Five Things God Uses to Grow Your Faith Bible Study Participant's Guide
By Andy Stanley
()
About this ebook
Imagine what life would be like if you had PERFECT faith.
In this video-based Bible study (DVD sold separately), pastor and best-selling author Andy Stanley builds a biblical case for five things God uses to grow BIG faith.
Imagine how different your outlook on life would be if you had absolute confidence that God was with you. Imagine how differently you would respond to difficulties, temptations, and even good things if you believed with certainty that God was in all of it and was planning to leverage every circumstance for good.
This Participant Guide is filled with helpful discussion starters, video overviews, a Leader's Guide and much more. It's designed to be used with the companion Five Things God Uses to Grow Your Faith DVD (sold separately). When used together they provide a powerful catalyst for spiritual growth.
Sessions include:
1. Big Faith
2. Practical Teaching
3. Providential Relationships
4. Private Disciplines
5. Personal Ministry
6. Pivotal Circumstances
Andy Stanley
Communicator, author, and pastor Andy Stanley founded Atlanta-based North Point Ministries (NPM) in 1995. Today, NPM consists of eight churches in the Atlanta area and a network of 180 churches around the globe that collectively serve over 200,000 people weekly. As host of Your Move with Andy Stanley, which delivers over 10.5 million messages each month through television, digital platforms, and podcasts, and author of more than 20 books, including Irresistible; Better Decisions, Fewer Regrets; and Deep & Wide, Andy is considered one of the most influential pastors in America.
Read more from Andy Stanley
How to Lead When You're Not in Charge: Leveraging Influence When You Lack Authority Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Deep and Wide: Creating Churches Unchurched People Love to Attend Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Better Decisions, Fewer Regrets: 5 Questions to Help You Determine Your Next Move Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Irresistible: Reclaiming the New that Jesus Unleashed for the World Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5How to Be Rich: It's Not What You Have. It's What You Do With What You Have. Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Grace of God: The Gift We Don't Deserve. The Love WE Can't Believe. Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Principle of the Path: How to Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The New Rules for Love, Sex, and Dating Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Courageous Faith: My Story From a Life of Obedience Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Parenting: Getting It Right Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWhy Easter Matters Bible Study Guide Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWho Needs Christmas Bible Study Guide Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsFields of Gold Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Irresistible Bible Study Guide: Reclaiming the New That Jesus Unleashed for the World Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBetter Decisions, Fewer Regrets Bible Study Guide: 5 Questions to Help You Determine Your Next Move Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Community Bible Study Conversation Guide: Starting Well in Your Small Group Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Parenting Bible Study Guide plus Streaming Video: Getting It Right Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsGuardrails Bible Study Guide, Updated Edition: Avoiding Regret in Your Life Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Related to Five Things God Uses to Grow Your Faith Bible Study Participant's Guide
Related ebooks
Starting Point Conversation Guide Revised Edition: A Conversation About Faith Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsDiscovering Your Identity Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsFollow Bible Study Participant's Guide: No Experience Necessary Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Christian Bible Study Participant's Guide: It's Not What You Think Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCommunity Bible Study Conversation Guide: Starting Well in Your Small Group Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Guardrails Bible Study Guide, Updated Edition: Avoiding Regret in Your Life Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWhat Makes You Happy Bible Study Participant's Guide: It's Not What You'd Expect Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Why in the World Bible Study Participant's Guide: The Reason God Became One of Us Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsIrresistible Bible Study Guide: Reclaiming the New That Jesus Unleashed for the World Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsTaking Responsibility for Your Life Bible Study Participant's Guide: Because Nobody Else Will Rating: 1 out of 5 stars1/5Going Deep and Wide: A Companion Guide for Churches and Leaders Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Grace of God: The Gift We Don't Deserve. The Love WE Can't Believe. Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Twisting the Truth Bible Study Participant's Guide Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsMaking Vision Stick Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Fresh Start: God's Invitation to a Great Life Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBetter Decisions, Fewer Regrets Bible Study Guide: 5 Questions to Help You Determine Your Next Move Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Principle of the Path: How to Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Jesus: Pure and Simple Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Seven Checkpoints for Student Leaders: Seven Principles Every Teenager Needs to Know Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5PASSION: The Bright Light of Glory Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Max Q for Youth Leaders Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Divine Mentor: Growing Your Faith as You Sit at the Feet of the Savior Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Why Easter Matters Bible Study Guide Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsIndispensable Church: Powerful Ways to Flood Your Community with Love Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsNever Settle: Choices, Chain Reactions, and the Way Out of Lukewarminess Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsRefuel: An Uncomplicated Guide to Connecting with God Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5If Participant's Guide: Trading Your If Only Regrets for God's What If Possibilities Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsMentor Like Jesus Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5What's Next?: The Journey to Know God, Find Freedom, Discover Purpose, and Make a Difference Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5How's Your Soul? Bible Study Guide: Why Everything that Matters Starts with the Inside You Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Christianity For You
