Foundry Community Church
Seventh Sunday of Easter - Year A
  • A Mighty Fortress Is Our God

      • Psalm 68:1–10NIRV

      • Psalm 68:32–35NIRV

      • 1 Peter 4:12–14NIRV

      • 1 Peter 5:6–11NIRV

  • Crown Him With Many Crowns
  • John 17:1–11 ESV
    1 When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, 2 since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. 3 And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. 4 I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed. 6 “I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. 7 Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. 8 For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. 9 I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. 11 And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one.
    John 17:1–11 ESV
    This is the Gospel of our Lord! Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ!
    “From Suffering to Glory: God’s Path for His People”
    A couple years ago, we went over to Fort Larned and I remember watching the blacksmith working—just standing there for a few minutes.
    He took a piece of metal and put it into the fire… and just let it sit there. Then he pulled it out—and started hammering it.
    Over and over. Sparks flying. Heat still on it.
    And I remember thinking, “That looks brutal.”
    So I asked him, “Why all the fire… and all the hammering?”
    He said, “If it doesn’t go through the fire, I can’t shape it. If I don’t strike it, it won’t be strong enough. And if I stop too soon… it’ll never become what it’s supposed to be.”
    And I’ll be honest—that stuck with me.
    Because there have been seasons in my life where I felt like that piece of metal.
    In the fire
    Under pressure
    Wondering why it wouldn’t let up

    Transition

    But what I didn’t realize in those moments… was that God wasn’t trying to break me— He was forming me.
    And that’s exactly what we see in our Scripture readings today:
    God’s process often includes suffering… but it always leads to glory.

    God’s Purpose: Glory Through Obedience

    We learned from our Gospel reading that God leads His people through suffering, sustains them with His presence, and brings them into His glory.
    Jesus starts this passage recognizing His awareness of the coming hour of the Cross. This passage is His prayer to God, His Father. It marks the transition from His life and ministry here on earth to His Sacrifice on the Cross for our sins. He starts the discourse with His Father acknowledging that very fact.
    John 17:1 ESV
    1 When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you
    He demonstrates His willing obedience to The Father even unto Death on the Cross.
    He sets the ultimate example for us, His children in that obedience to God brings us suffering.
    Jesus essentially presents His resume to God that He has glorified God through obedience and then He pours out His heart’s desire for us, His people.
    John 17:8–11 ESV
    8 For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. 9 I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. 11 And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one.
    His desire is for us to be one
    ~ with each other
    ~ with Him and the Father!
    In Acts 1, the disciples still expect immediate restoration, but Jesus redirects them toward mission.
    Acts 1:6 ESV
    6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”
    They are called to wait, trust, and prepare for the Spirit’s power.
    Acts 1:7–8 ESV
    7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
    So, what is our Application:
    God’s timing often differs from our expectations.
    Our role is obedience, not control of outcomes.
    True glory comes through surrender to God’s will.

    God’s Process: Refinement Through Suffering

    I want to remind us of my opening story. We are the iron in the fire. God is working in us and on us so that He can work through us.
    Peter reminds us in his narrative to the Church in his first epistle:
    1 Peter 4:12–14 ESV
    12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.
    “Do not be surprised at the fiery trial”—suffering is expected in the Christian life.
    I know what the “gospel” that is being preached is. “God loves you, wants you to be rich,healthy, popular and have a wonderful life!”
    That, my friends is “another Gospel.” Jesus promised “fiery trials.” Earlier in ministry He promised “trials, tribulations and persecutions, for My name sake…” but Peter reminds us that it’s for a purpose:
    1 Peter 4:12–14 ESV
    13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.
    1 Peter 5:6–10 ESV
    6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,
    V6. Humble yourself so God may exalt you.
    1 Peter 5:6–10 ESV
    7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
    V7. “Fear not!” He cares for you!
    1 Peter 5:6–10 ESV
    8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
    V8. Be alert! There is a devil trying to destroy you!
    1 Peter 5:6–10 ESV
    9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. 10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.
    V9. Resist the devil - “firm in your faith” becuase you know that you are not alone in your suffering!
    V10. After suffering for a while, God will restore, confirm, strengthen and establish you!
    So, how does this Apply:
    Trials are not signs of abandonment but of participation in Christ.
    Humility and trust are essential in hardship.
    Resist the enemy by standing firm in faith.

    God’s Power: Victory and Provision

    I know that going through the fire and the pounding of suffering is hard. I live there. But God in His love and mercy gives us so many gracious promises. You know that I love the Psalms.
    We heard earlier in the Scripture readings Psalm 68.
    God gives us some great promises here that can really encourage us in our times of hardship. Here are a few that demonstrate God reigns as a victorious King who cares for His people:
    Psalm 68:1–10 ESV
    1 God shall arise, his enemies shall be scattered; and those who hate him shall flee before him!
    V1. God rises and scatters His enemies—He is not passive in our struggles.
    Psalm 68:5 ESV
    5 Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation.
    V5. He is “Father of the fatherless” and defender of the vulnerable.
    Psalm 68:7–10 ESV
    7 O God, when you went out before your people, when you marched through the wilderness, Selah 8 the earth quaked, the heavens poured down rain, before God, the One of Sinai, before God, the God of Israel. 9 Rain in abundance, O God, you shed abroad; you restored your inheritance as it languished; 10 your flock found a dwelling in it; in your goodness, O God, you provided for the needy.
    vv7-10 He leads His people through the wilderness and provides abundantly.
    The psalm ends with a call for all kingdoms to praise God for His power.
    Psalm 68:32–35 ESV
    32 O kingdoms of the earth, sing to God; sing praises to the Lord, Selah 33 to him who rides in the heavens, the ancient heavens; behold, he sends out his voice, his mighty voice. 34 Ascribe power to God, whose majesty is over Israel, and whose power is in the skies. 35 Awesome is God from his sanctuary; the God of Israel—he is the one who gives power and strength to his people. Blessed be God!
    So, how does this apply to us?
    God fights for His people and provides what they need.
    Even in wilderness seasons, God is present and active.
    Our response should be worship and confidence in His strength.

    Conclusion:

    Jesus shows us the path: obedience → suffering → glory.
    Peter reminds us: suffering → humility → restoration.
    The Psalms declare: God reigns → God provides → God is worthy of praise.
    Acts shows us: wait → receive power → fulfill mission.

    Final Challenge:

    Are you resisting God’s process, or trusting His plan?
    Will you remain faithful in suffering, knowing glory is coming?
    Will you live for God’s glory, empowered by His Spirit?

    Closing Statement:

    God does not waste suffering—He uses it to lead His people into glory, strengthen their faith, and display His power to the world.

      • John 17:1–11NIRV

      • John 17:1–11NIRV

      • John 17:1NIRV

      • John 17:8–11NIRV

      • Acts 1:6NIRV

      • Acts 1:7–8NIRV

      • 1 Peter 4:12–14NIRV

      • 1 Peter 4:12–14NIRV

      • 1 Peter 5:6–10NIRV

      • 1 Peter 5:6–10NIRV

      • 1 Peter 5:6–10NIRV

      • 1 Peter 5:6–10NIRV

      • Psalm 68:1–10NIRV

      • Psalm 68:5NIRV

      • Psalm 68:7–10NIRV

      • Psalm 68:32–35NIRV

  • MYSTERION
  • Doxology
  • My Faith Looks Up To Thee (Olivet)
  • Now Unto Him
Foundry Community Church
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