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Releasing Faith Resource Worksheets

7. Living Confidently

 

These worksheets are for using in small groups in the church. Please feel free to copy and paste them and use them in such groups.

A. Introduction

• Christians are sometimes unsure of themselves of or God

 

Introductory Exercise 1: In a small group, think of some areas where you think Christians have doubts or worries

 

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Introductory Exercise 2: In your group, suggest some reasons why you think such Christians have doubts or worries

 

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Introductory Exercise 3: Following this, suggest means of overcoming those doubts or worries

 

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B. Areas of Concerns

   

     We are going to consider concerns that may be:

• knowledge based.
• experience based

and there is overlap!

 

1. Knowledge Based Concerns

 

Knowledge-Based concerns are those which arise because a person is unsure what the Bible teaches about an aspect of the Christian life.

 

Exercise 4: Suggest at least THREE such concerns:

 

i) …………………………………………………………………..

which results in:

 

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ii) …………………………………………………………………..

which results in:

 

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iii) ………………………………………………………………..

which results in:

 

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iv) ………………………………………………………………..

which results in:

 

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v) ………………………………………………………………..

which results in:

 

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2. Experience Based Concerns

 

Experience-Based Concerns are those which arise because of feelings that arise or feelings that are absent.

 

Exercise 5: Suggest TWO concerns about absence of feelings :

 

i) …………………………………………………………………..

 

ii) …………………………………………………………………..

 

Exercise 6: Suggest THREE concerns about feelings that do arise :

 

i) …………………………………………………………………..

 

ii) …………………………………………………………………..

iii)…………………………………………………………………..

 

Exercise 7: Suggest why, in the two exercises above, the concerns actually arise?

 

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Exercise 8: Suggest ‘bad reasons' why wrong emotions arise:

 

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Consider what to do about each of those reasons.

 

C. SUMMARY-CONCLUSIONS

 

 

1. Knowledge-Based Concerns

 

Christians worry because:

• they don't know what the Bible teaches,
• they don't understand what the Bible teaches,
• they misunderstand what the Bible teaches.

 

The Remedy for this sort of worry is:

• to learn what the Bible DOES say about the area of concern
• to remember God still loves us while we are learning and are still imperfect!

   

 

2. Experience-Based Concerns

 

Christians get concerned about

• absences of feelings, such as concern for the lost, the needs of others, absence of feeling for God generally or in worship.
• wrong emotions arising, such as guilt, fear, hatred etc.

 

Awareness of these concerns is:

a) A Healthy Sign

•  of understanding of Scripture teaching that supposes certain emotions and challenges other emotions AND
•  of the Holy Spirit speaking and convicting because He wants to bring change OR

b) An Unhealthy Sign

•  misunderstandings of what is normal/expected AND
•  of the enemy working against you and who needs resisting.