Message Notes

Senior Sunday School 14 December 2025

Text: 1 Corinthians 4

Subject: The suffering of the servants of God

Lesson #23

11 To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless.

12 And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure;

13 being defamed, we entreat. We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now.

1 Corinthians 4:11-13

THE LORD’S WARNING ABOUT PERSECUTION

1. First Set of Warning

11 Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.

12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Matthew 5:11-12

2. Second Set of Warning

16 “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.

17 But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues.

18 You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles.

19 But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak;

20 for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.

Matthew 10:16-20

THE WARNINGS PROVED TO BE TRUE

1. There was persecution from the Sanhedrin Council

2. The Apostles John and Peter were beaten and jailed

3. Paul suffered imprisonment and beatings too

(Cf Book of Acts)

A SHORT LIST OF SUFFERING EXPERIENCED

1. Hunger and thirst

2. Poorly clothed

3. Beaten

4. Homeless

5. Reviled

6. Persecuted

7. Defamed

8. Filth of the earth

9. Offscouring

APPROPRIATE RESPONSES

1. Laboured for self-support

2. Blessing those who reviled them

3. Enduring persecution

4. Entreating (praying)

LESSONS FOR US

1. To learn how to endure suffering

2. To learn how to be overcomers amidst trying times