God Does His Best Work in Bad Times

Pastors Todd and Julie kicked off a new series called “Get Your Hopes Up.” In this message, they shared how there’s often a gap between our expectations and reality, but as believers, we can fill that gap with hope. Use this guide to get your hopes up and keep talking about Sunday’s sermon. 

SERMON HIGHLIGHTS

• Hope: A confident expectation of what God has promised based on the certainty that God is faithful
• Advent: Arrival of something or someone of importance 
• God does great things in bad times. 
• Hope isn’t always found where we think it will be found. 
• If you think God has forgotten you, you have forgotten who God is.

KEY SCRIPTURES

• Isaiah 9:2
• Luke 1:1, 3-4
• Luke 2:1,3
• Isaiah 7:14
• Micah 5:2
• Hebrews 6:19
• Jeremiah 29:11
• Romans 15:13
• Isaiah 61:3

START TALKING 

• When do you put your Christmas tree up, before or after Thanksgiving? 
  

KEEP TALKING

• Sometimes, there is a gap between what we hope for and our reality. When was the last time you experienced this expectation gap? 
• What do you need to get your hopes up for this season? 
• Our hope isn’t in the answer to our prayers or our situation. Hope that is sustainable is only found in God. What have you been placing your hope in lately, and is it sustainable? 
• Psalms 121:1-2 says, “I lift my eyes toward the mountains. Where will my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” We can’t get our hopes up when our head is down. How can you lift your head up this week so you can get your hopes up (e.g., reading Scripture in the morning, taking your worries to God in prayer, playing worship music, etc.)?
• Who in your life needs the hope you have? How can you be a “hope dealer?”
• We don’t want to “plan the perfect party but miss the point” this holiday season. What would it look like for you to do Christmas differently this year (e.g., giving more to Christ Birthday Offering, serving, staying within your budget, etc.)? 

KEEP IT GOING

One way we deliver hope to those who need it most is through our Christ Birthday Offering. If you want to partner with us to fund mission projects throughout the year, consider giving this Christmas.

PRAYER

Father, thank you for giving us hope in hard places. We look to you because we know our hope and help come from you alone. Please show us how you want us to celebrate your birthday this year. We don’t want to miss the point or miss you. Amen.