4. The Struggle is Real

We all face struggle, hardship and suffering. The struggle is real. But the question that really matters is whether it's worth it. In this message, Pastor John walks through the end of Colossians 1, where Paul writes from prison that he rejoices in his sufferings for the sake of the church. Through five points (Suffering, Stewardship, Surprise, Struggle and Significance), we see that every struggle for Christ, His mission and His people is worth it. Because the supreme Christ suffered for us, we can steward the gospel we've been given, share the surprising riches of "Christ in you, the hope of glory" with anyone who will listen, and toil to present everyone mature in Christ. The message closes with the story of Richard Wurmbrand, a pastor imprisoned in communist Romania for 14 years who kept preaching even when every sermon earned him a beating. It's a reminder that eternity measures a life by our relationship with Jesus and the disciples we make.