Conductor: The Revd. Canon John Nriama
SUB THEME: The people to reign with Him.
TOPIC: Challenges to reigning with Christ.
TEXTS: Rom. 8:35-39; 1 John2:15-17.
AIMS:
(i) To identify some challenges faced by believers who desire to reign with Christ;
(ii) To encourage them with how to live victoriously against the challenges.
INTRODUCTION:
Believers who have come to Christ are reigning, albeit at different levels with Him. The depth of the experience depends upon how much is the believer’s knowledge, faith, passion and grace. The Believers are expected to continue their race to eternity, but, sadly, that has not been so with all believers. This is why we must know the challenges that are on the way through today’s study and to prepare our minds to face them with the help of God, so we can make it to His Kingdom. I Cor. 10:13 and I I Cor. 4:17, 18.
Question for Discussion:
1a. What do you understand by “challenges to reigning with Christ”?
- what do we intend to achieve by studying them? Rom. 8:35a, 39b.
2a. Mention and discuss the challenges indicated in these scriptures:
Rom. 8:35-39; Gal. 5:16-18; Eph. 6:11-12; 1Jn. 2:15-17.
- Mention such other challenges you know.
- How are they likely to affect Christ’s reign and our reign with Him? Luke 18:8; Mark 9:17, 19, 22b.
- Discuss some practical ways to deal with these challenges.
CONCLUSION:
There is no crown without a cross, no gain without pain. Challenges help believers to grow and mature.
Food for Thought:
The word of God, the grace of God, and the Spirit of God are available to help believers overcome all challenges.
Memory verse: Romans 8: 37: “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”