Sharing Hope with Others

The New International Version Chapter 2

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest heaven,

and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

Sharing Hope with Other

Main idea: This sermon explores the manifestation of hope in Christ, how to harness it from the Gospel of Luke, and sharing this hope with others.

Scripture: 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.' (Luke 2:10-12)

Quote: Hope itself is like a star —not to be seen in the sunshine of prosperity, and only to be discovered in the night of adversity. —Charles Spurgeon

Heavenly Father, we come before you today with hearts full of gratitude for the hope we have in Christ. As we consider your Word, we ask that you open our hearts and minds to understand it more fully. Help us to see the hope that is found in the Gospel of Luke, and to share that hope with others. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Introduction

Good morning, dear church family. It is a joy to be here with you today, to stand in this pulpit and share God's Word with you. The message I bring to you today is one that is close to my heart, one that I believe is close to the heart of God. It is a message of hope, a message that speaks to the very core of the Gospel message in the book of Luke.

The great preacher Charles Spurgeon once said, "Hope itself is like a star - not to be seen in the sunshine of prosperity, and only to be discovered in the night of adversity." How true that is. Hope shines brightest in the darkest nights, and it is in those moments that we come to understand the depth of its power.

Let us turn our attention to the book of Luke. In Luke 2:8, 14, we read: "And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.' Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.'"

What an incredible picture? Shepherds in the fields, the glory of the Lord shining around them, and the announcement of the birth of our Savior. What a moment of hope that must have been!

Today, we are going to focus on three main points: Hope Manifested in Christ, Harnessing the Hope from the Gospel of Luke, and Helping Others Discover Hope in Christ. As we consider these points, let us remember that hope is not a wish or a dream, but a sure and certain anchor for our souls.

Now, let's turn our attention to our first point: Hope Manifested in Christ. May the Lord guide us as we seek to understand His Word.

Hope Manifested in Christ

The birth of Jesus Christ, as we know, was the arrival of hope in its purest form. The shepherds in the field were the first to hear this good news. The angel of the Lord appeared to them, not to kings or rulers, but to humble shepherds. The glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel gave them a message of hope, saying, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord."

This is the first glimpse we get of hope manifested in Christ. The Savior of the world, the Messiah, was born in a humble setting, not in a palace, but in a manger. This is a powerful reminder that Christ came for all people, not just the rich and powerful, but the humble and lowly. He is the embodiment of hope for all of humanity.

The angel's message to the shepherds also gives us insight into the nature of this hope. The angel said, "I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people." This was not just good news for the shepherds, or for the people of Israel, but for all people. The hope that Christ brings is universal. It transcends borders, cultures, and languages. It is a hope that is available to all who believe in Him.

The angel's message also reveals the source of this hope. The angel said, "Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord." The hope that Christ brings is not based on our own efforts or achievements. It is not a hope that we can earn or deserve. It is a hope that is based on the person and work of Christ. He is our Savior, our Messiah, our Lord. Our hope is in Him.

The angel's message gives us a glimpse of the impact of this hope. The angel said, "This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." The sign was a baby, a helpless, vulnerable baby. This is a powerful reminder that the hope that Christ brings is not a hope that is based on power, strength, or might. It is a hope that is based on love, humility, and sacrifice. It is a hope that changes lives, transforms communities, and reshapes the world. Next we see how to:

Harness the Hope from the Gospel of Luke

There is a vivid picture of hope found in the Gospel of Luke, which tells the story of the prodigal son. This parable, found in Luke 15:11-32, is a powerful illustration of hope in action. The younger son, after squandering his inheritance, finds himself in a desperate situation. Yet, in his darkest hour, he remembers his father's house and decides to return, hoping for mercy and forgiveness.

In this story, we see the hope that comes from remembering the goodness of the Father. The prodigal son, in his despair, recalls his father's kindness and generosity. This memory gives him the courage to return home, despite his unworthiness. It's a powerful reminder for us that no matter how far we've strayed, no matter how much we've messed up, we can always turn back to our Heavenly Father. He is always ready to receive us with open arms, to forgive us and restore us. This is the hope we have in Christ, a hope that is beautifully illustrated in this parable.

Another aspect of this hope is seen in the father's response to his son's return. The father, upon seeing his son from a distance, runs to meet him. He doesn't wait for his son to reach him but rushes out to welcome him home. This is a picture of God's eagerness to forgive us, to restore us, to welcome us back into His family. The father's joy at his son's return reflects God's joy when we turn back to Him. This is the hope we have in Christ, a hope that is beautifully illustrated in this parable.

The third aspect of this hope is seen in the celebration that follows the son's return. The father orders a feast to be prepared, a celebration of his son's return. This is a picture of the joy in heaven over one sinner who repents. Our return to God, our repentance, is a cause for celebration. This is the hope we have in Christ, a hope that is beautifully illustrated in this parable. Finally, we discover how to;

Help Others Discover Hope in Christ

Now, we turn our attention to the vital task of Helping Others Discover Hope in Christ. This task, dear friends, is not just for pastors, missionaries, or church leaders. It's a divine assignment given to every believer, every follower of Christ. We are all called to be ambassadors of hope, pointing others to the ultimate source of hope, Jesus Christ.

Christ, our Savior, is the embodiment of hope. His life, His teachings, His death, and His resurrection are the very essence of hope. He is the hope for the hopeless, the light in the darkness, the peace in the storm. In Him, we find the hope that does not disappoint, the hope that is steadfast and sure.

The first aspect we need to consider in helping others discover hope in Christ is the importance of living a life that reflects the hope we have in Him. You see, hope is not just something we talk about; it's something we live out. Our lives should be a living testimony of the hope we have in Christ.

In the words of the Apostle Paul in Philippians 1:20, "I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death." This is the kind of hope-filled life we are called to live, a life that exalts Christ, a life that points others to Him.

The second aspect is the power of our words. Our words can either build up or tear down, bring hope or despair. We need to use our words wisely, speaking words of hope, words that point others to Christ.

As the respected Christian writer, C.S. Lewis, once said, "Don't shine so others can see you. Shine so that through you, others can see Him." Our words should not draw attention to ourselves, but to Christ, the source of our hope.

The third aspect is the importance of prayer. Prayer is a powerful tool in helping others discover hope in Christ. When we pray for others, we are inviting God to work in their lives, to reveal Himself to them, to fill them with His hope.

In Ephesians 6:18, Paul urges us to "pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people." Praying for others is not just a duty; it's a privilege, an opportunity to partner with God in His work.

So, dear friends, let us commit ourselves to this divine task of helping others discover hope in Christ. Let us live lives that reflect the hope we have in Him, let us use our words to point others to Him, let us pray for others, and let us rely on the Holy Spirit to do His work. Let us be ambassadors of hope, pointing others to the ultimate source of hope, Jesus Christ.

Conclusion

As I close today, let's remember that the hope we have in Christ isn't just for us. It's a hope to be shared, a hope to be spread. The shepherds didn't keep the good news to themselves, they went out and spread the word. And just like those shepherds, we're called to share the hope we've found in Christ with those around us.

God's love is so vast, so deep, and so wide. It's a love that sent His only Son into the world, not to condemn it, but to save it. That's the hope we have. That's the hope we cling to. That's the hope we share. And it's all because of God's incredible love for us. The hymnologist beautifully illustrates it by penning: My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame but wholly lean on Jesus’ name. On Christ, the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand.