Christ our Hope

Sermon Setup: what we’ll be talking about

TEXT FROM GIGI

My wife received this text from her mom last Monday.

Grandma Pat fell and broke hip and is having surgery tomorrow. Brooke broke both arms (unrelated to Pat). Trisha fell into a fire, and Debra is legally blind. So, lots going on over there. If y’all will please put them on your prayer list.

Passage Setup: Historical-grammatical context

SAD SONGS

In setting up the text, mention that it is a song of grief. Talk about how we often find sad songs therapeutic to listen to and sing along with. Mention how they can be helpful and harmful.

Jesus Christ is the secure hope that our good God gives to a world in crisis.

In Christ, and with him...

We can be open with God (about our suffering and sorrow). (19-20)

What’s happening (suffering)

Acknowledge your perceived reality

How I’m thinking and feeling about it (sorrow)

Write it down, so you can see it

Tell somebody you trust, so you can hear yourself out loud

THE LANGUAGE OF LAMENT

One third of the Bible is written as poetry. And lament is, by far, the most common form of poetry in the Bible. Clearly, these are prayers and postures the Lord delights in. Let’s join the biblical authors in bringing our raw thoughts and feelings to the God who does not take offense to our disappointment and frustration.

Garden of Gethsemane

We can hope in God (to rescue and recreate us and his world). (21-26)

He loved us to death (22) (rescue)

Every dawn is a reminder that New Creation is coming (23, 25-26) (recreate)

He is all we have, and everything we need (24) (rescue)

We can submit to God (though his paths are peculiar). (27)

Though the way is hard (paths)

Though the waiting is long (peculiar)

He is reforming our hearts and minds, training us in the art of eternal life