Small Group Gathering
May
5
Details
Good evening Groupies!
This Friday will be our final meeting of the Spring, as we conclude the Sinclair Ferguson's video series, The Basics of the Christian Life, with Lesson #12, Persevering to the End. What an appropriate topic to end on!
You should have already received the Lesson #11 video via email from me. Please watch that at your leisure as it is a very good and instructive study. We have some thoughts about occasionally getting everyone together a few times over the Summer, that we will share with you on Friday.
This week, Sara will unfortunately not be attending, however, she very graciously volunteered to supply us with a wonderful dinner! I can't wait to try it. Thank you Sara!!! Please plan to arrive at 6:30 PM if you are eating with us and please RSVP below. 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 will be our final meeting of the Spring, as we conclude the Sinclair Ferguson's video series, The Basics of the Christian Life, with Lesson #12, Persevering to the End. What an appropriate topic to end on!
You should have already received the Lesson #11 video via email from me. Please watch that at your leisure as it is a very good and instructive study. We have some thoughts about occasionally getting everyone together a few times over the Summer, that we will share with you on Friday.
This week, Sara will unfortunately not be attending, however, she very graciously volunteered to supply us with a wonderful dinner! I can't wait to try it. Thank you Sara!!! Please plan to arrive at 6:30 PM if you are eating with us and please RSVP below. 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.
Persevering to the End
INTRODUCTION
The author of Hebrews wrote to exhort and encourage believers to continue the race of faith and remain committed to the Lord Jesus Christ amid opposition, persecution, and discouragement. In this lesson, Dr. Ferguson concludes this series by unpacking the great message of Hebrews: Whatever Christians have lost for Christ, they have given up to gain a far greater treasure in Christ.
LEARNING GOALS
When you have finished this lesson, you should be able to:
LEARNING GOALS
When you have finished this lesson, you should be able to:
- Identify the ultimate finish line of the race of faith
- Recognize the hindrances that believers encounter while running this race
List the three encouragements that the author of Hebrews gives to keep us running to the end
KEY IDEAS
- The Christian life is a race, but it is not a sprint. It is a marathon.
- All of the difficulties we face in the Christian life cannot compare to the joys that await us when we finish the race of faith, so we must keep our eyes fixed on Jesus.
- Though Christians are called to run their own race, they are surrounded by others who are also running and have the example of Christ who ran and finished the race before them.
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.
Before the Video
What Do You Think?
Take a moment to answer the following questions. They will prepare you for the lecture.
- What is a situation that youâve encountered in life that required you to persevere over a length of time? How were you able to endure it, and what was the outcome?
- Have you ever reached a point in your Christian life where you wondered if keeping the faith was really worth it? What led you to ask that question, and how did you work through it?
Scripture Reading
"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. (Titus 2:11â14)
"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. (Titus 2:11â14)
- What is connected to salvation and the appearance of the grace of God in this passage?
During the Video
Answer the following questions while you watch the video. They will guide you through the lecture.
- What is the finish line of the race of the Christian life?
- What is the difference between hindrances and sins?
- What is the benefit of belonging to a church that has older members?
- What does it mean that Jesus is the âfounderâ of our faith?
After the Video
Answer the following questions after you have finished the lecture. They will help you identify and summarize the major points.
- What does Satan seek to do to divert believers during their race, and what must Christians do in response?
- If you are in a group, have the members discuss the following questions: When your eyes are diverted and distracted from Christ, where do you tend to focus instead, and how does this affect you spiritually?
- What three encouragements does the author of Hebrews provide Christians for the race of the Christian life?
- Which of these three encouragements do you find most personally helpful and why? Which of the three do you tend not to think about very much, and how might you make it a more focused part of your thought?
- At the conclusion of this study series, what is the most important thing you have learned about the Christian life? Why?
PRAYER
- Commit what you have learned from Godâs Word in this lesson to prayer.
- Praise God that at the end of the race, Jesus is waiting for you.
- Confess any specific sins that are diverting your eyes from Jesus.
- Thank God for the founder and perfecter of your faith who never stumbled, enduring suffering and temptation for your sake and for Godâs glory.
- Ask God to reveal to you hindrances that slow you down in your race and to grant you the power of His Spirit for the stamina to keep running it.
AMEN
Location
Beachley home