How the Supremacy of Christ Creates Radical Christian Sacrafice

This sermon from John Piper was recently recommended to us and has encouraged and boldly challenged us in the Lord. Here are a few favorite bits to share.... but if you can listen to the whole sermon, you will do even better. Get to it here.

“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you” (1 Peter 4:12-13). Jesus, Paul, Peter, Hebrews—they all bear witness: Followers of Jesus will suffer. I do not want to be excluded from that number. You do not want to be excluded from that number."

Our brother, Alim, is certainly not excluded from this number. Let's continue to pray for him as he begins his 15 year prison sentence for loving God.

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Where are the young men and women of this generation who will hold their lives cheap, and be faithful even unto death, who will lose their lives for Christ’s, flinging them away for love of him? Where are those who will live dangerously, and be reckless in this service? Where are the men of prayer? Where are the men who count God’s Word of more importance to them than their daily food? Where are the men who, like Moses of old, commune with God face to face as a man speaks with his friend? Where are God’s men in this day of God’s power?

(Piper shared this quote from Howard Guinness, Sacrifice (1936), found in Lindsay Brown, Shining Like Stars: The Power of the Gospel in the World’s Universities (Nottingham: InterVarsity Press, 2006), p. 151.)

Oh God, may we know the pleasure of being THIS kind of men and women- of fellowshipping with you in your sufferings, that we might be near to you and that you might be glorified! Bring your kingdom, oh Gracious God!