Connect In the coming year, how do you long to grow as a disciple of Jesus? What will help you to do that?
Warm-Up
- What do you think about running? Is it something you enjoy or not?
Read Hebrews 12:1-3
- How does the writer to the Hebrews describe the Christian life?
- Who marks out the race for us? Why does that matter?
- What are we to throw off? What are the types of things that hinder you? (If you are not sure, ask a trusted Christian friend what they might notice.)
- How does sin entangle?
- How do you identify and throw off sin? What particular sins might need your attention?
- Are we saved by throwing off sin? What is our motivation to throw off sin?
- What type of things demand perseverance? Why does the Christian life demand perseverance?
- What are the two possible “finish lines” for each Christian?
Read Hebrews 10:32-37
- What type of things had the first recipients of the letter already endured?
- Why were they still needing to persevere?
- Why should we expect that we will still need to persevere this coming year?
- What is the benefit of being surrounded by a cloud of witnesses?
- Who are people who encourage you in their perseverance in faith?
Read Hebrews 12:1-3
- What do you think most of your life is focused on? Who are we encouraged to run fixing our eyes on?
- What does it mean that Jesus is the pioneer and the perfector of faith?
- Why does it help to consider or meditate that Jesus endured opposition? How does his endurance affect us today?
- Why should we consider when Jesus will return?
- How do we know that Jesus was victorious in his race? Why does fixing our eyes on the victorious Jesus help run today?
What do you find helpful to continuing to fix your eyes on Jesus?
