From Disappointment to Resurrection: Embracing New Life

 

Summary

In our journey towards Advent, we are reminded that God, through Jesus, desires to be with us, especially in our moments of disappointment. Recently, I had the opportunity to speak to an NFL team before a big game. Despite my efforts to inspire them, they faced a significant defeat. This experience led me to reflect on how God is present with us in our disappointments. Often, we think of God as the God of second chances, but He is more than that; He is the God of resurrection. A second chance is merely an opportunity to try again, but resurrection signifies the birth of something new from the death of the old. This is the essence of the Incarnation—God entering our lives and our disappointments to bring forth new life.

The prophet Isaiah speaks of a shoot coming from the stump of Jesse, symbolizing hope and new beginnings from what seems dead. This pattern is evident throughout Scripture, where God brings new dreams and life from the ashes of disappointment. Abraham, Joseph, and the Israelites all experienced this cycle of dreams, disappointments, and divine renewal. In our own lives, we may face exile-like experiences—job losses, loneliness, or unfulfilled dreams. Yet, God is with us, nurturing the roots of hope and life within us.

The image of the Jesse tree reminds us that life persists even in exile. The word became flesh, and we are not alone. The rose of Sharon, a symbol of beauty and life, also points to the hope and renewal that God offers. In John Steinbeck's "The Grapes of Wrath," the character Rose of Sharon embodies this hope through a selfless act of love amidst despair. Similarly, the cross is the ultimate symbol of life emerging from death, pain transforming into glory, and isolation giving way to hope. As we journey through our own disappointments, let us remember that God is with us, nurturing new life and hope within us.

Key Takeaways:

1. God is not just the God of second chances but the God of resurrection. He brings new life from the death of old dreams, transforming our disappointments into opportunities for renewal and growth. [01:51]

2. The image of the shoot from the stump of Jesse in Isaiah symbolizes hope and new beginnings. Even when life seems barren, God nurtures the roots of hope within us, promising new life and growth. [02:22]

3. Throughout Scripture, God brings new dreams and life from the ashes of disappointment. This pattern reminds us that our setbacks are not the end but the beginning of something greater that God is orchestrating. [03:48]

4. In our own lives, we may face exile-like experiences, but God is with us, nurturing the roots of hope and life within us. No exile can kill the life that God wants to produce inside us. [08:03]

5. The cross is the ultimate symbol of life emerging from death, pain transforming into glory, and isolation giving way to hope. In our disappointments, we can trust that God is working to bring forth new life and hope. [10:29]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:29] - God in Our Disappointments
- [01:07] - The NFL Experience
- [01:23] - God of Resurrection
- [02:22] - The Stump of Jesse
- [03:07] - Biblical Patterns of Renewal
- [03:48] - Greater Dreams in Exile
- [05:11] - Hope in Spiritual Reality
- [06:06] - Modern Exile: Job Loss
- [07:07] - Roots of Joy and Service
- [08:03] - The Jesse Tree Tradition
- [08:31] - The Rose of Sharon
- [09:02] - Steinbeck's Searing Exile
- [10:15] - The Cross: Hope from Pain
- [10:45] - You Are Not Alone

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. Isaiah 11:1-2 - "A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord."
2. John 1:14 - "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."
3. Romans 8:28 - "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

#### Observation Questions
1. What does the image of the "shoot from the stump of Jesse" in Isaiah 11:1-2 symbolize in the context of the sermon? [02:22]
2. How does the sermon describe God's presence in our disappointments, and what role does the concept of resurrection play in this understanding? [01:23]
3. What examples from Scripture were mentioned in the sermon to illustrate the pattern of dreams, disappointments, and divine renewal? [03:48]
4. How does the sermon use the story of Rose of Sharon from "The Grapes of Wrath" to illustrate hope and renewal? [09:58]

#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the concept of God being the "God of resurrection" rather than just the "God of second chances" change the way we view our disappointments? [01:51]
2. In what ways does the image of the Jesse tree serve as a reminder of hope and new beginnings in our lives? [08:03]
3. How does the sermon suggest that our personal "exile-like" experiences can lead to greater dreams and renewal orchestrated by God? [03:48]
4. What does the sermon imply about the role of selfless acts of love, as seen in the story of Rose of Sharon, in bringing hope and life to others? [09:58]

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a recent disappointment in your life. How might viewing it through the lens of resurrection, rather than just a second chance, change your perspective? [01:51]
2. The sermon mentions that no exile can kill the life God wants to produce inside us. What are some "roots of hope" you can identify in your current situation? [08:03]
3. How can you nurture the "roots of joy and service" in your life, even when facing personal or professional setbacks? [07:07]
4. Consider the story of Rose of Sharon. What is one selfless act of love you can perform this week to bring hope to someone in need? [09:58]
5. The sermon talks about the cross as a symbol of life emerging from death. How can you apply this concept to a challenging situation you are currently facing? [10:29]
6. How can you remind yourself of God's presence in your life during times of disappointment or loneliness? What practical steps can you take to feel more connected to Him? [05:40]
7. Identify a "stump" in your life where you feel growth has stopped. What steps can you take to nurture new growth and hope in that area? [02:22]

Devotional

Day 1: God of Resurrection, Not Just Second Chances
In our lives, we often encounter moments of disappointment and failure. It is easy to think of God as merely offering us a second chance, an opportunity to try again. However, God is not just the God of second chances; He is the God of resurrection. Resurrection is not about retrying the same old path but about the birth of something entirely new from the death of the old. This is the essence of the Incarnation—God entering our lives and our disappointments to bring forth new life. When we face setbacks, we can trust that God is working to transform our disappointments into opportunities for renewal and growth. [01:51]

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: What old dreams or disappointments in your life might God be calling you to let go of so that He can bring forth something new and beautiful?


