the Bright Sadness. Week I

We begin a series that takes us to Easter Sunday.

The hope is that, especially for those who are in LifeGroups, we will see the next several weeks as an opportunity to deepen ourselves, our unity and our experience of God's Spirit.

Each Sunday, someone will be sharing a story that helps us to understand something we all intuitively know; there's light cloaked in our lives. There's hope on the other side of our valleys. There's life on the other side of death. No matter how difficult life gets, the resurrection invites us on the far end to persevere, strengthened by the hope Christ gives us. Discuss these stories each week as a group, allowing each group member some space to share their own story as well.

Additionally- There will be daily thoughts provided for each member to follow along with throughout the Lenten season. This will guide us through fasting, prayer and meditation. Please know that this is intended for all, but LifeGroups will be the most successful with it, already committed to a weekly discipline of growth as they are. The link to this resource will be made available in coming days, once Ash Wednesday officially kicks off Lent.

Use the passages below as you discuss Buddy's story.


Read
“….imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers,danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches.”

- 2 Corinthians 11:23-28

I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

- Philippians 4:13

“...we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance,and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,  and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”

 

- Romans 5:3-5

"Count it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you meet trials of various kinds,  for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."

- James 1:2-4

Discuss

• Why is hardship the path to growth?
• Why do we forget this in the middle of hardship?
• Are your energies and faith aimed more at growth, or the avoidance of pain? Explain.