Advent of Hope

Advent reminds me that hope has a name and a face—Jesus—and that hope is meant to be held, not just admired. Hebrews 10:23 calls us to hold fast to the confession of our hope because the One who promised is faithful. I invited us to see hope not as a seasonal sentiment but as a life posture anchored in the gospel: Christ came, lived perfectly, died in our place bearing the wrath we deserved, rose, ascended, and now reigns. That is our confession. Hope is not fragile because its object is not fragile.

I also named three hope killers that often steal joy in December: the past, the present, and the future. The past accuses: unloved, unwanted, unclean. Into that, God speaks: “There is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus.” He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds; grace doesn’t erase memory, but it disarms its power and reframes our story in Christ. The present often gets numbed rather than noticed. Elijah’s weariness showed us that God doesn’t shame the exhausted—He feeds, lets us sleep, and brings us into His presence. Sometimes the most spiritual response is to stop running and get still with God. And the future can intimidate us; but Scripture promises new bodies, a new creation where righteousness dwells, and a glory that eclipses our worst day. Hope doesn’t deny pain; it refuses to give pain the final word.

So the call is simple and strong: hold on. Not with a casual grip, but with the grip of someone who knows they’d fall without it. Hold fast to the gospel. When the past whispers, answer with grace. When the present throbs, meet God in quiet. When the future looms, rehearse the promises. This hope will not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit. And as we hold fast to Christ, the light of hope in us does not flicker out; it grows steady, even in dark rooms, and others will ask how. The honest answer is the only one that lasts: Jesus.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Hold fast to our confession Our hope is not a feeling; it is a confession rooted in the finished work of Christ. To hold fast is to grip the gospel when everything else is shaking, trusting the Promiser more than the present. Don’t white-knuckle circumstances; cling to the Crucified and Risen One. The firmness of your hope is the faithfulness of your Savior. [48:32]
• 2. The gospel silences a condemning past Shame rewrites our story as if sin is the final chapter. In Christ, God has canceled the record against us and calls us clean; this frees us to remember our past without being ruled by it. Grace does not minimize sin; it maximizes Christ’s cross and resurrection over it. Let the Healer bandage what accusation keeps reopening. [59:30]
• 3. In present pain, seek God’s presence Numbing the now—through busyness, substances, or distraction—shrinks the soul and extends the ache. God met Elijah with rest, food, and a whisper, not a scolding, and called him back into His presence. Sometimes obedience looks like stopping, eating, sleeping, and listening. Presence with God restores perspective and courage. [61:59]
• 4. The future is secured by God’s promises Your coming glory is not wishful thinking; it is pledged by the One who raises the dead and remakes worlds. New bodies, a new creation, and joy unmixed with sorrow are not metaphors but appointments. Let promised hope pull you forward when you feel stuck. What’s ahead outweighs what’s against you. [65:17]
• 5. This hope will not disappoint us All human hopes eventually overpromise and underdeliver; the gospel does the opposite. God pours His love into our hearts now by the Spirit, guaranteeing that the path of hope ends in more of God, not less. You may be disappointed by outcomes, but never by Jesus. Hope rooted in Him cannot betray you. [68:10]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [04:54] - Worship and holiday lunch
• [06:17] - Ministry updates and Lord’s Supper prep
• [09:50] - Family needs and intercession
• [15:11] - Offering, 1 Samuel 3, and listening
• [40:08] - Advent of Hope and home story
• [43:05] - Christ came, reigns, and returns
• [45:49] - Three hope killers named
• [50:51] - The Gospel: our confession of hope
• [53:26] - Hold fast with a firm grip
• [59:30] - Past healed: no condemnation
• [61:59] - Present pain: seek His presence
• [65:17] - Future promises that pull us forward
• [68:10] - Hope that will not disappoint
• [71:31] - Invitation and response

1. Read Hebrews 10:23. What is the writer calling the community to do with their hope? (focus on the verbs and the description of the object of hope)
2. The talk named three "hope killers" that steal joy in December. Which three were they, and how were they briefly described? [45:49]
3. How did the speaker describe God's answer to a condemning past (what words or images were used to show how God deals with past sin and shame)? [59:30]
4. What concrete actions did the speaker point to as the right response when present pain or exhaustion overwhelms someone (look at the Elijah example)? [01:01:59]

1. What does it mean, in concrete terms, to "hold fast" to the confession of hope — is this primarily an inward belief, an outward habit, or both? How does the image of gripping (a strong grip) shape that understanding? [53:26]
2. How does the gospel function to "silence" the accusing voice of the past? What is the difference between remembering the past and being ruled by it? [59:30]
3. If the future promise includes transformed bodies and a new creation, how should that promise shape a believer’s priorities and endurance today? [01:05:17]
4. The claim is made that "this hope will not disappoint us." How should the reality of present disappointments be held together with the certainty of that claim? What does that teach about God’s faithfulness to his promises? [01:08:10]

1. When the past accuses you of being unloved, unwanted, or unclean, what specific sentence from Scripture or from Hebrews 10:23 will you say to yourself this week to answer that accusation? Be specific about words and when you will speak them. [59:30]
2. Identify one way you normally numb present pain (overwork, screens, food, avoidance). What one concrete practice will you try this week instead to "stop, eat, sleep, and listen" to God? Where and when will you do it? [01:01:59]
3. Choose one of the future promises mentioned (new bodies, new heavens and earth, glory that will be revealed). Which promise will you memorize and rehearse next time anxiety about tomorrow comes, and why will that one help you keep hope? [01:05:17]
4. "Hold fast the confession of our hope" assumes active clinging. What is one habit you can start in the next 7 days that will help you grip the gospel more tightly (for example: daily confession of gospel truth, a short set of Bible verses to read each morning, a weekly accountability check-in)? Be specific. [48:32]
5. Who in your circle seems especially without hope this season? Name one simple, practical thing you can do in the next two weeks to point them to Jesus and to your steady hope (a meal, a listening visit, sharing a verse, inviting them to church or a small group). [01:11:31]
6. Remember a time when your grip on hope loosened. What three specific supports help you re‑grip Jesus (scripture, worship, community, confession, prayer, rest)? Make a plan to use at least one of those supports when you notice your hope slipping in the coming month. [53:26]