Glencairn Church

Going Deeper is designed for use with your small group, a friend, or on your own. Its aim is to create time for you to spend with God and his word. Do as much or as little as you like. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact one of our pastoral staff.

1. Pray for each other, our church and leaders, for the not-yet believers in your life, and for opportunities to disciple others. Share a recent entry from your Life Journal with the group.

2. Pain and suffering are never easy to endure, but it’s all the more challenging when you’re a committed believer, doing your best to obey God and nothing seems to get better. How do you respond when you’ve been good, and life goes bad? It’s tempting to complain against God when He doesn’t seem to be fulfilling His side of the bargain. What thoughts or
questions did the message raise for you? Which ones, encouraged you or posed a challenge to you?

3. Consider the life of Joseph as recorded in Gen 37-50. Scan the chapters for examples of how Joseph suffered, even though he was
innocent and/or obeyed the Lord. Can you think of examples in your own life where you have experienced troubles despite your allegiance to Christ? Read Gen 50:19-21. How do you think Joseph was able to come to that conclusion? What is required inwardly for us to be able to accept suffering even when we’ve obeyed God?

4. Read Rev 2:8-11. Smyrna was a church under great pressure, and yet there is no word of criticism or correction from Jesus. Why do you think that is? It may be worth noting that of the 7 Churches addressed in Rev 2-3, Smyrna (modern-day Izmir in Turkey) is the only one still in existence. Seldom has the pressure lifted over the last 1900 years. What do you make of that?

5. In Rev 12-14 we read of the cosmic battle where the Dragon (Satan) tries to destroy the Lamb (Jesus). The real target is Jesus, not his people, and yet as we get close to Him and are faithful, we experience the pressure of the battle. How might that help you be faithful under pressure? Satan is testing you, but so is Jesus. What are the differences? Is it possible that God thinks periodic pressure is good for the church?

6. What are the promises offered to those who remain faithful?

7. Take a moment of silence to consider how God is speaking to you. Is He asking you to make changes or to do something new? What concrete steps of response do you want to take? How can your group support you in these steps?