Effective Friendship: Pursuing Patience

Intro

Gospel

Be patient… How?

By setting the goal on the Lord’s return

parousia -16

running - one of my fears, injuries

to the Christian life

By seeing the benefit the farmer has in waiting through the dry times

The fruit is multiplying

By not grumbling (because of the nearness of the Lord’s return) against your brothers and sisters

Grumbling and patience

The tongue

Parent return

Be seeing the blessedness (because of God’s compassion) of those who remained steadfast

Prophets - Moses /Isaiah - promises of God

By setting the goal on the Lord’s return

Job

By speaking with integrity (because God opposes the proud)

By not grumbling because of the nearness of the Lord’s return against your brothers and sisters

Doublemindedness -

Keeping your options open doesn’t lead to patience… Keeping your word does.

By remembering the example of the prophet’s endurance

You are a friend of God when you delight in His return and when you keep your word like He does.

Be seeing the blessedness because of God’s compassion of those who remained steadfast

By speaking with integrity

My next step today is...

What do you need to see?

What do you need to say?

Sight / Perspective is important for patience

See the Lord coming back

See the Lord’s purpose as compassionate and merciful

See others’ examples are praised

Your tongue is important for patience

Don’t grumble against one another

Follow the prophets example and speak in the name of the Lord

Don’t swear - let your yes be yes...

What are verses you have memorized about the coming of Christ?

What are you looking forward to about Jesus’ return?

How does thinking and establishing your heart on Jesus’ return help you be patient?

In the dry times, what fruit being produced in your life for God motivates you to keep going? What different types of fruit do you think there are?

How does others’ grumbling affect your patience?

When are people most tempted to grumble?

How can you avoid grumbling in those situations?

How does Jesus’ near return motivate you?

What prophet seems most successful to you? Why? What can you learn about patience from him?

What does Job teach you about patience?

When are you tempted to make vows or promises you can’t keep?

When are you tempted to go back on your word?

Why does that hurt your ability to stay patient?

How will you work on seeing something or saying something this week to grow in patience?