Jesus, The Hope of the World
Our world is faced with many challenges. What do you think contributes to a sense of hopelessness among many? When is hope most difficult for you to find?
Isaiah describes the hopeful anticipation of the coming Messiah. Read Isaiah 9:6-7. How would this promise help provide hope for God’s people? How do these verses bring hope to you?
Read Lamentations 3:18-26. What do you notice about the writer’s journey from hopelessness to hope? What do you do to remain hopeful?
How does Peter describe the kind of hope available to the believer in Jesus (1 Peter 1:3)? A life of hope is one of God’s great desires for you. Read Romans 15:13. What would it look like for you to “abound in hope?”
No one would argue that life presents us with many challenges. How is the future anticipation of being with God forever a present hope? Is the reality of heaven a source of comfort for you? Why or why not?
Further Reading
A Beautiful Thing
As Jesus prepared for the cross, an unnamed woman responded to Jesus with faith in a unique way. She understood truth about Jesus that eluded other disciples and gave Jesus an extravagant gift. Let’s remember how her example teaches us to follow the Lord with faith...
Stay Awake
Throughout His time on earth, Jesus' disciples asked Him many of the same questions that we find ourselves wrestling with today. Instead of giving a direct and clear response to their questions, Jesus focused more on the heart and attitude of His followers. We have...
Death and Taxes
Death and taxes are two of life’s certainties, and Jesus responded to questions about those topics to redirect our attention to timeless truth. Remembering the source and owner of all the parts of our life, as well as life itself, radically changes our perspectives....
Divine Authority
While Jesus entered conflict with religious leaders over his authority, he also revealed significant truth about his mission, God’s good gifts, and our responsibilities. What can Jesus’ teaching, storytelling, and confrontation with religious authorities teach us...
Foreshadowing
Jesus approaches Jerusalem with a loud celebration, but when he enters the Temple courts no one seems to notice. His strong actions both privately and publicly demand attention and response. Jesus’ triumphal parade into Jerusalem, a withered fig tree, and Jesus’...