Advent; Hope

Follow along for the next four weeks as we go through Advent as a church.

David Murphy

Advent

December 1, 2024

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Sermon Notes

Advent; Hope

December 1, 2024

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WHERE DO WE PLACE OUR HOPE? 

1. Faith and Spiritual Beliefs-Many people draw hope from religious or spiritual beliefs. God or a Higher Power, Spiritual Practices: Meditation, prayer, and other practices.

2. Relationships- Hope is often found in relationships with family, friends, and communities. 

3. Personal Resilience and Inner Strength- People can also find hope by looking inward. 

4. Progress and Change- Hope is often grounded in the belief that things will improve through social justice and personal change.

5. Art, Creativity, and Expression- whether it’s creating or experiencing art, music, literature, or other forms of creative output.

6. Nature and the World Around Us- The changing seasons, the circle of life.

7. Hope in Human Kindness and Generosity- 

8. Science, Innovation, and Knowledge-Medical and technological advances. We will become more enlightened. 

9. Future Generations- people place their hope in the next generation, they will do it right

Where do you place your HOPE?

Psalm 119:114 NIV- YOU are my refuge and my shield I have put MY HOPE in your Word. 

Psalm 130: 5 NIV I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word, I put my hope 

Psalm 39:7 NIV- “But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you. 


Hebrews 10:19-25 NLT 19 And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the (good works, education, money, good looks, talent or lack of it? NO) blood of Jesus. 20 By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. 21 And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, 22 let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. 24 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. 25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.

Romans 15:13 May the God of HOPE fill you with all JOY AND PEACE (HOW?) as you TRUST HIM (WHY?), SO THAT you may overflow with HOPE by the power of the HOLY SPIRIT.

  1. HOPE in JESUS GIVES US A FUTURE 

John 14:1-6 NIV. “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” 6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”……We will be with Him forever- 

Revelation 21:3-5 NIV  3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” 5 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

  1. Hope in JESUS gives us ENDURANCE

1 Thess 1:2-3 NIV. We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers. 3 We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

  1. HOPE in Jesus GIVES US STRENGTH AND VALOR

In Daniel 3 we see 3 young men who are told to bow down to an idol and if they didn’t, they would die. Because they had a view of God that was true and mature, they knew the idol was made of created materials. The king intimidated and threatened but their reply was this confidence in GOD

Daniel 3:16-18 NLT 16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. 18 But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.”

  1. HOPE in JESUS gives us true LIFE on earth and in Heaven

1 Peter 1:3-5 NIV 3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.

Romans 15:13 May the God of HOPE fill you with all JOY AND PEACE as you TRUST HIM, SO THAT you may overflow with HOPE by the power of the HOLY SPIRIT.