WELCOME ICEBREAKER

How old where you when you learned to drive a car?

WORSHIP

Plan to sing songs that deal with the faithfulness of God.

WORD

In 2 Timothy 4:7 Paul writes; “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.” In this study we want to discuss how Paul was able to finish the course, to stay on track, to keep his faith and win the race.

Have someone read 1 Corinthians 13:13. Here Paul list three things that will endure. In order to stay the course all three of these must be a top priority in our lives.

Read the following verses on hope. Discuss the importance of hope helping us stay on course.

• Philippians 1:19-20
• Psalm 42:11
• Proverbs 13:12
• Hebrews 10:23, 11:1
• Romans 15:13
• 2 Thessalonians 2:15-17

Dr. Tony Campolo said, “Your past is important because it brought you to where you are. But the past is not nearly as important as the way you see your future. The way you see your future determines your thinking today. Your thinking today determines your performance today. Your performance today has a strong bearing on what the future is going to be.”

• What causes us to start to hope in God? Where does hope come from?
• How would you describe hope?
• What is the difference between faith and hope?
• What distracts you from staying on course?
• Why will our faith not work without hope? Why will our faith not work without love?

Discuss why we must revolve our life around God’s love and pleasing Him first instead of trying to be a ‘man-pleaser’ in order to stay on course.

• Mathew. 3:17, Luke 9:35 and 2 Peter 1:17. Why did Jesus need these words from the Father at these times in His life?
• Colossians 3:23, Galatians 1:10 and 1 Corinthians 4:3,4. What can we learn from these verses about how Paul kept his life on track?
• How do you keep you focus on God’s love for you?

After we make a lane change in our lives it is not unusual to wander if we made a mistake. Out of nowhere we are faced with conflict. During this ‘night season’ it will be our faith that keeps us going.

• Read and discuss the following verses about walking by faith.
• John 16:33, 1 Peter 5:9, 1 John 5:4, Romans 8:35-37, 2 Corinthians 5:7
• John 16:33 Amplified - I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]

WORK

Please remember that there is leadership summit this week.