Day 14
CHOOSE THE NARROW WAY!
· FAITHFULNESS REQUIRES US TO “DIG A LITTLE DEEPER”
GOD’S WORD: “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. (Matthew 7:13-14, NIV)
REFLECTION-DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. What do I know about the “narrow sheep gate” as opposed to the “broader pedestrian and vehicle gate” in Jerusalem when Jesus was there?
2. What could I imagine as being the greatest dangers related to bringing sheep into the city of Jerusalem by way of the “broader pedestrian and vehicle gate” in Jerusalem?
3. What is the basic “nature or temperament of sheep” and how does this fact relate to the right choice about how and where to bring them from the grazing fields into the protection of the sheep pens in the city at night?
4. How important is the “danger of fear” to Christ-followers who are the sheep of his fold?
5. How important is it for Christ-followers to “dig a little deeper” into their fears so that they will not be destroyed by the noise and other dangers of the crowded highways of life?
6. Why does it seem reasonable that “only a few” really find the way to avoid the dangers and fears of life and are able to totally follow the Good Shepherd and walk unreservedly by faith and not sight?
· FAITHFULNESS REQUIRES US TO “PUSH A LITTLE HARDER”
GOD’S WORD: Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
(1 Corinthians 9:24-27, NIV)
REFLECTION-DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. What is the most defining thing that distinguishes the “preparation of a true champion” from many nominal athletes?
2. What might be some of the essential “training disciplines” which must go into the preparation of a champion athlete?
3. What might be some of the essential “strict disciplines” that help equip Christ-followers to become spiritual champions?
4. If one were an Olympic runner, what would qualify as “running aimlessly” and how would this hinder a person from becoming a real champion?
5. As a professional boxer, what would qualify as just “beating the air” and how would this hinder a person from becoming a real champion?
6. What might be involved in an athlete’s “beating his body like a slave” to become a champion?
7. What are the spiritual implications of “beating our bodies like slaves” in order to win the prize?
8. Who are some Christ-followers, in the New Covenant Scriptures, we might compare to “champion athletes”?
9. What marked the defining difference between “spiritual champions in Scripture” from more typical Christ-followers in the earliest community of faith?
10. In my own walk with the Lord, who are some Christ-followers who resemble “champion athletes” in light of their discipline and effectiveness?
11. What marks the defining difference between the “spiritual champions,” we may know from more typical Christ-followers in the Lord today?
12. How does the “discipline and excellence” of my personal spiritual walk help determine the intensity of impact my “preaching to others” may have as well as the overall influence I may have on the quality of their walk with the Lord?
13. What all might be involved in a Christ-follower’s becoming “disqualified for the prize”?
· FAITHFULNESS REQUIRES US TO “REACH A LITTLE HIGHER”
GOD’S WORD: I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him, since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.
(Philippians 1:20-21, 27-30, NIV)
REFLECTION-DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. What was the level of “expectation and hope” which the Apostle Paul held onto about his being able to move beyond shame?
2. What is the difference between “guilt and shame”?
3. How do true Christ-followers deal with “real guilt” in their lives?
4. How might the “residue of shame” differ from the “reality of guilt” in my life?
5. Why is it so important that I get rid of my “weight of guilt” in order to prepare for spiritual victory?
6. What does carrying around an unnecessary “burden of shame” say about the maturity of my faith in the Lord?
7. What all is involved in “Christ being exalted in my body” as I face the challenges of day-to-day living?
8. What all is involved in “Christ being exalted in my body” as I face the inevitability of death?
9. What does this mean: “For me to live is Christ”?
10. What does this mean: “To die is gain”?
11. What does this mean: “Stand firm in one spirit”?
12. What does this mean: “Contend as one man for the faith of the Gospel”?
13. What kind of spiritual training do we need to face opposition “without being afraid”?
14. How is spiritual boldness the “badge of a champion” as he faces opposition?
15. Where does this kind of “life or death boldness” come from and how do I tap into to such power?
16. How deeply do I really understand and believe that “suffering is an inevitable consequence of training” for a spiritual champion?
17. What is some of the “suffering I might expect” in training for heaven’s Olympics?