Celebrating the hope we have in the resurrection of Jesus and anticipating the day when all our prayers will find their answer in his return. With special guests Sammy Greig and Ladan Nouri, imprisoned for her faith.

Please note that this session contains a story about sexual violence and rape.

Bible passages from the session: John 20:19-20, 2 Corinthians 1:3-5

Key points:

–There can be a beauty in our brokenness

–Our deepest suffering can become our greatest gift to the world.

–Our ultimate hope as Christians is eternal

–“Now, we see the harvest. We can reap this harvest because [the missionaries Mark and Gladys Bliss] planted the seeds in Iran with their tears and their sacrifice” – Ladan Nouri

Discussion questions:

Q. What did you find most helpful, inspiring or challenging in what Pete and Sammy Greig, Gemma Hunt and Ladan Nouri shared?

The Bible says that we ‘do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.’ (1 Thess. 4:13).

Q. Thinking about an area of long-term disappointment in your life, how might an eternal perspective reframe the way you relate to it?

Closing prayer:

As we finish this course, we’ll pray an ancient apostolic blessing over us from the book of Romans. It speaks about the power of the Holy Spirit as the one who renews us with hope, so you may like to open your hands now to receive afresh:

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” – Romans 15:13

Q. What do you think the new heaven and the new earth will be like? How will it be different? How will it be the same?

Q. In the video Pete and Sammy Greig used a kintsugi bowl to illustrate the beauty that can come out of brokenness. Where can you see beauty coming out of brokenness in your life, or in the life of someone in this group?

Q. The story of Ladan and the missionaries Mark and Gladys Bliss demonstrates that it can sometimes take months, years or even decades for fruit to come out of our suffering.

Are there stories in our community’s history of how challenges and trials have now produced fruit? Or are there opportunities for us to turn our current challenges into long-term fruit?

Q. Eugene Peterson writes, “Faith develops out of the most difficult aspects of our existence, not the easiest.” How do the stories you’ve heard across this course reflect and inspire you to keep persevering in the midst of challenges?