feeding . . . gathering . . . carrying . . . leading . (Isaiah 40:11)
Dear family,
Thank you for your attention on Sunday as we began a new series “Here’s Hoping!” It would seem that “hope” is a relevant subject in the times in which we live. Woody Allen commented: “More than any other time in history, mankind faces a crossroads. One path leads to utter despair and hopelessness. The other to total extinction. Let us pray we have the wisdom to choose correctly!” Hopelessness is the order of the day for so many. O wonder Paul said that hope is something we “should teach” (Tit.2:13-15). By definition, teaching on this subject is pastoral with huge implications for daily life, for personal, familial and generational life, but it is also relevantly prophetic as it addresses the needs that are national and global. Matthew (12:21) quotes Isaiah 42:4 to make the point: “In his name the nations will put their hope.” Remember the words of Haggai: “I will shake all nations, and the desired of all nations will come.” (Hag.2:7) Now is the time to know the reasons for our hope and to proclaim the hope of the gospel and to believe what we have in fact been born into – a living hope. This hope is the very key to our needed boldness to witness. “Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold.” (2 Cor.3:12)
Hope is a synonym for Christian belief. It captures in a nutshell the summary of what we believe and who we are. Hope is not a subject for an elective study; it is not merely an interesting aid to discipleship; it is not one of many helpful topics. It is at the heart and core of what everything we believe in is about. The NT talks of “Hope in the gospel…hope of salvation…the hope that we have…the hope of eternal life…the confession of our hope…the one hope to which we were called…” (Cols.1:23; 1 Thess.5:8; 1 Pet.3:15; Tit.1:2; Hebr.10:23; Eph.4:4) Peter describes our conversion thus: “He has given us new birth into a living hope” (1 Pet.1:3). An early euphemism for being a Christian was simply “to hope in Christ” (Eph.1:12)
Over the course of this series I’m going to further develop some of the points that I alluded to in the introduction but I’m also going to look specifically at some of the following:
Ps.147:11 says “The Lord delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.” This is the perfect place to start our study. The particular characteristic of God that is highlighted here is his unfailing love, and I will make some comments about that, but of course, there are other consequent manifestations of God’s love and character that are vital to our experience and expectations of hope, particularly his grace and his mercy. The basic point is that the grounds of our hope, the goals of our hope are utterly founded on and in the God of our hope. The nature of our hope is totally determined by the nature of God. All theology begins with who God is by his nature, not in who we are by our nature, or we are in our need. Our theology of hope begins with the God of our hope. Your hope is only as good as what you put it in. Hope can only be confident if the grounds of that hope are assured. Though this verse highlights the love of God, I want to begin by using it as an illustration of the foundational truth for our study and focus on the God in whom we hope (“God of hope”); the Christ in whom we hope (“Christ in you the hope of glory.”); the Holy Spirit of hope (“overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”)
I will do a session on the relationship between hope and the Word of God. Ps. 119:74 “I have put my hope in your word” In the NT we read in Roms. 15:4 “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us so that through the endurance and the encourage-ment of the scriptures we might have hope.”
We will look at key passages like Hebrews 6 that talks of hope as “an anchor of the soul.” This is a seminal text in understanding hope, and if its truths can be implanted in your heart it will totally re-order your life and your prospects.
When we study about hope, we don’t only have to look at the goals of our hope, or the grounds of our hope. We have to consider the realities of the context in which this hoping takes place. Not surprisingly, words used for hope carry the idea of waiting, which is hardly good news at first for all of us. Isaiah 40 is one of the chapters we will study together on this subject, the process of hope and hoping. In that chapter, verse 31 can be translated equally as either: “those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength” or “those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength.” The idea is both waiting hopefully and hopeful waiting. Scripture is utterly realistic about this process and actually relates it to “the pangs of childbirth.” (Roms. 8:18-23) In other words, there is sometimes pain in the process. Paul seems less than pastorally sensitive when he tells us to rejoice in such sufferings, but interestingly enough, he immediately goes on to tell us why: “because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance produces character; and character produces…. hope”! (Roms. 5:3-4) Most likely we will spend a whole message just in those first few verses of Romans 5. What emerges is the fact that it is not just about waiting for what we hope for, but about the hopes that God has for us that he wants to work into us during the waiting. Someone has put it like this: “Waiting is not just the thing we have to do until we get what we hope for. Waiting is part of the process of becoming what we hope for.” But why wait unless there is something worth waiting for? Ah! Precisely and therein lies another story. So what are we waiting for according to scripture?
We’re already developing quite a curriculum.
