James, Trials and Perserverance: Week 26 (April 24-30)
Perseverance Practice: Week 26| May 1-7
Communities @ Grace
Goal for Week: Practice perseverance during trials
45 minutes: Welcome, Pray, Eat + Mingle
If we asked your siblings or parents what you did most frequently when you were a child, what would they say and why?
What was communication like in your house growing up? How does that impact your family communication today?
15 Minutes : Review of last week’s practice experience
Review:
Think of someone who needs support. Decide what you will do to care for them using something you learned in this lesson.
What feelings come up when you consider if God is always faithful? Think deeply about where you might harbor doubts. Pray, asking the Holy Spirit to reveal how he is being faithful and how you can wait actively in the situation. Record what you learn and how the situation evolves.
Are you cynical with God or others? - “I’ll believe it when I see it?”
Take time each day to ponder the thoughts and conversations you have to see if there are times when you don’t have faith.
What does it mean that faithfulness is a “Fruit of the Spirit”? (Another way we are transformed to be more like Jesus) Examine ways you can strengthen this in your life?
How did this practice go for you? What is the Holy Spirit doing in your heart as a result of practicing this last week?
If nobody in your group has completed the practice from the previous week talk through these questions:
What is hindering you from practicing during the week?
How can we support each other?
How was your connection with Jesus this week?
40 Minutes : Introduction of Practice + Discussion Questions
How would you define the word “perseverance”? It comes from the Greek word hypomone, which means “bearing under”.
Read Luke 18:1-8
What does this tell us about the importance of perseverance as a Christian? (God will provide answers when we are persistent)
Read James 1:2-7
We all encounter times when we face obstacles that are beyond our ability to deal with them. How does James tell us to respond when we are undergoing a trial? (Joy 1:2, develop perseverance 1:3, Seek wisdom from God 1:5)
Can anyone share how they faced a trial that required perseverance?
What is God’s role when we face a trial and what is our role in that trial? (God is faithful, powerful and present and our role is to trust and rely on him).
Read Romans 5:1-5
What does this passage say about the role of suffering or trials in our life and how it changes us? (rejoice in suffering 5:3, builds character and hope when we persevere 5:4-5)
In the midst of a battle, do you feel that you accept what Paul is saying or do you struggle to make sense of what you are going through? If so, what do you do?
Read 2 Corinthians 8:1-4
What was the result of trials for the church in Macedonia and how does it reflect the positive outcome of trials? (God’s grace supported and encouraged them).
See next page for Practices next week, consider giving a copy to each member and reading through them as a group.
10 Minutes: Group Practice:
Have the group take 2-3 minutes to think about a situation in your life that requires perseverance. Share it with the group.
10 Minutes : Pray for One Another + Close
Consider praying as a whole group or in triads for personal prayer requests.
End on time in order to honor everyone’s time.
5 Minutes : Practices for Week Ahead
Take time to look back in your life to a period when you’ve faced trials and then list how you’ve commonly responded to them. Compare your response to those in the lesson and note how you can improve your response in the future.
Read the following passages that describe how God wants us to view trials and respond to them. Reflect on what God says about trials. How can the passages guide you as you face trials?
1 Peter 1:6-7
2 thessalonians 1:3-5
Hebrews 12:1-3
Reflect on how trials show the limits of our ability to control the events in our life. Write down how you are going to seek God’s wisdom when you encounter difficulties in the future. Place the results somewhere that you will see your response, like the refrigerator or message board, when a situation occurs in the future.