Sermon Discussion Guide - Under Pressure To Conform - Thriving Under Pressure – Part 2
Dr. Dewayne Winrow
Review any assignments or commitments made during your previous meeting.
“Fire tests the purity of silver and gold, but the Lord tests the heart. Proverbs 17:3” (NLT)
Suggestions for This Week’s Study
· Recall a time when you were a kid and you were pressured to go along with the crowd. Did you stand or fall? What did you learn?
· Recognize that we all will, at some time and in some way, be tempted to conform. For that reason, it’s critical to have a plan for staying true to who God made you to be.
· Close in prayer, thanking God for Daniel’s example. Ask him how he might like to use you in the life of a young person in order to raise up more Daniels in our time.
You’re a teenager whose whole community has just been taken captive. You and your three closest friends now serve the leader of the captors. You’re away from your parents for the first time, your entire way of living has been changed along with your name and even your diet. The pressure to go along with what the king wants you to do is overwhelming. How will you withstand it? This is the story of Daniel, who, as a teenager, was so confident in who God had made him to be that he resolved not to conform. How did he do it? Let’s Talk It Over.
Open your group with a prayer. This is only a guide – select the points you want to discuss.
“If you do your job well, leaders will notice, and you will serve before kings.” Proverbs 22:29
1. If you asked a coworker to describe your work style or reputation, what do you believe they would share with you? What would you want coworkers to say about your work?
“Don’t demand an audience with the king or push for a place among the great.” Proverbs 25:6 (NLT)
2. Describe a time when someone was pushy or belligerent in their demands to you. How did that make you feel? Now, talk about a time when someone had a humble attitude. Which one were you more interested in fulfilling and why?
“We reject all shameful and underhanded methods. We don’t try to trick anyone or distort the word of God. We tell the truth before God, and all who are honest know that.” 2 Corinthians 4:2 (NLT)
3. What behaviors in 2 Corinthians 4:2 are we encouraged to embrace and how do they help guard against being deceitful or manipulative?
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Phil. 2:3-4
4. When you have a new idea or project to present, how can applying Philippians 2:3-4 help you be successful in making your argument?
“A wise mature person is known for his understanding. The more pleasant his words,”
The more persuasive he is. Proverbs 16:21 TEV
5. When making a case to an authority, it is important to choose the right place, time, and words. Recall a time when choosing pleasant words led to success. Why is it important for Christians to choose their words carefully?
6. If your appeal is rejected, trust God that he let that happen for a reason. How can knowing God’s promises help you to hold on in the face of apparent failure? There are more than 700 promises that God has given us in the Bible. Spend time over the next week finding a promise to claim.