Small Group Study Guide

Ice Breaker Questions

• What is your favorite Christmas Movie? 

• The sermon mentioned the “collective global scramble for perfection” during the holidays. What is one temporary thing you tend to place hope in during the Christmas season (e.g., family unity, the perfect gift, a break from work)?

• The sermon used the analogy of anchoring a cruise ship to a graham cracker. What is one temporary “anchor” in your life that recently failed or left you feeling disappointed?

• How does the feeling of the students finally having a “permanent, dedicated space” connect with our spiritual need for security and belonging?

Read Together 

Read each passage aloud together, then discuss:

Main Passage:

• Hebrews 6:19, 10:19–24 (NLT)

Additional Scriptures:

• John 16:33 — “In this world you will have trouble…”

   

• James 1:2–4 — “Count it all joy…”

   

• Ephesians 6:10–18 — The armor of God

   

• Psalm 55:22 — “Cast your cares on the Lord…”

   

• 2 Corinthians 4:16–18 — “Light momentary affliction…”

Discussion Questions

1. The Anxiety of Temporary Anchors (Hebrews 6:19)

• The sermon defined Biblical Hope as: “embracing the certainty of God’s promised future that shapes how we live in the present.” How does this differ from the world’s definition of hope (“I hope it doesn’t rain”)?

• What is the difference between placing your faith in Jesus and placing your hope in temporary things (like a 401k, a job title, or a child’s achievement)?

The sermon connected misplaced hope to feelings of “disappointment, anger, and anxiety” (“Christmas Blues”). What is one way you see these feelings manifest when the holidays don’t meet your expectations?

2. The Humility of Seeking (Matthew 2:1-12)

• The Wise Men took an 800-kilometer journey because they were “high-hope people” who followed the leads they had. What does seeking Jesus with that kind of urgency look like in your life today?

• The sermon contrasted the Wise Men (seeking) with King Herod (wickedly curious, driven by fear/insecurity). In what areas of your life do your decisions sometimes feel more like Herod’s (driven by fear or self-serving glory) than the Wise Men’s (driven by seeking God’s will)?

• The ultimate power move was Jesus being born in a stable, identifying with the lowest. How does the humility of the Nativity story prove that “The One Who Promises is Absolutely Reliable” (Hebrews 10:23)?

3. Standing Firm Against Distraction (Hebrews 10:24)

• The speaker noted, “If our hope is anchored, we are finally free to stop obsessing over our own fears and failures.” How does the certainty of Christ’s promise free you from the internal struggle of comparison or inadequacy?

• Hebrews 10:24 calls us to “consider how to stir up one another to love and good works.” What does “spur[ring] one another on” practically look like in your small group or family during this busy season?

• The new student room is a tool, not the hope itself. What “tools” (resources, time, energy) do you have that you need to shift from being inwardly focused (self-care/consumption) to outwardly focused (mission)?

4. THE UNMOVEABLE ANCHOR — The Permanent Path (Hebrews 10:19-20)

• The sermon highlighted Fact 1: The Path to God is Open and Permanent because the veil was torn. What does “boldly enter[ing] heaven’s Most Holy Place” (v. 19) mean to you in your daily prayer life?

• The comfort of the student room is a “drop compared to the ocean of our eternal home in Jesus.” How can focusing on the certainty of your eternal home reshape the way you view temporary, everyday struggles?

Action Steps

Choose one:

• Identify one temporary anchor in your life and verbally commit to replacing it with the certainty of one of God’s promises this week.

• Practice being a “high-hope person” by spending 10 minutes seeking God’s guidance for an area of your life you’ve been trying to control yourself.

• Proactively seek out one person in your life to “stir up… to love and good works” by giving them specific encouragement or offering help.

• Spend time meditating on Hebrews 6:19, reminding yourself that your soul is anchored, “firm and secure.”

Closing Prayer

Father, thank You that our hope is not a fuzzy wish, but an anchor for our souls, firm and secure in Jesus Christ. This Christmas season, protect us from the anxiety of temporary hopes and the disappointment of fleeting promises. Remind us daily that the path to Your presence is open because of the blood of Jesus. Strengthen our confidence in You, the one who promised and is absolutely faithful. Anchor us so deeply in Your love that we are free to look outward, considering how we can stir up one another to love and good works. In the unshakeable name of Jesus, Amen.