OPENING PRAYER

Give us, O Lord,
steadfast hearts,
which no unworthy thought can drag downward,
unconquered hearts,
which no tribulation can wear out,
upright hearts,
which no unworthy purpose may tempt aside.

Bestow upon us also,
O Lord our God,
understanding to know you,
diligence to seek you,
wisdom to find you,
and faithfulness that may finally embrace you;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

SERMON

POINT: Disciples aren’t perfect, but they’re committed.

POINT:Profound transformations often converge at the intersection of deep suffering and time.

POINT:If you have not suffered, you will. It is the great equalizer of humanity.

John 16:33 NIRV
I have told you these things so you can have peace because of me. In this world, you will have trouble. But cheer up! I have won the battle over the world.

Romans 5:1–5 NRSV
Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand, and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.

Psalm 34:18 NRSV
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.

POINT:We are a hopeful and persevering people.

Perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races, one after another. —- Walter Elliott, The Spiritual Life: Doctrine and Practice of Christian Perfection

Let everything happen to you: beauty and terror. Just keep going. No feeling is final. —- Rainer Maria Rilke, The Book of Hours