We use the word hope but we really mean
Biblical hope is
Let’s take a journey and look at four people in the Christmas story and how their hope was
Zechariah – a hope
Joseph - Hope
Mary - Hope at a
Anna - Hope
Hope unshakable is hope
We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, for we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints because of the hope reserved for you in heaven. —Colossians 1:3-5a
SMALL GROUP GUIDE
Welcome
Weekly Vision Casting What is our mission as a church? How do we define a disciple? [Read Matthew 4:19. “From this, we see that a disciple is someone who follows Jesus, is being changed by Jesus, and is living on mission with Jesus.”
Small Group Guidelines Click here to view guidelines
Warm Up Question
Study: Head, Heart, and Hand Questions
Personal Prayer Requests
SMALL GROUP QUESTIONS
WARM UP QUESTION
Share a story of a Christmas present you hoped for and what it was like to get (or not get) it.
HEAD: These questions help us examine the Word.
Compare two definitions of hope:
1. A worldly definition which is more like a wish (I hope it will be sunny tomorrow).
2. A Biblical definition of hope which is sure. Read Romans 5:5, 15:13 and Hebrews 6:19
3. What does it cost to embrace sure hope and reject wishful hope?
HEART: These questions help us wrestle with what we believe.
4. Which of the four characters in the sermon do you most relate to? Zechariah (Luke 1:11-20), Joseph (Matthew 1:18-19), Mary (Luke 1:26-37), Anna (Luke 2:36-38).
5. How has God pointed you towards a sure hope in Him, whether in the past or currently?
HAND: These questions help us bring truth and beliefs into our everyday life.
6. What will it look like to continually grow into a person who embraces sure hope? (Hebrews 6:19)