Day 2: Hope from the Stump of Jesse
The image of the shoot from the stump of Jesse in Isaiah symbolizes hope and new beginnings. Even when life seems barren and devoid of possibilities, God nurtures the roots of hope within us, promising new life and growth. This imagery reminds us that God is always at work, even in the most desolate circumstances, bringing forth life from what appears to be dead. In our own lives, we can trust that God is cultivating hope and new beginnings, even when we cannot see them. [02:22]

Isaiah 11:1-2 (ESV): "There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord."

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you feel barren or hopeless? How can you invite God to nurture new life and hope in those areas today?


Day 3: Divine Renewal from Disappointment
Throughout Scripture, God brings new dreams and life from the ashes of disappointment. This pattern is evident in the lives of Abraham, Joseph, and the Israelites, who all experienced cycles of dreams, disappointments, and divine renewal. These stories remind us that our setbacks are not the end but the beginning of something greater that God is orchestrating. In our own lives, we can trust that God is at work, bringing forth new dreams and life from our disappointments. [03:48]

Genesis 50:20 (ESV): "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today."

Reflection: Reflect on a recent disappointment. How might God be using this experience to bring about a greater purpose or new dream in your life?


Day 4: Life in Exile
In our own lives, we may face exile-like experiences—job losses, loneliness, or unfulfilled dreams. Yet, God is with us, nurturing the roots of hope and life within us. No exile can kill the life that God wants to produce inside us. The image of the Jesse tree reminds us that life persists even in exile. We are not alone, and God is continually working to bring forth new life and hope within us. [08:03]

Jeremiah 29:11-13 (ESV): "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. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart."

Reflection: What "exile" are you currently experiencing in your life? How can you seek God's presence and hope in the midst of it today?


Day 5: The Cross: Hope from Pain
The cross is the ultimate symbol of life emerging from death, pain transforming into glory, and isolation giving way to hope. In our disappointments, we can trust that God is working to bring forth new life and hope. The cross reminds us that God is with us in our suffering, transforming our pain into something beautiful and redemptive. As we journey through our own disappointments, let us remember that God is with us, nurturing new life and hope within us. [10:29]

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. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal."

Reflection: How can you view your current struggles through the lens of the cross, trusting that God is working to bring forth new life and hope from your pain?

Quotes

God through the person of Jesus is wants to be with you and run that Journey headed towards Advent and I want to talk today about how God is with you in your disappointments. I got invited recently to do a Chapel for an NFL team and you know I wonder how something like that's going to go I got home afterwards and Nancy said what do you think I thought well it's just hard to tell might have gone well there are a lot of people there for it but it's kind of hard to read a situation like that was the night before a big game they have a lot on their mind I'm not sure it'd be nice to know did it go well or not. [00:18:21]

And then the next day I went to the game took my nephew with me and uh kick off commence the game and it was quite remarkable to see those guys that I had sought to inspire and envision and compel the previous Night by the end of the first half they were behind 28 to nothing and then in the second half it got worse and they have already invited me to not speak next year but I want to talk about how God can be with us in disappointments and when we are not doing well we sometimes think of him because of Grace as the god of the second chance and he is he surely is for you today in your disappointment God is that but it's that's not quite doesn't quite capture it he's not just a god of the second chance he's the god of the Resurrection. [00:55:44]

Second Chance is a repeat opportunity to try to get what I wanted in the first place but a resurrection isn't that Resurrection is the death of one thing an old life an old dream so that something else so that something new so that something better can come to life and that is part of the reason for the Incarnation of God coming into our life into our flesh into our disappointment so I want you to think now about a disappointment in your life and how God wants to meet you there this is from the prophet Isaiah when he was speaking to his people and he said a shoot shall come up from the stump of Jesse uh stump is not a tree stump is where a tree used to be there used to be life and there used to be growth and there used to be Beauty and it's not anymore it's just a stump but where there's a stump there's also roots and where there's Roots there is a hope and that's part of the image that's being drawn on here. [01:10:79]

