Date: July 13, 2025
Can I Lose My Salvation?
The Point: God keeps His children securely in His hands.
Get Into the Study
Prior to discussing the opening question, share the following:
For the first time in days Aziza felt safe as she settled onto her inflatable mattress in an underground station of Israel’s light rail system. Now she wouldn’t need to run every time a siren sounded, warning of Iranian missiles.
The war between Israel and Iran began on June 13, when Israel launched airstrikes against nuclear and military sites in Iran, as well as targeting top leaders and nuclear scientists.
Since the war began, people have crowded into the brightly lit stations each evening, bringing mattresses and sleeping bags, food and drinks, and even pets. Parents settle their kids with stuffed animals, while young people look at movies or connect with social media on their tablets. Pizza, snacks, and coffee are shared.
Aziza and friends did not feel safe running to the shelter every time the nighttime sirens went off and their phones blared. “We’re not sleeping anyway because of the anxiety,” one said. Hundreds of people in their pajamas in the train station are a spectacle and reminder of grandparents’ stories from World War II.
People sleep, too, in an underground parking garage at one of the city’s biggest malls. The central bus station also opened its underground atomic shelter to the public. Iran’s missiles have struck 40 different sites, including apartment buildings, offices and a hospital.
Continue with Question 1.
Information from this post was gathered from: https://www.wsbradio.com/news/world/fearful-iranian/FSRRF4FNNRAO5MKBQOC4KAY4C4/
Get Into the Study (Option from Adult Leader Guide)
In advance, play a worship song celebrating our salvation in Christ. Worship the Lord; then close in prayer.
Study the Bible
After discussing Question #5, share this story of tennis pro Shelby Rogers:
Shelby Rogers is from a Christian family and went to church on Sundays with her mother and sister. During her growing up years she played tennis, and then at 18 she turned pro and moved away to pursue her tennis career full-time. While she continued to go to church when convenient, she neglected to go when on tour.
She was so focused on her ranking and her identity as either a winner or a loser, that she was a different person from the one back in Florida. While on the circuit, Rogers felt like her ranking was on her forehead! But she began to realize that her true value was not how good or bad she was on the tennis court. After some careful self-reflection she knew she needed to shift her foundation from tennis to Jesus.
“A personal relationship with Jesus changes everything,” Rogers says. She felt freer, had more fun, and ended up with one of the best seasons of her career.
Even going through multiple knee surgeries later, Rogers maintained a positive attitude and came back from those. Any happenings in her life were filtered through her faith and the anchor she had in Jesus Christ.
Reflecting on her career, Rogers says: “Jesus has been my foundation and my anchor through this crazy life on tour. I am forever humbled by the blessings and joys He has gifted me through both the highs and lows.”
Information from this post was gathered from: https://www.movieguide.org/news-articles/why-former-tennis-pro-shelby-rogers-put-her-identity-in-christ.html
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.
Study the Bible (Option from Daily Discipleship Guide Leader Guide)
Use the optional activity to give the group an opportunity to consider how knowing Jesus as their Good Shepherd helps them feel secure in Him. Play the clip and encourage the group to listen closely to the words of the songwriter, as well as the song. To close the activity, pray Psalm 23 together.
Additional Questions
Icebreaker
- What powerful object lesson or illustration from childhood has stayed with you into adulthood?
- What person in your life makes you feel safe?
- What’s something you’ve held on tightly to?
- Where’s somewhere you’ve always felt safe?
John 10:7-11
- What’s the significance of Jesus being the only way to salvation?
- How have you seen the enemy steal, kill, and destroy?
- What does abundant life look like?
- How would you describe Jesus’s role as the Good Shepherd?
John 10:14-18
- What is your first reaction when you read that Jesus knows His own and they know Him?
- In what ways have you experienced Jesus as your Good Shepherd?
- What does it mean to have true security in Christ?
- What does it mean to you that God knows your name?
John 10:27-30
- How does knowing that God’s hands are gripping us, rather than the other way around provide security?
- Why is it sometimes hard to trust that our salvation is secure, despite Jesus’s strong assurance?
- What are some of the responsibilities that come with salvation?
- Why is it dangerous to place our security in anything other than Jesus?
- How does knowing we are secure in Christ change the way we live?
Podcast
Click here for a 20-minute podcast for both the group member and the leader.
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