The Holy Bible (World English Bible, Easy Navigation) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5It's Not Supposed to Be This Way: Finding Unexpected Strength When Disappointments Leave You Shattered Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Mere Christianity Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Boundaries Updated and Expanded Edition: When to Say Yes, How to Say No To Take Control of Your Life Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: Follow Them and People Will Follow You Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Book of Enoch Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Uninvited: Living Loved When You Feel Less Than, Left Out, and Lonely Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Winning the War in Your Mind: Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For? Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Bible Recap: A One-Year Guide to Reading and Understanding the Entire Bible Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Winning the War in Your Mind Workbook: Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Screwtape Letters Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Boundaries Workbook: When to Say Yes, How to Say No to Take Control of Your Life Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Good Girl's Guide to Great Sex: Creating a Marriage That's Both Holy and Hot Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Changes That Heal: Four Practical Steps to a Happier, Healthier You Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Unseen Realm: Recovering the Supernatural Worldview of the Bible Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Your Brain's Not Broken: Strategies for Navigating Your Emotions and Life with ADHD Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Present Over Perfect: Leaving Behind Frantic for a Simpler, More Soulful Way of Living Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Girl, Wash Your Face: Stop Believing the Lies About Who You Are so You Can Become Who You Were Meant to Be Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The Story: The Bible as One Continuing Story of God and His People Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5New Morning Mercies: A Daily Gospel Devotional Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Anxious for Nothing: Finding Calm in a Chaotic World Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Grief Observed Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Habits of the Household: Practicing the Story of God in Everyday Family Rhythms Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Law of Connection: Lesson 10 from The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I'll Start Again Monday: Break the Cycle of Unhealthy Eating Habits with Lasting Spiritual Satisfaction Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Decluttering at the Speed of Life: Winning Your Never-Ending Battle with Stuff Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Related categories
Reviews for Five Things God Uses to Grow Your Faith Bible Study Participant's Guide
0 ratings0 reviews
Book preview
Five Things God Uses to Grow Your Faith Bible Study Participant's Guide - Andy Stanley
INTRODUCTION
Touching Every Story
by Andy Stanley
Imagine for a moment that you had absolute, perfect faith and confidence in God—in a personal God who knew your name and always heard your prayers. Even when life was rocky and things weren’t going your way, even when circumstances only got worse . . . imagine if the natural response in your mind and heart would be, God’s in control; he’s going to work this out; he always leverages bad things for good purpose; and he has a perfect plan for my life. So I’ll just wait patiently and see what he has in store for me.
Think how different your life would be. Imagine your insecurities being replaced by increased confidence. Imagine the ability to remain calm when facing temptations and adversity, even tragedy. You’d wake up every day knowing God was absolutely bigger than all of that, always there to walk beside you through whatever you encountered. You’d have no fear for your family, your career, your relationships, your marriage, and your finances.
Wouldn’t that be amazing?
A Little Irritating?
Maybe you’ve met people like that. They seem to have this mind-boggling, bulletproof, unshakable trust in God, even when they’re going through horrible ordeals. There’s something inescapably attractive about them, and we wish we had faith as strong as theirs. But we can also feel irritated. We’d like to try to rattle their childlike faith, to bring them back to the real world with the rest of us. We want to tap them on the shoulder: Hey, there’s more information you haven’t thought about.
It’s just so hard to believe anyone could have such absolute confidence in God.
But that’s exactly what God wants for all of us. He wants to explode our faith into something extraordinary. He wants us to have absolute confidence in him that influences every single facet of our lives.
And he’s at work to make it happen.
Common Threads
So how’s he doing it?
Over the years, some things have become clear to me and to those who work with me in ministry. As we’ve observed people and listened to literally hundreds of them describe their faith journeys, five things kept popping up in their stories. These five seem to be the things God uses repeatedly to grow people’s faith.
We’ll take a close look at all five in the weeks to come, but let me briefly introduce you to them.
First, there’s the kind of practical teaching in which truth from the Bible comes alive with startling relevance to our everyday lives.
Then providential relationships—God puts people in our paths that shape us and influence us in extraordinary ways.
Third, when we exercise private disciplines, like prayer, personal time in the Bible, and even generosity, God uses them to deepen our relationship with him.
Fourth, God provides opportunities for personal ministry where we step outside our comfort zones to serve others—and end up receiving the biggest benefits ourselves.
And finally, pivotal circumstances—something big happens, usually something unplanned, unexpected, and unwanted, and suddenly our lives and the way we think about God are changed forever.
Now you won’t find these five things tucked into some list somewhere in the Bible. And there may even be other significant elements besides these five that you would want to include. But in our experience and through observations over many years, these five in particular are ones that God uses consistently to take people’s trust and confidence in him to new levels.
And since trust is the key to any healthy relationship, the result is that these people experience a new closeness with their Father in heaven. Their faith enters a different dimension—it becomes personal.
That’s