Embracing Hope: Our Role in God's Renewal
Summary
As we stand on the threshold of a new year, it's a time to reflect on the past and look forward to the future with hope. This hope is not just a wishful thought but a living, transformative power that God has brought into the world through Jesus Christ. The birth of Christ has reshaped cultures and societies, and it continues to do so today. As we enter 2025, we are reminded of God's promise to make all things new, a promise that is both a present reality and a future hope.
The church has a vital role in this renewal. We are not just waiting to be taken away to heaven; instead, we are called to be active participants in God's kingdom work here on earth. Our mission is to reflect God's kingdom, to be a foretaste of His love and justice in a broken world. This involves not only spiritual activities but also practical actions like feeding the hungry, caring for the sick, and advocating for justice. Our labor in the Lord is never in vain, and it contributes to the unfolding of God's eternal purposes.
Living with resurrection hope means recognizing that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. It means understanding that we are part of a larger story, one that ends not with our escape to heaven but with heaven coming to earth. This hope inspires us to live as people of the new creation, to be about the King's business, and to prepare for the harvest that is to come.
As we move into the new year, let's commit to being part of God's kingdom work. Let's reflect on His faithfulness in the past and seek His guidance for how we can serve His purposes in the future. Whether it's through serving in the church, supporting missions, or simply living out our faith in our daily lives, we have a role to play in God's grand narrative. The future is bright, not because of our circumstances, but because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the promise of His return.
Key Takeaways:
1. Living Hope in Christ: Our hope is not just for the future but is a living, transformative power that impacts every aspect of society. This hope is rooted in the promise of God making all things new, a reality that is both present and future. [03:48]
2. The Church's Role: The church is called to be a foretaste of God's kingdom, demonstrating His love and justice in a broken world. Our actions, whether spiritual or practical, are glimpses of God's future breaking into the present. [25:00]
3. Resurrection Hope: Our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. This hope inspires us to live as people of the new creation, actively participating in God's kingdom work. [29:19]
4. Reflecting on God's Faithfulness: As we enter a new year, we should reflect on God's faithfulness in the past and seek His guidance for how we can serve His purposes in the future. Our labor in the Lord is never in vain. [33:26]
5. Commitment to God's Kingdom Work: We are called to be active participants in God's kingdom work, not just waiting to be taken away to heaven. This involves serving in the church, supporting missions, and living out our faith in our daily lives. [37:04]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [01:55] - Introduction to Hope Series
- [03:48] - Making All Things New
- [05:27] - The Kingdom of God
- [07:37] - A Fresh Start for the New Year
- [08:56] - Life Dysmorphia and Gratitude
- [11:45] - Living in the Best of Times
- [14:00] - Overseas Perspective
- [16:42] - The Role of the Church
- [18:45] - New Creation in Christ
- [20:08] - Heaven Coming to Earth
- [21:09] - God's Ultimate Renewal
- [22:39] - Restoration and Redemption
- [25:00] - The Church's Mission
- [29:19] - Living with Resurrection Hope
- [31:37] - The Harvest and Our Purpose
- [33:26] - Call to Action
- [37:04] - Prayer of Commitment
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Revelation 21:1-5
2. Isaiah 43:18-19
3. 2 Corinthians 5:17
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Observation Questions:
1. What does Revelation 21:1-5 describe about the new heaven and new earth, and how does it relate to the sermon’s message of hope? [18:45]
2. In Isaiah 43:18-19, what is the significance of God doing a "new thing," and how does this connect to the idea of a fresh start in the new year? [07:37]
3. According to 2 Corinthians 5:17, what does it mean to be a new creation in Christ, and how was this concept discussed in the sermon? [16:42]
4. How does the sermon describe the role of the church in God's kingdom work on earth? [25:00]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the promise of God making all things new in Revelation 21:1-5 provide hope for believers today? What implications does this have for how we live our lives? [20:08]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that the church can be a foretaste of God's kingdom? How can this be practically demonstrated in our communities? [25:00]
3. How does the concept of being a new creation in Christ challenge or encourage believers to live differently? What might this look like in everyday life? [16:42]
4. The sermon mentions that our labor in the Lord is never in vain. How does this perspective influence the way we approach our daily tasks and responsibilities? [26:05]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you experienced a fresh start. How can you apply the message of Isaiah 43:18-19 to your current situation as you enter the new year? [07:37]
2. The sermon emphasizes the church's role in demonstrating God's love and justice. What specific actions can you take this week to reflect God's kingdom in your community? [25:00]
3. Consider the areas of your life where you feel like you are on a "chronic life treadmill." How can the hope of being a new creation in Christ help you break free from this cycle? [08:56]
4. How can you actively participate in God's kingdom work, whether through serving in the church, supporting missions, or living out your faith in daily life? Identify one specific step you can take this week. [33:26]
5. The sermon talks about living with resurrection hope. How can this hope change your perspective on current challenges or sufferings you are facing? [29:19]
6. Reflect on God's faithfulness in your life over the past year. How can this reflection guide your decisions and actions in 2025? [33:26]
7. The sermon encourages believers to be active participants in God's kingdom work. What is one area of ministry or service you feel called to explore or deepen your involvement in this year? [37:04]
Devotional
Day 1: Living Hope as a Transformative Power
Our hope in Christ is not merely a distant dream but a living, transformative power that reshapes every aspect of our lives and society. This hope is rooted in the promise of God making all things new, a reality that is both present and future. As we stand on the threshold of a new year, we are reminded that this hope is not just a wishful thought but a dynamic force that God has brought into the world through Jesus Christ. The birth of Christ has reshaped cultures and societies, and it continues to do so today. This hope inspires us to live as people of the new creation, actively participating in God's kingdom work. [03:48]
Isaiah 43:18-19 (ESV): "Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert."
