Paradox: Courage in the Age of Anxiety // Travis Cook
Channel: Park Cities Baptist Church
Date: 01/08/2021

SERMON RESPONSE GUIDE

PRIMARY SCRIPTURE: 1 TIMOTHY 6:11-16
11 But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, 14 to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which he will display at the proper time – he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.

KEY POINTS
In the Kingdom of God, we are to flee and pursue.
When it comes to life in Christ, it’s not fight or flight – it’s flight and fight.
To flee is not to fight.
To flee and to fight is to truly live eternal life in Christ.
Joy in Jesus gives us the courage we need in an age of anxiety.
MEMORY VERSE
Ask God to write this word on your heart this week:

“Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”
-1 Timothy 6:12 ESV

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION
Take time to reflect and respond to these questions on your own in the presence of the Holy Spirit, or with trusted friends or family members:
 
1: Review this week’s memory verse (1 Timothy 6:12). What do you think Paul means when he writes, “fight the good fight of the faith?”
 
2: Why do you think Paul refers to “the faith” as a fight? How have you personally experienced faith in Christ Jesus as a fight?
 
3: Why is it often harder to say “yes” to what God has for us than it is to say “no” to what God does not have for us?
 
4: What do you need to say “no” to in order to say “yes” to Jesus? What do you need to flee?
 
5: How is God inviting you to fight? What do you need to find the courage to say “yes” to in Christ Jesus?
 
6: Read Hebrews chapter 12 in light of today’s sermon. Write down at least 3 ways you are personally encouraged by God through the Scriptures to fight the good fight of the faith and take hold of the eternal life to which you were called in Christ Jesus.

PRAY
Lord, you are the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords. True life and light are found in you and only you. We confess we have settled for so much less than the eternal life you created and called us to live with you. Restore to us the joy of your salvation, and give us the courage we need to flee and to fight the good fight of the faith, taking hold of our eternal life in you, Lord.