Bible Reading
Romans 15:13 “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
[37:45]Hebrews 11:1-40 “Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen. For by this our ancestors were approved. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible. By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was approved as a righteous man, because God approved his gifts, and even though he is dead, he still speaks through his faith. By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not experience death: 'He was not to be found because God took him away.' For before he was taken away, he was approved as one who pleased God. Now without faith it is impossible to please God, since the one who draws near to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. By faith Noah, after he was warned about what was not yet seen and motivated by godly fear, built an ark to deliver his family. By faith he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith. By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed and set out for a place that he was going to receive as an inheritance. He went out, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he stayed as a foreigner in the land of promise, living in tents as did Isaac and Jacob, coheirs of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. By faith even Sarah herself, when she was unable to have children, received power to conceive offspring, even though she was past the age, since she considered that the one who had promised was faithful. Therefore, from one man—in fact, from one as good as dead—came offspring as numerous as the stars of the sky and as innumerable as the grains of sand along the seashore. These all died in faith, although they had not received the things that were promised. But they saw them from a distance, greeted them, and confessed that they were foreigners and temporary residents on the earth. Now those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they were thinking about where they came from, they would have had an opportunity to return. But they now desire a better place—a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac. He received the promises and yet he was offering his one and only son, the one to whom it had been said, 'Your offspring will be traced through Isaac.' He considered God to be able even to raise someone from the dead; therefore, he received him back, figuratively speaking. By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and he worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff. By faith Joseph, as he was nearing the end of his life, mentioned the exodus of the Israelites and gave instructions concerning his bones. By faith Moses, after he was born, was hidden by his parents for three months, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they didn’t fear the king’s edict. By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter and chose to suffer with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasure of sin. For he considered reproach for the sake of Christ to be greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, since he was looking ahead to the reward. By faith he left Egypt behind, not being afraid of the king’s anger, for Moses persevered as one who sees him who is invisible. By faith he instituted the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them. By faith they crossed the Red Sea as though they were on dry land. When the Egyptians attempted to do this, they were drowned. By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after being marched around by the Israelites for seven days. By faith Rahab the prostitute welcomed the spies in peace and didn’t perish with those who disobeyed. And what more can I say? Time is too short for me to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets, who by faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched the raging of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, gained strength in weakness, became mighty in battle, and put foreign armies to flight. Women received their dead, raised to life again. Other people were tortured, not accepting release, so that they might gain a better resurrection. Others experienced mockings and scourgings, as well as bonds and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawed in two, they died by the sword, they wandered about in sheepskins, in goatskins, destitute, afflicted, and mistreated. The world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and on mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground. All these were approved through their faith, but they did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, so that they would not be made perfect without us.”
[54:31]Philippians 4:4-7 “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your graciousness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”
[50:52]Observation questions
- In Romans 15:13, how are God’s giving, the believer’s trust, and the Holy Spirit’s power connected to the purpose of the blessing? [38:23]
- What is a spoken blessing meant to draw attention to, and how is that different from the person speaking it having power to deliver it? [40:04]
- In Hebrews 11:32–40, what different outcomes did people experience as they trusted God? What did some receive, and what did others endure? [56:41]
- In Philippians 4:4–7, what actions accompany bringing requests to God, and what does Paul say God’s peace will guard? [51:04]
Interpretation questions
- Why does Paul’s blessing in Romans 15:13 rest on God’s character and power rather than on the strength of the person speaking it? How does this distinguish Christian hope from wishful thinking? [43:43]
- How does Hebrews 11 challenge the idea that strong faith always produces immediate relief or visible success? What might faithful obedience look like when circumstances do not improve? [57:27]
- How can the joy and peace described in Romans 15:13 and Philippians 4:4–7 be real for someone who is still grieving or facing hardship? Why is this different from pretending everything is fine? [01:04:40]
- Why is personal fullness not the finish line of the blessing in Romans 15:13? How does dependence on the Holy Spirit shape the way a church carries hope to its neighbors? [01:10:22]
Application questions
- Think of someone you regularly encourage—a child, friend, relative, or fellow believer. How could your words help that person recognize God’s care and their need for him, rather than offering only a good wish? [42:04]
- What situation is making it difficult for you to experience joy or peace right now? What would it look like to bring that specific concern to God with thanksgiving without denying how hard it is? [51:04]
- Have you ever judged your own faith by whether a situation turned out well? How might the examples of both victory and suffering in Hebrews 11 help you trust God in something that remains unresolved? [57:03]
- Which most often gets in the way of your trust: past experiences, assumptions about what God can do, pride, or a pattern of sin? What is one step you could take to address that hindrance, and what support would help? [58:45]
- Trust grows as a daily habit, not just a moment of confidence. What ordinary part of your day could become an opportunity to depend on God instead of trying to carry everything yourself? [01:03:57]
- Who outside the church’s walls might experience God’s hope through your presence this week? What barrier could you or this group begin to lower, and what simple act of care could follow as you depend on the Holy Spirit? [01:11:26]
