Sunday School Lesson on Faith Topic Discussion

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Sunday School Lesson on Faith Topic Discussion

1. What may be some reasons that God won't allow an adversary to "pitch against" you church today? What corrective action do you need to lake?

We often feel that if we are meeting regularly on the Lord's Day. taking the Lord's Supper, giv- ing our offerings, and carrying on the other activ- ities of the church, then we are pleasing God. But just going through the rituals and motions of Christianity—doing "church things"—is not what God is looking for. God looks deeper.

When we get together but fail to meet needs, God is displeased.

out giving our warts, we are unfaithlul. When we practice ritual without practicing righteousness, God may allow His church to be refined through the fire of persecution from an enemy.

2. How do some practice "foxhole faith" today? How do we avoid this?

The old saying is, "There are no atheists in foxholes." When the bullets start whizzing over- head in time of war, suddenly everyone believes in God and starts praying! America saw church attendance rise dramatically following the terror- ist attacks of 9/11. The rise subsided rapidly in a matter of weeks.

This type of "faith" is evident when people do religious exercises fur the purpose of trying to please God during difficult times. Life may seem good at first, with no need for God. So a person stops going to church. Then problems set in. A pers. may feel that he or she has offended God and therefore needs to get back into church to ap- pease Him.

During such times, God may answer a person's prayers—or maybe He won't. It depends on the person's heart (compare Deuteronomy 1:45; Zechariah 7:13; John 9:31; Acts 17:27; Hebrews 11:6; etc.). Maintaining a heart for God continu- ously will eliminate a need for foxhole faith.

3. How do you respond to someone who ques- tions the goodness of God when he or she reads passages such as 2 Kings 25:7?

Passages such as 2 Kings 25:7 must be set alongside texts that speak of the patience of God (example: Nehemiah 9:30). Throughout the Old

1 Testament, God had given directives to Israel, r and then gave them chance after chance to do what was right. He warned them over and over concerning the consequences of failing to be faithful to His way. God is simply being true to His Word when He allows the enemies to overtake those who have abandoned Hint. The God who grants the breath of life to people has the right to take it back.

Even so, we must be careful not to leave the impression that every time something bad happens that it is caused by God. We live in a fallen world and are subject to its problems.

4. What are some ways that God has rewarded your patience?

God has promised that in all situations He will continue to work for good for those who are the called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). Also it is in waiting patiently that we receive strength (Isaiah 30:15). When we pray, we often want quick answers. Yet God teaches us to wait. If we wait faithfully, He provides the right answer at the right time. Our finances may be in shambles, and so we pray for help. It may not come immediately, but in His time God provides. Churches sometimes need to search for a preacher or church leaders. If they grow tired of waiting and hurriedly place people in those positions, then they will suffer for their baste. But churches that patiently wait for God to bring together the right circumstances are blessed with strong biblical leaders.

5. Why do some find it so hard to practice abasement when in the valley of despair? Many of us live in cultures that teach that we should have all of our needs met and have them met immediately. A consumer culture makes us think that whatever we desire we should have, even when (or especially when) in the valley of despair.

The political process in democracies feeds this drive. When we are continually told to demand our rights, toot our own horns, and strive to be "empowered," then it can be difficult to practice humility. The valley of despair should drive us closer to God, not closer to politicians

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