A Hopeful Community

Thank you music team. Good morning church! Good morning to those of you joining us on the live stream this morning. We are grateful to have that technology.

Well I greet you all in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He is the reason we are gathered here this morning. Amen?

Happy Mother’s Day! Today is the day we honor and celebrate all mothers for their love, and strength, and sacrifice, and unwavering presence in our lives.

So to every mom here this morning and those mom’s watching on the live stream, we say thank you for the countless ways you shape hearts and homes with grace.

Thank you for using part of your day to be here this morning.

At the same time, I also want to hold space for those who find this day difficult—whether you're grieving a loss, walking through longing, or carrying unspoken pain. I want you to know this morning that you are seen, you are loved, and you are not forgotten. And for you I pray that God’s comfort and peace would be especially near to you today.

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Well last week we began a new series I am simply calling “Community” where we are taking a closer look at following the Spirit, extending grace and demonstrating love as a disciple of Jesus Christ, in our own community, and in the world around us.

Last week we looked at the power of being peculiar. We read in 1 Peter 2:9 “9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people Why?, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”

So we are chosen by God. Our calling is to represent God to the world around us as a royal priesthood, that is, we have been given the authority to be God’s ambassadors or representatives. God has called us a Holy nation, Not perfect people, but a people who have been set apart from the rest of the world, which should be manifest in the way we live. We are also a peculiar people, which means we are God’s own possession. and finally, we have been called out of darkness into His marvelous light. There’s no better way to describe the Christian life than that: a dramatic movement from darkness to light. Not just moral darkness—but the darkness of aimlessness, fear, guilt, and spiritual death.

But now? We walk in the light. And we shine.

So that’s us beloved. In Christ you are a chosen, royal priest who has been set apart to bring light into a dark world.? How we doin church?

Does that sound like a life of ease and leisure to you? Me either! Like it or not, as disciples Jesus Christ, we have work to do. But this work is not 9-5, it is as we go, at all times and in every situation.

This morning, I want to invite you to consider why on earth you would sign up to be such a person and what it is that will sustain you as a chosen, royal priest who has been set apart to bring light into a dark world.

1 Peter 3:15 instructs us

1 Peter 3:15 - ... in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,

Don’t read past that last instruction too quickly. we are to be prepared to tell people the reason for our hope, but we are to do it respectfully and with gentleness. Not wield it like a club or use it to insult those who don’t have the same hope we have. Our hope should be attractive not offensive. One of the biggest problems in the church today is we treat those outside our community like second class citizens. I got news for you beloved. God loves then as much as he loves you. Salvation and the hope it brings is for anyone who will have it.

So the thing that will sustain us and encourage us to persevere as a chosen, royal priest set apart to bring light into a dark world, is the hope that is in us. This hope is a gift from God as well. It is a hope that has been laid up for us in Heaven and is available to us at all times. We have some things to look forward to beloved that go way beyond wishful thinking.

So this morning I want to explore with you “A Hopeful Community”.

I Think we can all agree on something this morning. We live in a time where hope seems in short supply. Wars rage across the globe. Families fracture. Mental health crises rise. People seek meaning in all the wrong places—we chase status, we chase wealth, we chase pleasure—and often come up empty. Against this bleak backdrop, the message of the gospel breaks in like a sunrise: there is hope for the world, and it has a name—Jesus Christ.

Colossians 1:3–6 tells us:

"We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth."

You know, just as a side note to keep in mind this morning. So often we read God’s word and we think to ourselves, “This is what should be”. But when the word of God is addressing or speaking about those who are in Christ, those who at some time in their lives, have placed their trust and faith in Him, it is telling us what IS, not what should be or could be. Our problem is, we don’t read it that way and even if we do, we find it hard, if not impossible to believe it. This is especially true when we consider the reason for our hope.

This passage introduces this central theme of HOPE in the Christian life. Paul says the Colossians’ faith and love are fueled by hope—specifically, the hope stored up for them in heaven. That hope is rooted in the story of Jesus, and the beauty of the gospel is, that His story becomes our story.

In this message, we will trace the four-part story that inspires and secures our hope. That story is all about Jesus

Death

Resurrection

Ascension

Return

First...let’s talk about...

1: Death — The Cross and the End of the Old

Colossians 3:3 - 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.”

The truth is, we cannot begin to understand hope until we understand despair. The cross of Christ reveals the full horror of human sin and the seriousness of divine justice. Jesus didn’t die because of a misunderstanding or an unfortunate political mistake. He died because sin had to be dealt with.

Jesus, the perfect Son of God, took upon Himself the death we deserved. Paul tells us in Colossians 1:21–22:

"And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless..."

Last week we talked about how God has made us a Holy nation. The cross is how He made us that way.

Without Jesus’ death, we are alienated—cut off from God. Without Jesus death, we cannot be set apart FOR Him because we cannot even approach Him in our filthy rags. That is the human condition apart from Christ: dead in sin, hostile to God, and unable to save ourselves. But in His death, Jesus broke the power of sin and reconciled us.

