Covid-19: Hope and Restoration

 

Study Guide for the Week of  May 30, 2021

This Week Reading: Romans 8:18-30

Crossroads Community Group Guide:
A. Welcome: Welcome everyone especially new persons and read out loud the purpose of your group
B. Purpose: Our purpose is to spread the Kingdom of God. We do this by multiplying groups of people who care for each as God's family. We begin by inviting new people to our group and building them to be followers of Jesus. Each person here has the potential to be empowered to start and be the leader of a new group and spread God's kingdom.

C. Worship Time: Spend a few minutes singing a worship song. Here is one you may want to use It Is Well  (or pick your own on YouTube make sure it has the lyrics on the screen)

D. Announcements

1. Weekly Resources on Crossroads Facebook Page    

        Monday: Listening Room Resources for the week

        Children's resource each week  

2. Daily Devotional Video: The Encouraging Word with Pastor Willie

3. Announcements and Events:  Crossroads Web Site

4. Watch the Sunday service here Sunday 11:45am

E. Review   

1. How did you do with what you wanted to apply from last week?
2. Who did you invite to the group for this week?

F. Opening Question (a simple question to introduce the main theme - called an icebreaker): How would you define the word HOPE? How have you experience hope in your life?

G. Read Background Information: 

Romans chapter 8 is one of the most powerful chapters in the Bible. I contains several verses that people memorize of even have on their walls. the main focus is on hope in times of brokenness. Note that what the Bible calls hope is not a desire or a wish or a matter of having luck. Nor is it positive thinking or optimism or attracting positive energy. Hope in the sense of Romans 8 is based on the fact that there is another reality - the Kingdom of God. The reality is that Jesus will return and set up His Kingdom - a follower of jesus hoe is built upon that reality.

Verse Outline:

       I.            I.       Hope is a Fruit or Result of Salvation – 18-24a

Key Concept: Saving faith in Jesus will give you an indestructible hope in a broken world.

Key Verse: Romans 8:18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.

Community Group Application: CG members focus on reaching out to those around them who have no hope so these people also can find hope 

I.  II.         Hope is Unseen but Real – verse 24-25

Key Concept: Hope is given to us by God is based on the certainty of God’s word not on what we see.

Key Verse: Romans 8: 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.

Community Group Application: Gathering in church on the Lord’s day and being part of a cg during the week is key to finding hope and perseverance in difficult times

I.       III.   Hope is Built on Knowing and Experiencing God’s Character – verses 26-30

Key Concept: As we grow in our faith our hope in Jesus will become unshakable

Key Verse: Romans 8:28 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.

Community Group Application: Being deliberate about your growth in faith is the key to becoming a person of unshakable hope.

      I.            

     II. H. Word: Romans 8:18-30  - break it down into smaller portions to read. Read it in portions aloud together several times. (Goal is that everyone understand the Bible story or verses by retelling them in their own words - keep at it until everyone knows the story or verses)

1. What key (important) words do you see in these verses?
2. Tell in your own words what happens in these verses.
3. What are the details?
4. What details can you add to what others in the group have said?

I. Discuss the following general questions together (Goal is to use these general questions to guide a discussion - the leader should not speak more than 30% of the time - let the group discover what God is saying to them).
1. What catches your attention in these verses?

2. What new thing did you discover in the story or verses that you did not know before?
3. What did you learn about God (Father, Jesus or Holy Spirit) from the story?
4. What do you learn about people from the story?

5. What important lessons for us do you see in this story?

 
J. Commitment - Obedience - Application  (This is the key - have everyone answer this question): 
1. What in specific will you commit to apply in your life from this study? 

K. Prayer Time:                
1. Pray for an empty chair representing new people who you want to join your group. Name names of people specifically. 

2. Pray for your group to multiply.               
3. Pray for the needs of the members of the group. It is best to divide into 2 groups one of male and the other female.

L. For Next time:                
1. Ask each person the name of a person they will invite to the group                                         for next week.