Ask each person to describe a time when they found it particularly hard to be a Christian. Why was this? Look at the situations they have described and divide them into:

• When the problem was within (eg God did not feel real)
• When the problem was their own circumstances (eg suffering or distractions)
• When the problem was external pressure.

Tonight we are thinking about the third type of situation. Ask everybody who did not identify that kind of situation to see if they can think of a time when external pressure made it hard to be a Christian.

1. Read Matthew 10:24-39. That is our Sunday gospel reading. You may care to let your eye drift over the rest of Chapter 10 as the whole chapter is Jesus' instructions on sending out the 12 disciples (see verse 5).

2. Verse 25 reminds us that Jesus was accused of serving the devil. Why would anybody have thought this? What kind of accusations are made about Christian faith today? How do you counter them?

3. Look at verses 26-27. What kinds of things can make our faith seem linked to secrets and mysteries? How can we follow Jesus' command to bring things into the open?

4. Look at verses 28-31 (note that in verse 28 those who can "kill the body" are probably the Roman authorities). How do we hold in balance the command to "fear God" (verse 28) and the command "do not be afraid" (verse 31).

5. Do verses 32-33 make you happy or scared?

6. What did Jesus mean in verse 34? How far is it applicable today?

7. If people put religious observance ahead of their family, do you disapprove? If so, how do you explain verse 38?

8. What does it mean to you to take up your cross and follow Jesus, and to lose your life for his sake (verses 38-39)?