The Chapter We Weren't Anticipating

Introduction

-Welcome and Thank Everyone

-It’s Been 7-Weeks

-Purpose For Tonight

-Edify Rachel

Finding Faith, Hope, and Love In The Midst of Tragedy

-David and Job

David (A Man After God’s Own Heart) faced tragedy because of his sins (2nd Samuel 12).

Job (Servant of God) faced tragedy as a test to his faith (Job1).

-Comfort from the Scriptures:

1 Corinthians 13:13 CSB

Now these three remain: faith, hope, and love—but the greatest of these is love.

Faith

“reliance, loyalty, or complete trust in God.”

Strong faith does not rely on things of this world. Strong faith rely’s on the One who created this world.

(Example: The EMT and Prayer with Rachel)

Building A Solid Foundation

Matthew 7:24–27 CSB

“Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain fell, the rivers rose, and the winds blew and pounded that house. Yet it didn’t collapse, because its foundation was on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and doesn’t act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain fell, the rivers rose, the winds blew and pounded that house, and it collapsed. It collapsed with a great crash.”

Jesus is referring to His sermon on the mount. Here is the second thing He says when speaking to the crowd.

Matthew 5:4 CSB

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

“Christ is The Comforter!”

Hope

Confident trust with the expectation of fulfillment

What are we hoping for? That Jesus Christ will restore all things, including Rachel and I seeing Leah again.

Revelation 21:1–7 CSB

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. I also saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband. Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: Look, God’s dwelling is with humanity, and he will live with them. They will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them and will be their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more, because the previous things have passed away. Then the one seated on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new.” He also said, “Write, because these words are faithful and true.” Then he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will freely give to the thirsty from the spring of the water of life. The one who conquers will inherit these things, and I will be his God, and he will be my son.

Our hope as parents

Love

The ultimate expression of God’s loyalty, purity, and mercy extended toward His people.

There is no circumstance that you are or will go through that God doesn’t understand.

The Gospel Message

Why we can have joy in the midst of our tragedy

James 1:2–4 CSB

Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.

This doesn’t mean we go seeking troubles to happen to us, but to look for the joy in the midst of our troubles.

How can we be joyful? Goes back to three words: Faith, Hope, and Love.

Faith in Jesus Christ.

Hope in His Promises.

Knowing in the midst of our tragedy He shows us His love.

My hope and prayer for you all is to be encouraged in the midst of your suffering.