Building Endurance of Faith for the Race

Building Endurance of Faith for the Race

(Series, "Go For the Gold" Message 3)

August 14, 2016 – Communitas Group Lesson

Mike McDaniel, Lead Pastor, Grace Point Church of Northwest Arkansas

Icebreaker: Do you feel as if your life is a race? If so, think of a metaphor that would describe your race (e.g., rat race, corporate ladder-climbing, social acceptance race, etc.)? Why did you choose that metaphor?

Transition: It is not uncommon for the world to suck us into a race or way of life that can easily pull us out of the main race. Having a faith that perseveres is an important component of a gold-medal faith. A persevering faith through troubles, deserts, and pot holes is critical in a life pulls at us in so many ways.

Read: James 1:12-15

HEAD Questions:

1. Who is the writer of the letter of James and what is his relation to Jesus? Was James one of the earlier or later epistles?

2. What is a common theme of Chapter 1? Read v. 2-4, 12.

3. What makes a “steadfast” faith so important? v. 12

HEART Questions

1. Can you say confidently that you have a steadfast faith? If yes, why?

2. Read Revelation 2:9-10. What role does Satan play in seeking to tear down our faith?

3. What do you feel God is saying to you through this message and discussion time?

4. Why is a heart-to-heart love relationship with God so critical to an enduring faith?

HAND Questions:

1. What is one thing you can do this week to deepen your love relationship with Jesus?

2. Are you in a desert season in a spiritual practice or discipline? Do you find yourself ready to quit or will you push through as a defiance to Satan? Here are some common issues:

*Marriage is dry and you are ready to quit

*Generous giving to your church

*Serving in a ministry position within your church

*Praying through a difficult time when it doesn’t appear that God’s going to answer.

4. How do we survive in times of trials without compromising our faith?

NOTE TO LEADERS:

You will see four divisions in the group questions. Suggest using these divisions in personal Bible study, as well. You might point out these three different questions headings to your group, so when they are doing their own Bible study they can use the same method.

Head Questions are cognitively-related, helping us dive into the context and history of what is going on in the text.

Heart Questions are more personal observations. What is God saying to you through the questions?

Hand Questions are application-related. How will this passage and the truths I discovered transform my life? Remember, one of the reasons Grace Point exists is to "promote transformative communities with one another.”

Don’t forget each Sunday’s message is available on podcast by Sunday afternoon. If you need or want to re-listen to it before your group. Video versions are available by mid week on the app or on the MEDIA link on our web site. Visit www.GracePointChurch.net/media for links, or use the Grace Point Church mobile app (search Grace Point AR in your app provider).

Passage background:

The one who asks for wisdom must be steadfast and infused with love. God blesses someone who perseveres under trial. In this verse James returned to the theme with which he opened this passage in verses 2–3; both refer to “trials,” “testing,” and “perseverance.” The Christian who steadfastly endures (hypomenei) trials (peirasmon) and has stood the test (dokimos genomenos; cf. dokimion in v. 3) … will receive the crown of life. This “crown” consists of life, that is, the crown is life (cf. Rev. 2:10). “The life which is promised is probably life here and now, life in its fullness, life in its completeness” (cf. James 1:4) (Curtis Vaughan, James: Bible Study Commentary, p. 28). (Other crowns are referred to in

1 Thes. 2:19; 2 Tim. 4:8; 1 Peter 5:4.) God promises such life to those who love Him. Love for God enables believers who undergo trials to rest confidently in Him. Their steadfastness reveals their love. (Some, however, say the crown refers not to full life now but to eternal life, for all true believers do in fact love God; 1 John 4:8.) Asking for wisdom with faith (James 1:6–8), hope (vv. 9–11), and love (v. 12) brings not only the blessing of wisdom but also the blessing of winning.

To have the right attitude in trials, one must see the advantage of trials, but if it is difficult to see the advantages, one can ask for aid and, if one asks correctly, God will give him the right attitude in trials. He can rejoice in trials (v. 2) and be blessed (v. 12) by enduring them.

Walvoord, John F., and Roy B. Zuck, Dallas Theological Seminary. The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985.