Celebration of Hope – Week 1, April 22/23, 2017
Dr. Gladys Mwiti and Harvey Carey
Quick-Connect Guide
Use the questions in this section if your group is already studying something else and won’t be using
the full discussion guide.
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What does hope mean to you?
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If you had to put it in a single sentence, how would you describe your God-given assignment
on this earth? How are you seeking to fulfill that assignment?
Discussion Guide
In this section, you will find an opening prayer, discussion questions, next steps, and a closing
prayer. The discussion questions are separated into three categories—Getting Started, The Basics,
and A Little Deeper—and are designed to allow the group discussion to deepen as you move
through them. Use the prayers, questions, and next steps in whatever manner you find helpful based
on your group’s needs.
Opening Prayer
Father in heaven, thank You for the opportunity to gather together as a group. Help us be present to Your Holy
Spirit and each other. Please direct our time together. Amen.
Getting Started
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What does hope mean to you?
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If you had to put it in a single sentence, how would you describe your God-given assignment
on this earth? How are you seeking to fulfill that assignment?
The Basics
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At the beginning of this weekend’s service, we heard the story of Maria, a woman from
Malawi, who has put her life and heart into planting trees and raising orphaned children.
o What touched you about Maria’s story? What, if anything, did God trigger in you as
you listened to her story?
o Consider the future-focus of Maria’s work—planting trees she may never see the
impact of and raising children she may not live to see into their adulthood. What are
some of the ways you are building into future generations? What God might be
inviting you to do?
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What did God stir in you as you listened to Dr. Gladys Mwiti’s talk?
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Read through the following Proverbs and talk about what these Scriptures mean for your
everyday life, or how you sense God inviting you to act on behalf of those in need.
Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
when it is in your power to act. (Proverbs 3:27)
Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord,
and he will reward them for what they have done. (Proverbs 19:17)
The generous will themselves be blessed,
for they share their food with the poor. (Proverbs 22:9)
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Consider how others experience you in your family, at work, or in your community. What do
you reflect into the relationships you have? Hope? Fear? Despair? Negativity? Joy? In other
words, what do you think others see in you?
A Little Deeper
Read 2 Corinthians 4:7–16 aloud as a group and share what resonates, what stands out most, or
what’s confusing about this passage.
But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is
from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed;
perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not
destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of
Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given
over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body.
So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.
It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.” Since we have that same spirit of
faith, we also believe and therefore speak, because we know that the one who raised
the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to
himself. All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more
people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly
we are being renewed day by day.
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How would you describe the level of hope you are experiencing in your current season of
life? What are the things that tend to get in the way of you feeling hopeful? To use the words
of this passage, what are the things making you feel “hard pressed on every side?”
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Talk about what it means that “we who are alive are always being given over to death for
Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body.”
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How does this Scripture passage—or Harvey Carey’s sermon about it—speak to you in the
midst of those things?
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How can we as a group pray for you in whatever areas you are feeling despair or a lack of
hope?
Next Steps
Review the next steps below and consider which one or ones each member of the group would like
to commit to for the upcoming week (and beyond).
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Pray and Journal. As we begin our annual Celebration of Hope, spend some time reflecting
this week about your level of hope, what you reflect to others, and what more God might be
calling you to. For example, are there things in the media, about our country, or in your own
community or family that are causing despair? Where do you see God in the midst of the
sadness or despair you’re experiencing? Ask God to help you see His hope and His renewal
of all things. And ask Him to stir in you a passion and desire to serve those in need in the
world and to have the courage to act on that passion and desire.
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Spread Hope. Who is God calling you to bring hope to this week? What might that look
like? Perhaps it’s words or just your presence with someone. Whatever it is, spread hope!
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Pack Seeds. Don’t forget to sign up to pack seeds! It’s amazing what hope two hours of
your time can bring to a family and community. Sign up here: willowcreek.org/nextsteps
Closing Prayer
Pray for whatever difficulties or needs were shared during your time together and have someone
close by reading the prayer below.
God, thank You that You want to partner with us to bring hope and restoration to this world. We are here, send us!
Move our hearts to action. Fill us with the courage we need. Remind us that You are with us, in these jars of clay of
ours. Empower us to love and to be bearers of hope. And for those of us who are in the midst of difficult circumstances
and being overcome with despair or pain, lift our eyes and show us Your presence with us. Amen.
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