Part 1: Hope - It's Never Too Late |  04/07/19

Study Questions

1.  What things could/have made you feel hopeless?

2.  Read Ephesians 2:8-9.  Why is it so dangerous for us to try and be good enough for God?

     a) If you're a forgiven Christian, how could you maintain a healthy perspective of being a sinner needing God each day?

3.  Read 1 Corinthians 15:13-23.  Our confidence in every situation is based on the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Referring back to your answer to question 1, how might Jesus' resurrection give you hope in that situation?

4.  Read Matthew 20:8-15.  

     a)  What are the things you 'grumble' about that seem unfair in life?

     b)  How do envy and comparisons creep into your life as you look at the lives of other Christians?

     c)  How can having a healthy perspective of how amazing God's generosity is, affect your attitude?  

5.  What difference does it make to our attitude toward life when we see God as compassionate and gracious, and not angry at us all the time?

     a)  Read Colossians 3:13 and Romans 14:10.  What difference should this make to the way we treat others?

Part 2: Hope - It's Never Too Much  |  04/14/19

 Study Questions

1.  What situation in your life right now is God asking you to trust Him with?  

     a)  What would 'trusting God' look like in that situation?

2.  Read Mark 14:31 and Luke 22:60-61.  Evaluate your faith in comparison with when you were first saved.  What would it take for you to return to your first love or passion for God?

3.  Could you say that your life is shaped by spending time with God, listening to Him and doing what He says?  Why/why not?

     a)  Discuss how you can keep each other accountable and encourage each other in your faith.

4.  Spend the rest of the study considering how Christ's resurrection and victory over sin and death means you can be forgiven for the things you have shame and regret over.  Read Mark 16:4-7; 1 Corinthians 15:56-58; Romans 6:4-10; Ephesians 2:4-10 and John 21.  In the same way that Peter's failure led him to humbly hope only in Jesus' love for him rather than in his professed love for Jesus, let your weaknesses lead you to focus on God and His unconditional love for you.

Part 3: Hope - It's Never Too Far  |  04/21/19

Study Questions

1.  Read Luke 23:44-47 and Matthew 27:54.  How do you think the Centurion felt in that moment?  Have you ever felt like you've gone too far for God to forgive you?  Share examples of things we typically think are perhaps 'going too far' for God to forgive us.  

     a)  Why do we naturally assume we can go too far and find ourselves beyond forgiveness?  

     b)  Why is God able to offer us unconditional grace?

2.  Read Luke 24:1-7 and 1 Corinthians 15:14-20.  Why is the resurrection of Jesus so central and significant to the Christian faith?

     a)  How can the resurrection make a difference to the way we live our daily lives? 

3.  The gospel story can be compared to a loving parent wiling to clean up a child, dirty from their own mess - God was willing to come into our 'room' smelling of sin, and fully embrace us in this place in order to make us clean.  How could you share the gospel with a friend in a way that they could easily understand it?

4.  Take turns sharing your salvation stories with each other, then pray and encourage each other as you continue to live out this message of hope.

Part 4: A Humbled Heart is Boldly Confident 03/24/19

Study Questions

1.  Discuss the situations that lead to David’s failure.  What are some of the temptations in his story that you can identify with?

2.  Read  1 Corinthians 10:13.  How does this relate to us?  Discuss why we don’t always take the opportunities that God gives us to escape.

3.  Read 1 John 1:9.  What does it mean to be “cleansed from all unrighteousness”?  How does Romans 8:1-4 relate to you when you think about your failures?  What would you say to someone who felt that their sin was too bad for God to be able to forgive?

4.  Romans 7 describes Paul’s battle with his sinful nature and wanting to please God.  How does our awareness of our own sinfulness develop submission to God?   How might submission to God help us to accept responsibility for the consequences of our sin?

5.  God wants to bring redemption and resurrection to our situations after we have failed.   How might our failures fit into God’s biggest story?