Jul. 31, 2022

What If I Quit?

July 30 & 31, 2022

Primary Text:  James 1:2-4        

Previous Teaching:  What if I’m Lonely?

1)  Lonely and Afflicted

Psalm 25:15-18:  My eyes are ever on the LORD, for only he will release my feet from the snare.  Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted.  The troubles of my heart have multiplied; free me from my anguish.  Look upon my affliction and my distress and take away all my sins. 

DQ 1) What causes loneliness?

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2)  Never Will He

Hebrews 13:5-6:  Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you" [Deuteronomy 31:6].  So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid [Psalm 118:6]. What can man do to me?" 

DQ 2) How does God care for the lonely?

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3)  I AM in You 

John 14:15-20:  If you love me, you will obey what I command.  And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever--the Spirit of truth.  The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him.  But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.  I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.  Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me.  Because I live, you also will live.  On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 

DQ 3) How is the presence of the Holy Spirit within each believer a guarantee of God’s continuous, prevailing love for us?

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This Week’s Teaching

1)  Tempted to Quit

Psalm 22:1-2:  My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?  Why are you so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning?  O my God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, and am not silent.  

DQ 1) Have you ever felt forsaken by God?  When?  Why?  

DQ 2) Are you tempted to “quit” in some aspect of your life?  Why?  

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2)  Perseverance Under Trial

James 5:10-11:  Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.  As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered.  You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about.  The Lord is full of compassion and mercy. 

DQ 3) Why is perseverance in the face of difficulties important?

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3)  The Products of Perseverance

James 1:2-4:  Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 

Romans 5:2-5:  And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.  Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.  And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.  

DQ 4) How does perseverance yield benefits in our souls?

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4)  Running the Race

Hebrews 12:1-3:  Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.  Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. 

DQ 5) How did Jesus model perseverance?

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