1. Hope and FELLOWSHIP Hope and FELLOWSHIPhope for today Please click to watch the intro video for this section located at: http://vimeo.com/66097375

2. hope for today KEY TEXT: Read Jesus’ prayer in John 17. SECTION 1 Jesus Prays for Unity FURTHER STUDY: John 17:1-5; John 17:6-19; John 17:20-26 Hope and FELLOWSHIP

3. hope for today CONSIDER: Jesus’ dying wish emerges in His last prayer in the presence of his followers. Take time to trace the main theme in Jesus’ prayer. Why do you think Jesus uses the word “name” so often? Unity will come as His followers reflect the Father’s character. What is the purpose of unity? Unity will show the world that God sent His Son and that we, His followers, received Him. By matching their desire to learn more about God–– about the enormity of His love––His followers would gain confidence to live and serve. Hope and FELLOWSHIP SECTION 1 Jesus Prays for Unity

4. hope for today DISCUSS: What message does Jesus state repeatedly in His last recorded prayer? Hope and FELLOWSHIP SECTION 1 Jesus Prays for Unity

5. SECTION 2 Unity in Diversity hope for today KEY TEXT: Romans 12:10 “Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another.” Hope and FELLOWSHIP

6. hope for today CONSIDER: In a letter to the newly formed group of followers in Rome, Paul describes how it might look to live and serve in unity. What kind of metaphors does he use? (Notice especially verses 4 and 10). Discuss how each metaphor illustrates a diverse group of people working together with a single goal and the leadership of one God. Hope and FELLOWSHIP SECTION 2 Unity in Diversity DISCUSS: How does Paul describe living and serving in unity?

7. SECTION 3 Walk in Unity hope for today KEY TEXT: Ephesians 4:16 “From Him [Christ] the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.” Hope and FELLOWSHIP

8. hope for today CONSIDER: More than any other New Testament writer, Paul had the privilege of establishing and encouraging new groups of believers. His letter to the Ephesians echoes the metaphors used with the Romans. Notice the details added in Ephesians 4:16. Can you imagine the fun Paul might have had with today’s graphic and animation skills to illustrate the growth of a group? Read through the chapter to discover and discuss how this kind of growth happens. Hope and FELLOWSHIP SECTION 3 Walk in Unity

9. hope for today DISCUSS: How do Christian growth and unity happen in Ephesians 4? Hope and FELLOWSHIP SECTION 3 Walk in Unity

10. SECTION 4 Diversity of Gifts, but the Same Spirit hope for today KEY TEXT: Read 1 Corinthians 12. 1 Corinthians 12:4-5 “There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord.” Hope and FELLOWSHIP

11. hope for today CONSIDER: Ephesians 4:11 touches on a topic that Paul develops in more detail in another letter. In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul describes different ways in which believers can serve. Have you ever thought of how the Holy Spirit is gifting you to serve? Read the chapter to find out what the gifts are used for. Remember the “animation” Paul uses in Ephesians 4:16? Now, starting in 1 Corinthians 12:14 he adds humor to the metaphor, making it even clearer how important it is to live and serve together in unity. How does the humor bring that close to home? Hope and FELLOWSHIP SECTION 4 Diversity of Gifts, but the Same Spirit

12. hope for today CONSIDER (continued): Come back to Jesus’ last conversation with His close followers on the evening before His death. Listen to Jesus telling them in John 15:1-8 how growth happens and what it should lead to. What kind of metaphor is Jesus using? What do you think He means by “fruit”? Remember, He knows that His death is imminent and that His followers will be devastated. What imagery could He use to give them a vivid sense of hope? Hope and FELLOWSHIP SECTION 4 Diversity of Gifts, but the Same Spirit

13. hope for todayHope and FELLOWSHIP SECTION 4 Diversity of Gifts, but the Same Spirit DISCUSS: What are different ways believers can serve? What are the gifts of the Spirit used for? DID YOU KNOW? Each of us has been gifted by Jesus to glorify Him, to grow the church both numerically and in maturity, as well as to serve others and to meet the needs that exist in our community. Ephesians 4 tells us Jesus gave gifts to us! These gifts will vary greatly from person to person, but each gift comes from Jesus as He sees fit!

14. INVITATION hope for today Jesus says that He is the vine and that if we are to bear fruit we must abide in Him. If His words abide in us, then indeed we do abide in Him. Jesus prayed for us that we might be one with Him. The choice is ours to accept. “For me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Hope and FELLOWSHIP