Over and over again the pattern in scripture is God comes to somebody and there is a dream Abraham has a dream of being a patriarch that father of Nations that would bless the Earth but then he's got to leave and live in a kind of an exile and and then suffering and difficulty for his son Isaac each of the generations until after Joseph there's 400 years in slavery but then out of that comes a new dream uh invitation to walk with God who would deliver them who would give them the law who would give them the Tabernacle who would feed the men and that's a wonderful thing but then another disappointment in 40 years in the wilderness in that generation dies out but then a dream of entering into a land and becoming a great people and having a king like David but then that dream dies and they go into Exile but then in Exile some of them come to realize a few some of the prophets that God's dream is greater than just military or economic greatness it is greater than just something that human flesh can do that God is going to send one who is going to heal the sickness that is inside of our souls and bring new life to us and this is the image from Isaiah a shoot shall come from the stump of Jesse and a branch shall grow out of his roots. [01:74:72]

You see behind me little shoots coming up out of the ground there's little labels where someday not tomorrow not the next day but someday a great tree might be great growth that would give life to all kinds of creatures and Beauty to the world a shoot shall come up from the stump of Jesse and the branch shall grow out of his roots and the spirit of the Lord shall rest on him and the spirit of wisdom and understanding with righteousness he shall judge the poor and decide with equity for the meek of the Earth now Jesse was the father of King David and so this image is one of great sorrow and sadness it's the stump of Jesse There was to be a line of rulers and greatness and flourishing that would flow out of David that would give life to a great nation a great Kingdom but that tree got cut down that kingship got cut down the people had to live in Exile but they're still Roots there's still a connection with a spiritual Transcendent reality that is the hope of the human race and Isaiah says uh uh shoots going to come up those roots Aren't Dead they are in touch with something and it's going to happen and then when Jesus came it did and now he comes to us just as he came to the people of Israel in our Exile. [02:53:08]

I don't know what Exile looks like for you baby this time of year you're reminded when you look at pictures or videos of old family get-togethers of a pain or a sadness or a loneliness or people that you miss or life has not turned out the way that you wanted it to be friend just sent me an article Jeffrey Pfeiffer is at Stanford School of Business and he was writing about layoffs um over 120 000 folks have been laid off just in this year just from Big tech companies here in the valley where I live there is a frost by the way on the ground it's not supposed to happen in California layoffs aren't supposed to happen California is supposed to be the place of the dream and and expansion and Pfeiffer talks about how often it happens For No Good Reason one company starts laying off and then somebody else does and it turns out their laughs can be quite destructive in people's lives that suicide rates go up uh maybe as much as two and a half times when people get laid off and depression goes up and addiction problems increase when our lives are not turning out the way that we thought that they would and we feel like we're in Exile. [03:39:00]

And I know what it's like when you lose a job and uh there's just disappointment and a sense of failure and what should I have done differently and what did I do wrong and what do I need to learn and on my last day of my last job one of the thoughts that came to me when I got home was uh and still there is no barrier to my joyfully serving God today there are roots and they touch something deep and I think now how because I've gone through that kind of Exile I'm able to be with you I can't tell you what it means to me how grateful I am how to talk this week with Bob and he was saying he and his wife okay watch pretty much every day and and they'll say you know the thing of it is when it's only 10 minutes a day you just can't find a good excuse not to do it and so we get to connect with each other and put our Roots uh back into the source of life and I'm so grateful that we can do that in the artwork that's going for this series that is so beautiful you will see the image of that branch that comes up out of the stump of Jesse. [04:06:19]

In some traditions uh people family will use what's called a Jesse tree where each day you open up a part of it a branch on that tree and you're reminded of another member of Jesus's family tree some folks will put ornaments on their own tree that's what that Jesse tree refers to there is life inside of you no Exile can kill the life that God wants to produce inside you the word became flesh You are not alone don't you quit don't you give up your life matters and then the other beautiful image that's on that piece of art that you are looking at today is a rose one of the uh wonderful phrases of great Beauty in the Old Testaments in the Song of Solomon that was applied to Jesus is the rose of Sharon I am the rose of Sharon Sharon was a valley of great fertility in that land of great Beauty and great life and and I think of when I hear that phrase the book you might know The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck. [04:70:88]

Um one of the Searing depictions of Exile on this Earth he also wrote the book East of Eden we live East of Eden we live in a land where the sin has gotten into us and into our social systems and poverty and hopelessness and inequity and Injustice few people have ever written about more searingly than Steinbeck and in The Grapes of Wrath if you've read that book you might remember the character of the preacher who has lost the spirit and that can happen to people the closing image of that book is disturbing and Unforgettable it's a daughter of the Joad family Rose of Sharon it's where the name comes from a name that is given to Jesus and she has been impregnated and deserted and then delivered a stillborn child and in the desperate poverty and neediness of that family the very close of the book they come into a man who is starving and Rose of Sharon offers her milk to try to enable the survival of a starving man when she has lost her child and it is a quite controversial Unforgettable searing disturbing image and Steinbeck writes in the very closing words of the book that her lips close together and there is a mysterious smile on the face of Rose of Sharon and of course the cross is the ultimate Unforgettable deeply disturbing deeply hopeful out of the stump of Jesse there is a branch there is a tree and out of death comes life and out of pain comes Glory and out of isolation and humiliation and self-giving love comes the hope of the universe You Are Not Alone. [05:42:82]

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Transcript
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