“He prepares us for the hard stuff Pt 2"

John 16:1-4

Week 11 of 16
Pastor Nate Herrlin

Am I SAFE?
Do I BELONG?
Does this make me feel GOOD?

“go astray” = skandalizo

Jesus’ followers may face 2 levels of suffering:

PERSONAL REJECTION

“Those who were excommunicated from the synagogue were cut off from all religious, social and economic aspects of Jewish society...They were branded as traitors to their people and their God, and faced the likely consequence of losing both their families and their jobs.”

MacArthur New Testament
Commentary, John 12-21. p191.

Jesus’ followers may face 2 levels of suffering:

MARTYRDOM

“Through envy and jealousy, the greatest and most righteous pillars
(of the church) have been persecuted and put to death.”

Clement of Rome, A.D. 100

Are we SAFE?

IN CHRIST, I am as secure AS CHRIST.

Do we BELONG?

In Christ, I BELONG, and no one can take that away from me.

Where are you looking to find SAFETY?

Where are you most wanting to find BELONGING?

Jesus gives us a sense of safety & belonging that no one can take away.

Next Steps:

- SELF-REFLECTION: Where am I looking to find safety?
Where am I most wanting to find belonging?

- GOD-CONVERSATION: Ask God to help me trust in
Christ alone for my ultimate safety and belonging. (If you dare, ask God to test & strengthen your faith.)

- STRENGTH & CONDITIONING: Begin to work on memorizing 1 Peter 1:3-9. (Scripture memory can turn a weak faith into powerhouse faith, as God fortifies your soul with his eternal truth.)