Week Four: Be Renewed in my STRENGTH…powered by HOPE

Key Passage: Isaiah 40:31

“31…but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

Isaiah 40:31 (NIV)

In the bookTracks of a Fellow Struggler, author John Claypool documents through sermons the process of loss, grief, and recovery from the death of his eight-year old daughter to leukemia.  Claypool’s honest handling of the pain and his authentic wrestling with faith was subtly described as he talked about Isaiah 40:31.  He reflected, when we can no longer run because our strength is gone, and when soaring seems utterly impossible, making ourselves just walk one more step may be the best step of faith we are able to take.

Strength often withered can be renewed.  That’s what we have been talking about throughout these weeks during the Be Renewed initiative.  Hope is the source waters that flow to make renewed strength possible.  To demonstrate that, Isaiah points to the sky.  Renewed strength sometimes enables us to soar like eagles.  Flying above the fray, we’re able to look down and say, “I can do this!”  Or if flying is not your thing, then having renewed strength might be like running down the block or around the neighborhood and not growing tired.  Hope has so renewed your strength that you are just able to keep going.  Yet sometimes, like John Claypool, flying is still out of reach and running is out of the question, but hope still propels us to take that next step and not pass out!

During these weeks we have been considering the Giving Discipleship Journey to guide us in our Be Renewed emphasis.  Perhaps you are an initial giver.  Giving to our church is new to you.  We applaud your taking the first step onto the discipleship journey.  Maybe you’re a consistent giver.  You made the faith decision to be regular in your giving.  Possibly you have moved on the journey and are an intentional giver.  Giving has become a priority in your discipleship and decisions—an intentional act.  Are you at the sacrificial giver milestone?  Your giving is governing your spending/saving rather than your spending/saving governing your giving.  And finally, you might have arrived on the Giving Discipleship Journey as a lifetime giver.  Your giving is based on lifetime generosity you can offer.

Think about where you are in the Giving Discipleship Journey.  Remember, hope in the Lord will renew your strength.  It will embolden you to soar to the next milestone on the journey.  Are you ready to soar?  It will empower you to run to the next giving level with renewed strength.  Will you accept the challenge to run?  It will enable you to walk until the journey ends.  It’s your time.  Be Renewed in strength and powered by hope!

Group Discussion

1.       How does hope in the Lord enable “renewed strength”?

2.      In a practical way, describe how faith today might be reflected as soaring on eagles’ wings.  In other words, what does soaring look like today?

3.       Describe some moments of your faith journey in which you ran and were not found weary.

4.      At times, life comes at us, and the best we can do is just walk and not faint.  Talk about that as a group.

5.      How will “renewed strength,” facilitated by hope, empower you to take the next step in the Giving Discipleship Journey?

Personal Reflection

1.       Can you name a time where hope in the Lord renewed your strength?

2.      Remember a moment in your life where renewed strength had you soar like an eagle.

3.       Think about a time when walking and not fainting was an absolute feat of strength itself.

4.      You and your church are getting ready to make some generosity decisions that will impact your future and your church’s future.  Pray that hope in the Lord will renew your strength to make that decision faithfully.

Getting Ready for the Week

1.       Monday:  Open yourself up to the hope in the Lord today.

2.      Tuesday:  Help someone you know soar, or run, or even just walk in the Lord today.

3.       Wednesday:  Knowing which step you are on in the Giving Discipleship Journey, think about soaring to the next level.  What will that take to make that happen?

4.      Thursday: Pray for your pastors and church leaders that they will be renewed in strength today.

5.      Friday:  Pray for your pastors and church leaders to Be Renewed today.