Join us this Sunday as Pastor David continues through his series titled, Ecclesia, asking the question “What Makes an Excellent Church?”. See you in-person or online at 10:30!
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*Lamentation 3:17-25
1. THE _________________ OF HOPE
Have I put my trust in money or felt secure because of my gold? Does my happiness depend on my wealth and all that I own? …If so, I should be punished by the judges, for it would mean I had denied the God of heaven. (Job 31:24,28)
Then Job replied: “If only my anguish could be weighed and all my misery be placed on the scales! It would surely outweigh the sand of the seas… “What strength do I have, that I should still hope? What prospects, that I should be patient? Do I have the strength of stone? Is my flesh bronze? Do I have any power to help myself, now that success has been driven from me? (Job 6:1-3a, 11-13) (also Job 13:15)
–Psalm 39:7; 43:5; 71:5
In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from God’s people, Israel, and you did not know the promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope. (Ephesians 2:12)
To be without _________ is to be without ____________.
2. THE _______________ OF HOPE
Remember the word to Your servant, In which You have made me hope. This is my comfort in my affliction, That Your word has revived me. (Ps. 119:49,50)
Titus 1:2; 2:13, Galatians 5:5, Colossians 1:27, I Peter 1:3-4,
3. THE ________________ OF HOPE
-Luke 1:35, Acts 1:7
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. (Romans 8:26) also (I Thessalonians. 4:13,14)
So be strong and take courage, all you who put your hope in the Lord! (Psalm 31:24)
I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints. (Ephesians 1:18)
Digging Deeper
Q1: Proverbs 24:16 describes a righteous person falling and getting up again repeatedly. What is your favourite movie scene or story that illustrates this ability to rise again even when things seem hopeless?
Q2: Have you ever gone through a time when it felt like you were “down for the count”? If so, describe how you felt when you were down? Who or what enabled you to get up again?
Q3: Study Ephesians 4:4-6, Job 8:11-13 and II Cor. 1:10; 3:12. What new insights about hope can you discern from these verses?
Q4: Have you ever put your hope in something or someone what was not worthy of your trust? If so, describe.
Q5: What songs or hymns come to mind when you think of “hope”? Can you recall any particular lyrics that are an encouragement to you?
Q6: Reflect upon Psalm 33:12-22. What hope principles can you find in these verses? Are there any “armies” or “horses” you may be unwisely putting your hope in? If so, explain.