Game On:
Staying Power
Start Talking: Find a conversation starter for your group or use one of these.
What has made you laugh or given you joy this past week?
How have you seen God moving in your life this past week?
How have you seen God moving in your life this past week?
Key Scriptures
We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies.
2 Corinthians 4:8-10 NLT
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.
Hebrews 12:1-2 NLT
2 Corinthians 4:8-10 NLT
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.
Hebrews 12:1-2 NLT
Start thinking and sharing.
Read 2 Corinthians 4:8-10.
What parts of this passage resonate most with your own
experiences of struggle and endurance?
What do you think it means that “our bodies continue to share
in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen
in our bodies”? How do you see that playing out in your own
life?
How can this perspective encourage us to persevere through
challenges today?
Read Hebrews 12:1-2. What kinds of “weights” or sins tend to slow us down or trip us up in our spiritual journey? How can we actively “strip off” these hindrances?
What does it mean to “run with endurance the race God has
set before us”? How is perseverance essential to running this
race?
What was the “joy awaiting” Jesus, and how did that motivate
Him to endure the cross?
How can Jesus’ example of perseverance encourage and
strengthen us as we run our own race?
What parts of this passage resonate most with your own
experiences of struggle and endurance?
What do you think it means that “our bodies continue to share
in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen
in our bodies”? How do you see that playing out in your own
life?
How can this perspective encourage us to persevere through
challenges today?
Read Hebrews 12:1-2. What kinds of “weights” or sins tend to slow us down or trip us up in our spiritual journey? How can we actively “strip off” these hindrances?
What does it mean to “run with endurance the race God has
set before us”? How is perseverance essential to running this
race?
What was the “joy awaiting” Jesus, and how did that motivate
Him to endure the cross?
How can Jesus’ example of perseverance encourage and
strengthen us as we run our own race?
Start praying. Be bold and pray with power.
Lord, thank you for your goodness and for your joy! Thank you for your presence that leads us and empowers us to follow You, Jesus. Help us to receive your love right now. We want to slow down and be with You; come and have your way. Pour out your joy on us Lord; let it be our strength! In Jesus name, amen.
Start doing. Let's focus on prayer/reflection.
Take time this week to reflect back on the message. Go back through the outline and look up each scripture. Dive into the bible and develop a habit of looking up the scriptures from each weekend and you'll be amazed at how much you will grow over time!