Unshakable Hope Bible Study Guide: Building Our Lives on the Promises of God by Max Lucado, Paperback

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780310092094
Publisher:	HarperChristian Resources
Publication date:	08/07/2018
Edition description:	Study Guide
Pages:	176
Sales rank:	663,916
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.20(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Since entering the ministry in 1978, Max Lucado has served churches in Miami, Florida; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; and San Antonio, Texas. He currently serves as the teaching minister of Oak Hills Church in San Antonio. He is the recipient of the 2021 ECPA Pinnacle Award for his outstanding contribution to the publishing industry and society at large. He is America's bestselling inspirational author with more than 150 million products in print.

Visit his website at Max Lucado.com

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Youtube.com/Max Lucado Official

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Read an Excerpt

CHAPTER 1

You Are Stamped with God's Image

KEY STORY: God creates humankind (GENESIS 1:26–30)

GOD'S PROMISE: Let us make human beings in our image, make them reflecting our nature.

(GENESIS 1:26 MSG)

MY PROMISE: I will embrace my role as God's image bearer.

PERSONAL STUDY

Did you know God made you to be more like him than anything else in all creation? The Bible says you were made in his image. Humans are the only part of God's glorious creation with this special description. You are a diamond, a rose, a jewel, purchased by the blood of Jesus Christ. The New Testament describes a progressive work of God to shape you into his image. As you fellowship with God, read his Word, obey his commands, and seek to understand and reflect his character, something wonderful begins to emerge. God comes out of you. You say things God would say. You do things God would do. You forgive, you share, and you love. It is as if God is scrubbing the smudge off an old coin. In time, an image begins to appear. God's goal is simply this: to rub away anything that is not of him, so his inborn image can be seen in you. You are an image bearer of God, and you can celebrate that promise.

READ

This week, you and your group will be studying God's promise in his Word that you are stamped with his own image. Before your group meeting, read chapters 1 and 2 in Unshakable Hope: "God's Great and Precious Promises" and "You Are Stamped with God's Image." Spend some time using the following personal study guide to reflect on what you've read.

1. How does God's view of covenants affect your view of him?

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2. Why is it important to know that God's promises are irrevocable?

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3. How does this week's promise affect the way you look at other people?

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4. What does it mean to you that you are stamped in God's image?

CONSIDER

Now take some time to allow this promise from God to take root in your heart by reflecting on the following passages of Scripture. Begin by preparing your heart in prayer. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal truth as you engage God.

1. Read Genesis 1:26–31. What is the significance of the creation of men and women being the pinnacle of the creation story?

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2. Read Colossians 3:5–10. How does Paul connect the idea of the "new self" to the truth of your role as God's image bearer?

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3. Read 2 Corinthians 3:18. How are you being transformed into the image of God? How does knowing that this is God's desire affect your desire for transformation?

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4. Read Romans 8:28–30. How do you reconcile the idea you were created in the image of God but still need to be conformed to the image of Jesus?

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PRAY

• Slowly read God's Promise for this week three times: "Let us make human beings in our image, make them reflecting our nature" (Genesis 1:26 MSG). By the third reading, try to have this promise memorized so you can repeat it back to God in prayer.

• Personalize God's Promise for this week. For example, you could pray, "Father, I have been made in your image. Because of this truth, I have great value in your eyes. This is my identity. Amen."

• Prayerfully read this week's My Promise as a declaration: "I will embrace my role as God's image bearer." Consider what specific next steps you could take to apply this promise to your life.

REFLECT

1. Ask God to reveal anything he wants you to apply based on this week's promise. For example, you could pray, "Father, is there any truth or action you would like me to apply from this week?" Listen in silence for several minutes to see if God places anything on your heart. Consider how those thoughts or nudges align with God's Word as you write them in the space below.

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2. Consider what fresh discoveries surfaced from this week's reading and personal study. Write anything that you would like to share with the group in the space below.

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3. Close by thinking about an action step you could take to increase your awareness of this promise from God or share it with another person. Write this action below.

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GROUP STUDY

GETTING STARTED

Welcome to session one of Unshakable Hope. If this is your first time together as a group, take a moment to introduce yourself to one another before watching the video. Open the session with prayer, and then ask one person to share a brief three- minute version of his or her spiritual journey. Following this, read this week's God's Promise and My Promise aloud as a group (see page 19), and then answer one or more of the following questions:

• How did this session's Bible reading challenge or encourage you?

• What characteristics do humans have that reflect God's image?

• How are humans different from the rest of God's creation?

VIDEO TEACHING

As you watch the video for session one, use the following outline to record the main points and takeaways from the teaching.

