Yesterday, Today and Forever

YESTERDAY, TODAY AND FOREVER

CONNECT - for mid-week/Home League groups

Fellowship Session - Special Days

A time to reflect on the New Year.

Summary

Counting our blessings
Bible verses around the message of hope
God's promise of eternity

Print out 15 Bible verses of hope for the future for each member
Prepare to display an image based on a quote on hope by Chris Seidman, perhaps on the large screen, as a poster, or provide as print-outs
15 envelopes for each member
Scissors, pens and paper

Online groups

Ask members to have a pen and paper
Email a Bible verse to members each day

If your group has not met in a while, give time for a general chat and catch-up.

The new year is a time for looking back and looking forward.

As we say goodbye to the old year, we can thank God for his help and presence with us throughout it. We now face a new year and there is already much to give us hope. Wonderful as this might be, even more wonderful is the promise that this amazing, powerful and faithful God of our past is the same God of our future.

‘As he has been, so he will be!’

(paraphrased from Joshua 1:5)

PUZZLE

How many words can you make from the word YESTERDAY? Ask members to use pen and paper to find out. The possible total number could be 276! You can find a complete list of words here.

‘Count your blessings, name them one by one’

SASB 909

Share the blessings which you enjoy TODAY. How does counting your blessings help you on your faith journey? Give thanks to God for them as you conclude this time of sharing with a prayer or prayer time.

BIBLE VERSES

Ask each member to cut out the Bible verses about the FUTURE and place each one in an envelope. Over the next 15 days they open a random envelope at the beginning of each day. Encourage members to recognise it as a message from God for them!

ONLINE GROUPS

Over the next 15 days email a Bible verse each day to each member.

DISPLAY

God promises so many things about the FUTURE but he doesn’t actually promise tomorrow. Chris Seidman’s quote reminds us of an amazing truth: ‘God doesn’t promise us tomorrow, but he does promise us eternity.’

Display the quote image with your group.

'God doesn't promise us TOMORROW.

But he does promise us ETERNITY.'

Chris Seidman

ONLINE GROUPS

Use share screen to share the image.

Hebrews 13:8

It is true to say that as we emerge from the grip of the pandemic, the world is a very different place in so many ways. That said, we do well to remember that there is one thing that never changes – and that is Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 13:8 says, ‘Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and for ever.’

The Greek word used for ‘same’ states that Jesus Christ is unchangeable. Now that is good news for each one of us living in a world that seems to be changing at alarming speed. Jesus Christ is the one person we can depend upon to be the same, regardless of what is happening now or has happened in the past. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever!

The word ‘yesterday’ used in the Greek text describes all that ever has been until this present moment. It is describing the past in all its fullness.

The word ‘today’ literally means this very moment in time, the present.

It is worth noting too that in the Bible when the words ‘yesterday and today’ are used in one phrase, it also portrays continuity. There has never been a moment in time when Jesus has been any less than he is today – nor will there ever be. Jesus will always be all that we need him to be.

The words ‘for ever’ in Greek mean all time to come, including all ages that will ever be known; they describe an eternal future.

Jesus Christ is exactly the same in the past, in the present, and in the future. He is unchanging in every way.

We can rejoice and be thankful!

PRAYER

Father God,

We come to you, holding out our hands for you to embrace us,

lift us and lead us. Last year we experienced joy and happiness, despair and distress, and you held us as we journeyed through it all. There is no change in your eternal love towards your creation, nor in your love to us; and so as we step into the new year, we confidently continue to put our hope in you. AMEN.