants, than to suffer for doing wrong!  ¹⁸ Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit.

1 Peter 4:12–13 & 19 NLT

¹² Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. ¹³ Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world

¹⁹ So if you are suffering in a manner that pleases God, keep on doing what is right, and trust your lives to the God who created you, for he will never fail you.