"False Hope" by Pastor Tony
Group Discussion Guide
Thriving in Babylon Sermon Series
“False Hope” by Pastor Tony
Leaders, please choose the best question(s) for your group
October 13, 2019
If you have questions, contact Pastor Ric,
Below are some discussion questions relating to a recent sermon. These are provided so that your Life Group can discuss what was shared. Previous Weeks’ Discussion Guides and Sermon Notes are available through the Sermons under the Resources menu. Click on the sermon series and then the sermon you are interested in. You will see a paper icon under the sermon title. Click the icon to open the sermon notes. To listen to the sermon, click on the speaker icon.
Context
Last week/Series Summary: Our series is called “Thriving in Babylon” and our focus is on how we can live for God, even when the culture around us denies Him and belittles/persecutes those who follow him. The life of Daniel is important because he represents a godly example of one who influenced pagan Kings. His deep faith enabled him to thrive in a challenging culture! Last Sunday, Pastor Tony exposed the stuff that kills our hope from Daniel 2:8-11 and Daniel 3:8-12.
This week: Many of us look to culture and heritage for hope, depending on who we are, how much we have, what we do, and who we know to provide hope. Today, Pastor Tony examines the text to discover why this was not the case in Daniel’s life and helps us discover from where lasting hope (hope that does not change due to circumstances) comes.
Sermon Texts: Daniel 6:10-16; Daniel 12:1-13; 1 Timothy 3:15, 4:7-16
Discussion Questions:
Spend a few moments re-capping the sermon. What thought, concept, text, or phrase impressed you? How will this make a difference in your spiritual journey?
- To which of the common (false) hopes do you find yourself drawn? Why? Why don’t they provide lasting hope?
- Heritage and status?
- Resources: money, skills, intellect?
- Political movements?
- New ideas, new social movements, new social media platforms?
- Powerful and influential people?
- How can misplaced hope lead us to a spiritually ineffective life?
- It is normal to elevate our prayer life when we struggle? However, how does a consistent prayer life (Daniel’s example) allow us to participate in God’s lasting hope in the sometimes “foggy present”?
Each one of us are surrounded by people in our relational world, our Oikos, who are watching our responses to situations every day.
- When we face life’s challenges, how do we show a balance of godly hope and a realistically human perspective to impact those who are not yet believers?
- How do you hold strong to doctrine and truth in today’s culture, and also show compassion, mercy, and grace to your unchurched oikos?
Help for maintaining godly hope (discuss what this means):
- Commit to a church as a pillar for truth. (1 Timothy 3:15)
- Commit to a church that faithfully teaches the Word of God, which is our source of truth. (1 Timothy 4: 7,13)
- Commit to pursuing personal spiritual training. (1 Timothy 4:7b-8)
- Regularly remember God’s faithful and loving provision of salvation, putting your hope in The Living God who saves you. (1 Timothy 4:10)
Digging Deeper
- Can we identify any parallels to the life of Christ in the ways that the officials of his day attempted to entrap Jesus?
- How must we apply 1 Timothy 4:16 to the church today?