Light of Hope
God’s people, the nation of Israel, waited hopefully over centuries for God to send their promised Messiah. Finally, a young woman named Mary, responded with faith to an angel’s surprising announcement that God was fulfilling his promise through her. Hope is a sometimes overlooked but essential quality for a life of faith. How is Jesus calling you to hope?
Read through the story in Luke 1:26-45 that describes Mary’s experience learning she would be the mother of Jesus. If you have time, extend your reading to include Mary’s song in Luke 1:46-56.
Imagine you are in a situation similar to Mary’s as described in Luke 1:26-36. What would you feel with this startling news from an angel? How might you respond?
What do you notice most about the way Mary responded to God’s message and action?
What truth do you find in this story about God and his character?
What are some of the pleasant and unpleasant surprises you’ve experience in life? Are you living through any of those experiences right now?
How could hope make a difference in your life? What is the connection between faith in God and hope? How is Jesus calling you to hope?
When Jesus Restores…
Receiving forgiveness and experiencing restoration can become pivotal moments that shape our character. Peter received a course correction for life as Jesus gently but powerfully restored their relationship and Peter’s role. Together, we can grow deeper into Jesus’...
Overcoming Failure
Failing is a common but disappointing life experience that always seems to catch us by surprise. When our failures are placed into the hand of Jesus, he can use even our shortcomings to fuel our growth. Let’s discover the part failure played in Peter’s life and how we...
Forgiveness
As God has forgiven us, we are to forgive each other. In the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant, Jesus is teaching His disciples, and us by extension, that forgiveness should be in like proportion to the amount forgiven. The first servant had been forgiven all, and he...
Peter’s Confession and Jesus’ Church
Jesus accomplishes his mission through his Church, but our part in a local church can be challenging as well as rewarding. In Matthew 16, we discover part of the foundation for God’s work through his Church and our part in it. How might God be calling you to be part...
Get Back in the Boat
Fear can creep into our lives at any time, especially when our happiness, comfort, or success is threatened. As we’ll see from Peter’s example, following Jesus doesn’t automatically eliminate our fears. However, we can also see how our fears fade into the background...