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What details from this passage signify Jesus’ impressive mental toughness?
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“Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”
39Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”
40Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. 41“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”
42He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”
43When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. 44So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.
45Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour is near, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46Rise, let us go! Here comes my betrayer!” (Matthew 26:36-46)
Read the passage and answer the following questions:
1 - How is character originally established?
2 - How is character further developed?
3 - What factors can influence character?
“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.” (Romans 5:1-5)
Read the following excerpt. Find someone who fits this description, and spend at least 30 minutes with them today.
“Surprisingly for some, research conducted by the Leadership Research Institute has shown that in times of crisis, people gravitate toward the person of highest character, not necessarily the person who is ‘in charge’ or even the person they believe to be the most competent. Rather, people will tend to build a relationship with and follow the person they view as the most trustworthy, who cares the most, and who is willing to always do the right thing.” (Tony Dungy, The Mentor Leader)
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Add to your knowledge…
Commit the following passage to memory: “Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character.’” (1 Corinthians 15:33)
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List 3 of the toughest people you have witnessed in your lifetime. What convinces you of their toughness?
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“We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. (Romans 5:3-5)
Define the term and concept of “toughness.” Why is it beneficial to our spiritual walk?
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Compare to 6/16/10
“We must combine the toughness of the serpent with the softness of the dove, a tough mind and a tender heart.” (Martin Luther King, Jr.)
Training Mental Toughness - Triathlete Magazine
Take time to enjoy a sunset, or sunrise, this weekend. Soak it in, while also remembering the following:
“I am nature’s greatest miracle. I am not on this earth by chance. I am here for a purpose and that purpose is to grow into a mountain, not to shrink to a grain of sand. Henceforth will I apply all my efforts to become the highest mountain of all and I will strain my potential until it cries for mercy…No beast, no plant, no wind, no rain, no rock, no lake had the same beginning as I, for I was conceived in love and brought forth with a purpose…I am nature’s greatest miracle.” (The Greatest Salesman in the World, Og Mandino)
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Add to your knowledge…
Commit the following passage to memory: “For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.” (Romans 1:20)
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List 3 reasons that demonstrate you were made “in God’s image.”
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“Then the Pharisees left that place and made plans to trap Jesus in saying something wrong. They sent some of their own followers and some people from the group called Herodians. They said, “Teacher, we know that you are an honest man and that you teach the truth about God’s way. You are not afraid of what other people think about you, because you pay no attention to who they are. So tell us what you think. Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” But knowing that these leaders were trying to trick him, Jesus said, “You hypocrites! Why are you trying to trap me? Show me a coin used for paying the tax.” So the men showed him a coin. Then Jesus asked, “Whose image and name are on the coin?” The men answered, “Caesar’s.” Then Jesus said to them, “Give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and give to God the things that are God’s.” When the men heard what Jesus said, they were amazed and left him and went away.” (Matthew 22:15-22)
List 5 evidences of the human body’s intricate design.
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“Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.’ So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.’” (Genesis 1:26-28)
