Building Hope Together: Renewing Faith and Commitment

For over 150 years, Menlo Church has been built on the sacrificial investments of those who came before us—people who never knew our names, but believed in a future where hope would overcome despair. Today, we stand on their legacy, and it is now our turn to invest in the next chapter of Menlo’s story. The Bay Area is filled with millions who live without hope, unaware that a different way of life is possible. God has called us to be a living, enduring gospel presence here, to extend His welcome to the hopeless, and to express His love in practical, tangible ways.

We are at a pivotal moment. If we want to see 250,000 people in the Bay Area freed in Jesus over the next decade, we must make strategic investments now. That’s why we are launching the Hope for Everyone initiative—a three-year, $80 million campaign with the goal of 100% participation. This is not just about funding; it’s about every one of us stepping into the story God is writing, both by giving and by living out our faith in ways that bring hope to our neighbors.

Reflecting on the book of Haggai, we see ourselves in the story of God’s people returning from exile. They began rebuilding the temple with passion, but soon got distracted by the demands of daily life. Their priorities shifted, and the work of God sat unfinished for sixteen years. God’s call through Haggai was not to shame them, but to wake them up—to remind them that when good things replace the best things, we lose our way. The temple was never just about bricks and mortar; it was a visible reminder of God’s presence, a multi-generational stake in the ground that declared who their God was.

God’s invitation to them—and to us—is threefold: build, consider, and go. Build what matters most, consider how our choices shape our future, and go with renewed courage into the work God has called us to. We are challenged to examine where we have drifted from calling to comfort, where we have rationalized giving God only what’s left over, and what it means to truly invest in what lasts. The world may chase after the next big thing, but we know the future is found in God’s kingdom—a future we cannot overinvest in.

As we look back on the past year, we celebrate growth, new partnerships, and tangible impact in our community. But the work is not finished. God is inviting us to continue, to recommit, and to ensure that the hope of Jesus is truly for everyone. Let’s be the generation that builds what matters, gives what we have, and believes even when it’s hard—trusting that God is still writing His story of hope through us.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Reignite Obedience When It’s Interrupted Even when our faithfulness is interrupted by distraction or difficulty, God’s invitation is always to return and rebuild. Obedience is not a one-time act but a continual process of realignment. No matter how long the work has sat unfinished, God’s grace allows us to pick up where we left off and participate in His ongoing story. [34:25]
• 2. Prioritize What Matters Most When good things replace the best things, our lives become restless and unsatisfied. God calls us to examine our priorities, ensuring that He is not just one among many, but the priority. True fulfillment comes not from what we accumulate or achieve, but from centering our lives on God’s presence and purpose. [37:55]
• 3. Consider the Direction of Your Life God’s challenge is to “consider your ways”—to honestly assess whether our current path is leading us toward what truly matters. It’s easy to fill our lives with activity and still feel empty. Lasting satisfaction is found not in self-effort, but in aligning our hearts and actions with God’s calling. [44:58]
• 4. You Cannot Overinvest in God’s Kingdom While the world anxiously chases after the next big thing, we know that investing in God’s work is never wasted. The impact of our faithfulness extends beyond our own lives, shaping generations to come. Every act of generosity, service, and prayer is a brick in the eternal work God is building. [51:41]
• 5. Move from Knowing to Going It’s not enough to simply know what God is calling us to do; we must act. God’s blessing follows our willingness to step out, even when it means forgoing comfort for calling. When we partner with God, what we build becomes part of His eternal story, impacting lives far beyond our own. [56:04]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [25:04] - The Legacy of Menlo Church
• [25:59] - Launching Hope for Everyone
• [26:45] - Personal Stories of Incomplete Projects
• [27:33] - The Challenge of Finishing What We Start
• [29:42] - Renewing Commitment and Participation
• [31:10] - Praying for Faithfulness
• [32:08] - Returning from Exile: Haggai’s Context
• [33:58] - God’s Threefold Invitation: Build, Consider, Go
• [35:23] - Misplaced Priorities and the Temple
• [37:55] - The Danger of Divided Priorities
• [39:30] - Celebrating God’s Work in the Bay Area
• [43:10] - Counting the Cost and Considering Our Ways
• [46:49] - God’s Correction as Invitation
• [51:41] - Investing in What Lasts
• [53:39] - The Call to Go and Build
• [57:14] - Our Turn: Investing for Future Generations
• [59:17] - Three Questions for Reflection
• [1:02:08] - Closing Prayer and Commitment

1. According to Haggai, what were the people of Israel doing instead of rebuilding the temple? ([35:23])
2. What does God mean when He says, “Consider your ways”? How does He describe the results of their current way of living? ([44:58])
3. In the sermon, what are the three invitations God gives through Haggai? ([33:58])
4. What was the outcome when the people finally responded to God’s call to rebuild? ([56:30])

1. Why do you think the people’s priorities shifted from rebuilding the temple to focusing on their own homes and comfort? What pressures or distractions might have influenced them? ([33:07])
2. The phrase “putting wages into a bag with holes” is a vivid image. What does this reveal about the results of living with misplaced priorities? ([44:58])
3. The sermon says God’s correction is an invitation, not a condemnation. How does this perspective change the way we respond to God’s challenges in our lives? ([46:49])
4. The call to “build, consider, and go” is described as a multi-generational investment. Why is it important to think beyond our own comfort and consider the impact on future generations? ([49:34])

1. The sermon asks, “Where have I drifted from calling to comfort?” Can you identify an area in your life where you’ve chosen comfort over what God is calling you to do? What would it look like to realign your priorities? ([59:17])
2. Have you ever found yourself “tipping God”—giving Him only what’s left over after you’ve taken care of everything else? What would it mean for you to give God your first and best, not just your leftovers? ([59:45])
3. The people in Haggai’s time got distracted by good things and neglected the best thing. Are there “good things” in your life that have taken the place of God’s calling or presence? How can you reorder your priorities this week? ([36:01])
4. The sermon challenges us to “move from knowing to going.” Is there something you know God is asking you to do, but you haven’t acted on yet? What’s holding you back, and what is one step you can take this week? ([56:04])
5. The idea of investing in God’s kingdom is described as something you “cannot overinvest in.” What does generosity look like for you right now—whether it’s time, resources, or relationships? Is there a specific way you feel prompted to invest more deeply? ([51:41])
6. The legacy of Menlo Church is built on the sacrifices of people who never knew us. How does thinking about future generations—people you may never meet—change the way you view your role in the church and community? ([57:14])
7. The sermon mentions that “obedience is not a one-time act but a continual process of realignment.” When was the last time you had to restart or recommit to something God called you to do? What helped you get back on track? ([34:25])