Outward Church

Week 1 - Hope

Day 1 - 7

Day 1 - HOPE video intro

In the Bible people who have hope are very different from optimists! In this video, we’ll explore how biblical hope looks to God’s character alone as a basis for trusting that the future will be better than the present. READ 13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. Romans 15:13

Day 2

Biblical hope relies on God’s character as a basis for trusting that the future will be better than the present. The more a person gets to know God’s character, the more hope they can have. READ 1 Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD! 2 O Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy! 3 If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? 4 But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared. 5 I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; 6 my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning. 7 O Israel, hope in the LORD! For with the LORD there is steadfast love, and with him is plentiful redemption. 8 And he will redeem Israel from all his iniquities. Psalm 130:1-8 REFLECT -What does the psalmist say about God’s character? -What do you say about God’s character? -What does the psalmist believe God will do for Israel? -What do you believe God will do for you and your community? -How do you want to see God’s forgiving love at work in your life and your community this week? Form your answer into a prayer to him now. He’s listening.

Day 3

Optimism chooses to see how circumstances could work out for the best. Biblical hope, however, is not based on circumstances. In fact, hopeful people in the Bible often face difficult times with no evidence that things will get better, but they choose hope anyway. For example, Israel’s prophet Micah lived in the midst of injustice and evil but looked to God for hope. READ 6 for the son treats the father with contempt, the daughter rises up against her mother, the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; a man’s enemies are the men of his own house. 7 But as for me, I will look to the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me. 8 Rejoice not over me, O my enemy; when I fall, I shall rise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD will be a light to me. Micah 7:6-8 REFLECT -Notice some of the troubles Micah lists in verse 6 and how he responds in verse 7 and 8. What are some of the troubles around you right now? How does Micah’s response encourage or challenge you today? -Take a moment to echo Micah’s prayer to God. He hears you.

Day 4

God’s past faithfulness motivates hope for the future. We can look forward with hope by looking backward to remember how trustworthy God has been. If he was faithful then, why would he not be faithful again? READ 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:23 REFLECT -Remember three specific ways God has shown his love to you and your community in the past. -How do your memories of God’s faithful love provide hope for you today? -Turn these reflections into a conversation with God. Share what his faithful love has meant to you and how you want to see him be faithful again today.

Day 5

Biblical hope depends on Jesus because He alone is able to give “living hope” through his death and resurrection to all who trust in him. The hope that Jesus gives is “living” because he himself is alive and offers eternal life with him. When we put our hope in him, we will not be disappointed, and we will live with him forever. READ 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 1 Peter 1:3-5 REFLECT -What do you observe as you read this passage? -Notice how this passage is a blessing addressed to God. Take some time to bless God with a prayer of your own.

Day 6

The good news reveals that Jesus’ spirit can actually live within humanity and enable them to experience the magnitude of God’s presence. The apostle Paul called this mystery, “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” READ 25 of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, 26 the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. 27 To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. 29 For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me. Colossians 1:25-29 REFLECT -What words or phrases stand out to you? Ponder the mystery that Jesus’ spirit can live within people who trust in him. As you think on this, turn your questions, wonder, and amazement into a prayer to God.

Day 7

Biblical hope is not just for humanity; it’s for all of creation. Jesus’ resurrection provided a glimpse of how the whole universe will one day be restored. READ 18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. 26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. God’s Everlasting Love 31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:18-39 REFLECT -In this passage, what specifically do the children of God and creation wait to see realized? What will be completed on that day? What do you think creation will be like when this hope is finally realized? -What are you suffering right now? How does this passage encourage you in the midst of your pain today?