Hope is Contagious

COVID-19 • Sermon • Submitted 5 years ago

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INTRO

For the past few weeks, we have been gathering online to worship and to dive into God’s Word together. I look forward to the day when we will be able to gather again, worship in person, and greet one another face to face. But while that is not possible, we are determined to make the most of these days.

I want to encourage you to make the most of the time you have now where things have been simplified for us. Some of the filler and time spent running and doing has been removed for us. We have a choice though of how we will fill that time. Let me encourage you to fill it with things that are going to help your heart and soul navigate this season with hope. Choose to fill this time with rest, reading, productivity even with some projects you have wanted to get done. Like you, these past few weeks has seemed like a year of things to process. Give yourself grace and space to walk through this time knowing that God is with us, He is faithful, and we will get through this together. Give those around you grace as well. I am thankful for the beautiful days where we can get outside and spread out a little better but being cooped up will require us to be mindful of the space we need and the grace we need to extend to one another. Let’s do this for ourselves as well as one another.

WORSHIP

As we go into a time of worship will you help remove any distractions. Turn off other noises and screens that might distract and let’s focus on exalting the Lord together.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

MESSAGE

We ended last week talking about we have to give to the world. We have it all the time but it has become more valuable during the season we are globally walking through right now. What is so rare and even a commodity right now is the hope with which we can weather the storms. I am not saying this makes the storm any shorter or any less intense. The hope we have simply gives us confidence on eternal outcomes. Listen to what Paul says as he writes to the church in Rome.

Romans 5:3–5 NLT

3 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. 4 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. 5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

Romans 5:3-

What you and I are going through right now, whether a staycation or uncertainty, we can choose to rejoice through it all. Because we know that what we are enduring now is producing and developing something within us far greater. These are not better circumstances that we are going through but these circumstances can make us better people. Problems and trials have the same potential for all of us but not all of us will choose to rejoice in knowing that God’s got it, that He’s got us. If we don’t endure with faith and hope despite our circumstances then we will become a byproduct of our circumstances and a casualty to the tides of life. Instead of overcoming, we will be overcome. Instead of rising in faith, we will writhe in fear. Instead of being a people of hope, we will abandon what we once believed because we can’t see the unseen with our spiritual eyes. We can’t see the God we serve. We have to have our thoughts, our focus, our attention on Him. Filling our heart and minds with those things tells us to dwell our thoughts on. That is how we are going to not only get through this but come out on the other side with some spiritual plunder. This is how we are going to come out on the other side as overcomers—because God’s victorious.

Let’s talk about this hope that we have.

HOPE IS CONTAGIOUS

Unquestionably the most talked about subject right now is what…you got it, the Coronavirus or COVID-19. We have learned things about social distancing and words are a part of our vocabulary that usually aren’t. Pandemic. Social distancing. Panic buying. Slow the curve. Things just a few weeks ago we were thinking and talking about.

News—SM—Conversations anywhere—Six feet of distance.

Stop the spread of COVID-19!

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As we all know—COVID-19 is highly contagious!

There is a ministry leader that I follow who was at a Leadership Conference in Germany at the beginning of March. All the speakers gathered for a dinner together, 14 in total, only later to find out that one of the speakers would test positive for the coronavirus. There was one carrier, and 8 of the 14, ended up later testing positive. It is highly contagious!

BG/I—Leadership Conf Germany—Attended Dinner 14 Speakers.

One was a carrier—(8 of 14)—People dinner tested positive—HC.

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I think perhaps the only thing more CONTAGIOUS than the VIRUS itself right now is FEAR!

Stock market dropping—Schools closing—Some businesses shut down

Encouraged /mandated social distancing—Work from home if possible.

Limit meeting groups no more 10—Empty church building.

Limit travel—Most panic—Short on TP!

Acknowledge—Elderly—Weaker immune systems!

Addition to health—Tons unable to work—Facing financial challenges!

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Fear is contagious!

It doesn’t take much FEAR to spread uncontrollably!

When BG and I found out we’d been close to someone who was sick…

FACEBOOK POST: “If a tiny virus can do this much damage, image what mustard seed size faith can do.”

Evacuated section plane—Afraid—We were afraid.

What if we’re carriers?— What if what we have spreads?

