Living with God's Courage

By Sarah Young

In Living with God’s Courage, the sixth study in the Jesus Calling® Bible Study Series, you will discover how God calls each of His children to not only resist fear but also move through life with courage. God’s Word reveals that the Lord is always with you and always willing to empower you with strength from the Holy Spirit. When you walk in God’s ways and recognize that He is on your side, it gives the confidence to proclaim to the world, “The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” (Hebrews 13:6).

Each of the Jesus Calling® Bible studies includes devotional readings from Jesus Calling®, selected passages of Scripture for reflection, Bible study questions, and additional questions to help you apply the material. This study can be used for personal reflection and Bible study or in a small-group setting.

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Zondervan
• Release date: Jan 3, 2017
• ISBN: 9780310083696

Sarah Young

Sarah Young, autora de los devocionales de 365 días, éxitos de ventas Jesús te llama y Jesús siempre, fue misionera junto a su esposo, Stephen, durante cuarenta y cinco años. Como autora y como misionera, Sara estuvo comprometida en ayudar a la gente a conectarse en ayudar a las personas a conectarse con Jesús y la Biblia.  Sus libros han vendido más de 45 millones de ejemplares en todo el mundo. Jesús te llama ha aparecido en todas las principales listas de los libros más vendidos. Los libros de Sarah incluyen Jesús te llama, Jesús escucha, Jesús siempre, Jesús hoy, Jesús vive, Jesús te llama para pequeñitos, Jesús te llama para niños – 364 Devocionales y más, cada uno animando a los lectores en sus viajes hacia la intimidad con Cristo. Sarah creía que orar por sus lectores era un privilegio y una responsabilidad dada por Dios y lo hacía a diario incluso en medio de sus propios desafíos de salud. Conéctate con Jesus Calling en: Facebook.com/JesusCalling Instagram.com/JesusCalling YouTube.com/JesusCallingBook Pinterest.com/JesusCalling

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INTRODUCTION

S

ometimes our busy and difficult lives give us the impression that God is silent. We cry out to Him, but our feelings tell us that He isn’t answering our prayers. In this, our feelings are incorrect. God hears the prayers of His children and speaks right into the situations in which we find ourselves. The trouble is that our lives are often too hectic, our minds too distracted, for us to take in what He offers.

This Jesus Calling Bible study is designed to help individuals and groups meditate on the words of Scripture and hear them not just as words said to people long ago but as words said to us today in the here and now. The goal is to help the heart open up and respond to what the mind reads—to encounter the living God as He speaks through the Scriptures. The writer to the Hebrews tells us:

In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.

—H

EBREWS

1:1–3

God has spoken to us through His Son, Jesus Christ. The New Testament gives us the chance to walk with Jesus, see what He does, and hear Him speak into the sometimes confusing situations in which we find ourselves. The Old Testament tells us the story of how God prepared a people to be the family of Jesus, and in the experiences of those men and women we find our own lives mirrored.

THE GOAL OF THIS SERIES

The Jesus Calling Bible Study Series offers you a chance to lay down your cares, enter God’s Presence, and hear Him speak through His Word. You will get to spend some time silently studying a passage of Scripture, and then, if you’re meeting with a group, openly sharing your insights and hearing what others discovered. You’ll also get to discuss excerpts from the Jesus Calling devotional that relate to the themes of the Bible passages. In this way, you will learn how to better make space in your life for the Spirit of God to speak to you through the Word of God and the people of God.

THE FLOW OF EACH SESSION

Each session of this study guide contains the following elements:

• CONSIDER IT. The two questions in this opening section serve as an icebreaker to help you start thinking about the theme of the session, connecting it to your own past or present experience and allowing you to get to know the others in your group more deeply. If you’ve had a busy day and your mind is full of distractions, these questions can help you better focus.

• EXPERIENCE IT. Here you will find two readings from Jesus Calling along with some questions for reflection. This is your chance to talk with others about the biblical principles found within the Jesus Calling devotions. Can you relate to what each reading describes? What insights from God’s Word does it illuminate? What does it motivate you to do? This section will assist you in applying these biblical principles to your everyday habits.

• STUDY IT. Next you’ll explore a Scripture passage connected to the session topic and the readings from Jesus Calling. You will not only analyze these Bible passages but also pray through them in ways designed to engage your heart and your head. You’ll first talk with your group about what the verse or verses means and then spend several minutes in silence, letting God speak into your life through His Word.

• LIVE IT. Finally, you will find five days’ worth of suggested Scripture passages that you can pray through on your own during the week. Suggested questions for additional study and reflection are provided.

FOR LEADERS

If you are leading a group through this study guide, please see the Leader’s Notes at the end of the guide. You’ll find background on the design of the study as well as suggested answers for some of the study questions.

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SESSION 1

COURAGE TO OBEY THE LORD’S INSTRUCTIONS

CONSIDER IT

God’s instructions for our lives often take us out of our comfort zone and into a place where we need to rely on Him to get the job done. We follow Him not just into the green pastures but also through the valley of the shadow of death (see Psalm 23). Fear is a natural response to such times of risk, and it is only through courage that we can press forward and obey God even when there are good reasons to be afraid. In this first session, we’ll put ourselves into the shoes of the Israelites in the Bible and look at the risk God asked them to take to secure the Promised Land. We will look at the people’s fears and reactions and see that the courage to obey God is firmly founded in the promises of God.

1. What thoughts and images come to mind when you hear the word courage? What sorts of individuals or professions do you think of?

[Your Response Here]

2. Do you relate to the idea of needing courage in your life? Why or why not?

[Your Response Here]

EXPERIENCE IT

"Do not be afraid, for I am with you. Hear Me saying Peace, be still to your restless heart. No matter what happens, I will never leave you or forsake you. Let this assurance soak into your mind and heart, until you overflow with Joy. Though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, you need not fear!

"The media relentlessly proclaim bad news: for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. A steady diet of their fare will sicken you. Instead of focusing on fickle, ever-changing news broadcasts, tune in to the living Word—the One who is always the same. Let Scripture saturate your mind and heart, and you will walk steadily along the path of Life. Even though you don’t know what will happen tomorrow, you can be absolutely sure of your ultimate destination. I hold you by your right hand, and afterward I will take you into Glory."

—F

ROM

J

ESUS

C

ALLING

, A

PRIL

20

3. Jesus calmed a storm by saying, Peace, be still (Mark 4:39 NKJV), to the wind and waves. How easy is it for you to be at peace in your heart? What helps you? What gets in the way?

[Your Response Here]

4. How does tuning into the Word of God give us courage in the midst of the media’s constant barrage of bad news?

[Your Response Here]

"Be willing to go out on a limb with Me. If that is where I am leading you, it is the safest place to be. Your desire to live a risk-free life is a form of unbelief. Your longing to live close to Me is at odds with your attempts to minimize risk. You are approaching a crossroads in your journey. In order to follow Me wholeheartedly, you must relinquish your tendency to play it safe.

"Let Me lead you step by step through this day. If your primary focus is on Me, you can walk along perilous paths without being afraid. Eventually, you will learn to relax and enjoy