The Great Hope – STUDY GUIDE

Download PDF version

Icebreaker: Share one moment in your life when hope showed up just when you needed it most.

Sermon Title: “The Great Hope” – 2 Timothy 1:9-10 & I Peter 1:3

Group Discussion:

Read 2 Timothy 1:9-10 & 1 John 3:7-8 – The great undoing: Jesus’ resurrection undid Satan. Satan loves to instill fear, and fear is often a catalyst for hatred, anger, anxiety, depression, and isolation, which are schemes devised by the evil one. So, discuss practical ways for how Jesus’ great “undoing” can empower us to experience victory and overcome our battles with sin, fear, and despair. And what role can engaging in fellowship with other believers have in experiencing the “undoing?”

Read Isaiah 25:8, Hosea 13:14, & 1 Corinthians 15:54-55 – The great waiting: We experience the weight of living in a fallen world; nevertheless, we have hope in Jesus, and as Jeff Faull stated: “The weight is worth the wait.” In what ways do the promises that God will “swallow up death forever,” redeem us from the grave, and grant us victory through Jesus give us hope as we navigate life in a fallen world? Discuss strategies for sharing our hope with others in waiting for Jesus’ return.

Read Matthew 28:5-7, Luke 24:1-7, & John 20:19-20 – The great life: A eucatastrophe. The word “eucatastrophe” means a sudden, unexpected turn from darkness to joy. How do these verses reveal the magnitude of Jesus’ resurrection, as a eucatastrophe? Can this influence how we view our own moments of darkness? Discuss ways to share this eucatastrophe so that it resonates with others.

Read John 11:25, I Peter 1:3, & Romans 5:8 – The great revealing. Jesus’ resurrection unveiled who He truly is and God’s ultimate plan to defeat death and offer eternal life, so discuss what these truths reveal about God’s love for us (e.g., “while we were still sinners”). So, how can these truths influence (1) our attitudes and behaviors and (2) the way we share Jesus with others, especially with skeptics?

Spiritual Discipline: Review resources for this series at: Church Center / Home / Sermon Resources on our Church app, including this resource: John Chapter 16 Scripture & Commentary. During this series, we encourage people to study John chapters 14, 15, 16, & 17. John chapters 14 & 15, scripture and commentary are also included in the resources if you missed them the past two weeks.

Action Steps: Read Romans 6:4 and then (1) Reflect and Realign: Spend time reflecting on how your worldview influences your belief systems, especially about the resurrection, and ask the Lord to help you develop a more profound trust in His power to generate life change and (2) Share the Story: Choose one of Jesus’ miracles (e.g., feeding the five thousand, calming the storm, His resurrection) and share it with someone as an entry point to reveal the hope we have for life transformation.