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Are you tracking with me so far? You are a carrier! We are all carrying something. We are all spreading something. When people get near us, they will catch what we have. My questions is what will they catch? Will they catch faith? Will they catch hope? Will they catch that while not being blind to the difficulties we all face you seem to have this grounded faith in something so much greater than your circumstances that they begin to wish they had that too? What are you spreading? You are a carrier, and my hope and prayer is that we, as the people of God, are infecting people with a perspective that is going to help them lead into God like never before. To trust Him more fully. To love Him more dearly. To know the Good Shepherd who is with us in these valleys. Let’s spread that kind of faith-filled perspective.

Hope you’ll understand—You. Are. A. Carrier!

You’re carrying—Something!

When people get near you—Catch what you have!

You Are A Carrier!—Is what you’re carrying worth catching?

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Power portion Script—Paul writing believers Thessalonica. (Pers/Afraid)

Listen to what Paul writing to the believers in Thessalonica.

1 Thessalonians 1:2–3 NLT

2 We always thank God for all of you and pray for you constantly. 3 As we pray to our God and Father about you, we think of your faithful work, your loving deeds, and the enduring hope you have because of our Lord Jesus Christ.

What does Paul say he recounts as he thinks about these believers? He thinks of their:

Faithful work!

Loving deeds!

Enduring hope!

And how were they able to live with such faith, love, and hope? All of this “you have because of our Lord Jesus Christ.” This is the stuff that God gives us. These are the goods He delivers to our souls. You can call on Him and watch for the DoorDash to your soul. This is what He is showing up with, and it doesn’t require any spiritual distancing. In fact, the only way you will be able to retain all of this during this time is through spiritual intimacy, spending time with Him, letting Him brings rest to your soul.

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Paul goes on in verse 5:

5 For when we brought you the Good News, it was not only with words but also with power…

1 Thessalonians 1:5 NLT

5 For when we brought you the Good News, it was not only with words but also with power, for the Holy Spirit gave you full assurance that what we said was true. And you know of our concern for you from the way we lived when we were with you.

Romans

What was brought into our lives to be the catalyst to this life-giving, life-altering exposure to FAITH, HOPE, and LOVE? It was the Good News. Paul says, “We brought you the Good News.” And it wasn’t in word only. We displayed it for you, and with power.

R5 For when we brought you the Good News, it was not only with words but also with power…

We brought you—Good news!

Imagine when there is a treatment for COVID-19? When they find a cure and a way to prevent it. Think of how fast that good news will spread!

Think Good News will spread?!

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Jesus left us an example to follow. He came to to bring the Good News to all of us, and it wasn’t while we had it all figured out or didn’t “need” Him.

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The Good News is that He came for us while we were still His enemies, and He doesn’t just bring us physical healing but also spiritual healing.

Jesus DIDN’T come for the healthy BUT the sick!

Jesus DIDN’T come for the righteous BUT the sinner!

God DIDN’T just shout His love for us from heaven INSTEAD He displayed it to us here on earth.

What God has done for us, for grace He has given us, the peace and protection He has showered us with is all worth sharing.

Tell you about some Good News that doesn’t just heal a

Physical sickness—Cures a Spiritual Sickness!

Jesus—Didn’t come à For Healthy—Sick!

Jesus—Didn’t come à For Righteous—Sinners!

Our God didn’t just shout his love from heaven—He showed it on earth!

Saved by grace through faith!

That’s some Good News—Worth spreading!

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You’re a Carrier—Carrying something!

Is what you are carrying worth spreading?

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Paul continues...

1 Thessalonians 1:8 NLT

8 And now the word of the Lord is ringing out from you to people everywhere, even beyond Macedonia and Achaia, for wherever we go we find people telling us about your faith in God. We don’t need to tell them about it,

I thess 1:8

God’s word was “ringing out”, “echoing”. Paul didn’t have to tell the church in Thessalonians that they needed to be sharing the Good News of what Jesus had done for us. They couldn’t help but let it ring out, echoing throughout their words and deeds. From the beginning, they were a missionary church.

God is reminding us right now what He has done for us. He is reminding us who He is in our lives and who He will continue to be for us. And against the backdrop of some very challenging times for folks around us, we have something worth sharing.

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Ringing out… Echoing… Spreading from you to people everywhere!

