EDWJ%20Extras-ND10
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Transcript of EDWJ%20Extras-ND10
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Soaring Above the Storm NOV/DEC 2010EDWJextra Every Day with Jesus group resource
www.cwr.org.uk/edwjextra
Session 1: The rollercoaster of life 1—10 Nov
IcebreAker
Life has been described as a rollercoaster with
all of its ups and downs. To what extent do you
agree or disagree with this philosophy?
key thought
Almost everyone experiences problems and
adversity. Christians are not exempt but can
often be confused because of their inadequate
view of suffering.
key verSe
‘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?’ Psalm 22:1
DIScuSSIoN StArterS
1. Why may Christians have an inadequate
view of suffering and adversity?
2. How has Scripture helped you cope
with adversity?
3. How can we be satisfied when there is no
satisfactory explanation?
4. What is the difference between optimism
and faith?
5. Why may adversity not be an adverse
experience?
6. Why may people react differently to the
same event?
7. Why may righteous and unrighteous people
suffer equally?
8. Could a miracle be defined as a suspension
of natural law?
9. Consider the subject of martyrdom and a
God of deliverance.
10. How might people carry their faith as a
talisman?
the exAmple of JeSuS
‘He was despised and rejected by men, a man
of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like
one from whom men hide their faces he was
despised, and we esteemed him not.’ Isaiah 53:3
prAyer poINterS
• Pray for wisdom and revelation as we study
this difficult but important subject.
• Pray for those experiencing adversity.
Session 2: Light in our darkness 11—18 Nov
IcebreAker
Describe a time when God has helped you
through an adversity.
key thought
We must be clear that there is no automatic
causal link between adversity and sin.
Suffering and adversity are not inconsistent
with the fact of God’s love.
key verSeS
‘When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said,
“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me
will never walk in darkness, but will have the
light of life.”’ John 8:12
‘For it is commendable if a man bears up under
the pain of unjust suffering because he is
conscious of God.’ 1 Peter 2:19
DIScuSSIoN StArterS
1. Why do we think there may always be causal
links between adversity and sin?
2. Why do we ask the wrong questions?
3. How can we turn setbacks into
springboards?
4. If it is impossible to answer every problem,
why do we still attempt solutions?
5. How would you offer comfort to a bereaved
friend?
6. Why may love embrace suffering rather
than exclude it?
7. Why may Rabbi Kushner’s view appeal to
many people?
8. What evidence do we have today that God is
still all-powerful?
the exAmple of JeSuS
‘Jesus wept.’ John 11:35
prAyer poINterS
• Pray the Lord’s Prayer from Matthew 6 in a
version such as NKJV, to include ‘the kingdom
and the power and the glory’.
• Ask for wisdom to comfort those in adversity.
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Soaring Above the Storm NOV/DEC 2010EDWJextra Every Day with Jesus group resource
www.cwr.org.uk/edwjextra
Session 4: The university of adversity 26—30 Nov
IcebreAker
To what extent do you agree with the
metaphorical proverb ‘You can’t make an
omelette without breaking eggs’?
key thought
Some of the greatest lessons and advances we
make in life are those which come out
of suffering.
key verSe
‘But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for
you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about
my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest
on me … For when I am weak, then I am strong.’
2 Corinthians 12:9—10
DIScuSSIoN StArterS
1. What has the university of adversity
taught you?
2. How could you replicate the role of
Mordecai in your world?
3. Contrast the reactions of Saul and David in
1 Samuel 18:5—11 and 24:1—12.
4. Why do our shells of behaviour sometimes
need breaking?
5. Give examples of the ‘theology of reversal’.
the exAmple of JeSuS
‘Although he was a son, he learned obedience
from what he suffered …’ Hebrews 5:8
prAyer poINterS
• Pray that God will turn your weaknesses and
adversities to strengths and opportunities to
minister to others.
• Ask God to lead you to those orphans, widows
and ‘have nots’ who you could come alongside
and encourage.
