Startled By Grace Part 7: "Enduring Grace"

There are times in life when grace is immediate and obvious, but there are also times when difficulties seem to last longer than we think we can endure. God’s grace allows us to make it through those difficulties, but it is up to us to pray His word in the Spirit in order to gain strength and maturity in our faith. Read the key verses and discuss the following questions: Key verses: 2 Kings 5:1-14, Luke 18:1-8, Matthew 7:7-8, James 5:7, 1 John 5:14-15, Romans 8:26-27, Hebrews 4:12, Ephesians 6:17-18 1) Who was Naaman? What was he enduring in his life? How do we know that he was still experiencing God’s grace? 2) Have you had a time in your life when you felt that maybe you were unseen by God? When and why? 3) Why is it important to know who God is before tragedy strikes? Have you ever seen evidence of that in your own life or in someone around you? 4) Naaman gets upset with the way that Elisha deals with him, and thinks that he should have been dealt with in a different way. Have you ever received grace from God, but you were hung up on the delivery and unable to take advantage of it? 5) Naaman had to dip in the Jordan River 7 times. Why do you think God/Elisha asked him to do that? Why not just once? What lesson can we get from this? 6) “Two keys to endurance are persistence and patience.” What do those words mean and why do they lead to endurance? Can you still have endurance with only one? 7) 1 John 5:14 says the we have confidence to ask according to His will and He will hear us. Do you approach your prayers and requests with confidence? Why or why not? 8) Why is “praying the Word” so important? How can prayer without the foundation of the Bible be dangerous? 9) Can you think of a time that your parents allowed you to endure a difficult time for your own good? How does that idea translate to the way that God allows us to grow and mature?