Here’s the astonishing truth: when we place our faith in Christ, His death becomes our death. Romans 6:6 puts it this way:

"We know that our old self was crucified with him..."

To live the Christian life is to die with Christ—to the world, to sin, to self-rule. But this death is not the end—it is the beginning of hope.

This death is both a reality and a continual posture. We must die daily to the lies that our worth comes from performance, pleasure, or public opinion. We must die to fear, to shame, and to the belief that we’re too broken for God to use. All lies.

You don’t have to be qualified to share your faith—you only have to be dead to the idea that you can do it, without God.

So death is where our story of hope begins, not ends. Because next comes...

2: Resurrection — New Life, New Identity, New Power

Jesus didn’t stay in the grave. On the third day, He rose again—breaking the curse of death, defeating sin, and opening the door to eternal life.

Colossians 2:12 says:

"Having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God..."

And Colossians 3:1:

"If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above..."

This is the second part of the story of hope—resurrection. Jesus didn’t just die in our place and stay dead; He rose in victory. His resurrection was the beginning of God’s re-creation of earth and His plan to once again reunite heaven and earth into one glorious Kingdom. And that resurrection life is given to us now.

This means:

In Christ, you are not who you used to be.

In Christ, you are no longer defined by your sin, your past, or your failures.

You have been raised with Christ.

The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead now lives in you. This is not just metaphor—it’s reality.

You have a new identity: child of God.

A new power: the Holy Spirit.

A new purpose: to live for the glory of God and the good of others.

And here’s the crucial connection to evangelism: Resurrection people don’t just know hope—they embody it. They live in such a way that others ask, “What’s up with you. You have something I don’t seem to have. It’s not arrogance, It’s not self-righteousness. It is a certain peace. A certain confidence. A certain... hope.

This isn’t reserved for pastors, theologians, or influencers. Every Christian is a resurrection witness.

If you’ve been raised with Christ, you carry that hope into your workplace, into your neighborhood, into your family, and your friendships. Beloved, you are living proof that death doesn’t win.

Forget about who you were before Christ. You are something entirely new in Him.

2 Corinthians 5:17 “17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

So our story of hope begins with death, continues with resurrection and new life, next, our hope gains confidence in the Jesus ...

3: Ascension back to the Father because it means — Our King Reigns!

Forty days after His resurrection, Jesus ascended to the right hand of the Father. This often-neglected truth is vital to our hope: we have hope because Jesus reigns right now.

Colossians 3:1–2 again:

Col 3:1-2 ESV - 1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.

Jesus didn’t just rise—He ascended. He was enthroned. The ascension means that:

Jesus is not absent; He is exalted. It means...

Jesus is not uninvolved; He is interceding. and it means that...

Jesus is not waiting, hoping to rule; He is a shoe in to be the ruling King of the new Heaven and New earth.

This should fuel our hope! The world is not spinning out of control. Evil will not have the last word. Jesus is Lord, now and forever.

For you and me, this changes our perspective. Because Christ reigns, we live with confidence. We don’t share the gospel hoping it might work—we share because it IS working. Jesus has already won.

We don’t love our enemies because it feels good—we love because our King commands it, and He is good.

The ascension also gives us access.

Because Jesus reigns, we can approach the throne of grace with confidence. The one who sits on the throne is the very same one who said,

Jhn 15:15 ESV - 15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.

Did you get that. Jesus said that everything the Father has told Him, he has told us. Nothing held back. Nothing left out. Be careful, this is the very thing the serpent twisted and lied about in the garden. “Did God Really say...?” “God is hiding something from you that will prevent you from being like Him.”

In fact, just the opposite is true. God has given us everything we need to become just like His Son!

So the writer of Hebrews instructs us ...

Hebrews 4:16 - 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

Ephesians tells us that we are seated with Him in the heavenly places AND we have work to do here on earth as we move toward that day when heaven and earth will once again be united as His glorious Kingdom. Listen to this...

Eph 2:4-10 ESV - 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ--by grace you have been saved-- 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

His authority in heaven is our authority on earth.

When you share your faith, you are not doing it alone. Jesus is with you by His Spirit. His power is available. His Word does not return void.

So, our story of hope begins with death, continues with resurrection and new life, and our hope gains confidence in the ascension of Christ. All of that has happened and we are living in the midst of those hope giving truths. But there is one more thing that will seal the deal...Jesus

4: Return — where our Hope will be Made Visible

Colossians 3:4 declares:

"When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory."

This is the final chapter of the story of hope: Jesus is coming again. Not in weakness, but in power. Not to suffer, but to reign fully and finally. Not to be rejected this time, but to be revealed in glory.

And when He comes beloved, we just read it, we will be with Him. When He comes, that hope “laid up in heaven” will become the hope revealed on earth!