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Throughout Scripture, we see how contagious this Good News is...

That’s what happens—When people catch a passion for Jesus!

What they have—Starts to spread!

When Jesus raised a little girl from the dead it says that…

When Jesus raised a little girl from the dead…

26 News of this spread through all that region.

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When Jesus Cast out evil spirits…(GN)

When Jesus Cast out evil spirits the Good News spread…

28 News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee.

When God used His disciples to do miracles listen to how that Good News spread...

God used disciples do miracles…(GN)

7 So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly …

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Why did this good news / message / word of God spread?

How did this good news, this message of hope and the Word of God spread? It spread through three ways:

Faithful work

Loving deeds

Enduring hope

We see too often how contagious fear is, but SO is FAITH. I don’t know about you, but I’m a carrier. And when tested, the test should come back positive. Positive, that despite circumstances or situations we are going to be a Faith Spreader, Love Giver, Hope Dealer. And if others get close to us, they are going to catch what we are carrying. And there is nothing for us to boast about within ourselves. Like Paul says, we are able to have this faith, love and hope because of Christ and what He has done for us.

Faithful work—Loving deeds—Enduring hope!

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This is an unique in which we shine. While the world may be getting darker, the light of the Lord is growing ever brighter.

Don’t know bout you? I’m a carrier!

Faith Spreader—Love Giver—Hope Dealer!

If you get too close to me—Going to catch what I’m carrying!

Because of the Lord Jesus—I’m Full of Faith—Not fear!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Pastor, aren’t you afraid when Xians aren’t gathering church buildings!

Told you since day one—Church is not a building!

We don’t go to church—We are the church!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Thousands/thousands churches signing up FREE COL!

2500 yesterday!—More today! (Reploy)—Blow by 10,000 churches!

Last weekend—4.7 million! Almost 16,000 salvations!

Jesus didn’t say—Go into your homes and hide the rest of your life! No, INSTEAD, Jesus told us to go into the world and shine!

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Jesus didn’t say—Go into your homes and hide rest life!

Go into the world and shine!

If we can’t gather physically—We will gather digitally! We have Good news worth spreading!—everyone of us can be digital evangelists! We can pick up the phone and call people. Reach out with a text. Talk to the neighbor, six feet away, and share the hope you have received.

Good news worth spreading!—(Digital evangelists!)

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Jesus said you will know that you are my disciples…

· By the way we hoard bottled water and toilet paper!

· By the way we self-preserve first!

· NO, but by the way we love one another!

35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

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Faith spreader—Love giver—Hope dealer!

You are a:

Help tutor kids—Errands for those compromised—Partner local missions.

Childcare for hospitals!

Faith spreader—Love giver—Hope dealer!

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Faith spreader—Love giver—Hope dealer!

We’ve got HOPE that no virus can kill.

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I don’t just hope things go back to normal?

I have way more hope than that!

Normal was comfortable! Selfish! Spiritually safe. Spiritually lukewarm!

I am believing this is a wake-up call!

Time for the Church to unite! For us to stand together!

Stand strong! Stand boldly!

Time for God’s people to be the true light in this dark world.

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My hope NOT in the government! I will support our leaders!

My hope is NOT in the government! I will support our leaders!

My hope is NOT in the doctors—Although I pray for them!

My hope is NOT in spiritual leaders around the world!

My hope is in the one who spoke the world into being!

My hope is in the all-knowing—all powerful—ever-present God of the universe!

My hope is in the one who heals deaf ears, opens blind eyes, raises dead!

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Why am I a Faith-Spreader—Love Giver—Hope dealer!

Because of Jesus! – Who is my Jesus?

He is the one who met me in my darkest hour. He is the Way, the Truth, the Life. He has brought me life. I am experience a life now I never thought was possible. We have peace through Jesus in our greatest storm. We have hope not only for today and tomorrow, but for all eternity. My Jesus brings freedom. He breaks the chains of bondage. He stores the broken. He strengthens the weak. That’s my Jesus. My Jesus is THE PROVIDER. He comforts me; He is my Source, my Strength, my Deliverer! That’s my Jesus!!! He is my Rock. He sustains me even though difficulty may knock on my door, He is still my Way. This hope I have because of Jesus gives me confidence, assurance, because He is my Firm Foundation. I take refuge under the shelter of the Almighty. He is the Prince of Peace, the Lamb of God, He is the beginning and the end, the Alpha and the Omega. He is the Resurrection and the Life. His Goodness and Mercy they follow me everywhere I go. They indescribable. His Power that is at work in me, it is incomprehensible. His Grace that has rescued me, it is irresistible. My Jesus tells me that at His Name darkness trembles. In His presence demons flee. Death couldn’t keep its grip on Him. The grace couldn’t hold Him down. This is my Jesus! And He loves me. And He loves you.