IcebreAker
Describe how some of your pains have resulted
in pleasure — eg dieting, saving for something
special, studying for qualifications, exercise to
get fit etc.
key thoughtS
God made us free, and it is man’s choices rather
than God’s that resulted in a fallen world of
pain, thorns and death (see Gen. 2:16—17, 3:17—19).
There is a universal principle that whatever
has the potential for pleasure has an equal and
opposite potential for pain.
key verSe
‘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.’
Hebrews 12:2
DIScuSSIoN StArterS
1. Should God have created us with an inability
to disobey Him?
2. How has God turned an adversity to good in
your own life?
3. Discuss the Queen’s comment after the
terrorist attacks of 9/11 in America: ‘The
pain of grief is the price we pay for love.’
4. How do our own emotions both reflect and
differ from God’s emotions?
5. Why do marathon runners endure such
pains of training and competing?
6. How may snow and ice (or other life events)
bring both pleasure and pain?
7. To what extent do you agree or disagree
with the quotes of Wald, Socrates
and Augustine?
the exAmple of JeSuS
‘… my joy …’ John 15:11
‘My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the
point of death …’ Mark 14:34
prAyer poINterS
• Pray for fully functioning emotions and that
you will not be so afraid of pain that you no
longer experience real pleasure.
• Give thanks for the times when God has turned
adversity to good in your own life.
Session 3: Pleasure and pain 19—25 Nov
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Soaring Above the Storm NOV/DEC 2010EDWJextra Every Day with Jesus group resource
www.cwr.org.uk/edwjextra
IcebreAker
A relational rather than a theological
icebreaker: What are your plans for Christmas
(including shopping and sending cards)?
key thought
We need to focus on God as He is and not as we
would like Him to be, because He is committed
to running the world to His agenda and not
to ours.
key verSe
‘To whom, then, will you compare God? What
image will you compare him to?’ Isaiah 40:18
DIScuSSIoN StArterS
1. Why do people want a God to serve them
rather than want a God they can serve?
2. How can our relationship with God
become stale and how can we maintain its
freshness?
3. How may ‘demandingness’ reveal itself?
4. Why should we cry for mercy before we cry
for help?
5. Why should God’s glory be our first interest
when we are in trouble?
the exAmple of JeSuS
‘… I have come to do your will, O God.’
Hebrews 10:7
prAyer poINterS
• Confess any self-centredness and
‘demandingness’.
• Tell God that you have come to do His will and
work to His agenda, not your own.
Session 5: God-centredness 1—5 Dec Session 6: Remember 6—10 Dec
IcebreAker
Play Kim’s Game to emphasise the role of
memory. Many small objects are placed on
a tray and covered by a cloth. The cloth is
removed for one minute before re-covering the
items. Wait a further minute, and then people
should write down all the articles they can
remember. Give the person who remembers the
most a bar of chocolate (from the tray!).
key thought
Don’t forget in the darkness what you have
learned in the light.
key verSe
‘Remember the former things, those of long
ago; I am God, there is no other; I am God, and
there is none like me.’ Isaiah 46:9
DIScuSSIoN StArterS
1. Why may communion be important to
our faith?
2. How do we lose perspective and how can we
keep it?
3. Are you an Easter Saturday Christian or an
Easter Sunday Christian?
4. How can we cope with disturbed emotions?
5. Discuss Tozer’s quote, ‘Always learn to judge
the future by the past’.
the exAmple of JeSuS
‘Do you still not understand? Don’t you
remember the five loaves for the five thousand,
and how many basketfuls you gathered?’
Matthew 16:9
prAyer poINterS
• Ask God to help in your reading, meditation
and memorising of Scripture.
• Ask God to fill you with the same Spirit that
raised Christ from the dead (see Rom. 8:11).
