Advent: Hope
December 1 | Discipleship Guide
Be Real Together:
Take a few minutes to catch up, tell stories, and laugh together. Trust and friendship take time to build. If you’re launching a new DG, one person should tell their story — what do we need to know about you? Next week, have another person in your DG share their story.
Read Together: Psalms 130:1-8, 1 Peter 1:3-4 CSB
Psalm 130:1-8 is a heartfelt cry for mercy and a declaration of hope in God's forgiveness and redemption. The psalmist expresses a deep sense of hope and waiting for the Lord, likening it to watchmen waiting for the morning, signifying vigilance and anticipation. The psalm concludes with a call for Israel to place their hope in the Lord, emphasizing His unfailing love and promise of full redemption from all sins. We can call out to the Lord from the depths.
1 Peter 1:3-4 is a passage of praise and thanksgiving to God for the living hope that believers have through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The apostle Peter explains that a new birth into a living hope provides believers with an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for them. This inheritance is secure and eternal, highlighting the glorious future awaiting those who trust in Christ. Christ is all the hope you need.
1 Peter 1:3-4 is a passage of praise and thanksgiving to God for the living hope that believers have through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The apostle Peter explains that a new birth into a living hope provides believers with an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for them. This inheritance is secure and eternal, highlighting the glorious future awaiting those who trust in Christ. Christ is all the hope you need.
The One Question:
Ask this question at your family meal or Discipleship Group.
How would you define “hope" and where do you find it?
Grow Together:
Use these questions to go deeper with your DG or for personal study.
- What emotions does the psalmist express in these opening verses? How can you relate to this cry for help?
- How do you actively place your hope in God’s word?
- The psalmist compares his waiting to watchmen waiting for the morning. What does this convey about the nature of hope and anticipation?
- How does Psalm 130 shape your understanding of hope in the context of sin and forgiveness?
- How does the resurrection of Jesus Christ provide a foundation for our hope?
- How does knowing that your inheritance is “imperishable, undefiled, and unfading” affect your perspective on earthly challenges?
Pray Together:
Take time to pray with and for each other.