Church of The Open Door

“Enough”

2 Timothy 1:1

1. Facing circumstances that undermine hope • Setting of death

• Sentenced to death

• Surrounded by death

2. Finding the secret of unstoppable hope • Root your identity in Christ

• Entrust your future to Christ

• Deepen your relationship with Christ

Christ is our hope; and Christ is enough.

LifeGroup Questions: Applying the Teaching to Our Life

1. Describe a time in your life when you were facing a set of circumstances where it felt to you like all hope was gone.

2. Read Isaiah 40:27-31 out loud. Is this true for you? As a group describe a time when God re- ally came through for you: a provision, healing, a word he gave you or even someone who reached out in a critical moment.

3. On Youtube, play the song “You Keep Hope Alive” by Jon Reddick. What themes in this song mean the most to you and how does it speak to your circumstances and the hope we have? Use this song to worshipfully listen and apply the truth we heard in the sermon.

4. In what are you tempted to root your identity instead of rooting it in Christ? In other words, do you define your worth and live out of who you are in Christ, finding your security and sig- nificance in Him or do you define your worth and live out of your accomplishments, or what you own, or what you do or how much you have or don’t have?

5. If we asked your closest friends and family members what you are currently putting your hope in how do you think they would respond? Be honest.

6. What are some specific practical ways you can deepen your relationship with Christ? If you’re not sure, ask your group to help you with some practical suggestions.

Core CHRISTlike Characteristic:

Connected to God through the Word and Prayer/Loving God

Easter 2019

“Hope is Alive”

1 Peter 1:3

1. Everybody has a story.

You and I have a story.

Jesus has a story.

Peter has a story.

2. Everybody’s stories are full of:

the unexpected

hope and hurt

joy and grief

false hopes

Jesus will let our false hopes die so he can give us living hope.

3. Everybody’s stories need:

Living hope

Great mercy

New birth

Resurrection!

Jesus wants to write a new chapter in your story.

Jesus wants to give you living hope, unstoppable hope!

LifeGroup Questions: Applying the Teaching to Our Life

1. If you haven’t shared your story with your LifeGroup before, take 3 minutes or less and share the highlights of your story with them.

2. Everybody go around the group and share something about yourself that you’re pretty sure they’ve never heard before.

3. Share an unexpected hurt or an unexpected joy that you’ve experienced.

4. As a group do a search on the word hope in your Bibles - share what you learn and which verses mean the most to you.

5. We said in the sermon that “Jesus will let false hopes die so that he can give us living hope.” Can you give an example from your life of how that played out?

6. Why is idolatry such a heinous sin to God? Is there one idol or inferior hope that you feel God is calling you to smash into pieces? Share it with your group and ask them to pray for you to have the strength to get rid of it.

Disciple: Jesus’ Plan for Discipleship

“Develop Understanding Through Classes”

Acts 4:13, Luke 19:48, Matthew 28:18-20

Jesus is the Master Teacher- We are Life Long Learners

Jesus Taught for Transformation- Our Teaching is Not About Information

Information < Knowledge < Understanding

Proximity to Jesus ≠ Transformation

Knowledge- Beliefs- Attitudes- Skills- Habits

Jesus Corrected the Dominant Thinking of the Day- Our Teaching is Centered on the Word of God through the Power of the Holy Spirit

RightNow Media

BiblicalTraining.org

Loving God/Loving People/Living Surrendered 101s

Jesus Taught with Authority- Our Teaching is Vital to the Great Commission

Discipleship is About Becoming Like Christ

Becoming Like Christ is Not About You!

Disciples Follow Jesus!

LifeGroup Questions: Applying the Teaching to Our Life

1. What is something that you are seriously committed to? Describe your level of commitment through actions you take, money you spend, and thoughts you think about your area of commitment.

2. If you feel hesitancy toward discipleship is it because of lack of motivation, lack of desire, feeling of inadequacy, feeling of frustration, or other?

3. It seems like media is always screaming some sort of agenda. Make some observations about the subtle and sometimes not so subtle techniques that the media uses to teach you? Are you aware of the teaching that is going on around you?

4. When you hear the word “teach” or “teacher” what thoughts/feelings come to mind? What is the source of those reactions?

5. What is your go to defense mechanism when someone is correcting you? Run? Fight? Accept willingly? Accept begrudgingly? Shut down? Quietly grumble?

6. Read Joshua 1:7-9. In this moment in Israel’s story, who was the teacher and who was the student? How was that about to change? What does this show is about our learning?

7. Which area of the Discipleship Process do you feel God pushing you to focus on at this time? Do it!

CoreChristlike Characteristic: Loving God/Loving People/Living Surrendered