By: Justin Dillenschneider, Director of Student Life
Week of September 20th, 2021
Courage can be defined as the ability to do something that is frightening or the strength to persevere in the face of grief, pain, or danger. Courage is one of the four cardinal virtues and is the core virtue of one of our BCS Houses, Domus Ignis. In modern western society, we more often see examples of the excesses and deficits of this virtue. It is far easier to obey our impulses, and often we do so out of fear or a scarcity mindset. We fail to trust in God’s perfect provision, and want to take what we think will satisfy us. Humanity has done this since the failure in the garden of Eden, where both Adam and Eve took what was good in their own eyes rather than trust in the Lord. As a community of believers, courage often looks like standing up for the orphan, the widow, and the outcast even when it is easier to pass them by in care and concern for our own desires. Sometimes it is a painful confrontation of sin in our community, or choosing to forgive someone who has wronged us. Courage is never the easiest option but when we trust in the Lord’s sovereign plan, lean not on our own understanding, and meditate on the Word, the Holy Spirit will guide and convict us as he strengthens us to walk in courageous obedience.
Continue contemplating courage by looking at this week’s scripture reading from
Joshua 1:8-9 NASB:
8 “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will achieve success. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not be terrified nor dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
We want to encourage you to have a conversation this week about the virtue of courage. Consider these discussion prompts together:
- When have you experienced or witnessed courage from someone in your life?
- What things leave you with a feeling of cowardice?
- Where have you seen people fall into impulsiveness? Where are you tempted to do so?
- What are some ways you see Christ modeling courage and trust in Scripture?
Hymn to Sing Together: A Mighty Fortress is Our God