Matthew 10:16-25
When Suffering is the Assignment
Sometimes the assignment Jesus gives is suffering. In Matthew 10:16-25, Jesus sends his disciples out like sheep among wolves, warns them of persecution from religious leaders, governments and even family, and promises the Spirit will give them words. Some power is only displayed in persecution, our courage comes from depending on the Shepherd, and the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.
Message notes
Pastor Pat opens with rejection: being picked last, asking someone out and hearing no. Then he tells on himself. As a 15-year-old diver training 30 hours a week, he walked across the pool deck with shades on and shoulder-length hair, heard his crush say, “Oh my gosh, who is that?” and then, seconds later, “Oh, it’s just Pat.”
Fear of rejection can shape how we live out our faith. We would like to be the nice Beatitudes people. Pastor Pat admits that preaching three weeks on suffering while the church has momentum is terrible marketing, but Jesus did the same thing. In Matthew 10, he sends his disciples out to heal and preach, then widens the frame to the persecution they will face in Acts and all the way to his return.
“There is some power that is only displayed in persecution.” When the fire is hot, we want to run, but Jesus is with us in it. “The fire is not designed to destroy your faith. It is designed to forge it.” Jesus sends his disciples as sheep among wolves, with no natural defense, so they must depend on him. They are to be shrewd as snakes, meaning discerning, and innocent as doves, like the meek and gentle Jesus. Pastor Pat points to the millions of Christians persecuted around the world today, in places like Nigeria and North Korea, as family we should know about and pray for.
Jesus names three sources of persecution. The synagogue dragged believers out because their allegiance was to Jesus. Rome treated a king besides Caesar as a threat, and trade guilds shut out those who wouldn’t worship other gods. Even family would turn on them. Pastor Pat is careful to say a relative who disagrees with your faith is not the same as the persecuted church in China. But a life of holiness, a biblical sexual ethic and a whole-life ethic will put us at odds with an increasingly secular culture. His bigger fear is that the love of the church would grow cold.
Jesus says not to worry about what to say, because the Spirit will give us the words. “The courage of the sheep is found in its dependence on the shepherd,” and Psalm 23 says the Shepherd walks with us through the valley of the shadow of death. “If you do not quit, you will win.” We don’t need to win every argument; meekness is power under control. Winsome won’t win the day, so Pastor Pat urges us to choose obedience over popularity: read the Bible, pray, join a life group, get help when life is hard and pray for those who persecute us.
From the message
There is some power that is only displayed in persecution.
The fire is not designed to destroy your faith. It is designed to forge it.
The courage of the sheep is found in its dependence on the shepherd.
If you do not quit, you will win.
Life Group discussion guide
When Suffering is the Assignment, Matthew 10:16-25. November 9, 2025.
Start here
What is a moment of rejection from childhood or high school that still makes you laugh, or cringe?
Read Matthew 10:16-25
Open your Bibles and read it out loud together before you start.
What does it say?
In Matthew 10:16, what animals does Jesus use to describe his disciples, their opponents and the attitude he wants them to have?
According to Matthew 10:17-21, where will persecution come from?
What does Jesus promise in Matthew 10:19-20 and Matthew 10:22?
What does it mean?
Why would Jesus send his followers out as defenseless sheep instead of as lions? What does that say about where their strength comes from?
Pastor Pat explained that being “shrewd as snakes” meant discerning, not deceptive. How do we hold shrewdness and innocence together without becoming naive or cynical?
Jesus says a student is not above the teacher (Matthew 10:24-25). Why should his followers expect the same treatment he received?
What do we do with it?
Where does fear of rejection keep you quiet about your faith, at work, at Thanksgiving or with friends?
Pastor Pat said our love must not grow cold. Who is someone you disagree with that you need to keep loving well?
Pastor Pat urged us to choose obedience over popularity. What is one way you could do that this week, in your schedule, your conversations or what you fill quiet moments with?
Pray
Pray for Christians who are persecuted for their faith around the world. Ask the Lord, your Shepherd, to give you courage that comes from depending on him and to keep your love from growing cold.
New Hope Hawaii Kai. Watch the message and read the notes at newhopehk.org/sermons/when-suffering-is-the-assignment/