Reading Plan | The Rewards of Trials and Tests
The Rewards of Trials and Tests
There are many scriptures that show us that Jesus’ followers will experience trials and tests. These scriptures also tell us that He uses these trial and tests to grow and mature our faith, and that if we persevere, we will “product a crop”, “receive what he has promised”, “not lack anything”, “receive the crown of life”, “[prove the] genuineness of [our] faith” and “keep [ourselves] from being ineffective and unproductive”.
Plan
Session 1
Luke 8:15 (NIV)
But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.
Session 2
Romans 5:3-5 (NIV)
Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
Session 3
Hebrews 10:36 (NIV)
You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.
Session 4
James 1:2-4 (NIV)
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
Session 5
James 1:12 (NIV)
Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.
Session 6
1 Peter 1:6-7 (NIV)
In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
Session 7
2 Peter 1:5-9 (NIV)
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.
Scripture quotations used by permission.
R - E - A - P
Read
Read and re-read the scripture. Read it a few times in one sitting or read it repeatedly over a few days. Read it in different versions of the Bible.
Explore
Ask questions when reading the scriptures. Use 'What’, 'When’, 'Who’, 'Why’ and 'How’ to better understand the scripture. Also take time to use Bible study resources like commentaries, dictionaries or topical references to further explore.
Apply
Think about how the scripture applies to your life and take a week (or more) to practically apply the scripture in your life and the circumstances you experience.
Pray
Pray before reading the scriptures. Pray while reading and exploring them. Pray when applying them in your life.
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