OBC   ATT   SYLLABUS

OBC ATT 3   ATTITUDES OF THE HEART            NOV / DEC 2007

nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."    (Joshua 1:9)

Courage implies firmness of mind and will, in the face of danger or extreme difficulty. Add the three letters dis before courage, and the word becomes the opposite: loss of confidence or enthusiasm; spiritless, disheartened, dismayed.

Discouragement is a great hindrance to a Christian, yet it is an attitude we often allow to affect us. It often helps when feeling discouraged to consider the great difficulties Jesus and others endured and yet maintained courage.

1. Remember how Jesus suffered, and the hostility He endured. Hebrews 12:3 "For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become _____   ___   __________   __ ____   _________."                 Read also Hebrews 12:1-2.

2. List scripture references describing sufferings endured by Paul, Peter, or Stephen.

Ask yourself, "As a Christian, have I faced what Jesus or these men suffered?"

3. Luke 18:1, "Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to ________ and ____    ______ _________."

According to this scripture, what will help?

4. List commands given in 1 Corinthians 15:58 that will combat discouragement.

5. Galatians 6:9, "And let us _____ grow weary while _________    _____, for in due season we shall reap ___    ___    ___   ___    ____    ______ ."

6. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18, "Therefore we ___  ___  ____  ______. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the _____________ man is being ____________ day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more ____________ and __________ weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are ______________, but the things which are not seen are ______________."

7. Psalm 31:24, "Be of ________  ____________, And He shall _______________ your ________, All you who  _____   __   ___   _______."

8. According to Isaiah 40:28-31, does the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the earth become faint or weary? _____

What must I do to renew my strength when I become weary spiritually and perhaps have an attitude of discouragement?

Most all individuals will experience an attitude of discouragement at times, but a choice must be made. Will we remain discouraged, OR will we continue to serve God and trust Him to renew our strength and courage?

9. Hebrews 12:15, "looking ___________ lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any _____ of _____________ springing up cause ___________, and by this many become __________."

10. What does it mean to become defiled?

11. Read about Simon (who had previously practiced sorcery) in Acts 8:9-25.  Discuss these questions, giving verses to prove your answers:

1) Was Simon a Christian?

2) What did Simon want?

3) What did Peter tell Simon?

4) What was Simon’s reply to Peter?

12. Is it possible for a Christian to be poisoned by bitterness?

What if the Christian does not repent of bitterness?

13. Ephesians 4:31, "Let all ____________________, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be ___ _______ from you, with all malice."

Bitterness will prevent from one from obeying the commands of __________, ___________________, and _____________ in the next verse (Ephesians 4:32).

14. Read again Hebrews 12:15. Just as a weed takes root and begins to choke out good plants, the root of bitterness begins to choke out the good within and brings impurity, which is sin.

List the progressions of bitterness.