Lesson Nine: Blessed Are the Persecuted Discussion Questions

Opening Prayer

Heavenly Father, we thank you for this time you have provided for us to come together to hear from you and have fellowship in your Word and to learn and apply your Word to our hearts. We need you, Lord. We need your grace all the time. We praise you for your goodness and your love and mercy. Please open our hearts to you and to one another and lead our discussion. Help us not to fear, but to put all of our hope in Christ. Help us to remember there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. May you be glorified in all our thoughts and words and deeds. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

I. LECTURE

Will someone share how the Lord used the lecture to speak to your heart? Did anyone have any questions or concerns about the lecture? If you ever have a question or something is unclear, please let us know. We want to serve you in any way we can!

II. PLEASE READ THE MAIN POINT FROM THIS WEEK’S HOMEWORK

We are blessed when we are persecuted for reflecting Christ’s righteousness or speaking the truth in love or exalting His name or proclaiming the gospel. You are blessed when you suffer because you are faithful to Jesus and to the gospel. We can rejoice because we are being given the honor and privilege of suffering for Christ our Savior and His gospel. However, if we are not being persecuted, we may be laying down the gospel instead of laying down our lives for the gospel. The enemy is always trying to take us down. We can and must walk forward in Christ, in confidence, by faith, in grace to be who we already are in Him.  

III. QUESTIONS FROM THE HOMEWORK

Go through the homework, occasionally calling on women. Read scriptures aloud. After asking a question, remember to allow a brief period of quiet “wait-time” to give women a chance to think before answering. After pausing, if no one shares, go ahead with your answer, rephrase question, and/or move on.

DAY ONE         

1. What is true biblical persecution?

DAY TWO 

2.    Read Matthew 5:10-12. Who does Jesus say is blessed? What does Jesus mention as persecution? Will someone share a time you have been persecuted or witnessed persecution through name calling or slander or malicious deeds? 

3.    Do you serve Jesus as your Master? What are you going to do with the life you have been given?

4.    What does picking up your cross and following Jesus mean to you? Are you doing it?

5.    What are some of your fears, distractions, or priorities that are keeping you from sharing the gospel?

DAY THREE

6.    What is the opposite of living for Jesus’ sake? What does it look like?

7.    When do you bow to self? When do you see “self” take center stage?

8.    Who or what is your focus? What would you say is your primary goal? Each week? Each day? Who are you living for?

DAY FOUR

9.    What were the different responses from Luke 13:10-17?

10. When you are in a position to let your light shine, what responses have you experienced?

11. Would someone share what they wrote as their statement of faith?

12. What were your observations and thoughts after reading Luke 16:14-15? And John 8:31-59?

DAY FIVE

13. What will you do in the face of opposition?

14. What were the instructions Paul gave to Timothy?

15. What are three things that Jesus is praying for you that you find encouraging?

IV. PLEASE FILL OUT YOUR HOMEWORK ACCOUNTABILITY CARDS V. PLEASE RECITE YOUR SCRIPTURE MEMORY VERSES TOGETHER

VI. TAKING THE TRUTH TO HEART TIME

We will now focus on taking God’s truth to our hearts and bringing it to life. James 5:16a states; “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.” And 1 Peter 2:24 says, “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.”

Please turn to your Taking the Truth to Heart Review page. We will each have 3 minutes so that every woman will have a chance to share. Please record one another’s confessions on the Taking the Truth to Heart Guide on the following page so you can pray for one another throughout the week. Leaders please set the example by going first.

VII. PLEASE CLOSE IN PRAYER