Perseverance, Endurance,
Steadfastness, and Abiding
“Perseverance” (Gk. “proskarteresis”) is continuing
steadfastly in a thing and giving unremitting care to it.
“Endurance” (Gk. “hupomeno”) is an abiding under or
bearing up courageously with patience.
“Steadfastness” (Gk. “hedraios” or “sterigmos”)
is being firm, secure, and strong; moral fixity.
“Abide” (Gk. “meno”) is to continue in, dwell in,
endure, remain, or stand.
Jn.
Are you abiding in (holding to or obeying) Christ’s word/teaching? If so, how
often, and why?
Jn. 15:4, 5 What did Jesus tell His disciples to do (vs. 4)?
Are you abiding in (dwelling/remaining in fellowship with; obeying) Christ? How do you know?
Why should we abide in Christ (vss. 4, 5)?
Are you experiencing a fruitful life of love, joy,
peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and
self-control?
If not, how can you (Eph.
Jn. 15:9, 10 What were Jesus’ disciples to abide/remain in (continually experience)?
How were they to do this (vs. 10)?
Are you continually experiencing Christ’s love? How do you know?
Acts
How often do you encourage Christians whom you know
to continue in the faith (true Christian
doctrine/beliefs)?
How do you go about encouraging believers to do
this?
1 Cor.
[“stand
firm in the faith” – means to not budge from biblical teachings].
Have you ever compromised or switched your biblical
beliefs to false religious beliefs?
If so, which ones, and why?
Rom.
How do you respond to times of great misery or
distress because of opposition to your Christian beliefs?
Why?
Rom. 15:4, 5 What might (will)
Christians have if they persevere and are encouraged by the Scriptures?
Who gives perseverance and encouragement?
Have you thanked God for giving you these things (hope, perseverance, and encouragement)?
How often, and why?
1 Cor.
Are you steadfast in accurate/true, biblical teaching (e.g., the resurrection, vs. 2); immovable to false teachers (e.g., regarding the resurrection and the end of all things, vss. 12, 33-36); and abounding/increasing greatly in promoting God’s kingdom (vss. 1-11) through evangelism and building up believers spiritually (Acts 13:2, 29-39, 46-49; 14:26, 7, 15, 21; 15:38, 36)?
How
are you able to do so?
2 Cor.
6:4 In what
specific areas did Timothy and Paul commend (prove)
themselves a servants of God?
Would other people know that you’re a servant of God by the way and the extent that you endure persecution and hard times? How do you know?
Gal. 5:1 What should be our position and perspective toward not
being subject to the enslavement of the Old Testament regulations and commands
that were given to the OT Jews?
When religious people tell you that you need to keep man-made, religious rules or Old Testament regulations (e.g., tithing; worshipping and not working on the Sabbath/Saturday; not eating pork; women not wearing pants) in order to be spiritual or accepted by God or saved, what do you do, and why?
Gal.
6:9 What
should we not lose heart in (see also 2
Thes.
Do you ever lose motivation
and grow weary of doing good for God and people, and
why?
If so, how can you prevent
this from happening?
Eph.
6:11-14 What should we stand firm against?
Why?
[“evil day” – the time of Satan’s violent temptations and
assaults on us].
Are you doing this? If so,
how?
Eph.
Are you alert when you pray,
or are you tired and thought-wandering (distracted)? Why?
What can you do to stay alert?
Phil.
Are you standing firm in one spirit/purpose/aim with those whom you fellowship with in working hard together to spread the gospel? If so, why, and how?
Phil.
4:1 What were
these believers to stand firm in?
Why would standing firm in our faith and in our relationship to the Lord help in our battle against worldly influences, demonic influences, and our own sin nature?
Col. 1:21-23 What will be true “if” (in Greek, meaning “since” because it’s a first class, conditional clause with the Greek subordinate conjunction, “ei”, and it’s in the indicative mood, which shows action that’s really taking place) these Colossians continue in the faith (belief in the Christian gospel) firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope (confident expectation) of the gospel that they heard?
How will knowing this affect
your continuance in the faith, and why?
1
Thes.
Are you holding fast to good
teaching and not accepting evil/false/wrong doctrine?
How would you know whether
what you were being taught was good teaching or not?
1 Tim.
6:11 What should a man of God
pursue?
Are you pursuing perseverance, and why? If so, how are you doing
this?
Titus 1:9 What is one of the qualifications here for being an overseer
(elder), and why?
Do you possess this quality? If not, how will you?
Heb. 3:6, 14 How can you know that you are Christ’s house and a partaker of
Christ?
Does this imply that if we don’t hold fast, that
we’ll lose our salvation? Why?
Heb.
Do you waver in the confession of your hope (salvation in heaven)? Why?
Heb. 12:1, 2 How should we run the race (of
living the Christian life victoriously) that is set before us?
Are there times that you just want to quit and
“throw in the towel” on your Christian life, and why?
What prevents you from doing so?
Heb. 12:7 What is one reason why we should endure hardship?
Are you enduring rather than resisting God’s
disciplining of your life, and why?
2 Pet. 1:5-10 Why should we apply all diligence in
perseverance (vss. 8-10)?
Are you, and why?
What are some benefits or rewards
for persevering as found in the following passages?
1 Cor. 9:24, 25
Jas. 1:3, 4
Jas. 1:12
Jas. 1:25
Heb. 10:34-36
Rev. 2:10, 11
Rev. 2:23-27
Rev. 3:5
Rev. 21:3-7