Glencairn Church

Going Deeper is designed for use with your small group, a friend, or on your own. Its aim is to create time for you to spend with God and his word. Do as much or as little as you like.

1. Pray for each other, our church and leaders, for the not-yet believers in your life, and for opportunities to disciple others. Share a recent entry from your Life Journal with the group.

2. Introduction – Many of the original readers of the “sermon” of Hebrews were experiencing a lot of trials and suffering. Some of them were ready to give up. This Christianity thing wasn’t working for them. So the author reminds them that life is like a race, an endurance race. It can be an agonizing struggle. But even suffering has its place in strengthening our faith and preparing us for when we see the Lord. But the only way you’ll be able to endure it is by fixing your eyes on Jesus – for he too faced
significant opposition before his victory. What thoughts or questions did the message raise for you? Which ones encouraged you or posed a challenge to you?

3. Discussion – What kind of exercise do you do? If you don’t exercise, why not? What do you enjoy about exercise, and what is difficult?

4. Read Heb 12:1-4. Let’s dig into this passage and answer some basic questions. Who are the crowd of witnesses? What role do they play? What are the weights that slow us down? Why does the author characterize life as a race? (The Greek word for race is “agon” – where we get the English word agony).

5. Read Heb 12:5-11. We all know that suffering is part of life, but the author goes one step further and says that suffering is necessary. What are the causes of suffering? Does God ever bring suffering into your life,
and if so, how can you tell it’s from Him? When suffering comes, most of us aren’t prepared for it – and so the author suggests a method to prepare – what is it? (see v11).

6. Why do you think the author changes the analogy from an endurance race to a Father who disciplines his children? If you are a parent, how has your perspective of discipline changed since you were a child? The
word discipline in Greek is “paideia” it’s where we get pediatrics. A Paediatrician is concerned for the overall health and flourishing of the child. How does this inform your understanding of the discipline God is talking
about? What does this word say about us? How then should we respond to suffering?

7. Read Heb 12:12-13. Suffering can be paradoxical, meaning we get weaker in order to get stronger. We can understand the principle in terms of lifting weights, but how do you see that in the race of life? What role
can suffering play in our life in connection with others that are weak?

8. Read again Heb 12:2-4. What does it mean to keep our eyes on Jesus? What was his suffering? What was his joy? What is ours?

9. Suffering is not optional, but our response to it is. Whatever you are going through right now, ask God to give you endurance, and humility to receive whatever he wants to do in your life. Where does God want you
to grow? Listen to His voice. Ask him to increase your faith to walk through whatever suffering you
encounter.