Small Group Gathering
Canceled
Apr
21
Details
Good evening Groupies!
This Friday we will be discussing Chapter 10 of Sinclair Ferguson's video series, The Basics of the Christian Life; Enduring Hardships. This will be on Good Friday and we have a Savior who knows firsthand, how to endure the hardships that were set before Him.
Plan to arrive at 6:30 PM if you are eating with us and please RSVP below. As usual, we will begin the study at 7:30ish and will be finished with our group discussion and prayer by 9:30. You are always welcome to hang around and chat afterwards, or leave whenever you'd like.
Below is the chapter intro, learning goals, key ideas, reflections, and questions for this week. Same format that we've been following these past few weeks.
No handouts - print them or just refer to the questions on your phone/tablet via this email during the time we meet.
This Friday we will be discussing Chapter 10 of Sinclair Ferguson's video series, The Basics of the Christian Life; Enduring Hardships. This will be on Good Friday and we have a Savior who knows firsthand, how to endure the hardships that were set before Him.
Plan to arrive at 6:30 PM if you are eating with us and please RSVP below. As usual, we will begin the study at 7:30ish and will be finished with our group discussion and prayer by 9:30. You are always welcome to hang around and chat afterwards, or leave whenever you'd like.
Below is the chapter intro, learning goals, key ideas, reflections, and questions for this week. Same format that we've been following these past few weeks.
No handouts - print them or just refer to the questions on your phone/tablet via this email during the time we meet.
Enduring Hardships
Christians are not exempt from the hardships and difficulties of this life. In fact, they often experience more suffering than those who do not profess Christ. When Christians fail to understand this reality, they can be easily deceived by those who falsely teach that all God wants for them is health, wealth, and happiness. In this lecture, Dr. Ferguson presents the true biblical view of suffering by examining the book of Hebrews.
LEARNING GOALS
When you have finished this lesson, you should be able to:
- Understand the true biblical perspective on suffering
- List and explain three important concepts about suffering from the book of Hebrews
KEY IDEAS
- It is important to realize a general principle at the beginning of the Christian life: the Christian life involves hardships.
- Jesus Christ endured hardships, so suffering is a means by which God conforms us to the image of Christ.
- Through our endurance and God’s discipline, we develop character and are made to share in His holiness.
REFLECTION & DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Before the Video
What Do You Think?
Take a moment to answer the following questions. They will prepare you for the lecture.
- Does God want all Christians to be healthy and wealthy? Why or why not?
- Is suffering good or bad? Explain your answer.
Scripture Reading
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of God." Hebrews 12:1–2
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of God." Hebrews 12:1–2
- What should Christians do to be able to run their race with endurance? What hope does this passage set forth regarding the end result of such endurance?
During the Video
Answer the following questions while you watch the video. They will guide you through the lecture.
Perspectives on Suffering 0:00–12:01
- What is the non-Christian view of suffering?
- What is the meaning of the word endurance?
Purposes of Suffering 12:01–23:12
- According to Dr. Ferguson, what is one of the tragedies of our modern society?
- What Old Testament book does the author of Hebrews quote from when discuss- ing the topic of discipline in Hebrews 12?
After the Video
Answer the following questions after you have finished the lecture. They will help you identify and summarize the major points.
- What were some of the difficulties that the recipients of the letter to the Hebrews were facing?
- Compare and contrast the sufferings of the original audience of Hebrews to the sufferings Christians might face today. To what extent are they similar and different?
- Read Hebrews 12:5. What are the two mistakes that Christians can make when life gets difficult?
- Which of these two negative responses to trials they are most susceptible to and why? In what ways is God’s treatment of His children similar to earthly parenting, and in what ways does it differ?
- What was presented as the ultimate purpose of our earthly sufferings? How does this affect the way you think about suffering?
- Since suffering can conform us to the image of Christ, should we actively pursue suffering? Does a biblical view of suffering mean that we should not seek to alleviate our suffering or the suffering of others? Why or why not?
PRAYER
- Commit what you have learned from God’s Word in this lesson to prayer.
- Praise God that He is sovereign over all of your circumstances.
- Confess any doubts or questions you’ve entertained about God’s goodness and love on account of any hardships and trials.
- Thank God for His promise that you will one day be free from all sin and suffering.
- Ask God for joy in your suffering in the reminder that you are being conformed to the image of Christ.
AMEN
Location
Beachley home