What is one of your favorite activities to participate in? What makes you like it so much?  (Things like sports, video games, band, etc.)

When doing that activity, have you ever faced a challenge or a difficulty that was hard to overcome? If so, what was the challenge? How did you overcome?

Perseverance

Perseverance is defined as “continued effort to do or achieve something despite difficulties, failure, or opposition.”

Based upon this definition, do you feel like you’re good at persevering? Why or why not?

Why do you think perseverance is a hard trait to live out?

How is having perseverance important to the life of a Christian?

Read

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you bay mature and complete, not lacking anything. – James 1:2-4

What do you think James is trying to say to us through this verse?

When is a time in your life where you faced a trial that challenged and tested your faith?

What helped you to persevere through the challenge?

Three P’s of Perseverance

1. Pain

Anytime there’s a trial that requires us to have perseverance, there’s usually pain that comes with it.

Why do you think perseverance can be painful?

Discuss a time where you felt the pain of persevering through a trial. What in particular made it painful for you?

2. Process 

What makes perseverance a process?

Is it better to go through the process of perseverance or to simply ignore or avoid our trials? Why?

3. Promise 

What is the promise of perseverance?  (Hint: James 1:4)

What does it mean to be mature and complete?

 

Make it Personal

Is there a trial that you’re going through right now? If you’re comfortable, share it with the group.

Where do you feel like you’re at in the process of that trial? Beginning, middle, or nearing the end?

What are some things you can do to help you persevere through this trial?