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Believe in the Hope of Jesus

Jesus told them, “This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent.” JOHN 6:29 NLT

The father instantly cried out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!” MARK 9:24 NLT

These are written down so you will believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and in the act of believing, have real and eternal life in the way he personally revealed it. JOHN 20:31 MSG

That Sunday evening the disciples were meeting behind lockeddoors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders… JOHN 20:19 NLT

Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! JOHN 20:19 NLT

“Peace be with you,” he said. As he spoke, he showed them the wounds in his hands and his side. They were filled with joy when they saw the Lord! Again he said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.” Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, theyare not forgiven.” One of the twelve disciples, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), was not with the others when Jesus came. They told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he replied, “I won’t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side.” Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked; but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them. “Peace be with you,” he said. Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!” “My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed. Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.” JOHN 20:19-29 NLT

“And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.” HEBREWS 11:6 NLT

Believing in Jesus gives me:

Hope I need for the certain death I will face

I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life. 1 JOHN 5:13 NLT

Jesus said: “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even though they die… JOHN 11:25 NIV

I am the living one. I died, but look—I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave. REVELATION 1:18 NLT

Peace of God for my anxiety and fear

“Peace be with you,” he said. As he spoke, he showed them thewounds in his hands and his side… JOHN 20:19-20 NLT

…They were filled with joy when they saw the Lord! Again he said, “Peace be with you.” JOHN 20:20-21 NLT

“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. JOHN 14:27 NLT

Power to face everything that the world throws at me

And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God. 1 JOHN 5:5 NLT

But these are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life by the power of his name. JOHN 20:31 NLT

I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. EPHESIANS 1:19-20 NLT

The mission of God that I was made for

I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure…everything was meaningless… ECCLESIASTES 2:10-11 NIV

But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life. 1 TIMOTHY 1:16 NLT

You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. JAMES 2:19 NLT

To be saved, I need to believe:

And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment… HEBREWS 9:27 ESV

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. ROMANS 6:23 NLT

Because I believe:

But you must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it. Don’t drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News. COLOSSIANS 1:23 NLT

If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ROMANS 10:9 NLT

“My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed. Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.” JOHN 20:28-29 NLT

My Notes

Personal Reflection Guide

Take a few minutes to slow down, releasing any burdens you may be feeling at the moment. Ask Jesus to take these, so that you might experience more of his peace during this time. As you examine your life today, where are you struggling in your faith? What is a promise of God that you can cling to in order to gain greater peace and confidence to overcome your challenge? Next, examine if there are any areas in your life where you might be hiding from God. Maybe it’s a lack of full surrender to his will for your life? Perhaps there is some sin you need to confess to him now. God regularly calls us into deeper and more abundant experienciences of him; in what ways do you need to step courageously into a deeper faith and trust in him? Write your reflections in the space below, sharing with your group if you feel comfortable.

Discussion Questions

  1. PERSONAL REFLECTION: Begin group time by completing the Personal Reflection Guide, (link found on the top of sermon notes). Use this time to process your own level of faith in God and his promises. (Tip: playing some soft background music is helpful here!)
  2. REAL WITH SELF: When you consider fortune, fame or fantasy, which one tends to have the biggest pull for you? What hidden desire or need might be revealed in this?
  3. REAL WITH SELF: To what extent are you bored with life? What adventures might Jesus have for you if you were to surrender all to him?
  4. REAL WITH GOD: Where do you experience anxiety or fear most? How might Jesus want to give you peace in those areas?
  5. REAL WITH OTHERS: Read Ephesians 1:19-20 NLT. How affected are you by the things this world throws at you? What would it look like to ask Jesus for help in dealing with the things that come your way?
  6. TAKE ACTION: What could this week look like if you invited the risen Jesus into your relationships, finances, career or life? What practical steps can you take to practice that this week?