Anchoring Our Hope in Christ's Promises
Summary
In this Advent season, we reflect on the profound hope that comes with the anticipation of Christ's birth and His promised return. This time of year brings a spectrum of emotions, from joy and peace to grief and disappointment. It's crucial to understand that hope, as defined by Scripture, is not mere optimism or wishful thinking. Instead, it is the expectation of coming good based on the person and presence of God. This hope is vividly illustrated in the story of Mary and Joseph, who faced unexpected challenges and disruptions to their plans. Despite their fears and uncertainties, they responded with faith and hope, trusting in God's promises.
Mary, a young, poor girl from Nazareth, was visited by the angel Gabriel and told she would bear the Son of God. Despite her initial fear and confusion, she embraced this divine calling with hope, saying, "Let it be to me according to your word." Similarly, Joseph, upon learning of Mary's pregnancy, planned to divorce her quietly. However, after an angelic visitation, he chose to trust God's plan and took Mary as his wife. Their story is a testament to the power of hope and faith in the face of life's unexpected turns.
The narrative of Jesus' birth parallels the story of Israel's exodus from Egypt, highlighting God's sovereignty and faithfulness. Just as God delivered Israel from Pharaoh's oppression, He protected Jesus from Herod's wrath. These stories remind us that God's plans cannot be thwarted by human actions. Even when circumstances seem dire, God is at work, weaving a greater story of redemption and hope.
In our own lives, we may face disappointment and despair, but we are invited to anchor our hope in Jesus. He is with us in our current reality, and He promises to return and make all things new. This hope is not in the fulfillment of our desires but in the assurance of God's presence and His ultimate plan for restoration. As we navigate life's challenges, may we, like Mary, respond with faith, trusting in God's word and His promises.
Key Takeaways:
1. Hope Defined by Scripture: Hope is not mere optimism or wishful thinking but the expectation of coming good based on the person and presence of God. This hope is rooted in the character of God, who is faithful and sovereign, even when circumstances seem bleak. [05:12]
2. Mary and Joseph's Faith: Despite the fear and uncertainty surrounding Jesus' birth, Mary and Joseph responded with faith and hope. Their story encourages us to trust in God's promises, even when our plans are disrupted. [10:12]
3. Parallels with Israel's Exodus: The story of Jesus' early life mirrors Israel's exodus, illustrating God's faithfulness and sovereignty. Just as God delivered Israel, He protected Jesus, reminding us that His plans cannot be thwarted by human actions. [22:36]
4. Hope in Our Current Reality: Jesus is with us in our moments of disappointment and despair. He sympathizes with our weaknesses and offers grace and mercy. Our hope is not in the absence of trials but in His presence with us. [31:25]
5. Anticipation of Christ's Return: Our ultimate hope lies in Jesus' promised return, when He will make all things new. This future reality should shape how we live today, anchoring our hope in His coming kingdom. [34:29]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [02:22] - Understanding Hope
- [05:12] - Disappointment vs. Hope
- [07:22] - Reimagining the Christmas Story
- [09:01] - Mary's Encounter with the Angel
- [10:12] - Joseph's Dilemma and Faith
- [12:00] - Betrothal and Cultural Context
- [14:34] - The Journey to Bethlehem
- [19:14] - Fleeing to Egypt
- [20:25] - Parallels with Israel's Exodus
- [22:36] - Understanding Matthew's Intent
- [25:07] - God's Sovereignty in Chaos
- [27:29] - The Myth of Religious Fulfillment
- [29:05] - Personal Story of Loss
- [31:25] - Hope in Present and Future
- [34:29] - Abraham's Example of Faith
- [36:19] - Communion and Benediction
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Luke 1:26-38
2. Matthew 1:18-25
3. Hosea 11:1-3
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Observation Questions:
1. What was Mary's initial reaction to the angel Gabriel's message, and how did she ultimately respond? (Luke 1:26-38)
2. How did Joseph initially plan to handle the news of Mary's pregnancy, and what changed his mind? (Matthew 1:18-25)
3. What parallels can be drawn between the story of Jesus' early life and the story of Israel's exodus from Egypt? [22:36]
4. How does the sermon define hope, and how is it different from mere optimism or wishful thinking? [05:12]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How might Mary's response to the angel's message serve as a model for responding to unexpected challenges in our own lives? [09:01]
2. In what ways does Joseph's decision to trust the angel's message reflect a deeper understanding of faith and hope? [10:12]
3. How does the parallel between Jesus' early life and Israel's exodus illustrate God's sovereignty and faithfulness? [22:36]
4. What does the sermon suggest about the role of disappointment in shaping our understanding of hope? [27:29]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when your plans were disrupted. How did you respond, and what might you learn from Mary and Joseph's example of faith and hope? [10:12]
2. How can you anchor your hope in the person and presence of God rather than in the fulfillment of your desires? [05:12]
3. In what ways can you reimagine the Christmas story to see the humanity and grit present in it, and how might this change your perspective on the season? [07:22]
4. How can the parallels between Jesus' life and Israel's exodus encourage you to trust in God's greater story of redemption in your own life? [22:36]
5. Consider a current challenge or disappointment you are facing. How can you invite Jesus into that situation and find hope in His presence with you? [31:25]
6. How does the anticipation of Christ's return shape the way you live today, and what practical steps can you take to live with this future reality in mind? [34:29]
7. Identify one area in your life where you need to recalibrate your hope. What specific action can you take this week to align your hope with God's promises? [27:29]
Devotional
Day 1: Hope as Expectation of Good
Hope, as defined by Scripture, is not mere optimism or wishful thinking. It is the expectation of coming good based on the person and presence of God. This hope is deeply rooted in the character of God, who is faithful and sovereign, even when circumstances seem bleak. In the Advent season, this hope is vividly illustrated through the anticipation of Christ's birth and His promised return. The story of Mary and Joseph exemplifies this hope, as they faced unexpected challenges and disruptions to their plans. Despite their fears and uncertainties, they responded with faith and hope, trusting in God's promises. This hope is not in the fulfillment of our desires but in the assurance of God's presence and His ultimate plan for restoration. [05:12]
"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." (Jeremiah 29:11, ESV)
Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to shift from wishful thinking to a hope that is anchored in God's character and promises?
