This week's Life Group Questions

1) Read 1 Peter 1:1-9.  What thoughts or questions came to mind as the Word was read?
2) We discussed a number of definitions of hope.  What is your working, “living” definition?
3) What is the difference between wishing and Biblical hoping.
4) How is God’s gift of hope like a rescue rope?
5) How is our hoping like a cord stretched toward God?
6) Let’s evaluate our hoping though the 4 “e-Values” of ECB.  Questions are from the (message.)
  • EDIFY – signs of hope in community.
    • What do you talk about between meetings?  Do you talk with other group members?
    • What do you talk about with other Christians?  In your family?
    • Of what are you repenting?  Who knows this?
    • Who, outside of your family, is aware of Christ’s victories in your life?
    • Do you know God’s Word as well as the latest Facebook updates?
  • EXALT – signs of hope in our walk with God.
    • Do you pray more for yourself or others?
    • Do you pray more about the present or the future?
    • Do your prayers contain more requests or more thanksgiving?
    • Do you pray your solutions or God’s Word into the needs you express to God?
    • Do you suggest how God might answer your prayers or do you trust the solutions He has spoken?
    • Are you willing for God to answers your prayers His way?
    • Are you willing for God to answer our prayers in His time?  Will you “remain under” (endure / persevere)?
  • EQUIP – signs of hope in our spiritual maturity.
    • When our feelings try to control us how do we answer our own hearts?
    • Fear says that God can’t provide or protect.  How do you answer fear in your life?
    • Doubt says that God’s Word can’t be trusted. How do you answer doubt?
    • Worry says that God is not in control of some circumstance. How do you respond to worry?
    • Anger / frustration show me where I have assumed lordship in my life – and let myself down. How do you respond to anger or frustration?
    • Boredom is a sign that I am following my own inadequate agenda and not God’s. How do you respond to boredom?
    • Bitterness is a sign that I don’t trust God to defend me.  How do you respond to bitterness?
  • EXTEND – signs of hope in our relationships with pre-Christians.
    • Do you look for opportunities to talk about Jesus or are you just willing if someone asks?
    • How quickly can you turn a conversation into the opportunity to tell your Jesus-faith story?
    • What pre-Christians know that you are a Christian? How do they know?
    • How eager are you to share your story of Jesus forgiving and loving you?
7) How can we pray for ECB and for our group right now?