Series Resources

sermon-based study guide

This guide is designed to guide a group discussion around the weekend sermon. You can also use this as an individual, but we highly recommend finding a friend and inviting them to discuss with you. Menlo Church has Life Groups meeting in-person and online using these guides. We’d love to help you find a group.

What you will find in this guide: A discussion guide for groups and individuals. If you are using this as an individual be sure to engage with each question in a journal or simply in your mind as you prayerfully consider what you heard in the sermon and seek to discover what God is inviting you to know and do.

Hope Is Born | Hope For Joseph

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CONNECT:

Share a time when following someone’s advice, guidance, or instruction led to a good outcome, even if it was hard at first. How did that experience impact your perspective on trust and obedience?

Joseph faced a difficult decision based on circumstances that seemed impossible. How do you usually respond when faced with something that challenges your plans or expectations?

ENGAGE:

Read: Matthew 1:18-25

Joseph initially planned to quietly divorce Mary to minimize conflict, but God called him to something greater. Have you ever hesitated to fully obey God because it felt inconvenient or costly? How did you respond?

Why do you think initial excitement for obedience can fade over time? What role does community or accountability play in sustaining faithfulness?

Think about a time when you felt God calling you to act. What made it easier or harder for you to respond right away?

APPLY:

Identify an area in your life where you might be offering “half measures” of obedience. What would it look like to fully surrender this to God?

What practical habits or rhythms (e.g., prayer, scripture reading) could help you become more responsive to God’s direction in your life?

Joseph’s obedience brought hope to the world. How can you share hope this week? Think of one person you can invite to a Christmas service or share God’s love with in a meaningful way.

PRAYER:

Pray for the strength to surrender your plans to God’s purpose, trusting that His way is greater than your own.

Ask God to reveal specific people or situations in your life where you can be a beacon of hope this Christmas season.

Pray for a heart of obedience, that you would follow God’s leading even when it challenges your comfort zone or expectations.

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GOING DEEPER

Menlo Midweek Podcast
Listen to further insights and practical applications from this week’s sermon.

Outreach Opportunities
Explore ways to serve and bring joy to others in your community this Christmas.

Join Us For Christmas

Join us at Menlo Church this Christmas Eve for a special celebration of hope, joy, and community—bring a friend and make this season unforgettable together!

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