STUDY GUIDE

Date: Week of December 18, 2011

MAKING THIS CHRISTMAS COUNT – THE SOURCE OF HOPE

ICEBREAKERS

• What is a favorite gift you can remember getting for Christmas? Who gave it to you?

• Describe a storm you have been in or heard about. What makes storms so frightening?

RE-READ (AND MEMORIZE) LAMENTATIONS 3:21-23 (NIV) “Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning: great is your faithfulness.”

READ I TIMOTHY 6:17 (NIV) “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.”

• What challenges in this verse do you see for people who are wealthy?

• When you are enjoying the “things” you have, do you think to thank God for them?

READ ROMANS 15:13 (GW) “May God, the source of hope, fill you with joy and peace through your faith in him. Then you will overflow with hope…”

· Circle the words in the previous verse that you would like to experience in your life this Christmas season.

SOURCE OF HOPE

1) God’s Presence

READ PSALM 62:5 (NIV) “Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him.”

· Where is the place you go to just “rest in God”? How often do you go?

READ ISAIAH 40:31 (NIV) “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

2) God’s Promise

READ PSALM 119: 105 (NLT) “Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.”

• Do you believe that answers for all of our life experiences are found in the Bible? How often do you read the Scripture?
• Are you planning to be in a Life Group starting January 29 with the 40 Days in the Word Series? Pray about it!

3) God’s Process

READ ROMANS 5:2b-4 (ESV) “We rejoice in hope of the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope…”

• What area do you think God is working on in you right now? suffering, endurance, character or hope
• Do you think hope is a feeling or can it be something you know?

READ ROMANS 8:28 (NIV) “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

· If the butterfly Chris talked about needs to struggle in order to fly, is the same true for us?

4) God’s Purpose

READ JEREMIAH 29:11 (NIV) “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

If you do not have hope which source are you neglecting?

• God’s presence–intentionally make daily time with God
• God’s promise-know/memorize God’s Word
• God’s process-trust God to see the “butterfly” in you
• God’s purpose-“It’s not about you.” Read Purpose-Driven Life by Rick Warren