The key to forgiveness is confessing our sin and turning from it. We must acknowledge personal sin and repent of it. When we turn from sin, God promises not only to cleanse us of ours sins but to bring spiritual refreshment. 

Questions for further thought:
1. What could spiritual refreshment look like for you? 

2. What sin are you holding onto?  

Challenge: Confess the sin that is keeping you from spiritual refreshment. Give God an opportunity to cleanse you of that sin.

Since the beginning of time God has provided for His people. All He asks in return is for us to be faithful to Him and serve only Him. It’s easy to slip into a quiet rebellion and go our own way. Pastor Doug has said, “show me who your friends are and I’ll show you your future.” The same can be said about our actions and activities. The way we live explains where our commitments reside.

Questions for further thought:
1. Who or what are you committed to? 

2. How are your commitments serving the Lord? 

Challenge: Make a list of your commitments and priorities and then work to remove the ones that serve as idols. 

“Jesus didn’t come to earth to establish a new religion. He came to restore a broken relationship. He came to make the primary, primary again. The secondary activity of obedience to the law of God was always intended to serve the primary activity: to love God and enjoy Him forever.” ~Charles Swindoll. Secondary activities (serving, hobbies, etc.) aren’t bad as long as they remain secondary to the invitation of God: “Come to Me.”

Questions for further thought:
1. What secondary activities are you putting before your relationship with Jesus? 

2. How do you nurture your relationship with Christ? 

Challenge: Put aside those activities that you identified in question 1 until after you have worked on question 2. 
 

The shame and guilt of some people is seen by all, while others’ guilt and shame are kept private. We go out of our way to keep our hidden shame hidden from the world.  We bury it deep down inside and pretend we aren’t guilty. We even go so far as to publicly chastise the guilty party for their sin even though it may be the same sin that we are hiding. We may be able to fool the world, but we cannot fool Jesus. He knows all of our secrets whether we are willing to admit them or not. 

Questions for further thought:
1. What sin are you trying to hide from Jesus? 

2. What ways are you behaving like the Pharisee?  

Challenge: Repent for the things that are haunting you. Name each one and ask Jesus to take the burden that you are carrying. Don’t let His sacrifice for you be for nothing. 

I was awakened one night, overwhelmed by my past from before I was a Christ follower. Poor choices from 25 years ago that I hadn’t thought of in a decade were present in my mind. Shame arises in me. Anxiety builds as I relive my appalling choices.  I wish I could un-do it all and change who I was then. I repent once again and am almost immediately reminded that this is the very reason that Christ died for me; I don’t have to hold onto my guilt and shame. My actions from the past were for evil, but Christ is using them to draw me closer to Him today. I can rest in that knowledge and am now able to embrace my past. 

Questions for further thought:
1. What guilt and shame are you holding onto? 

2. What do you need to do to release that guilt and shame? 

Challenge: Read the book, ‘Jesus’ from The Greatest Life of All series by Charles Swindoll. 

Throughout this week we have discussed how the trials of life help strengthen our faith. Why is strong faith important? As you may already know, we are at war. Not a physical war, but a fierce spiritual battle for the souls of those around us. Only a strong, well prepared soldier is fit to protect the civilians and fellow soldiers in his/her vicinity. As John says, “we achieve this victory through our faith.” 

Questions for further thought:
1. What does John mean by “the world” in this passage?

2. How well do you understand the spiritual battle all Christians are engaged in?   

Challenge: 
If you’re having a hard time picturing how the events in your life may be part of the very real spiritual war happening right now, read Frank Peretti’s novels This Present Darkness and Piercing the Darkness. Then study the Armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18) and visualize yourself putting on each piece daily.

In this passage, Jesus is referring to the grief of his death and subsequent joy of his resurrection. But the following metaphor shows us that this concept can easily be applied to all of our suffering on earth. We tend to experience cycles of grief and joy in our lives. Sometimes the pain is relatively short, such as a woman in labor, while other times it lingers like after the death of a close loved one. No matter what, as Christians, we can be absolutely sure we will have joy again. 

Questions for further thought:
1. Why was Jesus so upfront with the disciples (and us) about the grief and joy to come? (see verse 33)

2. How can you come alongside those who are grieving and lovingly remind them of the peace and joy God wishes to pour out on them?

Challenge: 
Take heart, for Jesus has overcome the world! Start making a daily list of everything you can have joy about. On extra tough days, look back on your previous lists and allow the Holy Spirit to fill you with the joy you need to keep living for Christ.

Peter encourages the suffering Christians he is writing to by telling them of the eternal joy they will have. He describes their trials as lasting only “a little while,” which reminds us that our lives on earth are barely a blink when considering eternity. Our faith is compared to gold that needs to be purified by fire. Through testing, we discover the true strength of our faith.  

Questions for further thought:
1. How do you stay positive or “truly glad” when faced with hardships?

2. What spiritual markers in your life can you look back on to bolster your confidence during current or future testing?  

Challenge: 
When trials start to feel overwhelming, focus on what a glorious reward salvation is! We so easily become distracted by the struggles of this world, but eternity in the presence of our creator and savior will easily dwarf what we endure for a little while. The more we hold on to this truth, the stronger and more “like gold” our faith becomes.

Joseph had already experienced the injustice of being sold as a slave by his own brothers. Then, just as things are going well for him, his integrity is tested. He flees the temptation, yet is still punished for the crime due to another’s lies. The unfairness of Joseph’s situation angers us, but look at the key point in verse 21. The Lord was with Joseph and showed him his faithful love.

Questions for further thought:
1. When has doing the right thing seemed to make your situation worse?

2. Are you able to still trust God’s goodness, even when life is grossly unfair?  

Challenge: 
If question 2 is a struggle for you, read the rest of Joseph’s story in Genesis. See how God used his suffering to place him in the perfect position to save many lives, including those of his own family! Think about how God might use your trials to do something amazing!
 

When Jesus sends out his disciples to announce the Kingdom of Heaven is near, he is very clear that they WILL experience opposition. He mentions flogging, arrest, and death – not a very attractive ad for the position of Jesus follower! But he is also clear that “everyone who endures to the end will be saved.” This last part is the hope that we cling to!

Questions for further thought:
1. What difficulties are you currently facing that are especially hard to endure?

2. How can you learn to trust God with each situation, whether he’s calling you to action or to wait patiently?

Challenge: 
In verse 19, Jesus instructs followers not to worry about how to respond when they are arrested because God will give them the right words. When you face confrontation, look to your Father in Heaven to guide what you say. Trust him to provide everything you need.