A Season of Hope - Pt. 1

Video

Welcome and Good Morning. Thank you for joining us today.

Isn’t it a great reminder to know that we are made and known by God. Think with me friend, you are not an accident. As the psalmist said, you are fearfully and wonderfully made.

And as a Created being, you have purpose - and that purpose extends to where you are today. In this season, on this day, wherever you are - you have a wonderful purpose grounded in the glory of God.

My hope today in the middle of all the change that we each are experiencing is to point you to eternal truth.

Now, if you are a part of our faith family here at Fellowship, we want to pause for a moment and make sure you are aware of a few things:

1. Our Church Office is Closed

During the Stay at Home Order, our staff is adhering to those recommendations and are working from home. However we are checking the church voicemail remotely and I am available through email or on my cell phone at any time.

2. Thursday Zoom Discussion

This afternoon, those in our church family who have given us your email will receive a set of study guide questions that correspond to our theme of study today. We will have a group discussion digitally on the Zoom platform on Thursday at 10:00 AM.

3. Online Giving

The bible teaches us to be a generous people and that includes our faithful giving to the faith family we associate with. On a typical Sunday morning we pass the plate and our people are generous givers. we are thankful for that, but you know the passing of the plate is not an entrance fee we pay when we are present and one we don’t when we aren’t. Our generous giving to the work of God here at Fellowship is tied to the benevolence of God to us - it is instructed in Scripture to be consistent and proportionate to how God prospers us. So at a time where things are uncertain, we obey by faith. Not reckless, but responsive. As God prospers you, scripture teaches we respond with generosity because of the generosity of God. It is important to note that, while we are being very diligent to freeze non-essential spending in ministry right now, there are still obligations and opportunities we have before us as a faith family. And so we want you to know that you can continue your generosity on our website or by mailing in a check. We are being diligent to spend our collective generosity in ways that further God’s kingdom.

4. Front Door Easter Challenge

We got a great idea this week from Brooke Hall to have the families in our church to participate in a front door easter challenge. We want to encourage you to participate if you can and post pictures to our church facebook page with the hashtag #ASeasonOfHope

5. Personal Video of Hope

We are transitioning today to a three week series leading up to Easter entitled A Season of Hope, and with the flood of people spending time on Social Media, we picked up an idea from a sister church in Indianapolis. I love this idea - In this season of unrest and concern for many, we are challenging our folks to record a short 2 minute video of how Jesus has changed your life story. And like the Door Easter Challenge, we want you to place a hashtag with your post that says #ASeasonOfHope.

FORWARD INTO SERMON

Well, these are interesting times, and for much of the world it seems like a despairing time. One that brings much concern - however this morning I want to remind you again church that nothing eternal has changed.

In fact, the season we are in is no surprise to God and the timing of this season is not ironic when it comes to His timetable.

Two Sundays from now we will celebrate Easter. That particular Sunday is when we celebrate the resurrection of our Savior, Jesus Christ. It is typically a Sunday with full pews and at our house several frilly dresses. It is a joyous Sunday for the redeemed and a tradition for those who may not have a relationship with God or His church for the majority of the year.

But this year is very different. At least when it comes to the traditional setting we are used to.

But friend, nothing eternal has changed. In fact, our present circumstances can’t effect the past. Regardless of what our day-t0-day lives look like on the 12th of April, the reason for celebrating stands - Christ is Risen!

Now, I recognize that for many of us, this is a hard season. For the extrovert, you’re about to go nuts - and for the introvert, you are just now starting to really enjoy life!

God’s design for the church is to live in community with one another, but right now that looks very different.

Digital opportunities/phone/snail mail

But as we move towards our Easter celebration this year, I want to guide our hearts toward the truth that in this season of uncertainty, the church lives in a season of hope.

If you joined us Thursday on our Zoom Discussion I asked you to pray for me as I sought God’s direction over the next several weeks. Our goal is to strengthen the church, but also to reach those who may be searching for answers. And so briefly this morning, we will begin that journey.

Join me if you would in John 16.

Briefly this morning, I’d like for us to consider the overview of why Jesus is our hope.

Genesis - Creation and Fall

From Genesis through Malachi you have the story of God working in and through a specific group of people teaching us who He is and What He expects.

And all along he is teaching them his plan of redemption.

In Leviticus God lays out a whole myriad of expectations for this people group to do to remind them of their sin and their need for atonement. And at the same time, God is pointing to them the coming One will eventually fulfill all the OT lessons they are learning.

Fast forward to the NT and this fulfillment is made in the person of Jesus.

Now, the religious elite were expecting God to send a conquering king - but not like God had planned.

They were expecting someone to come and overthrow the kingdom of Rome, but Christ came to overthrow their enthroned hearts.

He wasn’t what they expected, because their expectations were not based on God’s truth.

in john 16 we find the brutal honesty of Christ before going to the cross to fulfill his mission.

John 16:31–33 NKJV

31 Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? 32 Indeed the hour is coming, yes, has now come, that you will be scattered, each to his own, and will leave Me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. 33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

Added thoughts

So this first week, and as you study on your own from the guide you will receive by email this afternoon, I want to challenge you to live in this season, with Hope, but hope set in proper expectations of how God has revealed Himself to us.

There are many things that can draw the hope of our hearts, but the everlasting Hope that never fails is God Himself. Run to him this week, and you won’t be disapointed!

Closing Prayer

Church as we close, let me challenge you to be mindful of the needs of those around you. Reach out to someone by phone or email. Mail a note of encouragement. Sacrifice for someone in need.

Bake sale items - kids wanting to keep them

Reminder that life isn’t all about us.

Be an encourager this week and point others to the goodness and grace of God through the means He allows this week!