RE Series wk. 3 - REnew

Icebreaker: Today we are studying the passage of scripture that inspired the famous hymn “Great is Thy Faithfulness.” What’s one of your favorite “oldie but goodie” songs? (It has to be at least 10 years old)

1- When you hear the word “lament” what are some of the initial thoughts that come to mind?

READ Lamentations 3:16-18, Job 2:10

*I recommend reading the NLT (New Living Translation) this week*

2- The ‘he’ in this passage refers to God (see Lam. 3:1). Christians often mistakenly think that God never gives them anything bad/difficult. How do these passages challenge that assumption?

3- God gives us hard things sometimes. How have you seen that to be true in your life recently?

4- Lamentations 3:18 (NLT) says, “Everything I had hoped for from the Lord was lost.” Have you had this thought in the past few months? Why?

READ Lamentations 3:19-21

5- When you go through difficult times in your life, in what do you normally find hope?

6- Gloom and doom has been the mantra of the day since COVID came. Jeremiah was dealing decades worth of sorrow and despair when he wrote this. Yet, verse 21 (NLT) says he still “dared to hope.” Have you purposely tried to be hopeful during the past few months? If so, how? If not, why?

READ Lamentations 3:22-24 

7- Despite all the bad things brought in Jeremiah’s life, he still can write verse 22. How do you think that’s possible?

8- “Great is His faithfulness.” What do you think that means? After thinking about that in relation to questions 2 and 3, how does this passage of scripture impact your view of God? 

9- Verse 24 answers our questions 5 & 6. What does it mean for the Lord to be your inheritance? How does that help you have hope?

• If you need some extra help, check out Ephesians 1:11-14. Our inheritance is our salvation and the Holy Spirit is the guarantee of that salvation. So, our hope is in our salvation that comes only from God.