Jesus sees the world differently than we do: somehow, even in the face of difficulties, Jesus claimed that he had “overcome” the world. What would believing that look like in our lives? How would tying ourselves to Jesus’ victory change our perspective on our current challenging circumstances? In this first week of our 4-week series, we’ll kick off the fall by looking at how one of Jesus’ disciples, John, was inspired by Jesus to live a life fully committed to overcoming and teaches us to do the same. Watch Full Service Discussion Guide To view a .docx version of this guide, click here. Before we begin, let’s take a quiet moment and pray for God’s direction of our time together. Then we’ll take a couple of minutes to go around and share where we’ve seen God at work in our lives this week. Introduction As we begin the Fall season, many of us are already faced with challenges. Life is like that! It can feel intimidating, uncertain, and sometimes even scary. We face things at work, at home, in relationships, with our finances, and in our own thoughts that can leave us wondering, How am I going to get through this? Fear can make our problems look bigger and ourselves look smaller. Sometimes it even convinces us that we’re defeated before we’ve begun. Jesus offers us a different way to see our circumstances. He never promises that life will be easy or that we won’t experience fear, disappointment, or pain. Instead, he tells us something much more powerful: “Take heart! I have overcome the world.” Connect Let’s start our discussion time with some “get-to-know-you” questions. What difficult thing did you learn to do that once seemed impossible? When facing something difficult, are you more likely to jump right in or think about it for a long time first? Who helps you feel more courageous? Opening When we face something difficult, our instinct is often to search for courage inside ourselves. Be stronger. Think positively. Push through. But biblical courage starts somewhere different. Throughout the Bible, people find courage by remembering who God is, what he has already done, and what he says is true about them. Their circumstances may still be difficult, but they begin to see those circumstances differently. Following Jesus doesn’t mean denying what we are facing. It means learning to see our present difficulties in light of what we know to be true about Jesus. This leads us to our main idea for the week: Through Jesus, we can overcome our present difficulties. Unpack Read each set of verses out loud as a group, making observations as you go. Afterward, discuss each of the connected questions before moving to the next set of verses. Read 2 Chronicles 20:12–17 In this passage, the ancient King Jehoshaphat and his people face an enemy they know they cannot defeat on their own. Instead of pretending to be stronger than they are, they turn their attention toward God. What stands out to you about the statement, “We do not know what to do, but we are looking to you for help”? What does God tell them about the battle they are facing? What is the difference between trusting God for victory and simply trying to convince ourselves that everything will work out? Where in your life might you need to say, “I don’t know what to do, but I’m looking to you for help”? Read Psalm 46:1–3, 10–11 In this passage, the writer imagines circumstances that feel completely out of control, so the writer turns to God. What images does the writer use to describe a world that feels unstable? What do you think “Be still, and know that I am God” means in the context of this psalm? How can fear cause us to connect difficult circumstances with defeat? What would it look like to see one of your present difficulties through the truth of who God is? Read: John 16:31–33 In this passage, Jesus prepares his closest followers for difficult times ahead. coming. What does Jesus honestly tell his followers they should expect? What does Jesus promise they can experience even while facing difficulties? What is the difference between saying, “Everything will be okay,” and saying, “Jesus has overcome the world”? What could it look like this week to live as an overcomer before your circumstances have changed? Action Step This is where we take what we’ve discussed and put it into practice! Read the action steps below and discuss how you can live them out this week in practical ways. Call out one of your biggest hurdles and recast it as “overcome.” Identify one difficulty that has been taking up a lot of space in your mind. What “defeatist” story have you been telling yourself about it? Bring that hurdle honestly to Jesus. You don’t need to pretend that it isn’t difficult or turn off unpleasant feelings. Instead, practice seeing that difficulty in light of Jesus’ victory: Jesus, you have overcome. Help me see this through your eyes. Take one brave step as an overcomer. What is something you’ve been delaying because of fear, failure, uncertainty, or something from your past? Your brave step might be having a difficult conversation, forgiving someone, asking for help, changing a habit, returning to church regularly, serving, joining a group, spending regular time with God, or taking another step you sense Jesus inviting you to take. What is one brave next step you can take? Share with the group so we can encourage and pray for one another. Closing Jesus never promises that following him means we won’t experience difficult things. We will face uncertainty. We will experience disappointment. We will have moments when we are afraid and wonder whether we can keep going. But our circumstances don’t determine whether we have won or lost. Jesus does. Our confidence isn’t rooted in believing that we are strong enough to overcome anything. It is rooted in trusting the one who has already overcome the world. Through Jesus, we can overcome our present difficulties. Pray Together As we wrap up, we’ll invite anyone who would like to share something we can pray for together. You can share or just pass. Also, below is a Journey of Faith Missionary we can pray for as we close. Missionary Focus Rich and Debbie Frazer Ministry Description Rich serves as the president SOS International, which stands for Spiritual Overseers Service International which focuses on evangelism, discipleship, and compassion. SOS International’s Nepali coworker, Pastor Pradeep Jha of Tabernacle Ministries, is actively providing relief to victims of the devastating flooding and land sliding in Nepal- focusing on food, clothes, water filter/hygiene products and shelters. Prayer Requests: For Rich to provide abundant support to Pastor Pradeep in his relief efforts. For Pastor Pradeep to strategically funnel his efforts and resources into meaningful relief for flood victims. Memorization Verse When practiced consistently, memorizing Bible verses can be an important spiritual practice that centers your mind around the truth that God has given us. John 16:33 “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” Daily Devotional Using a practice called the “Discovery Method,” reflect on the verses below. For each passage of Scripture, ask yourself these questions: What do these verses reveal about who God is? What do these verses reveal about us/others? What do these verses invite or inspire you to think, feel, or do? Day 1: Deuteronomy 31:6Day 2: Psalm 56:3–4Day 3: Isaiah 41:10Day 4: Romans 8:35–39Day 5: 1 John 4:4Day 6: 1 John 5:4–5 The post Overcome the World appeared first on Journey of Faith.
