07-05-2020

07-05-2020
Rev. Trevor Johnston and Pastor Efrain Silva
Hope: Finding Strength Again
English PDF file for printing.
Para imprimir el archivo PDF en Español.

Each week, our Sermon Discussion Questions are here to help the sermon go deeper into your life.  You can think these through on your own, or discuss them with your spouse, family, or small group.

1.    What has been one of the most challenging aspects of 2020 for you personally so far?

2.    How would you define “hope”?  What does the word “hope” mean to you? 

3.    In the 8th century B.C., when Israel was in exile in Babylon, the prophet Isaiah wrote Isaiah 40:25-31: 
     “To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?” says the Holy One. 
     26 Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.
     27 Why do you complain, Jacob? Why do you say, Israel, “My way is hidden from the Lord; my cause is disregarded by my God”? 
     28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. 29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. 30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 31 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.

What insights or questions do you have from this passage?

4.    “Hope is best placed in a person, not an outcome.” What do we mean by this, and why is this true?

5.     Read Psalm 43:5: “Why, my soul, are you downcast?  Why so disturbed within me?  Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.”

The Old Testament book of Psalms are a collection of actual human prayers that people said to God. It’s encouraging to see how honest they were and that God seems to be OK with their honesty.  Have you ever prayed a very honest prayer to God about your discouragement or pain, like the Psalmists did?  If so, how did it impact you to pray that way? 

6.    Read Hebrews 13:8: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”  How can this truth add to your hope in difficult times? 

7.    During the recession of 2008, pastor and author John Ortberg said,
      “I cannot think of … in recent memory when there was a bigger need for hope, for something that would breathe life into the human spirit. A year ago, so many people … felt like they were on pretty solid ground. [Now they] find themselves in circumstances they never would have predicted.

     A lot of people … are feeling anxious. They have pressures … that they did not have [before]. They [regret] decisions they've made over this last year. They wonder where things will stand a year from now.

      Nobody ever wants a season of hard times … to come, but when they do, they have a way of making you … ask, What am I really counting on? Am I building my life on a foundation that's solid enough that circumstances beyond my control cannot take it away? That's why I've been looking forward to [gathering] to remember the only hope capable of sustaining a human life through everything. 

      People have not gathered for the past 2,000 years to say, "The stock market has risen. It has risen indeed." They have not gathered to say, "The dollar has risen. It has risen indeed." Or, "the employment rate has risen." Or, "the gross domestic product has risen." Or, "General Motors has risen." Or, "The value of your 401(k) has risen." Here's the one hope that has held up human beings across every continent and culture for two millennia of difficult times of poverty, disease, pain, hardship, [and] death itself: "Christ is risen. He is risen indeed."

What do you think about what he says here?   

8.    Hope is a choice. What do we mean when we say that hope is a choice? 

9.   Read Psalm 121:1-2: “I lift up my eyes to the mountains – where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth” and then read Isaiah 40:26 again. What’s the point of these two verses?

10. How does a person actually choose hope during a painful, discouraging or difficult time?  What are some practical things you have done in the past to get yourself in a better place? 

11. One way to grow hope is to remember who God is.  Together as a group, make a long list of God’s character qualities. What effect does it have on you to read through that list?

12. Another way to increase hope is to remember what God has done.  Describe a past experience where God blessed you or provided for you in some way.    

13. It also helps grow hope when we remember what God said He will do.  Name some promises God has made in Scripture that encourage you when you’re down. 

14. Read Romans 15:13: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” 

What do you notice in this verse about the topic of hope? 

Ready for your next step?

If you would like to take a next step in your faith journey, text the word “Next” to 561-264-6079 and follow the steps there, and we will contact you to help you do that. 

News and Announcements:

·      If you’re new to Community of Hope, text “Hello” to 561-264-6079 to let us know who you are. 

·      The Community of Hope App is serving as our Connect Folder in this time.  Download it to watch our services, register for events, and to stay connected with what’s going on in our church. 

·      4Kids Back to School Drive:  Help us collect backpacks and school supplies for foster children in our area. For more information on how to do be part of this opportunity to love our community, go to https://communityofhope.church/events/4kids-back-to-school

·      Financial Peace University, Mondays at 6:30pm – Online – starting July 6: If you’re experiencing financial challenges in this season, or if you just want to prepare for your future, Dave Ramsey's 9-week FPU class is a great way to learn wise money management principles. We’re offering it online, so you won’t even have to leave home! The $129 fee includes a full year of access to videos and online financial tools, and they’re offering a free 2-week trial! Register at fpu.com/1120256

·      Join us for Hope University, Tuesdays at 7pm – Online:  All summer, we’re offering top-notch college-level teaching from some amazing Bible, Theology, and Ministry professors at no cost to you!  This Tuesday Dr. Michael Beck will teach us about Fresh Expressions of church. If you have a heart for helping unchurched people connect with Jesus Christ, join us! Remember to register in advance at https://communityofhope.church/hopeuniversity

·      If you’re not yet a COH partner, or if you just want to learn more about how to live the Christian life, sign up for our 4-week Connections Class. Our next Connections series will be Wednesdays at 7pm starting July 22.  This class will be online, so you can participate from the comfort of your own home!  Register at https://communityofhope.church/connections

·      Food Distributions:  Our West Campus food distributions take place on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month from 5pm to 7pm.  Volunteers arrive at 3pm.  Our East Campus food distributions are each Saturday from 1pm to 3pm with volunteers arriving at 10am. To take part in either of these serving opportunities, sign up at https://communityofhope.church/missions/

·      Go to https://communityofhope.church/coronavirus if you need help – like food or a face mask – or if you are available to offer help to others.

·      Thank you for your financial support, which makes it possible for us to minister to our community!  To give to Community of Hope, go to https://communityofhope.church/give.