Faith - HOPE Singapore

As believers, we have died to our old self and are given a new life in Christ. With this new life comes a new priority. Learn from God’s word and glean practical wisdom from our panel on how we can live out our new life with this new priority in our family and workplace!

Title: A New Priority
Series: First Things First
Text: Colossians 3:1-4

It is common practice to make resolutions at the start of a new year. But more important than setting new goals is to examine whether we have the right priorities in the first place. What is the new priority that Christians should have, and why?

General Questions:
1. What is Paul’s main message to the believers in Col. 3:1-4?
2. Do you think it is easy or difficult to do what Paul says here? Why?

Perspective Questions:
1. What is one value that you live by? How Christlike is this value? Why do you say so?
2. How does knowing that as a Christ-follower, you have died to sin and to the world affect the way you think about temptations and achievements respectively?
3. What difference does Christ’s promise of glory for us in the future make in how you perceive your trials and troubles today? How can you hold onto this hope of glory?

2020 has been an incredibly rough time for the world, but let’s look back and reflect on the choices we made. As we Zoom into the learnings of the past, we can enter 2021 with joy and gratitude.

Title: Zooming Through 2020
Text: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

What choices does God want us to make today, in 2021 and beyond?

1. God wants us to rejoice always (v. 16)

Why is it that Christians always have a reason to rejoice? Think about a past or current challenging circumstance, how easy or difficult was it to choose to rejoice? How can we encourage one another to choose to recognize God’s goodness in our lives even when we may not be experiencing feelings of happiness?

2. God wants us to pray continually (v. 17)

Prayer changes things and prayer changes us. Ultimately, prayer draws us closer to God. Personally, do you view prayer more as relational or transactional? Why? What can encourage you to keep on praying even in situations when you do not seem to see any changes at all?

3. God wants us to give thanks in all circumstances (v 18a)

Giving thanks in all circumstances is not the same as giving thanks for all circumstances. Do we find it harder to give thanks in prosperity or in adversity? Why? As a community, how can we encourage each other to give thanks in all circumstances in 2021?

Title: Zooming Through 2020
Text: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

What choices does God want us to make today, in 2021 and beyond?

1. God wants us to rejoice always (v. 16)

Why is it that Christians always have a reason to rejoice? Think about a past or current challenging circumstance, how easy or difficult was it to choose to rejoice? How can we encourage one another to choose to recognise God’s goodness in our lives even when we may not be experiencing feelings of happiness?

2. God wants us to pray continually (v. 17)

3. God wants us to give thanks in all circumstances (v 18a)

Title: Pivot Upon The Promises Of God
Series: Focus 2021
Text: Various Text

Wary of promises and half-expecting them to be broken anyway?
Not so with God’s promises because He is not only a promise-giver but also a promise-keeper. Lean on God’s promises, place your trust in Him, and discover how you can live life with renewed confidence.

1) Acquaint Myself with God’s Promises

Knowing God’s Word is the key to being acquainted with God’s promises. What are some habits you can weave into your daily life to help you to remember and meditate on His Word? What is one promise that God has made that you hope to study and reflect upon?

2) Adjust my life according to God’s Promises

Our experience of God’s promises begins with the right understanding of what the promises mean and choosing to have faith and obey Him. In Matthew 6:33, what do you think “seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness” means? Our heavenly Father knows our needs (Matthew 6:32), we can be assured of His providence as we align our priorities. Are there areas in your life that God is prompting you to re-prioritise?

3) Actualise God’s Promises

Would you consider yourself as someone with a “child-like” faith in God? Why? Putting our faith in God and His promises does not mean we avoid challenges or disappointments in everyday life. At times, we may even experience doubt. How do you overcome these moments, or how would you encourage someone in such situations to hold on to God’s promise of salvation and continue to trust in Him?

During these stressful and confusing times, how do we remain mentally and spiritually healthy? Let’s examine some of the reasons behind our stressors and discover how we can overcome them with God.

Title: Prayer: More Than Lip Service
Series: Victorious Living
Text: Matt 6:9-13

Prayer can become a mere act of lip service if we lose sight of its purpose. What is prayer about and how should we approach God?

1) Prayer is about worshipping God (v. 9-10)

How do we usually approach God in prayer? How does the way we approach God reflect our relationship with Him (e.g. is it transactional or conditional)?

God will always answer our prayers, just perhaps not in the way we prefer (often termed as “unanswered prayer”). How do we respond when God does not answer us in the way we prefer/expect? Why? How can we be assured that God still loves us as His children despite these “unanswered prayers”?

While it is not wrong to present our requests to God, we need to understand that our primary focus when we pray is on God and not on us. Our prayer life should honour God and glorify Him. How does knowing this affect how we usually pray and respond when God answers us?

2) Prayer is about expressing our need for God (v. 11-13)

What is the difference between merely presenting our needs to God and expressing our need for God while we present our needs to Him? Discuss.

We need to be mindful that we do not just pay lip service to God in our prayers – saying that we need God but actually thinking that we are fine. What are some reasons why believers may not recognise their need for God? How can believers guard against the tendency to be self-sufficient? What may help believers to realise their dependency on God? What are some areas in our lives where we need to acknowledge our need for God more?