8 “Write to the angel of the church in Smyrna: Thus says the First and the Last, the one who was dead and came to life: 9 I know your affliction and poverty, but you are rich. I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer. Look, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison to test you, and you will experience affliction for ten days. Be faithful to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life. 11 “Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will never be harmed by the second death. —Revelation 2:8-11[CSB]
Are you trying to be faithful or successful?
SMALL GROUP GUIDE
Welcome
Weekly Vision Casting At Trinity, every Small Group is to foster a relational environment, which includes transparency, confidentiality, and accountability. Why do we need all three of these elements in order to have a healthy relational environment?
Small Group Guidelines Click here to view guidelines
Warm Up Question
Study: Head, Heart, and Hand Questions
Personal Prayer Requests
SMALL GROUP QUESTIONS
WARM UP QUESTION
What is one of your greatest achievements? [Today we are going to study Revelation 2:8-11, the persecuted church and we are going to look at what it means to be faithful vs. successful.]
HEAD: These questions help us examine the Word.
1. Read Revelation 2:8-11. What kinds of suffering was this church facing?
2. What encouragement does Jesus give to this church?
3. Look at verse 10. What are some of the theological implications of Jesus telling them that the devil would throw some of them into prison?
4. How does the average person define success? How did this church compare to these worldly measures of success?
HEART: These questions help us wrestle with what we believe.
5. What are some general examples of how being faithful to God might not result in being successful?
6. Are there any areas of your life where you are more focused on being successful than on being faithful? What would faithfulness look like?
HAND: These questions help us bring truth and beliefs into our everyday life.
6. What encouragement from Jesus in this passage do you need to remember?