Finding Hope in 2022

 

Study Guide for Week of March 20, 2022 

This Week's Scripture:  Genesis 12:1-4; Genesis 15:1-6: Genesis 21:1-1-7; Roman 4:18-21

Crossroads Community Group Guide

A. Welcome: Welcome everyone, especially new people, and read aloud 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: Come Now is the Time to Worship  (or pick your own YouTube video that shows the lyrics.)

D. Video Message                                                                   

       

E. Upcoming Events: Crossroads Website        

F. 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?

G. Opening Question (an icebreaker - a simple question to introduce the main theme):

• Why is it important to have hope?

H. Background Information for this study: 

This study looks at Abrahams faith. First read together the 3 scriptures from Genesis so that eveyone understands the background to the story. Read the first one and then discuss it. Read the second and discuss it. Read the thrird and disuss and then read over Romans 4:18-21. 

God has promised Abaraham that he would be the father of many nations. Yet Abraham and his wife Sarah are unable to have children. They become old. Abraham is 99 years old and Sarah's womb is dead (not able to have children). Yet despite all of the negative circumstances and the delay Abraham believes. As Romans says against all hope he hopes. His hope is in God's promises alone. 

We look at 4 charcteristics of true hope.

  

Characteristic One: True hope is based on a promise from God - Genesis 12:1-4.

Characteristic Two: True hope faces reality. Genesis15:1-6   

Characteristic Three: True hope builds your faith - Romans 4:20 

Characteristic Three: True hope never fails - Romans 4:18-21

I. Verse Outline: Key Points to Discuss

1.       1. Characteristic One: True hope is Based on a Promise from God – Genesis 15:1-6 

• Key Concept: True hope is based only on the promise of God. James Dunn  
• Key Verse: Genesis 15: 5-6 He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be. "Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness. 
• Community Group Application: When you have a promise from God stand on it no matter how things look. 

2. Characteristic Two: True Hope Faces Reality – Genesis15:1-6

• Key Concept: Hope is always tested by circumstances, delays and setbacks 
• Key Verse: Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. 
• Community Group Application: Attending church weekly and a community group keeps our faith strong as we wait for what God has promised

3.    Characteristic Three: True Hope Builds Your Faith – Romans 4:18-21 

Key Concept: The Process of waiting for God’s promise to be fulfilled builds our faith  

Key Verse: Romans 5-4 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces      perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 

Community Group Application: Community Group members remind each other that God has the power to fulfill all His promises for Crossroads Church, for each other's lives and marriage and children

4. Characteristic Four: True Hope Never Fails  - Romans 4:18-21

Key Verse: Hebrews 6:15 And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.

J. Word: Read the scriptures above. Read it in smaller portions aloud together several times. (The goal is for everyone to 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 jumps out at you and catches your attention?

5. What details can you add to what others in the group have said?

K. Discuss the following general questions together. (The goal is to use these general questions to guide a discussion. The leader should not speak for 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?

 
L. Commitment - Obedience - Application

(This is the key - have everyone answer this question.) 

1. What specifically will you commit to apply in your life from this study? 

M. Prayer Time:  Break up into smaller groups of 3-4 - groups of the same sex           

1. Pray for your group to multiply.
2. Ask each other how you are doing spiritually.
3. Pray for the needs of the members of the group.

N. For Next time: Ask each person the name of someone they will invite to the group for next week.