"Bible Study on Character - Patience"

Bible Study on
Character - Patience

This Bible study on patience can be used by one person alone or in a small group. It is short (20 to 30 min.) but if you read each question and Bible passage, reflect on it, and discuss it, you'll gain a good sense of what patience really means, its demands, and its rewards.

What animal do you associate with patience? Why?

Do you think that patience comes naturally, i.e., you have it as a child, or is it something that is learned as you get older and more mature?

We all lose our patience from time to time. What are some situations in which you get frustrated and lose your patience? Do these situations more often involve things or people?

Does today's society and way of living encourage one to be patient?

In the dictionary, "patience" has several meanings: 1) bearing pains or trials calmly and without complaining, 2) not being hasty or impetuous, 3) being steadfast despite opposition or adversity, and 4) showing forbearance under provacation or strain. We often think of patience (or being patient) as something benign (meaning #2), but the dictionary definitions and Bible imply that pain, trials, adversity, and strain may also be involved (James 1:2-4, 1 Peter 2:20, Romans 5:3-4, 12:12). Does this give you a new slant on the concept?

In the Bible, perseverence is often mentioned in the same verse as patience (Matthew 24:13, Romans 5:3-4, Galatians 6:9, Hebrews 10:23, 10:36, James 1:2-4). Why do these two traits go hand in hand? What is the difference between them?

The Bible also frequently mentions a promise along with patience and perseverence (Psalm 37:7-9, 37:34, 40:1-3, Galatians 6:9, Hebrews 6:12, 10:36, James 5:7-8). What are these promises?

One of my personal favorite memory verses is Psalm 37:34 (New Living Translation).
Don’t be impatient for the Lord to act!
Travel steadily along his path.
He will honor you, giving you the land.
You will see the wicked destroyed.
What is the important action message for you in this verse (if there is one)?

To do:
1. Pray for greater patience in specific situations where you typically lose patience.

2. Memorize a Bible verse on patience.