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• Strong feeling 
• Suffering of Christ between the night of the Last Supper and His death 
• Love 
• Object of enthusiasm 

Passion: Focused & courageous devotion to fulfill the mission and bring glory to Christ. 

Fulfilling God's purposes requires more than casual assent, it demands courageous and passionate allegiance. 

7 INGREDIENTS IN BUILDING A LIFE OF PASSION:  

1. Perseverance 

2 Corinthians 4:7-9--But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 

2. Attitude 

2 Corinthians 4:1- 16--Therefore, since through God's mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart... Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 

3. Spiritual Disciplines 

2 Corinthians 4:2-4--Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God... 

1 Timothy 4:7,8--train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. 

4. Servanthood/Sacrifice  

2 Corinthians 4:10-12--We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you. 

Galatians 2:20--I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 

5.  Insight

2 Corinthians 4:17-18--For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 

6. Opportunity

2 Corinthians 4:13-15--It is written: "I believed; therefore I have spoken." With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak, because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence. All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. 

7. Non-negotiables 

2 Corinthians 4:5-6--For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. 

Matthew 28:18-20--Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." 

1 Corinthians 9:22--... I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. 

PRAYER: "God, give us a holy passion for You and the things that matter to You." 

Small Group Discussion Questions:

1. Why does passion make a difference? 
2. Review the points and Bible verses from this lesson. What personal application can you make from this week's teaching? 
3. In what areas do Christians need to exhibit greater passion? How can we acquire needed passion from God?   
4. Take some time right now to pray for the needs of those in your small group. 

*Scripture is quoted from the New International Version unless otherwise noted.
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