
It takes courage to be a follower of Christ in our society today, doesn’t it?
Moral Courage – to do what is right when no one is looking.
Relational Courage – to forgive when you have been wronged, to love the unlovable, to handle a broken relationship.
Spiritual Courage – to be vulnerable with the sin in your life, to remaining faithful when no one is looking, to share your faith with a coworker.
Emotional Courage – to look back at your life and deal with the wounds, to share your heart with your kids and spouse, to deal with illness and disabilities, to handle a financial difficulty or loss of job.
The older I get the more I am convinced that it takes a great deal of courage for us ordinary humans to face life’s everyday challenges. Every single day you face choices that show whether you are courageous or fearful.
I want to suggest that every Christian’s life is marked by windows of opportunity that demand a show of courage, a step of faith required to follow Christ and fulfill His purposes. The difference between good and great is not a matter of knowledge or pedigree, but of the willingness to take courageous steps of faith. Do you have the courage to take a new job, deal with a marriage issue, face an addiction, start tithing or leave your comfort zone to talk about your faith with a neighbor? That’s what this first study is about.
Getting Started
If you have never met as a small group before, take some time to get to know one another. Each man should take a minute to introduce himself briefly, going over the basics, but knowing that you’ll have time later to go into more detail.
For fun, if it’s a meaningful piece of information, think of a sports team that best describes how you’re doing right now.
Finish by telling the group how they can help you keep up the momentum you developed from the conference.
Taking Care of Business: (again only if you have not met before as a group)
On every team there are certain organizational issues that must be in place for the team to work effectively and efficiently. It is no different for a small group. During this part of your meeting you will be looking at some ‘housekeeping matters
• Contact Information Sheet: The leader will get everyone’s contact information so the group can stay in touch with each other.
• Walk through the group covenant. At the end of this study is a Group Covenant. This would be a good time to read through it and make sure everyone is in agreement. Every good team has some guidelines that make the team stronger. This covenant is for that purpose. It is not meant to be a bunch of rules, but rather guidelines to make your group stronger and more effective.
• One important note before you start this exercise: A goal for this small group is to provide a safe place where you can be honest with other guys. Therefore, one of the ground rules for you to follow is what happens in your group stays in your group. This is vitally important! Everyone in the group must agree that they will not, under any circumstance, divulge what they hear in your conversations, not even with a trusted friend or spouse. Agreed? Good!
Warm Up Question
What is the most courageous thing you have ever done (and possibly your craziest as well)?
Comment on this definition:
Bible Study
The Old Testament is full of stories of courage and faith. One of my favorites is about Jonathan and his armor bearer. In this story they face insurmountable odds, but because of their trust in God, and reliance on each other they have the courage necessary to win the battle. Look at this passage as a group and discover the rich truths found in it.
I Samuel 14:1-14
14 1 One day Jonathan son of Saul said to his young armor-bearer, “Come, let’s go over to the Philistine outpost on the other side.” But he did not tell his father.
2 Saul was staying on the outskirts of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree in Migron. With him were about six hundred men, 3 among whom was Ahijah, who was wearing an ephod. He was a son of Ichabod’s brother Ahitub son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the Lord’s priest in Shiloh. No one was aware that Jonathan had left.
4 On each side of the pass that Jonathan intended to cross to reach the Philistine outpost was a cliff; one was called Bozez and the other Seneh. 5 One cliff stood to the north toward Mikmash, the other to the south toward Geba.
6 Jonathan said to his young armor-bearer, “Come, let’s go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised men. Perhaps the Lord will act in our behalf. Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few.”
7 “Do all that you have in mind,” his armor-bearer said. “Go ahead; I am with you heart and soul.”
8 Jonathan said, “Come on, then; we will cross over toward them and let them see us. 9 If they say to us, ‘Wait there until we come to you,’ we will stay where we are and not go up to them. 10 But if they say, ‘Come up to us,’ we will climb up, because that will be our sign that the Lord has given them into our hands.”
