CHALLENGE ACCEPTED with Joel Thomas
Every day presents a choice: the easy road of comfort or the challenging path that leads to deeper, more meaningful living. Following Jesus is no exception. In this series, we’re invited on a bold journey to discover that the hardest roads often lead to the richest rewards—and that ‘hard’ may just be the gateway to God’s best.
Week One - Choosing Hard
September 16, 2025
The easy path is tempting, but God often does his greatest work on the hard road—where faith, obedience, and courage grow.
QUESTIONS:
1. Can you think of a time when you or those around you felt overwhelmed, even though the same situation might have felt easier in previous years?
2. Is so, why is it different now?
3. Describe a time when a tension point in your life became the focal point of God’s activity.
4. Did it lead to a “persevering faith?”
5. Have you ever felt like you were being hammered by a particular circumstance, only to realize in hindsight that it was forming you? Share your experience.
6. Have you ever asked for wisdom rather than relief? If so, what happened? If not, how could things have
been different if you had?
7. Is there an area of your life where you’ve been hoping or praying for relief, but maybe now it’s time to pray for wisdom instead?
8. How can you make that shift?
9. What’s one “hard thing” you’ve been avoiding that you sense God may be inviting you to face with
courage? What would it look like to take one small step toward it this week?
Changing Your Mind
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] 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. —James 1:2–4.
Week Two - In & Around
September 23, 2025
During trials, our tendency is to ask God to change what’s going on around us. But God is more interested in transforming what’s going on in us.
QUESTIONS:
1. In what ways do you try to find comfort or distraction when things are difficult?
2, How well do those coping mechanisms actually work?
3. Have you ever felt like you were being hammered by a particular circumstance, only to realize in hindsight that it was also forming you? If so, share your experience.
4. When have you seen someone respond to a trial in a way that brought healing or hope to others?
5. What made their response so impactful?
6. James challenged Jesus followers to let perseverance finish its work. What do you think that “work” looks like in your current season?
7. Have you ever asked for wisdom rather than relief? If so, what happened? If not, how could things have been different if you had?
8. What’s one “hard thing” you’ve been avoiding that you sense God may be inviting you to face with courage?
9. What would it look like to take one small step toward it this week?
Week Three - Depending
October 28, 2025
Our trials, temptations, and tension shape us—and they have a way of revealing who or what we’re truly depending on.
QUESTIONS:
1. When life gets hard, what’s your default response—power through, numb out, reach for control, something else?
2. What’s one example where your emotions have clouded your ability to see clearly or act wisely?
3. In what areas of your life do you tend to rely more on your own strength, wisdom, or feelings instead of trusting God?
4. Read James 1:21 aloud. What do you think it means to “humbly accept the word planted in you”?
5. What is one small act of obedience you could take this week to start doing instead of just hearing?
6. Read James 1:22 aloud. How would you describe some of the dangers and missed opportunities in hearing but not doing?