GOD IS PATIENT

WORSHIP:

Suggested Songs: Your Love is Beautiful / Now That You’re Near/ You Alone / Purify My Heart

WELCOME:

In what area is your patience tested the most? Recount a recent incident.

WORD:

What parable shows us God’s fatherly love that waits patiently?

(Luke 15:11-24) The parable of the prodigal son, who left his father to live the worldly life, but when he came to his senses, he found his father waiting for his return, welcoming him with open arms, forgiving him and letting him have more of his inheritance.

What do we do that places us in the same situation as the prodigal son?

(Galatians 5:13-21) We do acts of the sinful nature to ourselves and others.

What spiritual truths do we all need to know, that we may truly turn to God and live our lives for Him?

· (Hebrews 4:7) God is patient, waiting for us to repent and turn to Jesus, because He does not want anyone to perish.

· (John 1:12) We are all creatures of God, but we are not all children of God. Only those who believe in the Name of Jesus and receive Him are given the right to become children of God.

· (Revelation 3:14-19) Because God has shown us His loving-kindness, He wants us to be on fire for Him. Those who are lukewarm, He will spit out.

What do these mean for us?

· (Matthew 13:24-30) There are the tares (weeds) and the wheat, the bad as well as the good among us even in the Body of Christ.

· (1 Peter 4:17) If God’s judgment begins with us in the church, then how pitiful for those outside the church who reject the Gospel.

What should we do based on the foregoing?

· Do a spiritual check-up. Ask ourselves whether we have truly repented and turned to Christ, and if we have indeed committed and surrendered our lives to the lordship of Jesus.

· (Philippians 2:12) For those already in the faith, to choose to act as saved children of God serving Him, practicing Christianity as evidence that we have truly been saved and preaching the Gospel to others.

· For those who have not opened their hearts to Jesus, to believe Him and to receive Him as personal Lord and Savior, and likewise live for Christ.

WORKS:

1. Share with us your conversion story that speaks of God’s patience. (Or tell us how God has been patient with you.)

2. Which of the following are you at risk of having? Expound.

· Spiritual blindness (not seeing God’s holiness and your own sinfulness)

· Spiritual loss of hearing (not hearing the voice of God)

· Spiritual leprosy (numbed of senses)

· Spiritual stroke (mind gets attacked)

· Spiritual heart attack (hardened heart)

· Spiritual AIDS (“As If Daw Spiritual”)

3. What area in your life have you not yet turned over to God’s control? Or what is it that God has been waiting for you to do or give up?

4. When was the last time you shared the Gospel with someone?

5. Do a diagnostic test of your group’s salvation quotient by asking each one whether they are sure of going to heaven when they die, and why. (This can be done if there is plenty of time, otherwise, ask them to write down their answers on a piece of paper with their names on it. If there are answers that are doubtful, do one-on-one evangelism and lead the sinner’s/acceptance prayer.)