Oh God has an incredible plan!

Folks...

This hope changes how we live today. It is not wishful thinking. It anchors us when trials hit. It steadies us in grief. It motivates holiness, generosity, patience, and faithfulness.

But it also gives urgency to our witness.

We don’t have time to be silent.

The King is coming. The world must know that. And God has chosen us—ordinary people with extraordinary hope—to make Him known.

Which brings us to a necessary correction that must be made. A correction to the false narrative that...

“Only Certain People Can Share Their Faith”

One of the enemy’s most successful lies is this: only pastors, only evangelists, or outgoing people are qualified to share the gospel.

This false narrative creates a two-tier Christianity: the “called” and the “quiet.” But Jesus never made that distinction. When He said, “Go and make disciples,” He was speaking to all His followers.

The early church understood this. In Acts, it wasn’t just apostles who shared their faith—it was ordinary believers. In fact, Colossians 1:6 tells us the gospel “has come to you… and is bearing fruit in the whole world.”

How did that happen? Because everyone shared the hope they had.

You might think, But I don’t know enough. Friend, you know Him. And that’s enough. If you don’t know Him, commit yourself to the task.

You might think, But I’m scared. Good. That means you’ll depend on the Spirit and not fall prey to the lie that you don’t need Him.

You might think, But I’m not gifted. The gospel is the power of God—not your eloquence. The gospel power does not rely on your ability to be persuasive or well spoken. The Gospel of the Kingdom of God is quite capable of carrying itself.

The true narrative is this: every Christian is a witness. Not all in the same way. Some sow, some water, some harvest. But all share.

Making the Story of Hope Your Story

So how does this story—death, resurrection, ascension, return—become your story?

You Die with Christ — That means you repent. You surrender your old life. You stop pretending and trust Jesus as your Savior and Lord.

You Rise with Christ — You receive new life, not by works but by grace. You live in the power of the Spirit.

You Reign with Christ — You walk in confidence, knowing Jesus rules and you are seated with Him.

And while you are doing all that,

You Wait for Christ — You live with urgency and hope, looking forward to the day when He will return. Have I ever mentioned that Jesus is coming back?

This is how hope gets inside you—and then overflows through you. So how do we ...

Live and Speak this Hope

Well, we do it with our words. We do it with our actions and we do it with the choices that we make every day.

Paul says in Colossians 1:6 that the gospel is “bearing fruit.” That means it shows up in our lives.

Hope is not passive. It produces action.

In our words: We speak the gospel. We encourage others. We testify to what Jesus has done in us.

In our actions: We serve, we love, we forgive, we persevere , and we give generously.

In our choices: We live differently from the world, because we are shaped by eternity. We be ...well...peculiar.

While the world hoards, we give.

While the world retaliates, we forgive.

While the world is cynical, we hope.

While the world curses, we bless.

While the world lives for self, we live for Christ.

That is our calling beloved. How are we doing?

You have heard it said that “You may be the only Bible someone reads”. Your life should raise questions. It should raise questions that only the gospel can answer.

So as we close this morning I want to invite you to ask yourself:

Who in your life needs to hear your story?

Where can you live more boldly and hopefully?

What would it look like to truly believe Jesus is reigning right now and will be back shortly?

Beloved, hope isn’t something you manufacture or conjure up—it’s something you receive.

Paul says this hope is “laid up for you in heaven.” It’s not earned, it’s given. The way to obtain it begins with...

Repentance — Turn from sin and self.

This hope can be yours by...

Faith — placing trust in Jesus’ death and resurrection.

Surrender — Let Him rule your life. Hand over the reigns to Him. Your driving ain’t that good anyway. And live with...

Expectation — Live in light of His return.

Romans 15:13 says:

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope."

You don’t create the hope. God gives it. And when He does, you become a conduit of it to others.

Conclusion: You Are the Story’s Messenger

Beloved, you are part of a story that is bigger than your failures, greater than your fears, and stronger than death. The story of Jesus is your story. And this story gives unshakable hope.

So live like someone who has been brought out of the darkness into His marvelous light.

Live like one who cannot be ineffective by aimlessness.

Live like someone who will not be defeated by fear.

Live like someone who will not be debilitated by guilt.

Live like someone who died but did not stay dead.

Live like someone who has died and then risen again.

Live like someone who reigns and is waiting for glory.

And speak like someone who has found the only true hope there is. Amen? Let’s pray.

Closing Prayer

Father, We thank You for the hope we have in Jesus— A hope rooted in His death, confirmed in His resurrection, secured in His ascension, and fulfilled in His return.

Forgive us for the times we have doubted or remained silent. Empower us, by Your Spirit, to live as people of hope, to speak boldly of Your goodness, and to love deeply as those who belong to the kingdom of light.

Make the story of Jesus alive in us, and let our lives point others to the hope that never fades.

I pray all this in the STRONG name of Jesus Christ, Amen.