BIBLE STUDY& LIFE GROUP DISCUSSION HANDOUT

Bible Exploration
Romans 8:28: How has your view of Romans 8:28 changed over the years, or has it? How
exactly does this verse bring hope?
Titus 2:11–13: What does Paul say is our instructor, teaching us to turn from godless living and
sinful pleasures? Have you ever considered this as a “teacher”? What are we instructed to do
instead do? What, according to this passage, should we hope for?
Romans 8:31–39: According to this, what can separate us from God’s love? How does knowing
this truth affect your confidence? How does it inform your gratitude?
Philippians 4:8–9: How does this verse address this important command?
What, in this world, is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy?
How different is that list from the social media you participate in? Why does it seem easier to
dwell on negative, scary news?
Psalm 73: Asaph, the author of the psalm, begins by demonstrating faith in God’s provision and
blessing, but then despairs as the wicked increase. In the end, what does he ultimately choose?
How do verses 25–28 encourage you today? How does knowing that God is ultimately all we
need bring deep comfort?
Ephesians 1:15–23: What do these verses reveal about hope? Which verse is the most
encouraging to you today?
What is one trial you’re facing where you’re finding it hard to rejoice?
After each of the following adjectives from Philippians 4:8–9 write down one or two things that
exemplify each word:
True:

Noble:

Right:

Pure:

Lovely:

Admirable:

Excellent:

Praiseworthy:

Deeper walk
Select at least one activity below to complete during the next week.
• Personal Action: Re-visit the media fast from week one. Choose a different avenue of fasting.
(If you fasted TV, consider fasting social media). Be sure to tell a friend or a group member what
you’ll be fasting.
• Mentoring: Ask one person who is older than you and one who is younger this question: What
keeps you hopeful in this crazy world? Note if their responses are different. Bring their responses
to share with the group the next time you meet.
• Conversation: We often learn about the faithfulness of God and the hope he provides when we
hear someone’s story. Ask someone you know (or if you’re bold, a stranger) about a time in their
lives when they learned that God is bigger than any trial we face.
• Memorization: Write down Philippians 4:8–9 on a post-it note, and fix it to your television as
a reminder. Every time you turn on the TV, work on memorizing the verse.
• Pray: Ask God to help you concentrate on His goodness rather than the bleak aspects of this
world. Ask Him to empower you to become a person of gratitude instead of someone who gives
into despair.

• Read: For deeper study on the topics we talked about this week, read book of Daniel.

9 And God gave Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the chief of the eunuchs,
10 and the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, “I fear my lord the king, who assigned your food
and your drink; for why should he see that you were in worse condition than the youths who are
of your own age? So you would endanger my head with the king.”
11 Then Daniel said to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had assigned over Daniel,
Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,
12 “Test your servants for ten days; let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink.
13 Then let our appearance and the appearance of the youths who eat the king’s food be
observed by you, and deal with your servants according to what you see.”
14 So he listened to them in this matter, and tested them for ten days.
15 At the end of ten days it was seen that they were better in appearance and fatter in flesh than
all the youths who ate the king’s food.
16 So the steward took away their food and the wine they were to drink, and gave them
vegetables.
17 As for these four youths, God gave them learning and skill in all literature and wisdom, and
Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. (Dan. 1:9-17 )