. SERIES-BASED CURRICULUM . FRISCO BIBLE CHURCH . Series Overview SEPTEMBER 2015 Objective Premise Theme What we hope to see God accomplish Why we are studying this What the study is about in us through this study Life sports serious and difficult battles The Triune God, knowing our desperate We are strong and courageous in Christ. that make strength and courage requisite need for courage, grants us the most for victorious living. Every one of us is important tool possible—His very STATEMENTS OF THE OBJECTIVE plagued by fears. Every person faces presence. The great encouragement “Haven’t I commanded you: be strong difficult situations. Yet by God’s grace, passages of the Bible are dominated by and courageous? Do not be afraid or we can be infused with inexhaustible the truth that the Father, Son, and Spirit discouraged, for the Lord your God is courage. We can face our fears and serve are present and engaged with believers. with you wherever you go.” as agents for genuine change. This grants courage for the battles of life, —Joshua 1:9 HCSB for conquering self, for engaging the STATEMENTS OF THE PREMISE world, and for imparting strength to “Being deeply loved by someone gives “Who shall separate us from the love of others. you strength, while loving someone Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or STATEMENTS OF THE THEME deeply gives you courage.” persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or —Laozi, Tao Te Ching peril, or sword? “Strengthen the weak hands, [Not to be used as an endorsement of As it is written, ‘For thy sake we are killed and make firm the feeble knees. Taoism, this quote does illustrate why God all the day long; we are accounted as Say to those who are of a fearful heart, emphasizes His relationship with humans in sheep for the slaughter.’ ‘Be strong, do not fear! whom He wishes to spark courage.] Nay, in all these things we are more than Here is your God. conquerors through him that loved us.” He will come with vengeance, —Romans 8:35–7 KJV with terrible recompense. TABLE OF CONTENTS He will come and save you.’” “Courage is not simply one of the virtues, —Isaiah 53:3–4 NRSV Series Overview 1 but the form of every virtue at the testing Courage for the Battles of Life 3 point.” “Therefore encourage one another and Courage for Conquering Self 5 —C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters build one another up, just as you are doing.” Courage for Engaging the World 7 “Without courage all virtues lose their —1 Thessalonians 5:11 ESV Courage Imparted to Others 9 meaning.” Appendix 11 — Winston Churchill “To dare is to lose one’s footing momentarily. To not dare is to lose Courage: The ability to do something oneself.” that frightens one; bravery. Strength in —Søren Kierkegaard, Either/Or the face of pain or grief. Middle English term (denoting the heart, as the seat of “You will never do anything in this world feelings): from Old French corage, from without courage. It is the greatest quality Latin cor ‘heart.’ of the mind next to honor.” —Oxford English Dictionary —Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics 1 . SERIES-BASED CURRICULUM . FRISCO BIBLE CHURCH . ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The content of this study guide is based on the sermon and personal study notes of Dr. Wayne Braudrick Senior Pastor, Frisco Bible Church. Lesson plans are developed by the Frisco Bible Curriculum Team. PERMISSION You are welcome to copy and distribute this study guide for your personal or group study. FOR MORE INFORMATION Frisco Bible Church 8000 Sanctuary Drive Frisco, TX 75033 972.335.8150 [email protected] www.friscobible.com 2 . SERIES-BASED CURRICULUM . FRISCO BIBLE CHURCH . Courage for the Battles of Life LESSON OVERVIEW LESSON 1 OBJECTIVE: We Live Courageously DISCUSSION We all know what courage is, but Theme Antidote to Discouragement we rarely try to define it. Discuss God grants His presence, the number- This first part of the “More Than what you think about when you one factor in human encouragement. Conquerors” series discusses our need for think of courage? What is it, and With His gift of personal engagement, a courage in several common battles of what is it not? person is enabled to live a life of courage. life: courage against pain, courage for We often think of courage being Despite all the battles that are real and the weight of leadership, courage in a displayed in dramatic ways, like painful in this fallen world, God’s grace crisis, courage in a chronic situation, and the passengers of United Flight 93 can give courage to