WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH

•    need more positive male role models
•    apostle’s prison setting grim; desertions

THREE CHAINS PULLING US FORWARD

•    Chain of Command: please the Commanding Officer

•    remember Jesus: raised (Lord/God), descended from David (Messiah/human)
•    shameful to disown leader or prove faithless; don’t be a deserter!

•    Chain of Communication: pass on the message

•    every believer needs a “Barnabas” and a “Timothy”
•    Big Sister mentoring; dad’s impact on daughter in understanding God

•    Chain of Commiseration and Comfort: chained like criminal

•    suffering means of discovering God’s comfort to share with others

SECRETS OF ENDURANCE: WHY AND HOW TO TOUGH IT OUT

•    endure because it’s our leader’s example (v3)
•    endure for the sake of the elect (v10)
•    endure in hope of reigning with Christ (v12)
•    strength to endure from grace (v1)
•    strength to endure from God’s unchained word, handled correctly (vv9,15)

OK NO MATTER WHAT

•    count trials ‘joy’: endurance makes us mature / complete
•    adenocarcinoma sufferer: from feeling lost to finding assurance in Christ
•    shared with youth group: Chain of Communication