What it means to have unshakable hope in our lives

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The common denominator the heroes of the Bible shared

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Each of us is made in God's image and carry some of his attributes

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The arrival of sin distorted this image but did not destroy it

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Sanctification describes the progressive work of God to shape us into his image

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Every person deserves dignity and respect because we are all made in God's image

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GROUP DISCUSSION

Take a few minutes with your group members to discuss what you just watched and explore these concepts in Scripture.

1. What statement in the video teaching affected you the most? Why?

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2. From the beginning, the Bible makes a case for the existence of God. But what are some of the ways the Bible also makes the case for the dependability of God?

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3. What are some things in today's world that make you feel anything but important? How will you reinforce the truth of being an image bearer of God every day this week?

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4. How can you encourage others who may be having trouble accepting that God has created them in his image?

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5. What is your specific action step to live out this promise of God this week?

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PRAY

One of the most important things you can do with those in your community is to pray for one another. This is not simply a closing prayer to end the group time but an opportunity to share prayer requests, review how God has answered past prayers and fulfilled his promises, and actually pray for one another. Use the questions below to shape and grow your group's experience, and then write down specific prayer requests and praise reports.

• How can you praise God for making you an image bearer?

• In what specific ways will you ask God to help you build your life on this identity?

• How can you help others realize they have been stamped with God's image?

NEXT WEEK

Next week, you and your group will look at how God promises that you will have victory over Satan. Be sure to complete the personal study before you attend the group meeting.

CHAPTER 2

God Will Win the Victory

KEY STORY: God promises the serpent's defeat (GENESIS 3:13–15)

GOD'S PROMISE: The God who brings peace will soon defeat Satan and give you power over him. (ROMANS 16:20 NCV)

MY PROMISE: I will acknowledge Satan but worship God.

PERSONAL STUDY

The Bible presents a real and present foe of your faith. His name is the devil. In the Bible, he is a created angel fallen from heaven. The Greek word for devil is diabolos, which shares a root with the verb diaballein, which means "to split." The devil is a splitter, a divider, and a wedge driver. He divided Adam and Eve from God, and he would like to separate you from God as well. He wants to take unbelievers to hell and make life hell for believers. Yet even though the Bible clearly describes Satan as a living being and not simply a symbol of evil, only a minority of people believe this today. Even some Christians refute the existence of Satan- which couldn't please him more. After all, if people doubt his existence, he is free to work his evil. Don't fall into this trap! Remember that he is a "roaring lion looking for someone to devour" (1 Peter 5:8).

READ

This week, you and your group will be studying God's promise in his Word that he will win the victory over the enemy. Before your group meeting, read chapter 3 in Unshakable Hope: "The Devil's Days are Numbered." Spend some time using the following personal study to reflect on what you've read.

1. How do you sometimes view life as a picnic rather than a battlefield?

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2. How does the Ezekiel 28:12–19 passage impact your view of Satan?

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3. How do you live with an awareness of the battle but not a fear of the enemy?

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4. How should knowing the end of the story affect your view of today's battles?

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CONSIDER

Now take some time to allow this promise from God to take root in your heart by reflecting on the following passages of Scripture. Begin by preparing your heart in prayer. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal truth as you engage God this week.

1. Read Matthew 4:1–11. How does this passage describe Satan? What tactics does Satan use? How does Jesus combat Satan's tactics?

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2. Read 1 Peter 5:8–9. How does this passage describe Satan? How does God encourage you to combat Satan?

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3. Read Ephesians 6:10–18. What is the significance of each piece of armor used to combat Satan?

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4. Read Romans 16:20; 1 John 4:4; and James 4:7. How do these passages expand your perspective of Satan? How do you balance understanding Satan's schemes, learning to combat him, and standing firm in Jesus' victory?

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PRAY

• Slowly read God's Promise for this session three times: "The God who brings peace will soon defeat Satan and give you power over him" (Romans 16:20 NCV). By the third reading, try to repeat this promise back to God in prayer.

• Personalize God's Promise for this week. For example, you could pray, "Father, you bring peace. You have defeated Satan and have given me power over him. Amen."

• Prayerfully read this week's My Promise as a declaration: "I will acknowledge Satan but worship God." Consider what specific next steps you could take to apply this promise to your life.

REFLECT

1. Ask God how he wants you to take action based on this week's promise. For example, you could pray, "Father, how do you want me to take action based on what you showed me?" What thoughts or nudges come to mind? Consider how those thoughts or nudges align with God's Word as you write them in the space below.

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(Continues…)

Excerpted from "Unshakable Hope Study Guide Twelve Sessions"
by .
Copyright © 2018 Max Lucado.
Excerpted by permission of Thomas Nelson.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

Unshakable Hope Bible Study Guide: Building Our Lives on the Promises of God

Unshakable Hope Bible Study Guide: Building Our Lives on the Promises of God

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