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Our provider! Comforter! Source! Strength! Redeemer!

Rock—Sustainer—Assurance—Firm foundation

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Shelter in time of trouble—Light when the world is dark!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Shelter in time of trouble—Light when the world is dark!

Prince Peace—Lamb God—Alpha Omega—Resurrection and life!

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Goodness indescribable—Power incomprehensible—Grace irresistible.

At this name—Darkness trembles!

In his presence—Demons flee!

Death couldn’t defeat him—Grave couldn’t hold him!

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Fear may be contagious—but so is faith!

Fear is contagious—So is faith!

Hate may be contagious—but so is love!

Worry may be contagious—but so is hope!

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Faithful work—Loving deeds—Enduring hope! Faith Spreaders—Love Giver—Hope Dealer!

Just like the Thessalonians Paul was writing to, we will be known for our

Faithful works—Loving deeds—Enduring hope!

We will be in this hour:

Faith Spreaders—Love Givers—Hope Dealers!

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Will you be carriers of this Good News? Will you spread the hope that my Jesus has brought into your life? Is what you are carrying worth catching? As the world grows darker, watch as God’s light shines brighter!

Hope I’m speaking to some carriers.

What you’re carrying worth catching

Good news—It’s going to spread!

Let’s pray.

World grows darker—Light shines brighter!

PRAY

COMMUNION

As we rejoice in the hope, in the freedom and peace that we have, we must acknowledge this is was all made possible by what Christ did for us. I want to give you a minute to get a cracker some juice, literally anything you have where you are to participate with us right now in remembering what Christ has done, is doing, and will continue to do for us. So, go ahead, get up if you don’t have anything already to partake of the Lord’s Supper with us. One of the most precious things we can do during times of need is remind ourselves of what God has already done for us in our past.

Listen to these powerful verses in our current context:

Romans 8:31–35 NIV

31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?

Today, as we participate in the Eucharist, in a time of remembering and reflecting with thankfulness, I want to take this recognizing the Body of Christ around the world. We are a part of His Body. We are a part of extending the hope He has brought into our world, in our lives. We remember and reflect on what He has done for us knowing we have a hope the world needs now.

Let me lead us now:

1 Corinthians 11:23–24 ESV

1 Corinthians 11:23–34 ESV

23 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. 27 Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30 That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. 31 But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world. 33 So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another— 34 if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home—so that when you come together it will not be for judgment. About the other things I will give directions when I come.

Take what you have to represent Lord’s body, which is for you and for me. Isaiah speaks of the Messiah when he writes:

Isaiah 53:3–4 ESV

3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.

Let’s remember what He took upon Himself for our good.

EAT THE BREAD

1 Corinthians 11:25–26 ESV

25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

1 Corinthians 11:23–26 ESV

1 cor 11:25

Take what you have to represent Lord’s blood, proclaiming His death until He comes. Isaiah continues speaking of the Messiah as he writes:

Isaiah 53:5 ESV

5 But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.

Isaiah 53:5

Let’s remember the ultimate price He paid for provide us peace.

DRINK THE CUP

Join me in worshipping to this next song, one of my favorites, O Come to the Altar by Elevation Worship. As we worship, let’s reflect on the goodness of God in our lives.

O COME TO THE ALTAR

FINAL WORDS

Jesus is calling. He is calling us nearer to Him. Let’s draw near. He is calling us to become strengthen one another. Let’s stay connected. He is calling us to share the hope we have. Let’s watch what God will do!

Stay on and chat with us for a few moments on the side. Let us know how we can be praying for you.

Hope is Contagious

INTRO

WORSHIP

ANNOUNCEMENTS

MESSAGE

PRAY

COMMUNION

O COME TO THE ALTAR

FINAL WORDS

SLIDES