Introduction to Small Groups:       CSGI046                             Contents   Bot   Prev   Next 

2 Corinthians 6: ⁹.... We seem to be dying, and yet we are still alive. We have been punished, but never killed, ¹⁰and we are always happy, even in times of suffering. Although we are poor, we have made many people rich. And though we own nothing, everything is ours. (CEV)
1 Cor 3: ^21-22... In fact, everything is yours, including the world, life, death, the present, and the future. Everything belongs to you, ²³and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God. (CEV)
1. How can we be alive yet dying?

2 Corinthians 1: ³... The Father is a merciful God, who always gives us comfort. ⁴He comforts us when we are in trouble, so that we can share that same comfort with others in trouble. ⁵We share in the terrible sufferings of Christ, but also in the wonderful comfort he gives. ⁶We suffer in the hope that you will be comforted and saved. And because we are comforted, you will also be comforted, as you patiently endure suffering like ours.... ⁹.... we felt sure that we were going to die. But this made us stop trusting in ourselves and start trusting God, who raises the dead to life.(CEV)
2. How does suffering increase our faith?

James 3: ¹⁷.... wisdom that comes from above leads us to be pure, friendly, gentle, sensible, kind, helpful, genuine, and sincere. ¹⁸When peacemakers plant seeds of peace, they will harvest justice. Phil 4: ⁸... Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. (NLT)
3. How can we be peacemakers with difficult / negative people?

Proverbs 24: ¹⁶Even if good people fall seven times, they will get back up. Isaiah 40: ³¹But those who trust the LORD will find new strength. They will be strong like eagles soaring upward on wings; they will walk and run without getting tired. Isaiah 57: ¹⁶... I won't stay angry and keep on accusing you. After all, I am your Creator. I don't want you to give up in complete despair. (CEV)
4. Where do we find the strength of the Lord?

Romans 8: ²⁸We know that God is always at work for the good of everyone who loves him.... ³¹What can we say about all this? If God is on our side, can anyone be against us? ³²God did not keep back his own Son, but he gave him for us. If God did this, won't he freely give us everything else? ... ³⁴.... Christ died and was raised to life, and now he is at God's right side, speaking to him for us. ³⁵Can anything separate us from the love of Christ? Can trouble, suffering, and hard times, or hunger and nakedness, or danger and death? ... ³⁷In everything we have won more than a victory because of Christ who loves us. ³⁸I am sure that nothing can separate us from God's love - not life or death, not angels or spirits, not the present or the future, ³⁹and not powers above or powers below. Nothing in all creation can separate us from God's love for us in Christ Jesus our Lord! John 16: ³³.... But cheer up! I have defeated the world. (CEV)
5. If God loves everyone, why doesn't everyone love God?

Please study the above references and then add your observations and applications:
Observations                                                             Applications
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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