Women's Bible Study - October 4th, 2023

In one paragraph

Natalie taught from 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, using her experience training for the Jackson Hole half marathon to talk about what it looks like to run the race of faith with real discipline, community, and purpose. The sermon pressed into why that kind of training cannot wait until life gets hard. Natalie opened with the story of her first half marathon, which she signed up for without proper...

Read together

1. 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 central text on running the race with discipline to receive an eternal prize
2. Romans 8:29 God's plan to conform believers into the image of Jesus
3. Ephesians 2:10 God's plan for believers to do good works prepared in advance
4. Matthew 5:16 the watching world will see and glorify the Father in heaven
5. 1 Peter 3:15 always be prepared to give an answer for the hope you have
6. Matthew 24:13 the one who endures to the end will be saved
7. James 1 testing of faith produces perseverance, leading to being perfect and complete
8. Romans 5 we glory in sufferings because suffering produces perseverance, character, and hope
9. 1 Peter 1 trials test faith like fire refines gold, to praise and glory at Christ's revelation
10. Hebrews 10:24-25 spurring one another on and not giving up meeting together
11. Ephesians 6 putting on the full armor of God to stand firm when evil comes
12. Ephesians 6 praying in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers

Talk about it

1. Natalie talked about how running solo felt like eternity but running with a group made the miles melt away. Where in your faith right now are you trying to go it alone, and what has that cost you?
2. Natalie described herself as a 'thoughts and prayers' Christian before her faith became real, someone who could not pray aloud for others or articulate what she believed. Can you relate to that, and what changed it for you, or what do you think would change it?
3. Natalie said that sometimes our pain is self-inflicted, sometimes it is just a broken world, and sometimes we cannot see the full mural God is painting. Which of those is hardest for you to accept right now, and why?
4. Natalie used the goldsmith illustration from 1 Peter 1, that God refines us through fire until He can see His own reflection in us. Has there been a hard season in your life where you can look back and see what it was refining in you?
5. Natalie ended by pointing to a friend whose faith is wavering after the loss of a child, and she said the friend is fighting it out alone without community or a coach. What does that stir up in you, and is there someone in your life right now who is in that place?