hope in exile Archives - Roland Park Presbyterian Church https://www.rolandparkchurch.org/tag/hope-in-exile/ A warm, welcoming community of faith in Northern Baltimore City Tue, 25 Nov 2025 16:03:17 +0000 en-US hourly 1 Sermon Discussion Guide: God’s Plans https://www.rolandparkchurch.org/sermon-discussion-guide-gods-plans/ Tue, 25 Nov 2025 16:03:17 +0000 https://www.rolandparkchurch.org/?p=8837 Dig deeper into Jeremiah 29 and Pastor Mark’s message with this week’s discussion guide. Explore how we live in hope, trust God's timing, and build faithful community even in seasons of uncertainty.

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]]> Scripture: Jeremiah 29:1, 4–14
Main Themes: Hope, exile and faithfulness, communal restoration, God’s long-term promise, trust amidst uncertainty

Discussion Questions:

  1. Exile and Context
  • Jeremiah’s letter was addressed to a people living in exile. How do you think this message would have felt to the original hearers?
  • Are there ways you feel “in exile” in your own life—disconnected, uncertain, or far from where you want to be?
  • How does God’s command to “build, plant, seek the welfare of the city” speak to your current season of life?
  1. Hope and God’s Plans
  • Jeremiah 29:11 is often quoted as a message of comfort. How does understanding its original context change or deepen its meaning for you?
  • What does it mean to you that God’s promises may unfold over generations, not immediately?
  • In what ways do you see “hope” as an active practice rather than passive waiting?
  1. Community and Collective Faith
  • Pastor Mark highlighted that “you” in this passage is plural—“all y’all.” How does thinking of God’s promise in communal terms change its impact?
  • How can our church embody a shared sense of future and faithfulness together?
  1. Trusting God Over Time
  • Jeremiah’s message invites a kind of trust in God’s future that sustains even without full knowledge of the outcome. How easy or hard is that for you?
  • Can you share a time when you had to trust God without knowing what would happen?
  1. Applying the Sermon
  • What small, daily actions can you take to cultivate hope and faith, especially in challenging circumstances?
  • How can we as a church support one another in trusting God’s long-term vision and embodying active, rooted hope in our community?

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