Suffering
058: Suffering Precedes Glory
On the day of His resurrection, Jesus anonymously joins two travelers on the road to Emmaus, who are bemoaning the death of the man they assumed was going to be their Messiah. Jesus corrects their thinking, showing that Messiah must first suffer before being glorified as king, then He reveals Himself, and they rejoice that He is risen. Pastor Hollandsworth points out that believers must also suffer for Jesus if they expect to co-rule with Him.
057: Killing the King
The crowds cheered Jesus on Palm Sunday as Messiah as He entered Jerusalem, shouting out, “Hosanna, blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” Yet only days later the Jewish leadership chanted, “Crucify Him!” Pastor Hollandsworth focuses on the four stages of Christ’s suffering: 1) Scourging, 2) Mocking, 3) Via Dolorosa, and 4) Actual Crucifixion. A highly appropriate message to hear on Good Friday.
056: Promises for Firstborn Sons (Romans Series #19: Rom. 8:26-39)
The end of Rom. 8 is often understood as unconditional promises for believers, following a description of “the process of salvation” in vs. 29-30, from God’s perspective. However, Pastor Hollandsworth points out that vs. 29-30 are a description of sanctification unto reward from God’s perspective. Thus, the promises in the broader text are conditional promises, for those who are on the pathway of becoming firstborn sons to glory.
054: The Revealing of God’s Glorified Sons (Romans Series #17: Rom. 8:12-19)
All creation awaits the revealing of God’s glorified sons. Who are these sons? Why are they glorified? What is their purpose? Pastor Hollandsworth delves into this oft-misunderstood passage, explaining that biblical adoption is not automatic at the point of salvation, but conditional at the Judgment Seat for those believers who live according to the Spirit and suffer with Jesus.
016: Otherworldly Ambitions
The apostle Paul, undoubtedly one of the greatest Christians of the church age, nevertheless, saw a personal need to “press toward the goal for the prize” (reward), desiring to “attain to the out-resurrection.” Pastor Hollandsworth uncovers the meaning of this often-ignored term and reveals the apostle’s driving passion to “gain Christ and be found in Him,” counting everything else as loss. This same passion should consume every child of God.