Date: May 31, 2020 / Speaker: Spencer Smith
Sermon Discussion
Fruit of the Spirit | PART 4 | Forbearance
Gathering Question:
What is one way you’ve seen God at work in your life this week?
Gathering Prayer.
Father, by Your Spirit, would you guide us into all truth. Help us to hear and be attentive to Your voice as we work through this study. In the name of Jesus, Your Son, we pray, Amen.
Opening Questions
- What stood out to you in the sermon?
- What insights did you gain?
- What questions did it raise?
The Fruit of the Spirit is…
- Reflect on the different translations for the fourth Fruit of the Spirit: forbearance (NIV), longsuffering (KJV), sticking with it (MSG), patience (ESV).
- What do these different words imply? What is similar? What is different about what each word means?
Exodus 34:6, 2 Peter 3:9, and 1 Timothy 1:16
- What are some implications of God’s patience for our life?
James 5:7-11
- Why do you think James connects patience to the return of Jesus?
- Reflect on this quote from Jay Horst, “God’s patience does not overlook anything. It simply sees further than man. It has the end in view. It has the true insight which knows best. (Theological Dictionary of the New Testament).
- How would you describe the return of Jesus in your thinking? Is it a back of mind doctrine (something you don’t think about all that often)? Or a front of mind expectation?
- How does the practice of patience draw us into God’s will for our life and the world?
- Why is patience so important when we suffer?
- What are some spiritual practices we can use to help build patience in our life?
Closing Prayer.