All of us deal with trials in this life, don’t we? Some are really small, but some are life-changing. Sometimes we don’t know if we can get through them. James, the brother of Jesus, gives us three keys for dealing with trials in our life. Our youth pastor, Jason Turner, walks us through those three keys, and shows us how we can endure.
Lifegroup discussion questions after the jump!
If you’re the life group leader, have everyone in your group open this page on their mobile device. These questions are based on Sunday’s message. Remind them that they can always catch up on anything they missed right here on this website.
James tells us that we are to endure our trials, because endurance is how God completes us.
when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.
James 1:4
Does it seem like those are easy words to say, but difficult to live out?
Sometimes I wonder about my ability to endure… I can barely sit alone in a quiet room for 10 minutes! I give up quickly and turn on the TV, reach for my mobile phone, or turn on the computer. If I can’t endure a few minutes of quiet, how can I endure the real trials that come my way? Am I the only one? Are you this way at all?
So what are some of the trials that we have difficulty with in this life? Maybe you can name some easy ones, but what are some of the most difficult things you have had to go through, and how did they affect you?
God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
Ephesians 2:8-10
The bad news is that you and I just don’t have the strength within us to endure all the things this world will throw at us. Those things will beat us down, they will break us, and they will turn us into everything we don’t want to become. In short, we just can’t handle it on our own.
So, where does the strength to endure come from?
That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Corinthians 12:10
We can and will endure forever because HIS LOVE for us endures forever!
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.
Psalm 106:1, 107:1
So how can we appropriate this strength to endure into our own lives?
We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light. For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.
Colossians 1:11-14
Psalm 136 is a great reminder to God’s people of His faithful love. Why don’t you take turns in your group reading the statements aloud, and as a group respond with “His Faithful Love Endures Forever.”
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!
His faithful love endures forever.
2 Give thanks to the God of gods.
His faithful love endures forever.
3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords.
His faithful love endures forever.
4 Give thanks to him who alone does mighty miracles.
His faithful love endures forever.
5 Give thanks to him who made the heavens so skillfully.
His faithful love endures forever.
6 Give thanks to him who placed the earth among the waters.
His faithful love endures forever.
7 Give thanks to him who made the heavenly lights—
His faithful love endures forever.
8 the sun to rule the day,
His faithful love endures forever.
9 and the moon and stars to rule the night.
His faithful love endures forever.
10 Give thanks to him who killed the firstborn of Egypt.
His faithful love endures forever.
11 He brought Israel out of Egypt.
His faithful love endures forever.
12 He acted with a strong hand and powerful arm.
His faithful love endures forever.
13 Give thanks to him who parted the Red Sea.
His faithful love endures forever.
14 He led Israel safely through,
His faithful love endures forever.
15 but he hurled Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea.
His faithful love endures forever.
Give thanks to him who led his people through the wilderness.
His faithful love endures forever.
17 Give thanks to him who struck down mighty kings.
His faithful love endures forever.
18 He killed powerful kings—
His faithful love endures forever.
19 Sihon king of the Amorites,
His faithful love endures forever.
20 and Og king of Bashan.
His faithful love endures forever.
21 God gave the land of these kings as an inheritance—
His faithful love endures forever.
22 a special possession to his servant Israel.
His faithful love endures forever.
23 He remembered us in our weakness.
His faithful love endures forever.
24 He saved us from our enemies.
His faithful love endures forever.
25 He gives food to every living thing.
His faithful love endures forever.
26 Give thanks to the God of heaven.
His faithful love endures forever.