FEARLESS 03: Benaiah Follow Up

Feeling FEARLESS? Week three of the series has passed and the stories of God raising up and backing up His people keep coming. It is awesome to see holy boldness in action. Give a listen to the podcast and then work through some of these questions. Or if you want to just do the questions, then go for it. There are some discussion type questions in here so why not find someone to talk these through with.

KEY POINTS:
1) Who was Benaiah? He was:
• One of the top five soldiers in Israel.
• A General in the Israeli army
• Captain of King David’s bodyguards.
• Benaiah was a lion killer!
2) Lion chasers know that the bigger
their God is the smaller lions become.
3) Lion chasers understand that playing it safe is risky.

BREAKING THE ICE:
• On a scale of 1 (play it safe) to 10 (risk it all) how much of a daredevil were you as a kid?
• What is the riskiest thing you have ever done?

CONNECTING:
1. What is the lion you need to chase and conquer? How did you develop this fear? What ttribute or truth about God do you need to focus, in order to conquer your lion? To chase your lion, you’ll have to take a “first step.” What is the first step you need to take to conquer your fear?
2. Our God is the Indescribable One. Though none of us have words to explain His goodness, try. Who is God to you? “My God is . . .” If this is who we truly believe God is, why are we afraid of the lions in our life?
3. When is taking a risk foolish and when is it honoring to God? Where in your life are you playing it safe? What are you trying to protect? If we are to experience God for who He truly is, we must take risks. What risk are you willing to take in order to trust Christ as your only source of power and life? (see Philippians 3: 8-10) What doubts do you need to overcome?
4. In the near future, over what battle would you like God to cause you to be victorious? Do you feel like you are fighting any battles all by yourself? In what way can we, as a LifeGroup, provide reinforcements?
5. If your funeral was this week, how would others describe your relationship and service to your King? For what do you want to be remembered? What kind of spiritual legacy do you want to leave your children or grandchildren? In what areas of your life would your family say you were “fearless”?

TAKE IT HOME:
1. Name your lion(s) and face your fears. Honestly acknowledge your fears to God and ask Him to help you overcome any unbelief. What truth about God do you need to focus on this week? Each time you are confronted by your lion, shift the focus of your thoughts to how big and awesome your God is and watch your lion shrink.
2. Where in your life have you been playing it safe? What first steps are you willing to take this week? What do you need to risk, long term, in order to accomplish God’s purpose in this area? Ask your Life Support Group to pray for you as you take your first steps towards conquering your fears.
3. Write you own psalm describing how big your God is to you, personally. You might incorporate some of your favorite promises. For example: “My God is always faithful. He will never, ever leave me or forsake me.” (Hebrews 13:5b) “My God is powerful and mighty. Nothing is too difficult for Him.” (Jeremiah 32:17)

DISCOVERY QUESTIONS:
1. Read about other mighty heroes of faith in Hebrews 11:1-3, 6-12, 32-39.
• What is faith according to Hebrews 11:1 and 6? Why is faith so important to God? What does God tell us about the creation of the world? (v 3) How are we to understand or accept what we cannot see? What role does faith play in our relationship with God? (v 6)
• List each hero, the risk he/she took, and the victory experienced. What did they believe about God? Put yourself in their shoes. What fears would you need to overcome in order to trust in God as they did?
• How does this passage disprove the idea that faith always leads to earthly blessing? (vv 35-38) What truth about God do you need to believe in order to trust Him and take risks even if you don’t receive an earthly reward or blessing? Why does the author of Hebrews say that “the world was not worthy of” the heroes of faith mentioned in Hebrews 11:38?
2. Read about Benaiah in 2 Samuel 23:20-23.
• Besides killing a lion, what other heroic deeds did Benaiah accomplish? God had called Benaiah to be a soldier and to serve King David. What do you think made Benaiah a great soldier and leader?
• What has God called you to do, in service to your King Jesus? What is the scariest or most difficult aspect in what God has called you to do? What lion(s) do you need to chase and conquer in order to become all God has created you to be?

VERSES FOR FURTHER STUDY:
John 14:27; 2 Timothy 1:7; Hebrews 11; 2 Corinthians 4:16-18, 5:7; Romans 8:15, 37; Psalm 3:3-6; 56:1-4, 91; Deuteronomy 31:6; Isaiah 12; Daniel 6, 10:19

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