Built on Firm Foundations, Filled with Fresh Faith

For nearly 75 years NewHope has stood on firm foundations, and that foundation is Jesus Christ. I shared how my own family story — my grandfather’s conversion, years in PNG, church planting and faithful servants down through the decades — has shaped my conviction that our identity is part of a far larger story. That story stretches back two thousand years and finds its pattern in Acts 2: committed people practicing teaching, fellowship, breaking bread, prayer, generosity and mission. Those practices are not optional ornaments; they form the DNA that sustains a church through changing seasons.

We are stepping into a new season where methods must adapt while the foundation remains fixed. I used the image of an old bike to show how context changes — new tools like electric bikes speed past us — yet the destination stays the same: proclaiming Jesus to a hungry, disillusioned world. Faith, however, often leaks away through distraction and discouragement. The history of Israel after Joshua warns how easy it is for a new generation to forget what God has done; Joshua’s call to be strong and courageous reminds us that fear and distraction can quietly dethrone the life God gives.

Doubt is not the enemy of faith; walking through honest questions makes faith more resilient. That’s why I invited the whole church into three simple focuses for 2026: seeking God’s presence through prayer and worship, sharing the good news of Jesus with everyone everywhere, and serving the next generation while celebrating the past. Practically, we’ll walk through a 21-day season of prayer and fasting, hold all-in worship prayer gatherings, press into invitational Sundays and Alpha in the wild, and build a leadership pipeline while honouring our Chinese congregation and celebrating 75 years. I invited people to be anointed as a physical sign of setting themselves apart for fresh faith, and to come forward for prayer — because renewal is both communal and personal. It’s time to get on our bike and move into this season with faith that is alive, practiced, and passed on.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. Built on Jesus, not methods The only unchanging foundation is Jesus Christ; every method, program, or cultural tool is provisional. When practices change with context, decisions remain tethered to who Christ is and what he calls us to be. Holding the foundation steady keeps innovation from becoming compromise and keeps mission from losing its shape.
• 2. Practice forms the church’s DNA Regular habits — teaching, prayer, fellowship, sacrament, generosity — are formative, not merely optional. These practices shape desires and behavior over time, creating communities that reflect the gospel. To rebuild vitality, return to these rhythms and let them rework your heart.
• 3. Fight distraction and discouragement Distraction quietly erodes memory of God’s work; discouragement breeds fear that stops us from stepping out. Both are spiritual leeches that need to be exposed and resisted with prayer, community, and clear reminders of God’s promises. Courage grows when we intentionally rehearse God’s faithfulness.
• 4. Pass faith to the next generation Legacy is not nostalgia but transmission: stories, leadership, and practices passed on with clarity and intention. Investing in training, celebration, and cross-cultural partnership preserves what matters and equips new leaders to adapt. If we fail to pass on the story, we risk repeating Israel’s tragedy of forgetting.

Hello everyone! It’s great to be together again this week. I hope you were as encouraged and challenged by the sermon on Sunday as I was. Our pastor really laid out a compelling vision for NewHope as we step into this new season, reminding us of our firm foundations and calling us to fresh faith.

Let’s dive into our discussion guide for this week.

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**NewHope Small Group Discussion Guide: Firm Foundations, Fresh Faith**

**Bible Reading:**

* **1 Corinthians 3:10-11:** "By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one must build with care. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ."
* **Acts 2:42-47:** "They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved."
* **Judges 2:10-11:** "After that whole generation had been gathered to their ancestors, another generation grew up who neither knew the Lord nor what he had done for Israel. Then the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord and served foreign gods."

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**Observation Questions:**

1. According to Paul in 1 Corinthians 3, what is the *only* foundation that can be laid for the church?
2. In Acts 2, what specific practices did the early believers devote themselves to, and what was the result of their commitment?
3. What was the tragic outcome for the generation that grew up after Joshua and his contemporaries, as described in Judges 2?
4. The pastor shared his family's story and NewHope's history. What common thread of "committed people" and "key practices" did he highlight in both these stories?

**Interpretation Questions:**

1. The sermon emphasized that Jesus is the *only* unchanging foundation for the church. What does it mean for a church to be truly "built on Jesus" rather than on methods, programs, or even the personalities of its leaders?
2. Acts 2 describes the early church's "DNA" through practices like teaching, fellowship, breaking bread, and prayer. How do these regular habits *form* the church and shape its identity, rather than just being optional activities we do?
3. The sermon warns against distraction and discouragement, citing the generation after Joshua who "neither knew the Lord nor what he had done." What does it mean for a generation or an individual to "forget what God has done," and how might this manifest in our faith today?
4. The pastor stated that "the only way to faith is through the path of doubt." What is the difference between healthy doubt that can lead to a more resilient faith, and discouragement or fear that can cause our faith to leak away?

**Application Questions:**

1. The sermon highlighted that "faith easily leaks" through distraction. What specific distractions (e.g., busyness, social media, worries, entertainment) are currently causing your faith to leak, and what is one practical step you can take this week to minimize one of them?
2. Our pastor invited the church into three focuses for 2026: seeking God's presence, sharing the good news, and serving the next generation. Which of these three areas resonates most with you personally, and what is one concrete action you can commit to in that area this year?
3. NewHope's history, like the early church, is built on "committed people" and "key practices." Thinking about your own involvement, what is one "key practice" (e.g., prayer, fellowship, generosity, mission, teaching) you feel God is calling you to deepen your commitment to in this new season?
4. The sermon emphasized passing faith to the next generation, warning against repeating Israel's tragedy of forgetting. Who is one younger person (a child, grandchild, youth, or young adult) in your life or sphere of influence that you can intentionally share a story of God's faithfulness with this week?
5. The pastor encouraged us to "get on our bike and move into this season with faith that is alive, practiced, and passed on." What does "fresh faith" look like for *you* right now, and what is one area where you need God to revitalize your joy or boldness?
6. The sermon mentioned "Alpha in the wild" and invitational Sundays as ways to share the good news. Is there someone specific you could invite to an upcoming church event or an Alpha course, or simply initiate a spiritual conversation with this month?
7. The sermon concluded with an invitation to be anointed as a sign of setting oneself apart for fresh faith. What specific area of your life or ministry do you feel God is calling you to "set apart" for Him in a fresh way this year?