Sermon Discussion Guide
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Soft: courage
A series of sermons examining the softer, easier way. Though persons will travel a hard, disciplined road to attain the tangible things of life (power, money, prestige, etc.), why is it that we avoid that hard road in pursuit of the greater goals of faith, hope, and, most of all, love?
Find courage to do the hard things by giving your fears to God.
Find courage to do the hard things by trusting in the One who fights for you.
Find courage to do the hard things by remembering who has already defeated the enemy of your soul.
1.) Read Nehemiah 1:1-4 and Nehemiah 2:1-6. In prayer Nehemiah finds the courage to say what he needs to say. The king might very well be outraged at his request. What is it about prayer that brings courage to God’s children? The root meaning of the word “prayer” is, “to pour out your heart.” What do you experience when you pour out your heart to the Lord? What does it take to learn how to pray?
2.) Read Philippians 4:6-7. Share an experience you have had of finding courage to do a hard thing that confirms the truth of this scripture. What is it that keeps us from experiencing the promise God makes to us here?
3.) Read Nehemiah 4:6-14. The Israelites recite a litany of fears. Why are our hearts so prone to fear? The hard road of courage would keep the Israelites in Jerusalem rebuilding their great city. The softer, easier road of fear would have them all disperse out into the countryside and ultimately cease to exist as a nation. What softer, easier road of fear have you been tempted with? Pastor Craig spoke of finding courage by trusting the One who fights for you. What does it mean to say that the Lord fights for you? In what way have you experienced that?
4.) Read Zephaniah 3:16-17 and Jeremiah 1:18-19. What images in these passages speak to your heart? Why?
5.) Read Nehemiah 6:10-13 and I John 3:8. Nehemiah’s enemies seek to deceive and intimidate him into breaking the commandment of God so that they might taunt him with his sin. Why do they want to taunt him? How does the enemy of our souls seek to taunt us with our sin? Pastor Craig spoke of finding courage by remembering who has already defeated the enemy of your soul. How does that work?