Message Notes for November 1st, 2020

Series: Trailblaze – navigating life with God at the center

Title: Staying on the Trail

Staying on the Trail:

Spiritual Endurance

1) Remember and focus on God’s truth

2) Do not forget to look around and inside

3) Train and live in Godliness

Family/Study Group Notes for Week of November 1st, 2020

Series: Trailblaze – navigating life with God at the center

Title: Staying on the Trail

– Have you ever had a time in your life where you felt pulled in two directions? How about your spiritual life? What was it like? Did you find the need to pray? Why do you think we sometimes need to refocus on God to find the right path forwards?

– Read 1 Timothy 4:1-5. What is Paul warning Timothy of? What does he specifically tell Timothy to be aware of in the daily life of the church? In the society and time that Paul was writing to Timothy, some churches and people were turning back to law-based faith that stressed your physical body and tolerances vs your spiritual strength. Why does Paul remind Timothy about God’s truth? What are some of the things or distractions in our lives and society today that threaten to take us from the basis of God’s truth and love?

– Continue reading 1 Timothy 4: 6-10. What is the benefit of Timothy sharing Paul’s advise with other believers? Have you ever experienced an argument or disagreement that took a lot of time and did not accomplish anything? In a few words, what was it like? Why does Paul caution against this in the church?

– Paul uses the analogy of physical training to encourage Timothy to grow spiritually. Do you work out or train your body daily? Have you ever tried? What are the results? Paul speaks of physical training and relates it to how hard we should be training spiritually. Have you ever found your physical training (or training for this life) exceeds your spiritual training and thinking of heaven? What part of us grows strong when believers pray and read the word together? How does this affect the path that God is calling you to?

– Finish reading 1 Timothy 4: 11-16. What sticks out to you in this section of the passage? Why? Paul talks about in verse 12 of being an example to others and lists out five categories. What are they? Why is it important for us as believers to lead by example in all we do? Is there one of these areas that is harder to lead by example in your faith than the others? If so, discuss briefly in your small groups. 

– Gather in small groups and pray for each other. Pray that we as believers would continue to turn back to the heart of God and pray for God’s guidance on the path, community, and mission field he has put us in.