HOOK
1. Have each person finish this sentence: “If I had $5 right now, I would…”
2. When life doesn’t go your way, what do you do? What do you do when you are afraid?
LOOK AT THE BOOK
1. If you had to pick two things (the most important things) for a Christian to do when things don’t go her/his way, what might they be? (Peter’s answer is 1) to set apart Jesus as Lord 2) Be ready to share the hope that is in you.)
2. What does it mean to “set apart Jesus as Lord”?
3. Can we really be Christians without setting Jesus apart as Lord? Do we try sometimes? What’s hard about it?
4. What’s the difference between a Christian who set Jesus apart as Lord, and one who doesn’t?
5. Being ready to share the hope within us assumes we have hope. Is this true? Where does our hope come from? Sports? Popularity? Money? (Our hope come from a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. God has promised to save us from sin, heal our brokenness, and to be our light in darkness. We can trust God.)
6. Trust is very important. What are some ways we know we can trust God? (Our experiences w/God, witness and testimony of others the Bible, which tells us all about how God is dependable and faithful, and deserving of our trust)
7. How does verse 18 help us to trust Jesus? (He was willing to give his life to bring us to God)
TOOK
1. If someone asked you, “What’s this Christianity thing all about?” what would you say? Would you be able to explain clearly why your relationship with Jesus gives you hope?
2. Name some thing that keep us from sharing the gift of hope.
3. What are ways we can share our hope? (What we do when things don’t go our way, people we reach out to, go to church, #1 way is friendship, kindness, etc.)
4. What are some ways the church can help young people be ready to share their hope with others?
5. What are some ways you can help yourself be ready to share the gift of hope you get from your relationship with God? (study, watch other Christians, talking with other Christians, spending time with other Christians, pray for God’s help, worship)
6. How many people will commit to being more intentional about setting apart Jesus as Lord and ready yourself to share the gift of hope? What will you do?
