Focus

Discuss how the word "hope" is used differently in the following sentences: 1. "I hope that next year the Cardinals will win the world series." 2. "My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness."


Aim

1. That we become more convinced that our only hope for eternal life with God is Christ Jesus, God's Son.
2. That we become more concerned that this next week at least two people learn from our words and actions that without God no one in our world can live in hope, that is, with the faith which looks ahead to the completion of God's plan of rescue.


Discover

1. Read Romans 15:1-7. In the style of a newspaper headline think of a way to summarize this paragraph. Share your thoughts.
2. What is our Christian obligation? Verse 1 See Galatians 6:1-2 and 1 Thessalonians 5:14
3. How can we please our neighbor? Verse 2 See 1 Corinthians 10:32-33
4. Why is Christ Jesus both our Example and our Power? Verse 3 Compare Philippians 2:5-8
5. How does God grant hope to His people? Verse 4 2 Timothy 3:16-17
6. What is the evidence among us at Webster Gardens that we are living in Christian hope? Verses 5-8 See also Romans 12:14-21

1. Read Romans 15:8-13 Circle the word "Gentiles" each time it appears. How many times does the apostle Paul use this word in this paragraph? If this word means "all the nations who are not Jews and not circumcised," why does the apostle Paul call attention to them so often? See also Matthew 28:18-20
How does God tell us here that His purpose for His Old Testament people and His New Testament people is the same?
2. What did God confirm for both Jews and Gentiles when He sent His Son, Jesus, as the Suffering Servant to die for the sins of the world and to rise again for the forgiveness of all people? Verses 8-9 See also Romans 3:29-30
3. According to Romans 15:13 with what four energy-packed Names for Himself does God build us up? _______ _______ _______ _______ How does He do it?
4. How do we receive God's huge gifts to us through His Names? Verse 13 See also Romans 5:1-2 and 14:17
5. Give examples of how the God of hope empowers us to meet with kindness and grace even the harshest demands on our love which people sometimes make of us. Verse 13 See Galatians 5:22-24


Believe and Do

1. Write and pray your own two sentences as a psalm of praise to God for the hope He has planted in you.
2. Through the coming week be alert for and choose two persons who need a lift. Share with them the hope, joy, peace and power within you, not to please yourself but for their good, to build them up.


Click here for a printable sheet.


Group Finder

Group Finder is a tool to help you locate a small group based on answering a few questions about the type of group, location, and time you would like to meet. It then allows you to view and join open small groups electronically! Click here to go to the page.