Campaigners – Golden Triangle – Ordinary Events of Life/Temptations (Steve)

1.       One of the bottom corners of the triangle is the “ordinary events of life”

a.        Life presents itself as a series of tasks

                                                               i.      The things we do mindlessly are just “things that happen”

                                                              ii.      The things that are hard we call trials or temptations

1.       For some people the first trial of the day is just getting out of bed

2.       Taking care of ourselves, commuting, work and school, other people

3.       Really hard things like being betrayed, loss, death

2.       A lot of times we look at our life and complain about the thing we are going though

a.        The hard things in life we have to deal with

b.       The temptations that are too strong

c.        We need to accept the circumstances we constantly find ourselves in

                                                               i.      God has yet to bless anyone except for where they actually are

1.       We don’t have to go somewhere else or change who we are

2.       He is going to work and bless us wherever we are

3.       If we look at every situation and say “God isn’t in this” or “can’t work here”

a.        We will never see him move in our lives.

3.       Look at Romans 5:1-5

“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.”

Time in Small Groups (15-20 Minutes)

4.       We need to be able to look at trials as a place where we experience and find God

a.        We don’t want to try and put ourselves into  a position to avoid trials

b.       We also don’t want to pretend like it is the “end of the world” when things happen

c.        We need to see every event or situation as an occasion to see God

                                                               i.      The competence of and faithfulness of God will be confirmed

d.       James 1:2-4 (Willard) “Regard it as most joyous occasion when the various kinds of trials hit you. For you know that when your confidence in God is put to practical tests it results in the ability to stay with things – patience. And when your capacity to stay with things is fully developed you will be complete and whole, lacking in nothing.”

5.       In order to make it through with the challenges of everyday life, we need more than all this

a.        We need the other two points of the triangle

                                                               i.      Constant moving of the spirit accompanying us

1.       Allowing us to see Christ and His Kingdom

2.       Working in us to make us more like Christ

                                                              ii.      Incorporate “spiritual disciplines” in our overall life plan

Small Group Questions

1.       Read Romans 5:3-5

a.        Define Suffering, Perseverance, Character, Hope

                                                               i.      How do they each lead to the next one?

                                                              ii.      Why do we want any of these?

b.       Why does hope not disappoint? (Because it comes from God, and God does not disappoint.)

2.       Read 1 Corinthians 10:13

a.        How does God know what is common to man? (Hint: Hebrews 4:15-16)

b.       What does God promise when we are tempted? (No more than we can bear, always a way out)

c.        Is this encouraging, discouraging, or both?

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