6-SESSION BIBLE STUDY RESILIENT FAITH

6-SESSIONBIBLE STUDYRESILIENTFAITHMARY JO SHARP

Resilient Faith: Standing Strong in the Midst of SufferingBible Studies for Life: Small Group Member Book 2014 LifeWay PressISBN: 978-1-4300-2899-4Item: 005602638Dewey Decimal Classification Number: 234.2Subject Heading: Faith \ BIBLE N.T. 1 PETER—STUDY \PERSECUTIONSocial MediaConnect with a community of Bible Studies for Life users.Post responses to questions, share teaching ideas, and linkto great blog content. Facebook.com/BibleStudiesForLifeEric GeigerVice President, Church ResourcesRonnie FloydGeneral EditorDavid FrancisManaging EditorGena RogersSam O’NealContent EditorsGet instant updates about new articles, giveaways,and more. @BibleMeetsLifeThe AppSimple and straightforward, this elegantly designediPhone app gives you all the content of the Small GroupMember Book—plus a whole lot more—right at yourfingertips. Available in the iTunes App Store; search“Bible Studies for Life.”BlogAt BibleStudiesForLife.com/blog you will find all the magazinearticles we mention in this study guide and music downloads providedby LifeWay Worship. Plus, leaders and group members alike will benefitfrom the blog posts written for people in every life stage—singles,parents, boomers, and senior adults—as well as media clips, connectionsbetween our study topics, current events, and much more.Philip NationDirector, Adult Ministry PublishingFaith WhatleyDirector, Adult MinistrySend questions/comments to: Content Editor, BibleStudies for Life: Adults, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville,TN 37234-0175; or make comments on the Web atwww.BibleStudiesforLife.comPrinted in the United States of AmericaFor ordering or inquiries, visit www.lifeway.com; writeLifeWay Small Groups; One LifeWay Plaza; Nashville, TN37234-0152; or call toll free (800) 458-2772.All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated,are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible ,copyright 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by HolmanBible Publishers. Used by permission.Bible Studies for Life: Adults often lists websites that maybe helpful to our readers. Our staff verifies each site’susefulness and appropriateness prior to publication.However, website content changes quickly so weencourage you to approach all websites with caution.Make sure sites are still appropriate before sharingthem with students, friends, and family.

Life can be tough. We need a resilient faith.How would you describe your faith?Faith may come easy to you, or you may be like so many who struggle with trust. For all of us,when difficulties knock on our door, that faith is tested. And for some of us, our faith is shaken.How can we maintain a faith in God that is resilient, a faith that—no matter what happens—withstands the ups and downs of life?In this study, we will look at the Book of 1 Peter, a short letter that shows us what resilient faithlooks like. Mark Twain said, “Faith is believing what you know ain’t so.” This study from 1 Peter willshow, however, that Twain’s idea of faith “just ain’t so.” In fact, a resilient faith grounded in Christis quite the opposite.We will discover that resilient faith:provides an actual foundation for a sure hope for mankind.frees you to do what is good and right.helps you find joy even in a world of pain and suffering.is yours because of the sure resurrection of Jesus Christ.It’s good to know that, because of Jesus, a strong faith—a resilient faith—can be ours. We canstand strong regardless of what comes at us.Mary Jo SharpMary Jo Sharp is an assistant professor of apologetics atHouston Baptist University in Texas and is the founder ofConfident Christianity apologetics ministry. She is a formeratheist from the Pacific Northwest who began to doubt her faith in God severalyears after becoming a Christian. Her search for answers to her doubts aboutGod led her into the field of apologetics. She is the author of Why Do You BelieveThat? A Faith Conversation.2

contents4Session 1: Focused

certainty God is working, not mere wishful thinking. 1 Peter 1:3-9,13 (HCSB) 3 Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. According to His great mercy, He has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead 4 and into an inheritance that is imperishable, uncorrupted, and