Day 2: Faith in the Face of Uncertainty
Mary and Joseph's story is a powerful testament to the strength of faith and hope amidst fear and uncertainty. Mary, a young girl from Nazareth, was visited by the angel Gabriel and told she would bear the Son of God. Despite her initial fear and confusion, she embraced this divine calling with hope, saying, "Let it be to me according to your word." Similarly, Joseph, upon learning of Mary's pregnancy, planned to divorce her quietly. However, after an angelic visitation, he chose to trust God's plan and took Mary as his wife. Their story encourages us to trust in God's promises, even when our plans are disrupted. [10:12]
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6, ESV)
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you are facing uncertainty? How can you actively choose to trust God's promises in this situation today?
Day 3: God's Sovereignty in Redemption
The narrative of Jesus' birth parallels the story of Israel's exodus from Egypt, highlighting God's sovereignty and faithfulness. Just as God delivered Israel from Pharaoh's oppression, He protected Jesus from Herod's wrath. These stories remind us that God's plans cannot be thwarted by human actions. Even when circumstances seem dire, God is at work, weaving a greater story of redemption and hope. This understanding of God's sovereignty invites us to trust in His ultimate plan, even when we cannot see the full picture. [22:36]
"The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent." (Exodus 14:14, ESV)
Reflection: Reflect on a time when you felt overwhelmed by circumstances. How can you remind yourself of God's sovereignty and faithfulness in your current situation?
Day 4: Hope in Present Trials
In our own lives, we may face disappointment and despair, but we are invited to anchor our hope in Jesus. He is with us in our current reality, and He promises to return and make all things new. This hope is not in the absence of trials but in His presence with us. Jesus sympathizes with our weaknesses and offers grace and mercy. As we navigate life's challenges, we are encouraged to respond with faith, trusting in God's word and His promises. [31:25]
"Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." (Isaiah 41:10, ESV)
Reflection: How can you intentionally seek God's presence in a current trial you are facing, and what practical steps can you take to anchor your hope in Him?
Day 5: Anticipation of Christ's Return
Our ultimate hope lies in Jesus' promised return, when He will make all things new. This future reality should shape how we live today, anchoring our hope in His coming kingdom. The anticipation of Christ's return invites us to live with a sense of purpose and urgency, aligning our lives with His kingdom values. As we reflect on this promise, we are reminded that our hope is not in the fulfillment of our desires but in the assurance of God's presence and His ultimate plan for restoration. [34:29]
"But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells." (2 Peter 3:13, ESV)
Reflection: How does the promise of Christ's return influence your daily decisions and priorities? What is one change you can make today to live in alignment with His coming kingdom?
Quotes
"God, thank you for just this season of Advent, this time that we've had to reflect back on your first coming as that baby in the manger and to anticipate and look forward to the day that you're going to come again. In this Christmas season, this Sunday morning before Christmas, I know that there are people in this room and watching online all across the hope spectrum." [00:00:33] (26 seconds)
"The reality, though, maybe some of you are familiar with this saying, happiness equals reality minus expectations, right? Reality minus expectations. So if your life is better than you expected it to be on any given day, in any given moment, then you have like a surplus of happiness or of hopefulness. But if on the flip side of that, you expected things to be better than they currently are, then you've got a deficit and you're experiencing disappointment." [00:03:01] (32 seconds)
"Oftentimes I think we imagine that the opposite of hope is despair, and that can be true. But more often than not, I think the opposite of hope is actually disappointment. What we experience on a much more regular basis maybe than despair. You know, when I was 10 years old, I, for Christmas, all I wanted was this pink and blue scooter." [00:03:32] (25 seconds)
"So what do we mean by hope then? Like, do we mean by hope? Do we mean by hope? Do we mean by hope? Do we mean by hope? Do we mean by hope? We never experience disappointment. Hope in American version isn't what we're talking about this morning. We're not talking about, you know, just general optimism or wishful thinking, but instead I want us to have kind of a working definition of hope based on the scripture." [00:05:40] (19 seconds)
"And yet, we see Mary respond in hope, in faith. She believed that God was good, and because of that, she said, let it be to me according to your word. Next, let's meet Joseph. We don't know a lot about Joseph, but Joseph probably would have been a little bit older than Mary, maybe 17, 18 years. Probably already had an established career as a carpenter or stonemason of some kind, and he was from a town called Bethlehem, and he was from a great family line, the line of David." [00:10:12] (37 seconds)
"The reality is that on this side of heaven, we are going to experience disappointment, sometimes even despair. About 16 years ago, my sister -in -law was driving. She was coming down to visit my mother -in -law, and she had two of her three little girls in the car with her, and she was hit by a distracted driver who had been drinking. The girls were both injured who were in the car, but my sister was devastatingly injured." [00:28:56] (31 seconds)
"We can have hope for our story because Jesus is with us in our current reality. I love the author. The author of Hebrews in chapter 4, he writes these words that we don't have a high priest that can't sympathize with us in our weakness, in our pain. But rather, we have a high priest, we have a Savior who has experienced all of the pain and the brokenness of being human, yet he did it without sin." [00:30:39] (33 seconds)
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