EXTRA! Ideas for Adults – Risk-Takers: The Adventure of Walking by Faith – Session 1

Date: June 1, 2025 

Noah: A Faith that Pleases God

The Point: Living by faith begins with a righteous relationship with God.  

Get Into the Study

After discussing the opening question, share the following:

Have you ever left a $40 tip? Tamie Konzier took a risk that she could make a difference in a waitress’ life.

Tamie’s day was perfectly ordinary, and then it wasn’t. At lunch she noticed her smiling waitress, named Betty, limping between booths. Betty should have retired, but Tamie found out 81-year-old Betty couldn’t afford to! Her paycheck was needed, in addition to Social Security, just to pay the rent, the light bill, and other life necessities.

Betty’s plight tugged on Tamie’s heartstrings, so she left a $40 tip and decided to post a little video. She thought maybe it’d go viral, and she would give Betty a bigger tip next time. But the video didn’t just go viral, it bloomed into GoFundMe! In one week strangers, also touched by Betty’s story, gave $328,739.18!

Tamie had no idea what $40 + video + prayer would do. God multiplied her investment many times over. Betty said she had been praying for a miracle and was overwhelmed when her prayers were answered!

Betty was a woman who gave her life serving—first her family, then others at meal times. She was now finally free to retire, to lift her feet and rest! God blessed Tamie’s risk taking – a small gesture – but hugely impactful for Betty!

Can you think of a time when you followed God’s leading in taking a risk? How did you know God’s hand was guiding you?

Information for this post was gleaned from: https://www.crosswalk.com/headlines/topics/positive-stories/stranger-helps-81-year-old-waitress-who-couldnt-afford-to-retire-now-her-prayers-have-been-answered.html

Get Into the Study [Option from Advanced Bible Study Teacher Guide, p. 12]

Download and display these images as directed in the Optional Idea to help start the Bible study.

• Rock Climbing
• Skydiving
• Bull Riding
• Skiing
• Motorcycling

Study the Bible

As you discuss Question #5, use this news story to emphasize a surprising time when a popular TV show aired counter culturally!

April 20, 2025, American Idol episode wasn’t your typical singing competition showdown. The Easter “Songs of Faith” special was something closer to a worship service.

Contestants were asked to choose songs reflecting their “personal beliefs, struggles or sense of calling.” The results were worship anthems, gospel, and reflective pop. But the theme was unmistakable: faith was front and center.

Brandon Lake and Jelly Roll opened with “Hard-Fought Hallelujah.”  Gospel singer CeCe Winans then took the stage with former Idol contestant Roman Collins, performing “Come Jesus Come.”

Most contestants continued singing songs of faith. Canaan James Hill performed Le’Andria Johnson’s “Better Days,” bringing judges to their feet! Teen Mattie Pruitt sang Lauren Daigle’s “Rescue,” and Thunderstorm Artis rocked with Cory Asbury’s “Reckless Love.”  Kolbi Jordan closed the night with an unaccompanied “Amazing Grace.”

Even the judges sang of faith with Lionel Richie performing his song “Eternity.” Luke Bryan sang his “Jesus ‘Bout My Kids” for the first time. Carrie Underwood delivered a powerhouse rendition of “How Great Thou Art.”

Amazingly, the theme wasn’t planned from the start. It emerged after a wave of gospel and worship songs started showing up. Carrie Underwood noticed the shift.

Underwood observed, “Contestants usually say something before they sing about why they want to be the next American Idol, and so many of them said, ‘Because God put me here.’”

Information for this post was gleaned from: https://relevantmagazine.com/culture/worship-music-took-over-american-idol-last-night-heres-what-happened/

Carole Waina wrote these Leader Extras. Carole is a retired teacher and veteran writer for LifeWay. She loves traveling, walking, cycling, reading, and being with family. She and her husband are active at First Baptist in Celina, Texas

Live It Out

Additional Questions

Icebreaker

• What’s the biggest “I must be crazy to be doing this” risk you’ve ever taken?
• What’s the best risk you’ve taken?
• When have you recently been given a really unusual task?
• As a kid, who always seemed to know what you were up to?
• What’s a personal recording you’re really glad you made?

 Genesis 6:5-9

• When has someone you highly respect extended grace to you?
• What areas in our culture are believers pressured to follow the crowd?
• What does it mean to walk with God?
• Of the descriptions of Noah in verses 8-9, which challenges you most, and why?
• What do we learn about God’s character from these verses?
• On a practical level, what does it look like to “walk with God”?

 Genesis 6:17-22

• Who do you know whose faith demonstrates obedience regardless of the circumstances?
• How does obedience to God validate our faith in Him?
• When has God asked you to step out in faith and take a risk?
• When has God asked you to do something that didn’t make sense to you in the moment?
• When has obeying God led to a big blessing in your life?

 Genesis 8:20-22

• What are some practical ways believers can honor and worship God daily?
• In what ways does our worship build on faith in God’s promises?
• When have you gone through a trial that increased your faith in God?
• Why is worship an important part of demonstrating faith?
• When has a blessing from God led to a significant time of worship in your life?

Podcast

Click here for a 20-minute podcast for both the group member and the leader.

Podcast (adultsleadertraining): Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Spotify | TuneIn | RSS