Ready for Impact (10 minutes)
Take time to welcome any newcomers and catch up on the past week (over drinks or snacks if possible). Then discuss the following question:
- How comfortable do you personally feel talking about your emotions?
Over this term, we’re looking at how knowing Jesus gives his followers strength to face the common pressures of life in a way that nothing else can.
Pray a short prayer asking that, however much group members have previously come to know God, they’d know him better as a result of your time together.
Impacted by the Word - Part 1 (10 minutes)
In this first section, we’ll consider how we can find resilience in the presence of the various challenges we face.
Download this video to watch offline or read the transcript here.
- Which idea most stood out to you from the video?
- Think of someone you know who is resilient. How does their resilience show itself?
Impacted by the Word - Part 2 (20 minutes)
Now we’ll consider what the Bible uniquely says about how we can know resilience in the face of all of life’s challenges.
Trigger warning
You may want to mention that the next video, Bible passage and discussion deals with feelings of hopelessness and despair that some people might find difficult. (See ‘Notes for Leaders’ below). Reassure group members that if they need to go and get space, they should feel free to do so.
Download this video to watch offline or read the transcript here.
Read 2 Corinthians 1:8-11.
Paul is referring to events that occurred in the Roman province of Asia. Paul’s readers clearly knew what he was referring to, though it is now difficult for us to know exactly what happened. Paul may be referring to a serious illness, a time of imprisonment or a period of violent persecution.
- Some people expect the writers of the Bible to be superhuman. How do these verses challenge that perception?
- What did Paul freshly realise in his intense sufferings? How did this help him keep going?
Now read 2 Corinthians 4:8-10.
Christians trust that Jesus died and rose again from the dead. Jesus invites us to trust that even though there will be suffering in this life, he is with us in every moment. He is working out new, eternal, powerful life in us.
- In your own words, describe the different types of pain and difficulty that Paul refers to (verses 8-9)?
- What are the different types of pain that Paul refers to (verses 8-9)?
- Paul believed that none of life’s horrible experiences will ultimately defeat those who know Jesus. What do you think gave him this confidence?
- How might the same things that made Paul resilient make you resilient too?
Paul probably uses the word ‘deliver’ in 2 Corinthians 1:10 in both a physical and a spiritual sense.
On several occasions, Paul faced physical death - including in the occasion he refers to here. But Paul also knew that every Christian has been delivered by God in a spiritual sense. Once we were dead to God, but God has delivered us all from death.
Now Paul adds that God will continue to deliver us. There have been situations where we all thought that we were not going to make it, but somehow God brought us through. The God who helped us in the past is still with us now, and helps us now. His promise is to never leave or forsake us.
Paul doesn’t mean that God will inevitably get us out of every dangerous situation; however, we need not fear what the future may hold. We can live with the confidence that God is able to handle anything that may come our way - including, one day, delivering us through death.
There may be people in your group (including yourself) who are currently feeling overwhelmed by the pressures they are currently facing. God has given us each other, so allowing group members to speak about these pressures is something we should welcome.
Sometimes the feeling of being overwhelmed is more acute.
If someone is in crisis, listen to them and remind them they aren’t alone. Help them get support from mental health or emergency services. If someone is in immediate danger, call 999. If the danger is less immediate, call NHS 111.
It’s appropriate that any group members who are feeling overwhelmed find safety and support beyond the CU. If possible, they should seek help from mature Christians within their local church. If this is impossible for any reason, encourage them to look for appropriate help elsewhere. They might start by talking with a parent, your CU Staff Worker, the university welfare team, chaplaincy or counselling services, or a GP.
As a CU leader, don’t feel that you need to carry this situation alone. Ensure that you also get the support you need, asking for help from someone at your church or from your Staff Worker.
Impacting Our Hearts (10 minutes)
Read 2 Corinthians 1:8-9 out loud.
Paul is open and honest about his suffering, recognising the benefits of others praying for him.
- Where are you most tempted to look for comfort away from God when you suffer?
- How does Paul’s honesty and humility encourage you to ask others to pray for you in difficult times?
Divide into groups of two and three and ask the living God that you would learn more what it means to rely on him for help in difficult times. Pray for friends you know who are suffering at the moment.
If you’re able to sing in your group time, there are several songs that will help you look to Jesus as you suffer, including: Blessed Be Your Name; Your Love Never Fails or When Peace Like A River (It Is Well With My Soul).
Impacting the University (15 minutes)
A very simple way to point to Jesus in ordinary conversation is to explain how he helped us through a time of difficulty.
- Ask if group members are able to give examples of how they’d finish this sentence: “Jesus was the reason that I was able to…”
(e.g. finish a difficult module, get through a season of anxiety, process the betrayal of a friend)
Allow anyone to share their story. Ask group members to emphasise particular truths or Bible verses that have been especially meaningful to them as they have suffered.
Pray that God would help you to share your stories of hope in the week ahead, especially with those who are currently experiencing a time of pressure.
Wrap-up – TACOS 🌮
Thank You – Thank everyone for coming, and ask someone to thank God for your time together in prayer.
Ask – Ask those who are new to reading the Bible if they’d like to explore Uncover, a set of sessions in Mark’s Gospel, allowing them to investigate one of the earliest accounts of Jesus’ life alongside one of you.
Church and CU – What does the CU have planned ahead? And what help would group members value in finding a local church?
Others – Who else could you invite to join your CU Impact Group next week? These friends don’t need to be followers of Jesus and may really appreciate being invited.
See You Soon – Tell the group where and when you’ll meet next week, and arrange who will bring snacks. (You might like to alternate healthy and less healthy weeks!). See if anyone would be up for sharing a meal or just hanging out in the meantime!