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LIFE GROUP DISCUSSION GUIDE
Wednesday Night, April 18, 2007
“The Power of Hope”
5 Minutes - Welcome / Prayer
5 Minutes - OPEN
Go around the circle tonight and allow everyone to share something that is on the personal prayer list these days for which they are hopeful.
What does this listing say about us and where we place our hope and future dreams? Do you ever question yourself as to whether or not you are “hoping” for the right things?
Before we go any further, maybe we should take a minute and establish a good working definition of “hope.” Allow everyone in the group to help develop this definition.
Without considering the appropriateness of our “hope(s)”, reflect upon the grip and/or preoccupation these “hopes” have on us and the power that comes from such as we devote ourselves to the pursuit thereof?
15 Minutes - DIG
Why would you describe “hope” as being one of the foundational principles of the Christian faith?
Read these following verses and summarize the importance each writer places on “hope” –
* Romans 12:9-13
* Romans 15:13
* Colossians 1:5, 23, 27
* 1 Peter 1:3
* 1 Timothy 1:1
How does hope provide us motivating power to keep our eye on the goal and moving forward (1 Corinthians 9:10; 24-26)?
Amidst all of the deterrents to faithfulness to the Lord, how does hope prove to be a sustaining power and “anchor for the soul” (Hebrews 6:9-11, 19)?
Paul’s words in Romans 15:4 are significant!
“For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope”
Why do we spend so much time in our teaching and preaching referring back to the individuals whose stories are recorded in the pages of Holy Scripture? What is the benefit of such?
Why is the power of testimony such a strong encouragement to us?
15 Minutes - REFLECT
While all around us we know of people who have lost heart and who are living in quiet desperation without hope - - such is not what God wants for us! Emerging from the shadows of darkness, hope is a cheering power which Solomon describes in this way in Proverbs 10:28:
“The prospect of the righteous is joy, but the hopes of the wicked come to nothing.”
How can the trials of life serve to enrich and strength our hope and faith in God (Romans 5:3-5; James 1:12)?
No one is so bankrupt as the man who has lost his hope and who has no relationship with Jesus Christ!
Why is “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:25-27) the only real hope for the future?
Again, even for those of us as believers, we must be reminded that our hope and trust cannot be in anything in this life! Be honest, in what are you placing your hope tonight?
5 Minutes - CLOSING PRAYER
From this discussion, what are those things you feel compelled to pray about tonight?
Pray about these matters one by one and bring them before your Heavenly Father.
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