week 5—Why I keep Going March 23/24 2013 Jason Anderson
INTRODUCTION
Discussion Questions:
This was the final message in our Am I Really a Christian series. The goal of this series was twofold. First, as 2 Corinthians tells us, “Examine yourself to see if your faith is genuine.” From time to time it’s good to take a look in the mirror and compare the way we’re living with the way God tells us to live. Is my faith lining up with the kind of faith God is talking about?
1. What is an area of your life where you have, or have had great endurance; maybe running, hunting, building, cleaning—areas where you go and go and go—you push, you are focused.
Second, if your faith is in Jesus—the hope was that you would feel reassured. Like many, you may have had a few wake up calls as you heard the weekend messages. The way we are living and the way God wants us to live don’t always line up. Our final message focused on enduring in our faith. God wants to bring us back into right living for both our sake and his! Let the questions and the Scripture below help guide your discussion about enduring in your faith.
2. Talk about the starting point of your faith. Who and what has been an influence in helping and guiding you to grow as a follower of Christ? 3.
The apostle Paul writes in Hebrews 10: 35- 36, “So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.” If we have made a decision to follow Jesus, how do we remain committed and solid in our faith?
4. As a follower of Christ we can expect trouble and suffering. In John 16:33 Jesus says, “In this world you will have trouble.” We can bank on it, expect it, it’s going to happen. Are you facing something difficult right now or have in the past? How are you or how did you walk through that difficult time? 5.
We will always feel a tension between the way culture tells us to live and the way God tells us to live. The two will always be at odds with one another. The world is filled with mixed messages. What are those mixed messages in our lives today that we need to be aware of? And, most importantly— who or what is shaping your beliefs?
Think About it We have the responsibility to draw near to God and then stay there. We work knowing that God is at work in us. Romans 8:28 says, “For we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him.”
Commit to Memory Draw near to me and I will draw near to you. (James 4:8)
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