« Small Group Lesson — Jeremiah 45
Just the Facts »
h1

Glory Days and Fantastic Futures

May 15th, 2008

I remember watching the movie, Hoosiers. One of the characters called, “Shooter” relived the glory of his High School days. He wound up being the town drunk and embarrassment to his family because he could not get over the long-passed disappointment of High School.

Shooter is not the only one to live in the past. How many people do you know who had their best years in the yesterdays of their mind? How many do you know who dwell in the past either in its regrets or in its glory?

Christians have the privilege of letting go of the past, both the good and bad. The best days for the Jesus followers are ahead, not behind. Faith and hope keep us going.

The following small group study is based on the sermon Richard May will present this Sunday, May 15, 2008. He has in mind encouraging the 2008 graduates to go forward and not live in the past. I hope this lesson is useful to you.

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

Glory Days and Fantastic Futures

Philippians 3.7-14

Open

Please discuss one of the following with your group:

  • What things make your life satisfying? Complicated?
  • What is your favorite season of the year? Why?

Study

Read Philippians 3.7-14 and discuss the following:

  • What do you think might have been difficult for Paul to give up when he chose to follow Jesus (see verse 4-6)? How could he have considered it “easy”?
  • What do you feel was Paul’s motivation for giving up those things?
  • In addition to going to heaven, in what ways do you see Paul as better off in following Jesus?
  • What is the role of faith in Paul’s transformation?
  • What is his conflict with the Law?
  • How do you think Paul could want to share in the sufferings of Jesus?
  • What things should Paul forget and leave behind? How do you think he can put these things behind and not live in the past?
  • What is dangerous about living in the past? Living in the future?

Apply

  • What things have you given up to follow Jesus? Do you need to give up?
  • How is giving up these things a participation in the “suffering of Christ”?
  • What can you do to keep looking ahead instead of behind?
  • In what every day, practical ways have you seen that you are better off following Jesus?

  

Leave a Comment

You must be logged in to post a comment.