Bible Study

Title: The Definition of Hope
Date: Sep 26, 2005
Topic(s): Hope
Scripture: Romans 12, Romans 13

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What's the secret to staying energized for God, day after day, regardless of situations or circumstances? The answer is hope.

Romans 12:12 says, "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer" (NASB).

Another translation says, "Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don't quit in hard times; pray all the harder" (Romans 12:11-12, The Message).

What Does God Say?

Dr. Woodrow Kroll, in teaching through the book of Romans on the radio program Back to the Bible, said it like this:

The Bible identifies Jesus as our hope. He provides
living hope for us;
dying hope for us;
resurrection hope for us;
the blessed hope that it may be possible we won't even die.

"Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit" (Romans 15:13 , NKJV).

• Write out your own definition of hope using Romans 12:12 and 15:13.
• Who is the source of hope?
• How is it connected to joy?
• How can we experience hope?

My Thoughts

There are people who say they have hope, but do not know Jesus personally as Savior and Lord. The danger is that hope is only as strong as the object of our faith. If I say, "I'm going to sit in this chair because I believe it will hold my weight," and the chair breaks, the problem is not the strength of my faith, but the weakness of the chair in relation to my weight.

Hope that is sufficiently strong and eternal is hope that is placed in Jesus.

My Part

Is Jesus the source of your hope--for living, for dying, for eternity? He can be. Right now, you can pray and ask Jesus to forgive you of your sins, to make you a part of God's forever family, and to bring His presence and purpose into your life.

Acknowledge to God that you have sinned, that you repent of your sins and that you believe Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to pay for all your sins.

Commit your life to Christ, promising Him as best you can to live for Him the rest of your life.

Now, thank Him for forgiving your sins, making you a brand-new person and celebrate the hope you now have in Christ.

Find at least two people in the next 24 hours to share about your commitment to Christ. And for great resources to help you know what to do next, click here.

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