Text: Psalm 62; 1 Peter 5:5-11; 2 Timothy 4:6-8
Questions:
- Describe a person who is steadfast. What characteristics will he/she evidence?
- In what ways might our steadfastness in the Lord come under attack? How can we resist and overcome?
- How might our steadfastness affect others? How might our lack of stability affect others?
- How is stability proven? (through time)
- What steps can we take to develop a stable Christian walk? (The disciplines of prayer, Bible reading, church attendance. Choose faithful role models. Think about choices rather than acting impulsively. Listen and submit to those in spiritual authority. Make God your life focus-avoid distractions.)
- Using the following verses, identify causes of instability. Luke 9:62 (looking back to world); Galatians 5:1(becoming entangled in bondage); Hebrews 2:1 (letting slip the “things which we have heard”); Hebrews13:9 (diverse and strange doctrines); 2 Peter 3:17 (led away by the wicked).
- What benefits does stability bring into our lives? What negative results does instability bring?
- Hebrews 12:2 tells us that Jesus endured the cross because of “the joy that was set before him.” What joys are set before us to help us stay in the spiritual race? (Matthew 25:23, Romans 8:18-23, 1 Cor. 9:24-25, 2Cor. 4:16-18, Philippians 3:2021, 2 Timothy 2:10, Revelation 21:1-7)
- Name some Biblical or personally known examples of stability and describe some of the trials they endured.(Jesus, Paul, Caleb, Enoch)
- You did something rash, impulsive—even stupid. Your testimony of stability has suffered. What can you do to rectify this? (Admit, don’t excuse your behavior. Repent before God. Make amends where necessary.Keep on going! If mistakes are properly dealt with, God restores.)
Possible Opener:
Use the verse: 1 Corinthians 15:58. Have one student stand on a chair/table and another on the floor. Ask the student on the table to try to pull the one on the floor up to the higher surface. He will find that is very difficult; it is much easier to pull the higher one down. Point: We don’t want to be pulled down. We can hold on with Christ’s help!
Keys to Steadfastness:
1 Corinthians 15:58 - abounding in the work of the Lord
Philippians 1:27 - unity
1 Peter 5:8-10 - watch for and resist devil
2 Peter 3:17-18 - guard against being led away; grow in grace
Hebrews 12:17 - learn from correction
James 1:12 - endure temptation
James 5:11 - (be) happy
1 Peter 2:19 - refuse to be offended when suffer wrongfully
Job 17:9 - clean hands
Galatians 6:9 - keep on doing right
Hebrews 12:1 - lay aside hindrances
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