Hope

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Small Group Questions 1. Advent literally means “coming” or “arrival”. There is a sense of anticipation as Christmas approaches. In what ways do you anticipate Christmas as we enter the Advent season?

- Hope Rich Shannon, MA, NCC, LMFT, LCADC November 29, 2015–1547 To find the Advent reading plan use the Bible app at www.youversion.com. Click reading plans, type in search window, 121ADVENT, click on the link and begin the 24 day plan.

2. Can you think of a time when you were at the end of your rope, and then caught a glimpse of hope? What was that like?

1. Faith is 3. Take turns reading aloud from Luke 2:25-38. In Simeon’s two prophecies, what was he predicting about the work of Jesus? 4. In what ways are his predictions hopeful? Do they fulfill the longing and waiting of the Jewish people?

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with a track record.

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5. Looking over the last two thousand years, how have Simeon’s predictions come true? 6. If you attended Sunday service, Rich stated that hope is a choice. How have you seen the truth of this in your own life? 7. Have someone read Hebrews 10:19-25. Based on Christ’s sacrifice and priesthood, what attitudes and actions should we have as his followers?

2.

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is an active choice.

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8. Read verse 23 again. What does it mean to hold onto hope in this manner? What is the source of such hope?

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9. How can the advice in verse 24 help us to hold onto hope? 10. In this passage, the author is almost pleading with his readers. Why do you think this is such an important concept to him? 11. How does being connected with your church and your small group help you to maintain hope?

3. Learning to

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.

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12. How might you spread hope through a random act of kindness this week? Pray for each other.

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CONFESSION, by Kelly Hall God, the wait. The wait is long and numbing, its nothing like the beginning. Like the natural and easy exchange between You and Adam. We have to work at it, at least on our end, making it easy to forget the connection exists because You made it so. We confess this disability, O God, how we too easily accept the disconnect

Hebrews 11:32-40 (NLT) “32 How much more do I need to say? It would take too long to recount the stories of the faith of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and all the prophets. 33 By faith these people overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God had promised them. They shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the flames of fire, and escaped death by the edge of the sword. Their weakness was turned to strength. They became strong in battle and put whole armies to flight. 35 Women received their loved ones back again from death. But others were tortured, refusing to turn from God in order to be set free. They placed their hope in a better life after the resurrection. 36 Some were jeered at, and their backs were cut open with whips. Others were chained in prisons. 37 Some died by stoning, some were sawed in half, and others were killed with the sword. Some went about wearing skins of sheep and goats, destitute and oppressed and mistreated. 38 They were too good for this world, wandering over deserts and mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground. 39 All these people earned a good reputation because of their faith, yet none of them received all that God had promised. 40 For God had something better in mind for us, so that they would not reach perfection without us.”

and busy ourselves to earn what is always there. God, we absolutely need You. Forgive us for too often needing reminders, too often needing You to bring us back to a new beginning, but, God bless the mother of our rebirth! She carries the wisdom of who we truly are. Even centuries down the line we sense the pains of her onset labor each tension drawing us closer to what could be. Anoint our wait for more of You, God. Bless our tension, bless our release.

Hebrews 10:19-25 (NLT) “19 And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. 20 By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. 21 And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, 22 let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. 24 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. 25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.” John 16:33 (NLT) “33 I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”