QUESTIONS:
(1) What were your “wishes and hopes” when you were younger? How have those changed as you moved into adulthood?
(2)How has life turned out or not turned out how you’d hoped?
(3)Read Romans 8:18. What does Paul say about our present hardships and eternity? Why is it hard to have that perspective? P.S. Paul isn’t someone that hasn’t known what it’s like to go through tough stuff either – check out 1 Corinthians 11:23-29 to see some of his challenges.
(4)Our hope is about a future hope. We need to keep our eyes up. Paul says that eternity with God is better than we can ever imagine, even if this world is not what we hoped it would be. What’s the most challenging thing about keeping focused on our future hope? Why?
(5)Read Romans 8:24-25. What do you think it looks like to “wait patiently” for this future hope? What, practically, do you think it means to live this out in your life?
(6)Read Romans 8:26-28? What encouragement do you receive from these verses? How can these verses give you specific encouragement for a situation you are facing right now?
(7)What step can you take to “keep your eyes up” and focused on your future hope?