What I Learned from the Hardest Seasons of My Life Group Guide

Discussion Questions
Choose the questions for your group; no pressure to use all of them.

1. Josh, the speaker for this weekend, shared he likes grilled cheese sandwiches. How do you like your grilled cheese sandwich prepared? What’s one of your favorite go-to meals that you love to cook?
2. Read 2 Corinthians 11:23-27. To give us some context, Josh talked about the suffering that Paul, the author of 1 and 2 Corinthians, had endured. Why do you think God let Paul suffer so much in building the church?
3. What is an example of suffering (illness, loss, discouragement, etc.) that you have experienced in the past, either in your life or in the life of someone close to you? And did it weaken or strengthen their faith?
4. Read 2 Corinthians 4:7-18. As you read this passage together, which words or phrases stood out to you and why?
5. From this passage, Josh stated, “Jesus’ death and resurrection are both the method by which Jesus saved the world and the pathway by which Paul understood his own suffering.” He also said, ”If you want to see resurrection at work here and now, in your own life, you need to be prepared to see crucifixion at work as well.” What do you think about those statements?
6. God let Christ suffer to achieve our redemption, and God let Paul suffer to build up his faith and the faith of the Corinthians. How does our own suffering echo either instance?
7. Consider these three statements: “You can’t practice forgiveness without being wronged,” “You can’t discover peace unless you’ve lived through chaos,” and “You can’t receive grace until you’ve faced your failure.” Which of these statements resonates most with your life right now?
8. Josh said, “The assumption amongst many is that suffering often wrecks one’s trust in God. But I know many people who have experienced just the opposite: their suffering was not understood to be evidence of God's absence, but an experience of his presence.” Everyone will go through some form of suffering. How can we find God’s presence in our suffering?
9. To wrap up, Josh said, “Faith is not a shield against suffering, but a pathway through it.” Take some time to share an area of your life where you need God’s presence and pray for how we can pursue God more in the midst of that suffering.

Verse to meditate on and memorize this week

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. (2 Corinthians 4:16)

Put It into Practice (Between Meetings)

• The more we experience God’s presence in our daily lives, the more we can experience his presence when we face times of suffering. Make a list of ways you can invite God’s presence into your day-to-day life this week.
• As a further reflection on this week’s Bible passage, watch this video from the Life Essentials Study Bible on 2 Corinthians 4:1-18 and the following principle: No matter what our circumstances in this life, we are to focus on God's grace and eternal values.
• Reach out to a group member and ask them about an experience they shared in group, so they can be more seen and known.
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