11 So both of them showed themselves to the Philistine outpost. “Look!” said the Philistines. “The Hebrews are crawling out of the holes they were hiding in.” 12 The men of the outpost shouted to Jonathan and his armor-bearer, “Come up to us and we’ll teach you a lesson.”
So Jonathan said to his armor-bearer, “Climb up after me; the Lord has given them into the hand of Israel.”
13 Jonathan climbed up, using his hands and feet, with his armor-bearer right behind him. The Philistines fell before Jonathan, and his armor-bearer followed and killed behind him. 14 In that first attack Jonathan and his armor-bearer killed some twenty men in an area of about half an acre.
Discussion Questions
What do you learn about God from this passage?
What do you learn about courage from this passage?
How is verse seven a picture of male friendship?
What does it take to develop friendships like this?
What situation are you facing right now that seems insurmountable and how can the men in your group help you?
Talk by Chris Brown
You are now going to take time to discuss and apply the talk given by Chris Brown at the 2021 No Regrets Men’s Conference. The talk is called, “ Courageous: How not to be an Idiot.” and it can be found on the No Regrets app under Conference Media/2021 Platform talks.
Chris Brown has served as a Senior Pastor and Teaching Pastor at North Coast Church since 2004. A gifted storyteller, bible teacher and conference speaker, Chris is returning to the No Regrets Platform as one of our most requested speakers. His humor and motivational style have helped North Coast Church continue to grow, not only larger, but also younger during his tenure. He lives in Oceanside, CA with his wife Amy and their three kids.
Notes:
Discussion Questions
Chris Brown mentioned four ways we might be like Sampson. Do any describe you?
- Assume great success will outweigh small sins we may regularly commit
- Confuse God’s patience toward us with His pleasure in us
- Equate the giftedness we have with the work of the Holy Spirit
- Spend too much of your life in enemy territory
Like Sampson, each of us has been set apart to be used by God for his purpose; what does that look like for you?
Chris suggested that the scariest verse in the narrative was when Samson awakened after having his hair cut but did not know that the Spirit of God had left him. How much of your life are you living on your own without involving God?
Sharing and Prayer Time
In closing, each person share one highlight of this first study and one thing they would like prayer for. The leader will close the time in prayer.
Hopefully you have had a great time in your group today. I encourage you to come back next week ready to go.
Assignment for next week
For next week you will be listening to a talk given by Eric Mason at the 2021 No Regrets Men’s Conference. The talk was entitled: Life Beyond Regrets and can be found on the No Regrets app under Conference Media, 2021 Platform speakers. There is a place for notes in Lesson Two.
Courageous Group Covenant
In order to grow in my discipleship with Christ and to build authentic Christian community, I agree to the following standards:
1. Total and complete confidentiality
What I hear here, see here, and say here stays here. I will say nothing that may be traced back or that could be injurious or embarrassing to my group members. My group leader will refer me to a pastor if I am contemplating harming myself or doing harm to others.
2. Share my life
I will be as open about my life as I can. I will be vulnerable with you, letting you know who I am as a person.
3. Unconditional Love
I will love you, respect you and affirm you no matter what you have said or done in the past. I will love you as you are and for what Christ desires you to be.
4. Voluntary Accountability
I will ask the group to hold me accountable for specific areas of my life. With my permission, you can ask me about the goals I set with God, my family, personal life, and world. I expect you to lovingly not “let me off the hook.” “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” (Proverbs 27:17). On the basis of this verse, I ask you to please share with me any areas in my life that do not reflect Jesus, because I want to grow in personal holiness.
5. Pray for One Another
I promise to pray for those in my group regularly and lift their needs to the Lord.
6. Sensitivity to Where People Are
I understand each person in this group is at a different point in his walk with the Lord. I will accept you the way you are, but encourage you to grow in the Lord. I will seek to create a safe environment where people can be heard and loved.
7. Come Prepared Each Week to Participate
I will have my work completed and I will make every effort to be at class; it will have high priority in my schedule. If I cannot attend, I will call the leader to let them know.
Sign:
Date: