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THE DAY of the CHRISTIAN MARTYR June 29, 2019 Resource Pack “Greater Love Has No One Than This, to Lay Down One’S Life for One’S Friends

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THE DAY of the CHRISTIAN MARTYR June 29, 2019 Resource Pack “Greater Love Has No One Than This, to Lay Down One’S Life for One’S Friends THE DAY OF THE CHRISTIAN MARTYR June 29, 2019 Resource Pack “Greater love has no one than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends, if you do what I command... The time is coming when anyone who kills you will think they are offering a service to God. They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me. I have told you this, so that when their time comes, you will remember that I warned you about them.” (John 15:13,14; John 16:2-4, NIV) Saturday June 29 2019 is the day many churches have remembered the martyrdoms of the Apostles Peter and Paul. On this day, or later in the year, we invite you and your church to be inspired by Christian martyrs of modern times and moved to prayer, praise and greater devotion. useful. There is also a sample pack of prayer cards, and a Powerpoint presentation you can downloadThis brochure from offers our website, a selection www.releaseinternational.org of readings, sermon notes, hymns and prayers you might find A few ideas to inspire your creativity • the martyrdom of Christians, or reprint one of the prayers in this pack. Include a ‘Did you know?’ item in your church bulletin or newsletter quoting some figures about • Hold a special Martyrs’ Day service in your church using the readings, sermon notes, hymns, prayers and other resources in this pack, and the Powerpoint presentation you can download from www.releaseinternational.org • Consider using some of the readings, hymns and prayers in your regular service on June 30, or later in the year. • Hold a Martyrs’ Day meeting in your home, home group, prayer group or midweek meeting. Give out prayer cards so people can continue to remember the families of Christian martyrs in prayer. • Make a collection for the families of Christian martyrs If you need more copies of this brochure, the poster or the prayer cards, call our Supporter Relations Team on 01689 823491, or email [email protected], and we’ll gladly send them to you, free of charge. 2 3 Readings Romans 8:35 – 39 ESV “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall his master. It is enough for the disciple to be like his tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they malign those of his household. So have “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” revealed, or hidden that will not be known. What I tell No, in all these things we are more than conquerors you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither whispered, proclaim on the housetops. And do not fear death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. our Lord. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many 2 Corinthians 4:7-11 ESV sparrows. So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also that the surpassing power belongs to God and not will deny before my Father who is in heaven.” to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always 2 Timothy 4:1-9 ESV carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by For we who live are always being given over to death his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, manifested in our mortal flesh. and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound Matthew 10:16-33 ESV teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst will turn away from listening to the truth and wander of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as off into myths. As for you, always be sober-minded, doves. Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill courts and flog you in their synagogues, and you will your ministry. For I am already being poured out as be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, a drink offering, and the time of my departure has to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. When come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the say will be given to you in that hour. For it is not you righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing. through you. Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, and Matthew 28: 19,20 ESV you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, one who endures to the end will be saved. When they baptising them in the name of the Father and of the persecute you in one town, flee to the next, for truly, Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe I say to you, you will not have gone through all the all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes. you always, to the end of the age.” 3 “I am already being poured out as a drink 2. Paul encouraged a godly response to offering, and the time of my departure has come. persecution I have fought the good fight, I have finished the How did Paul encourage Christians to respond race, I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:6,7 ESV). Sermon Notes to suffering for Christ? First, he urged them to persevere, as the contemplates his martyrdom. Paul’s heart is still temptation to give up in the face of suffering forIn probably the gospel, his and final he letter, urges the Timothy Apostle to Paul preach, is obvious. Paul applauds, for example, the teach and defend it. But he knew the cost, and Thessalonians’ “steadfastness and faith” in encourages Timothy to be prepared to suffer for and through the persecutions they were its sake. What can we learn about persecution enduring (2 Thessalonians 1:4). On other occasions he exhorts his readers to be and1. P aulmartyrdom had a theological from the Apostle understanding Paul? “patient in tribulation” (Romans 12:11) and of persecution to know God’s comfort as they “patiently endure” (2 Corinthians 1:6). We persevere by Paul saw his sufferings in relation to Christ and the grace of God. the gospel. Paul says he had been persecuted for the Cross (Galatians 5:11). He says that suffering Paul then calls on Christians to be gracious goes hand-in-hand with being a “servant of and forgiving toward those who persecute Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:23-27). Writing them. “Bless those who persecute you; bless from a prison cell he describes himself as a and do not curse them,” (Romans 12:14) he “prisoner for the Lord” (Ephesians 4:1) and “an writes, echoing the teaching of Jesus himself ambassador in chains” (Ephesians 6:20). (see Matthew 5:44). Paul talks not just about suffering for Christ 3. Paul was pastoral toward those who but suffering with Christ (Romans 8:17). He suffered persecution writes: “I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, What do we learn about how to respond to the persecution of Christians today? Pauland in is mynot flesh saying I am that filling by being up what persecuted is lacking we we read of Paul and Barnabas: “When they had sharein Christ’s in, or afflictions...” add to, the atoning(Colossians aspect 1:24 of ESV).Christ’s preachedTowards the the end gospel of his to firstthat citymissionary and had journey made suffering.
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