Untitled Sermon

Endurance with Faith and Hope

Endurance with Faith and Hope

Focus: Christ, Character

Time: Four days

Context: Cohort, Team and Individual

Core Questions:

· Why does God allow suffering in your life?

· What gives you faith and hope in times of suffering?

· Will God ever abandon us?

Assignment:

· During this week, write your own Song or Poem about a time of suffering in your life.

o Give it a title.

o Make it about 100 words long.

o You will share it with each other on the last day of our time together.

Day 1:

Coming together as leaders under extreme pressure to lead in extreme circumstances.

Activity – Stories of the quake and other troubles.

(assuming this is a small group we can do this as a cohort – otherwise we will organize into teams and share – If teams, each team will agree upon sharing one of the stories with the cohort)

Individual Devotional Time:

There are many passages in the Bible that teach the reality of suffering in this life. Please read these passages:

o 1 Peter 1:3-9

·3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), 1 Pe 1:3–9.

o Hebrews 11:1 – 12:3

·

In response to these words, pray from your heart to God. Specifically, pray:

o That you will submit to God’s plan for your life, whatever that involves.

o That you will turn from anxiety and unbelief, and trust Him during times of suffering.

o That you will always find His inward Presence and comfort in times of suffering.