• So many questions: How can we be sure of what we hope for and certain about what we do not see? How can hope survive the hurt? Is there hope after what I’ve done? How can I stand on the promises for then, when I’ve fallen in my faith now?
• So many aspects of the subject: hope and the persons of the Trinity, the grounds of hope, the goals of hope, the defining characteristics of biblical hope, what the Bible says about false hopes, hope and healing, hope and suffering, hope and warfare, hope and scripture, hope and remembrance, hope and holiness, hope and salvation, hope’s outcomes and fruit, hope’s rewards, hope’s enemies, hope and waiting. And talking of waiting Paul writes to Titus about waiting “for the blessed hope – the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ...these are the things you should teach.” (Tit.2:13 -15) So simply because the majority of references to hope in the New Testament relate to this “blessed hope” I will do a message that deals with “hope for my going” (my death) and “hope for his coming” (the parousia).As I’ve prepared for this series it has struck me how pertinent it is that it should follow my last series on asking. Hope and asking are very closely related. Any subversion of hope will by definition collapse your praying. Hopeless people do not generally engage intercession. The frightening thing about hopelessness is that it tends to silence us. It is hope that fuels our pleading and our interceding – our asking. So let’s ask for a strengthening of our hope in the hope that it will in turn strengthen our asking!
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Roms.15:13)
Here’s hoping,
Stuart
http://www.christourshepherd.org/pastlet.htm (and follow links to download MP3 audio of sermon)
Announcements
MEN’S BREAKFAST: Men, please join us for our monthly breakfast, a time of fellowship and encouragement. This month’s breakfast is on Oct. 30, 9-10:30am. Jessie Webb will be leading our discussion and childcare will be provided.
WOMEN'S MINISTRY: If you are not on the coscwomen's yahoo group, email coscwomen-subscribe@yahoogroups.com to subscribe. The yahoo group is our general way of sending out announcements on women's ministry events to the women in our church, or to share other interesting ideas with each other.
SAMSON MEN’S MEETING: Men, you are invited to join other men for a weekly Tuesday evening gathering from 7:30 -8:30 at COSC. E-mail matthew.tropiano@navy.mil for more information.
C.S. LEWIS INSTITUTE: hosting two seminars in November with Michael Ramsden:
Nov. 12—“Apologetic Evangelism Program: Faith, Fact or Fantasy?”
Nov. 13—“Affluenza: The Effects of Affluence”
For more details, visit www.cslewisinstitute.org.
STOP MODERN SLAVERY WALK: On Sat. Oct. 23, there will be a walk to raise money and awareness for the issue of modern day slavery, especially regarding sex-trafficking. To participate and support organizations like International Justice Mission and Restoration Ministries, visit http://sms.kintera.org/faf/home/default.asp? ievent=425974
LUNCH AFTER CHURCH: Jacqui Veloz and Andy Newens will be leading a group lunch after Church this Sunday at La Plaza, 629 Penn Ave SE. Look for Chris and Emily outside in front of the church or meet them at the restaurant.
For general questions or building use inquiries,
send an e-mail to office@christourshepherd.org.
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send an e-mail to ben@christourshepherd.org.
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HOUSING AVAILABLE: Mid-Jan 2011, 1 BR in 4 BR apt. with 2 shared baths in Arlington, 2 blocks from Rosslyn Metro. We are 3 youngh professional women/grad students (& 2 cats) looking for a 4th female roommate. Easy access to I-395 and I-66. Garage parking available (for a fee). $960/mo. + cable. Contact Jamira, jhamira@gmail.com.
HOUSING AVAILABLE: 4 fun, friendly people in their early 30s, looking for CF for a room on Capitol Hill, near 7th and MD, NE. One block from Stanton Park, 10 min walk to Union Station or Eastern Market. $650/mo + util. Looking to fill room by Nov. 1. Contact Molly, mollyjmalone@yahoo.com.
CAMPING ITEMS AVAILABLE: The Colvins have cleaned out their basement and have some camping stuff to give away: dining Canopy, collapsible fire grate, 6x8 heavy duty utility tarp, single mantle propane trail lantern. We will deliver to church for pickup. If interested, call 202-966-7562.
VOLUNTEER: FOCUS (www.infocus.org), an evangelical ministry dedicated to presenting the Gospel and mentoring students in private schools, in in particular need for male volunteers. If interested, contact Area Director Allison clause, aclausen@infocus.org, or Jane Heath, jheath123@verizon.net.
VOLUNTEER: After school Boys house, called the 859 House, has (4) four computers that need updating and checking for virus. The house is located at 19th and I Street NE. If interested, please contact Dorothy Logans, 206 683 3326 or dorothy.logans@gmail.com.