Reflection: In what specific area of your life do you need to invite God's transformative hope to bring renewal and change today?
Day 2: The Church as a Foretaste of God's Kingdom
The church is called to be a foretaste of God's kingdom, demonstrating His love and justice in a broken world. Our actions, whether spiritual or practical, are glimpses of God's future breaking into the present. We are not just waiting to be taken away to heaven; instead, we are called to be active participants in God's kingdom work here on earth. This involves not only spiritual activities but also practical actions like feeding the hungry, caring for the sick, and advocating for justice. Our labor in the Lord is never in vain, and it contributes to the unfolding of God's eternal purposes. [25:00]
Micah 6:8 (ESV): "He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?"
Reflection: How can you be a tangible expression of God's love and justice in your community this week?
Day 3: Resurrection Hope and Present Sufferings
Our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. This hope inspires us to live as people of the new creation, actively participating in God's kingdom work. Living with resurrection hope means recognizing that we are part of a larger story, one that ends not with our escape to heaven but with heaven coming to earth. This hope is a reminder that our struggles and challenges are temporary and that God's ultimate plan is for restoration and renewal. [29:19]
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (ESV): "So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen."
Reflection: What current struggle can you view through the lens of resurrection hope, trusting in God's promise of future glory?
Day 4: Reflecting on God's Faithfulness
As we enter a new year, we should reflect on God's faithfulness in the past and seek His guidance for how we can serve His purposes in the future. Our labor in the Lord is never in vain. Reflecting on God's faithfulness helps us to trust Him more deeply and to align our lives with His eternal purposes. It is a time to remember how God has been present in our lives, guiding and sustaining us through every season. This reflection encourages us to step into the new year with confidence and a renewed commitment to His kingdom work. [33:26]
Lamentations 3:22-23 (ESV): "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."
Reflection: Take a moment to write down three specific instances of God's faithfulness in your life over the past year. How can these memories inspire your faith journey in the coming year?
Day 5: Commitment to God's Kingdom Work
We are called to be active participants in God's kingdom work, not just waiting to be taken away to heaven. This involves serving in the church, supporting missions, and living out our faith in our daily lives. Our mission is to reflect God's kingdom, to be a foretaste of His love and justice in a broken world. As we move into the new year, let's commit to being part of God's kingdom work. Let's reflect on His faithfulness in the past and seek His guidance for how we can serve His purposes in the future. [37:04]
1 Peter 4:10-11 (ESV): "As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ."
Reflection: What specific gift or talent can you offer to serve God's kingdom this year, and how will you take the first step in doing so?
Quotes
And so, and then the second question is, what are we going to do about it in the meantime? Is there a job? Is there a role? Is there a function? Otherwise, for you to be born again and water baptized, the guy who water baptized you could just hold you and drown you and then you can just go to heaven. If that's the fulfillment is just go to heaven after you're saved. How many know there's so much more? [00:03:01] (26 seconds)
He's making everything new, and that actually word in the Greek actually means, look, I am continually bringing forth a new unprecedented reality, a transformation of all creation to something wholly fresh, reflecting my eternal purposes. Last week, we briefly, we touched on, because of the birth of Christ, of Jesus coming to earth, how that changed everything, the value of human life and education, the work ethic, laws and justice and family and relationships, and it continues on and on because of the birth of Jesus Christ. [00:03:53] (37 seconds)
And see, so as we enter into 2025 as followers of Jesus, we have a hope. We have a hope. We have a hope. We have a hope. We have a hope that is anchored not in wishful thinking, but in the solid promise of God's Word. Hope for today, tomorrow, and the future. And I just want to hit quickly three things about this hope. [00:16:28] (18 seconds)
The Bible ends not with us escaping to heaven, but with, heaven coming to earth. That's a novel thought, especially in the light of the, you know, before the 19th century, most Christians believed in this. This is what they adhered to, the belief in a kind of a post -tribulation, that where Jesus returns at the end, the second coming. [00:20:08] (25 seconds)
The vision and revelation is one of God making all things new, a restored creation, where pain, death, and tears are no more. Can you say amen? It's the remaking of the cosmos, a tangible physical renewal that mirrors the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Very quickly, I just want to remind you that the church's mission is deeply connected to God's ultimate renewal of all things. [00:21:23] (28 seconds)
What am I trying to say? They work painstakingly work to bring out its beauty, just like restoring, whether it's a painting or a car or whatever, in the same way, God is not abandoning this world. He is redeeming it, because he has an inheritance, and it is his right, and so this hope inspires us to live as people of the new creation now in our day. [00:24:21] (26 seconds)
The Bible says, Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in what? The work of the Lord. Always doing your best thing, doing more than is needed. Amen. That's in the Bible. Being continually aware that your labor, excuse me, even to the point of exhaustion in the Lord. I don't know if we've ever gone to that place. [00:25:16] (24 seconds)
And the commitment to ask God to show you how you can be part of His kingdom work in 2025 if you're not about that already, or you're feeling a tug. The Spirit of God is saying, I want you to step up to the plate. You have an ability to play an instrument. You can sing. You can serve on the worship team. In the back, He's like, I don't really know, but I want to learn something. [00:33:53] (22 seconds)
That his purpose was that now, through the church, there are parachurch ministries, they're good and all that. But it's the church, the ecclesia, the call out, those who come together corporately, week in and week out. The manifold wisdom of God should be made known to who? The rulers and authorities. Why should they be made known? Because God is going to redeem what the enemy has stolen. [00:35:43] (27 seconds)
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