Opening Prayer
The Psalms of Ascent
Psalm 125
Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion,which cannot be moved, but abides forever.
2 As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
so the Lord surrounds his people,
from this time forth and forevermore.
3 For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest
on the land allotted to the righteous,
lest the righteous stretch out
their hands to do wrong.
4 Do good, O Lord, to those who are good,
and to those who are upright in their hearts!
5 But those who turn aside to their crooked ways
the Lord will lead away with evildoers!
Peace be upon Israel!
Romans 8:24-25 (ESV)[1]
24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
8:24-25
For in hope (or to hope?) we were saved. But hope that has been seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for that which we are not seeing, we eagerly await it with steadfast endurance.
Hope (noun)
- Feeling – The general sense that some desire will be fulfilled.
- Object – Someone or something on which expectations are centered.
- Grounds – The reason one feels hopeful about the future.
o For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? – 1 Thess. 2:19
Is this verse referring to a feeling, object, or grounds?
- ESV connects back to v. 20-21 - … in hope that the creation will be set free from its bondage.
What kinds of things do people hope in today?
Do people have an abundance or a lack of hope these days? Why do you think so?
There is a little bit of reasoning and rhetoric happening here. Paul is arguing his point.
Wisdom from Phil Aumann: The Marshmallow Experiment.
- The actual experiment was done at Stanford in 1972.
- Delaying immediate gratification for greater future reward.
What immediate gratifications might God call us to delay for the sake of receiving greater future reward?
How might talking about sin in this way be helpful?
How might it be detrimental?
What is the ultimate reason for delaying sinful gratification in this passage?
Romans 8:26-29
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because[g] the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good,[h] for those who are called according to his purpose.
8:26
And likewise the Spirit also helps with our weakness. For what we should pray for, as is needful, we do not know, but the Spirit Himself intercedes (pleads) in wordless groaning.
Likewise? Like what?
Wrapping Up
What is one insight/word of comfort/challenging idea that
you hope to hold onto from these verse?
How will the lessons learned from these verses impact your
faith life?
Verse of the Week – Psalm 1:1
Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
[1]
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright
© 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a
publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
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