Taking a STAND

The world is constantly changing – there’s no denying it. We can connect across continents and share our faith across the world with ease. But with this incredible technology, we are dealing with the pressures of constant connection, decreased activity and perpetual attentiveness. ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­And taking a stand is challenging. All our words must be carefully guarded – or public shaming can tear you down instantly. 

We don’t always have the opportunity to ask questions that make us ponder the deeper realities of life. When we look up from our phones, iPads, video games or books capturing our attention, we recognise something deeply transcendent. There are many more people in this boat than we realised.

We all fear being lonely. We all need encouragement. We all want to know that at least one person thinks we are valuable. We all need to know that life has meaning. We all need a tall glass of hope.

The proposition that we grow through pain and learn more from failure than success are both so obviously and inarguably true that you have to wonder why, when emotions like disappointment and sadness visit us, we want to banish them as quickly as possible … The truth is that we will learn nothing from our sadness, our suffering, our disappointments or our failures unless we give ourselves time to experience them to the full.
–Viktor Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning

Grow Ministries’ STAND Bible Study is designed to encourage you on your faith journey. Delve into the meaning of grace, understanding suffering, asking those deeper questions, and living in, and boasting in the hope we have in Jesus Christ.

The STAND Bible Study is based on Romans 5:1,2 and includes:

• Session one – How do we stand in grace?
• Session two – Do we understand suffering?
• Session three – Am I disciplined?
• Session four – How are we to live?
• Session five – Where does our hope come from?

Lutheran Youth of Queensland has taken Grow Ministries’ STAND Bible Study as its theme and small group studies for its Kids Camp and Christian Life Weeks.

One leader shared their experience of using STAND at a Kids Camp:

The theme for this week – STAND – has been really impactful not just on the campers but also for me personally. I thought at first that the concepts of suffering, perseverance, character and hope might be too difficult for the young campers to grasp, as I, myself, have often struggled with these ideas. But the songs, games, and stories helped my small group learn that sometimes we need to go through hard things in order to become stronger in faith. The girls in my group especially loved creating drawings and skits to communicate their ideas, and it helped me to clearly understand them and their thoughts around the study. This study very clearly laid out the good news of the gospel that all of the girls were able to understand and remember. The way things were conveyed also provided a new way of thinking for me. When all I’ve felt is struggle, it’s been hard to grasp the concept of perseverance, but this week also gave me a new understanding of the faith I can have with Jesus walking beside me. Throughout everything, I’ll one day be face to face with my Saviour, and that’s a hope that I can hold forever.

Learn more about Lutheran Youth of Queensland’s experience with STAND by watching this YouTube video.

We pray this study provides wonderful opportunities to share and discuss life and faith together with others.

Visit the Grow Ministries website to download your copy of STAND.