The year of hope study, rebooted!

[birdofthunder]

Monday

In Hebrews 3, we learn that the Israelites' hearts were hardened by their sin, and they tested the Lord. They had sinful, unbelieving hearts that turned away from the Living God, a d they didn't know Him. As a consequence, they wandered in the desert for 40 years, their whole generation died, and they never knew the Lord's rest. Refrain from having sinful, unbelieving hearts; turn toward the living God; encourage one another so that we aren't deceived by sin.

Leader's questions to the group:

How do we keep ourselves from hardening our hearts?
Why do humans do this and how can we watch over each other to make sure this doesn't happen to us?
Hoave you ever realized that your heart was hardened against a situation and that it prevented you from doing God's will?

Tuesday

Whatever the imagery from Lamentations 3 you can relate to can be posted below.

The writer of Lamentations makes a deliberate choice to remember that through God's mercy, we may have to walk in some very painful places for our own good but we are not consumed. HIs compassion is new every day and He is faithful. And since he remembers that, the author has hope.

Leader's quesiton to group:

How can we remember every day to "dare to hope" against the fears and stresses in our lives?
How has God helped you in the past to get over your grief or at least work through the pain?

​

 

[birdofthunder]

Believing your uniqueness
by Jon Walker

Acts 20:24 (NCV)
"The most important things is that I complete my mission, the work that the Lord Jesus gave me - to tell people about the Good News about God's grace."

God gave you a unique role to play in His Kingdom.
You're the only person in the world who can live your particular life for the glory of God. There is no one else in the world with your unique mix of spiritual gifts, passions, ablities, personality, and experiences. God shaped you for a very specific ministry, and no one else can fulfill your mission.

Paul writes: "The most important thing is that I complete mu mission, the work that the Lord Jesus gave me - to tell people the Good News about God's grace" (Acts 20:24 NCV). God doesn't want us to waste a precious minute of our lives doing things that don't matter - if the most important things we can do is left undone.

It's never too late to move faithfully into your mission for God. You may think you don't have any skills GOd can use, but the truth is God would never send you on a mission without making sure you had everything you needed - including your unique S.H.A.P.E.

He sends you with His Spirit, the Holy Spirit, inside you to guide you.

What does this mean?

Let's not waste God's grace - The apostle Paul writes, "But because God was so gracious, so very generous, here I am. And I'm not about to let His grace go to waste. Haven't I worked hard trying to do more than any of the others? Even then, my work didn't amount to all that much. It was God giving me the work to do, God giving me the energy to do it." (1 Corinthians 15:10 MGS)

What if it's true? - How would you live differently if you really believed God had created you for a unique mission, one that only you could accomplish?

from: 2008 Purpose Driven Life. All rights reserved.​

 

[birdofthunder]

I'm so sorry, folks, for not being for some time. My offline life went totally haywire for several months! I moved over 2,000 miles for a new job, and my dad died shorlty afterwards. I've also had to track down the book among all the books. Now that I've got the book again, and am less swamped, I'll be back here to go at this study!

 

[birdofthunder]

And then had other issues, including going back to florida twice more by july, as well as moving yet again that month to start another job august 1st! i made sure i didn't pack the book away this time, but am just now getting time at the new job to be in here....as i'm spending alot of this month ill as well! i know the devil must not like me, so i'll rest in the Lord, knowing He's w/ me - so the devil will have to just stay mad, for my God is stronger than he is!