Hope Explored Series: The Fruit of Hope - Joy
Romans 12: 9 – 21
“Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12: 21
Ice breaker
Think about things you hope for. Hope is a very special gift. We need an element of trust in hoping for things. Consider what things you cannot be certain of at this time, but you hope will happen in the future.
Now think about Joy – what is it that makes you joyful? Not just happy or pleased but truly joyful.
Q. Can you think of a time in your life when something you hoped for came to pass and it made you truly joyful? If you wish you can share this with the group.
How can we ensure that there are more times like this in everyone’s lives?
Read the passage Romans 12: 9 - 13
Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil, cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honour one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in Zeal, but keep your spiritual fervour, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God’s people who are in need, Practice hospitality.
Q.1. What are the key points which stand out for you from these verses?
Q.2. Do you feel that it is easy to love and honour one another above yourselves?
Q.3. How can we keep our spiritual fervour?
Q.4. What does it mean to be joyful in hope?
In your group, your hosts are practicing hospitality. They have invited you to share their home and I expect provided refreshments of some kind. How often do we remember to thank those who serve us in this way. Think of other ways that, as a church, we offer hospitality. Why do we offer these things, and does it help on our journey of faith? Is there more we could do?
Read the passage Romans 12: 14 – 16
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
Q.5. Do you feel persecuted? How can we bless those who persecute us?
Q.6. Do you find it easy to empathise with others and help them in time of need? How can we improve our skills in this area?
Q. 7. In what ways can we, as a church, improve our “living in harmony”? What could we do to build better relationships in all parts of the church community?
Our church is part of the local community, and we have an influence, for good or bad whether we like it or not. We need to be aware of the effect we can have on those outside the church and do our best to share the spirit of love, hope and joy with everyone, not just our church friends, but all we meet.
Q.8 How can we encourage others that the church has a place for good in society and how can we be sure that we are doing our part to live in harmony with all? Is this just about doing more things? Or does it have some deeper meaning?
Q.9 Does prayer have a part to play with love, hope and joy?
Q.10 Are there any changes we can make personally, and as a housegroup which would help us to better respond to the challenges of this passage?
It is so easy to be conceited without even knowing that we are being proud and arrogant. Thinking about ourselves and our own needs and wants is a very human trait and important for our own wellbeing and that of our families. It’s a matter of getting things in the right proportions and living a balanced life. The Christian journey is one of faith, hope, love and joy and we are all on it together. Sometimes we will not feel much joy or hope, and we will be relying on Jesus to lead us through those times.
Take a time of quiet to consider those things which affect you personally from this passage.
Now read this passage slowly together.
“Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” – 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Prayer time
You may like to light a candle or put a stone in a bowl or use some other physical symbol to show that you are praying for something or someone. You can name it out loud in an attitude of prayer or keep silent. Give each person time to pray as they would like and then end the time of quiet with the Grace.
“The Grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all, evermore, Amen.”
“Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12: 21