Watch the video above and talk about it with a group or mentor. Learn more.
Hope is one of the most powerful elements of the Christian faith, and the Bible has a lot to say about it both directly and indirectly.
Key Points:
- Proverbs 13:12 – Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life.
- Psalm 3:1-3 – O Lord, I have so many enemies; so many are against me. So many are saying, “God will never rescue him!” But you, O Lord, are a shield around me; you are my glory, the one who holds my head high.
- Romans 5:3-5 – We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.
- 1 Peter 1:3-6 – All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay.
- Hebrews 11:1 – Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.
Quote This:
Proverbs 13:12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life.
Talk About It
- What is your initial reaction to this topic? What jumped out at you?
- How would you define hope? Name some things you’re hoping for at this moment in your life.
- Read Proverbs 13:12. Share a time when you hoped for something and it was not fulfilled. How did you respond? How long did it take for you to get over it?
- Of the verses above, which one speaks most powerfully to you right now? Why?
- What are some other verses on hope that would make your top 10 list?
- Read 1 Peter 1:3-6. Describe the “great expectation” that Christians can have because of their faith. Do you have this expectation personally? Why or why not?
- Is there a step you need to take based on today’s topic?
