Fight the Good Fight of Faith, English Edition

 • Fight the Good Fight of Faith: Playing Your Part in God’s Unfolding Drama

Teach me now in this study as I receive your Word and instruction. I ask for these things in the strong name of Jesus, my Lord and Savior, amen.

1. “Why are so many Christians, even pastors, turning their back on their faith?” Today, many people who profess to know Jesus as Lord are abandoning their faith, forsaking the church, and renouncing their spiritual calling in Christ. This is true not only for the rank-and-file folks in the pews of the church, but also those who are in the pulpit. Record numbers of churches are being closed, and many ministers are turning their back on the Scriptures and Christ. Many are trying to explain this pattern, while others seek to stop this outward flow by making Christianity more “fun” and more “relevant.” Why do you think, at a time like this, so many are leaving the organized churches, and even professing that they no longer believe in Christ? 2. “It has been tough, and I feel so disappointed in myself. I have actually thought of turning back and going to my old life!” Many young believers often find themselves in an up-and-down cycle that goes between high times of commitment and love for Christ to low times of temptation and compromise with what they believe. It can be very discouraging for a new believer or a growing Christian to repeatedly fall, and then, to get up after each fall and continue on. In response to this cycle, the Scripture says, “For the righteous falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked stumble in times of calamity” (Prov. 24.16, ESV). The Christian life is tremendously worthwhile, but it is not easy. Why is it important for a growing disciple of Christ to be patient with herself or himself as they continue in their walk with God? 3. “We learn obedience in the way Jesus did – through the things we suffer.” One of the hardest lessons for a new believer to learn is that the Christian life was never designed to be completely free of struggle, difficulty, and problems. We can feel betrayed when we learn what the psalmist said: “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all” (Ps. 34.19). If we were honest, we would prefer to never struggle, and rather avoid all forms of affliction and trial! Some of us feel hurt, and even cheated when we, as God’s beloved children, have to endure so many heartaches and calamities. And, when you are a new Christian, you may find it tough to confidently persevere in the midst of such difficulties.

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