Rising Hope -- Psalm 33 -- April 28, 2019

GETTING STARTED
Why do we like superheroes so much?

We are wrapping up our series, Rising Hope, with Pastor Ethan’s message, “Living in Sustained Hope.” Jesus is not with us physically, yet we are called to put our full hope in Him. This week we seek to better understand what it means to live a life of hope in Jesus and what sustains our hope.

WE WANT TO:
- Distinguish between false hope and true hope.
- Understand why our hope in Jesus is secure.
- Walk with each other as we wait for Jesus’ second coming.

READ
Psalm 33

WATCH
https://youtu.be/Nh7HeTYr5s4

DISCUSS
1. What and/or who, other than God, do you put your hope in?

2. How have we emptied the word “hope” of it’s meaning?

3. Share about a time when you put hope in something/someone that failed you.

4. How has your hope in Jesus been challenged?

5. What has God done in your life that strengthens your hope in Him?

6. If we don’t mind waiting for people we love, what makes waiting for God so difficult?

7. What about God’s character shows us that we should put our hope in Him?

8. How, as a small group, can you remind and encourage one another to keep hoping in Jesus?

Rising Hope -- Galatians 5:1-14 -- April 13, 2019

GETTING STARTED

For Your Consideration:

This week we are engaging a topic that may yield very personal discussion. Please, do not share about someone else without first receiving their permission. Married couples, please ask for permission if you would like to share any details about another person’s life with your spouse.

What are a few of each generation’s (Boomers, Gen-X, Millennials, Z) stereotypical addictions?

We are continuing our series, Rising Hope, with Pastor Ray’s message, “Beyond Hope.” We have been challenged to press into the hope we have in Christ. We have been encouraged to trust that through Christ, we are delivered from our sinful habits and addiction. But, we realize that oftentimes deliverance from a behavior is a long journey; a journey that we need to walk with others.

WE WANT TO:
- Submit to Christ

- Seek Help from Others
- Serve Others

READ
Galatians 5:1-14

WATCH

https://youtu.be/0gppME8FfVE

DISCUSS

1. What do our addictions hold us back from?

2. What connections do you see between idolatry and addiction?

3. How does a good thing (e.g., religion, exercise, tasty food, staying healthy, fun, Instagram, work, achievement, etc.) become a bad addiction?

4. What does being a son or daughter of God––no longer a slave––mean for our addictions?

5. How does hiding your shame or wearing masks make knowing who God created you to be difficult?

6. Why is it important to gather with others in tackling your addictions?

7. What role does hope in Christ, as your deliverer, play in all this?

Break up into groups of men and women:
1. From what sin, habit, or addiction do you need freedom?
2. Spend some time praying for each other.

Rising Hope -- 1 Peter 1:3-13 -- April 6, 2018

GETTING STARTED
We’re in a new series: Rising Hope.  We will be talking about being in search of hope, how to find hope, how to have it in our lives, and what does hope mean.  We live in a culture that is moving rapidly where we see depression and suicide is on the rise. Social political debate are more cutting and divisive than ever.  What’s evident in our culture is the absence of real Hope. Our passage today tells us that we have a living Hope in Christ Jesus.

WE WANT TO:

- Look back at God’s saving work in the past

- Look forward to God’s saving work in the future

- Look into the Gospel of Jesus Christ

READ
1 Peter 1:3-13

WATCH

https://youtu.be/4UJ-aViHexo

DISCUSS

1. Have you put your hope in someone or something and they failed you?  Explain.

2. What is your understanding of God’s saving work in the Old Testament?

3. What is your understanding of the Gospel of Jesus?

4. When did Jesus become real to you?  Was there a sense of hope in life? Explain.

5. What do you want to do with the Gospel of Jesus?

6. Is there a specific person that you can share the hope of Jesus to this week?

7. What is the Holy Spirit leading you to this week?