each one who trusts courage to do what’s right. deciding to rush the cockpit of Him. These challenging situations often lead their hijacked airplane on God’s Firm Foundation Stands away from courage and straight toward September 11, 2001. But courage discourage. But our firm foundation in can be displayed in many subtle There are many situations over the Christ provides the antidote to ways as well. When have you seen course of each of our lives which call for discouragement based on life’s someone acting courageously in courage. Ultimately, courage involves unpredictable situations. either way? doing something you don’t want to do because there is a more compelling What kinds of situations call for reason to do it, than to not do it. courage? The compelling reasons for not acting Does courage imply or require a are often personal and self-centered: lack of fear? What does courage insecurity, shame, risk of personal injury require? or loss, pride, etc. The compelling reasons for acting courageously, on the other hand, are often others-centered Despite what it may feel like at times in and larger than ourselves: freedom, our lives, God is not against us. And, leadership, endurance, charity, etc. what is more, He will never be against us, either in this lifetime or in the next. Jesus These larger reasons must have a firm has assured us of this. … If the God of the foundation to overcome the intrinsic universe is forever for us, then nothing selfishness within our own hearts. There When discouragement from the battles can really be against us. … No situation. is no firmer foundation than that of God, of life begins to break upon your heart No circumstance. Nothing. Nothing can His grace, and His steadfast love for like a storm surge, recall and meditate on ultimately be against us because God is those who belong to Him. As new the truth of Romans 8:31: “What then forever for us. We can face the dark creations in Christ, the Holy Spirit within shall we say to these things? If God is for storms of life with great peace and us empowers us to be more than us, who can be against us?” (ESV). confidence [and courage!], knowing that conquerors over our selfish hearts, which Dr. Guy Richard recently offered this even at those times, our God is not naturally shrink back at many points insightful reflection on Romans 8:31: against us but very much for us in Christ.” which call for courageous action. “The beauty of the gospel message is that God really is for us in Christ Jesus. 3 . SERIES-BASED CURRICULUM . FRISCO BIBLE CHURCH . WHAT DO YOU SEE? SELECTIONS FROM JOB (ESV) 30:16–17: And now my soul is poured Job, Courage Against Pain: Read the selections from Job to the right. out within me; days of affliction have From these and other parts of Job, describe the extent of Job’s pain. taken hold of me. The night racks my bones, and the pain that gnaws me What is Job’s behavior toward God in the face of his physical suffering? takes no rest.” Joshua, Courage in Leadership: Read Joshua 1:1–9 together. 6:2, 3, 10: Oh that my vexation were weighed, and all my calamity were laid What phrase occurs three times in this short message from God to Joshua? in the balances! For then it would be What is God’s promise to Joshua in verse 9? heavier than the sand of the sea... I would even exult in pain unsparing, for I Joseph, Courage To Do What’s Right: Read Genesis 39:1–10 together. have not denied the words of the Holy What reason does Joseph give to Potiphar’s wife for refusing her advances? One. KNOW WHO GOD IS WHAT DOES IT MEAN? In order for a man to be courageous, he must know the truth about who God is. Job, Courage Against Pain: Read Job’s courageous declaration of faith in 19:23–-27. Courage that overcomes fear comes What is Job’s attitude toward God during this time of physical suffering? Has from conviction, and conviction about Job’s faith in God’s steadfast love wavered at all? life and death comes from the truth of Scripture. What is God’s attitude toward Job? Does Job’s experience of pain mean that —Dennis Rainey God’s love has wavered at all? Stepping Up Joshua, Courage in Leadership JOHN 16:33 ESV Discuss some of the reasons God is commanding Joshua to be strong and I have said these things to you, that in courageous. For what is he going to need courage? me you may have peace. In the world How does God’s promise create the foundation for Joshua’s courage? you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. Joseph, Courage To Do What’s Right Throughout his life, Joseph never doubted that God was in control of every circumstance.