Rev. Cyril A. Stevens – Sermon 0056AB recorded on May 20, 1979 teaching from 1 Peter 1 – Suffering.
Pastor Cyril A. Stevens reframes human suffering not as an incomprehensible tragedy, but as a purposeful ministry designed to refine the believer. Drawing primarily from the First Letter of Peter, Stevens argues that trials act as a divine fire intended to burn away spiritual dross and prove the immutability of faith, which he deems far more valuable than gold. Stevens emphasizes that while these hardships are often temporary harassments, they serve essential functions: they humble the spirit, discipline the character, and ultimately qualify the individual to offer genuine comfort to others. By moving from the question of “why” to “how” one can serve through pain, Pastor Stevens suggests that embracing one’s cross allows for a profound reliance on God’s grace and a deeper conformity to the image of Christ.