Lesson Nine: Discussion Guide for Group or Individual Use (click more)
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.
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!
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 Devotion: Blessed Are the Persecuted
Would someone please share what spoke to your heart from Day One?
DAY TWO
Quiet Moment - Read Matthew 5:10-12. Who does Jesus say is blessed? How does Jesus define persecution? What is our response to be? Have you ever witnessed or experienced persecution personally? If so, what was it like?
Going Deeper Question #1 – Is there anyone in your life that you are afraid to offend or be rejected by? Is there anyone you are afraid to lose as a friend if you follow the Lord fully?
Question #2 – What are the things that you cling to in your heart that take the place that really belongs to the Lord?
Question #2 – What are some of the fears, emotions, and thoughts that you dwell on?
Question #2 – What are some of the things that regularly trip you up?
Question #2 – What are some of the “priorities” that keep you from sharing the gospel?
DAY THREE
Quiet Moment – When do you see yourself taking center stage or longing for it? When do you become preoccupied with self?
Going Deeper Question #1 – Who or what is your focus? Who or what are you living for? What drives you? Who are you trusting to accomplish your goals?
DAY FOUR
Quiet Moment - When you are in a position to let your light shine, what responses have you experienced?
Going Deeper Question #1 - Would someone share what they wrote about affirming your faith in the Lord Jesus and writing the gospel in your own words?
Question #3 – Where do you resist righteousness?
Question #4 – What does it look like, or what would it look like, for you to be in hot pursuit of righteousness?
Question #6 – According to Jesus, we are blessed when we are persecuted…we should rejoice and be glad. Are you rejoicing and being glad? If not, why not?
DAY FIVE
Quiet Moment - What are we to do in the face of opposition?
Going Deeper Question #1 - What were the instructions Paul gave to Timothy?
Question #2 - What are three things that Jesus is praying for you that you find encouraging?
PLEASE RECITE YOUR SCRIPTURE MEMORY VERSES TOGETHER
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 and Bringing It to Life 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.
PLEASE CLOSE IN PRAYER