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Soaring Above the Storm NOV/DEC 2010EDWJextra Every Day with Jesus group resource
www.cwr.org.uk/edwjextra
IcebreAker
Give an example of when you have felt irritated
or angry — eg after receiving a parking ticket,
when dealing with unhelpful people, in a traffic
jam, listening to someone else’s mobile phone
ringtone etc. Are you a person who vents their
emotions or bottles them up?
key thought
Be willing to admit to any disappointment or
confusion that may arise or those feelings will
be internalised and wreak havoc in your system.
key verSeS
‘When I kept silent, my bones wasted away
through my groaning all day long.’ Psalm 32:3
‘“In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go
down while you are still angry, and do not give
the devil a foothold.’ Ephesians 4:26—27
DIScuSSIoN StArterS
1. Is it unspiritual to be negative?
2. How do you deal with negative emotions?
3. How does controlling emotions differ from
repressing or suppressing them?
4. Why does anger arise and how can it
be controlled?
5. Why should we be careful when making
friendships with emotional people? (See
Prov. 22:24—25.)
the exAmple of JeSuS
‘Then He said to them, My soul is very sad and
deeply grieved, so that I am almost dying of
sorrow.’ Matthew 26:38 (Amplified)
prAyer poINterS
• Confess any disappointments with God.
• Ask God to help you handle emotions properly,
in accordance with Scripture.
Session 8: Jesus is God wearing our flesh 16—25 Dec
IcebreAker
What do you most like and dislike about
Christmas? Which is your favourite carol?
key thoughtS
If I cannot avoid adversity, I will, with God’s help,
seek to use it for good.
God does not simply ask us how we feel; He
knows exactly how we feel because in Jesus He
has been in our condition.
key verSe
‘For we do not have a high priest who is unable
to sympathise with our weaknesses, but we
have one who has been tempted in every way,
just as we are — yet was without sin.’
Hebrews 4:15
DIScuSSIoN StArterS
1. Have you ever used apparently purposeless
pain that God has allowed into your life?
2. How can we guide our pains to fruitfulness?
(Consider John 15:2.)
3. Explain your own views on healing based on
your understanding of the Bible.
4. Why may identical experiences produce
different characters?
5. How can we thrive on difficulties?
6. How do the life and experiences of Jesus
reveal what God is truly like?
7. Why is it impossible to believe in an
uncaring God?
8. How should we speak to others about
suffering?
9. Why may we feel God does not hear
our prayers?
10. What may be the modern equivalent of
washing a person’s feet?
the exAmple of JeSuS
‘During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he
offered up prayers and petitions with loud
cries and tears to the one who could save him
from death, and he was heard because of his
reverent submission.’ Hebrews 5:7
prAyer poINterS
• Thank God for sending His Son, thank Jesus
that He came and thank the Holy Spirit for new
life in Him.
• Pray that others will experience Christ at
Christmas and receive His life, comfort
and strength.
Session 7: Being honest about our feelings 11—15 Dec
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Soaring Above the Storm NOV/DEC 2010EDWJextra Every Day with Jesus group resource
www.cwr.org.uk/edwjextra
Session 9: Just passing through 26—31 Dec
IcebreAkerS
What did you receive for Christmas?
Contrast a holiday-maker and a resident in a
tourist resort.
key thought
As a Christian, this world is not our home, we
are simply passing through.
key verSeS
‘But our citizenship is in heaven.’
Philippians 3:20
‘… they admitted that they were aliens and
strangers on earth … Instead, they were longing
for a better country — a heavenly one.’
Hebrews 11:13, 16
DIScuSSIoN StArterS
1. In what sense are Christians aliens?
2. How can our perfect future impact our
imperfect present?
3. What is the difference between groaning
and moaning?
4. What tension is revealed by the phrase from
the Lord’s Prayer ‘on earth as it is
in heaven’.
5. Describe your concept of heaven.
6. Review the ten attitudes.
7. What has impacted you most from
our studies and how will you change
as a result?
the exAmple of JeSuS
‘Jesus knew that … he had come from God
and was returning to God …’ John 13:3
‘They are not of the world, even as I am not
of it.’ John 17:16
prAyer poINterS
• Pray that our perspective of eternity
will overrule our perspective of time.
• Pray that you will learn and apply the ten
attitudes so you can soar above the storm
of adversity.