Hopeful | Just Visiting | Mitch Harrison

Have you ever felt like the world around you is falling apart? In those moments, it’s easy to lose hope and feel overwhelmed by despair. 1 Peter 1:3-9 reminds us that as followers of Jesus, we have a living hope that stands out in a world filled with uncertainty. This hope is not based on circumstances but on the unchanging promise of God’s eternal goodness. How can you hold onto hope when everything seems bleak? Anchor your hope in Jesus. Trust in His promises.

KEY VERSES

• Matthew 4:19 NLT: Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!”

• 1 Peter 2:9 NLT: But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.

• Matthew 12:34 NRSV: You brood of vipers! How can you speak good things, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

• Acts 4:13 NLT: The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus.

• Acts 4:18-20: So they called the apostles back in and commanded them never again to speak or teach in the name of Jesus.But Peter and John replied, “Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than him?We cannot stop telling about everything we have seen and heard.”

HEARING WHAT GOD IS SAYING

One of the best ways to hear what God is saying right now is to look at what He has said in the Bible with a few friends. Discovery Bible Study is an easy-to-use way to hear from God, make good changes in our lives, and share with others what God is up to. Grab some friends, pick a verse or story from above, and dive deeper into this week’s message.

Recap

+ Reconnect

To begin the study, each person answers these questions:

• What are you thankful for?
• What is causing stress for our neighbors and people around us?
• What can we as individuals or as a group do to help?
  

+ Recap

• Have someone retell the story from your previous meeting.
• Did you live out your response from last week?
• Did you tell anyone else about the story from last week?
  

Discovering What God Is Saying

+ Read and Retell the Bible Story

• One person reads the story out loud to the group.
• Someone else in the group retells the story in their own words as they remember it, and others fill in what’s missing.
  
  

+ Read and Look

• Read the passage again (different version if possible)
• What does this passage say about God, Jesus, or His plan?
  
  

+ Read and Look Again

• Have 1-2 more people retell the story as if they were telling a neighbor outside their home.
• What does this passage say about people in general?
  
  

Doing What God Is Saying

+ Consider

• What in me needs to change to better DO what God is showing me today?
• How will you respond to/obey this passage in a tangible, perhaps even costly ways in the next 47 hours?
• Have someone record these for prayer time, and for the beginning of the next meeting.
  
  

Sharing what God is saying

+ Praying Together

• Take prayer requests
• Pray together
  
  

+ Share

• Who in your life needs to hear this story?
• Who could you invite to study the Bible like this?
  
  

Become a Partner

Every time you give in Jesus’ name, you make a difference in others AND you make a difference in your own life! Partnering together in generosity helps accomplish things together that could never be accomplished alone! You can partner together in giving today with a single gift, or schedule recurring giving using your checking account, debit, or credit card.