11/30/25 "Greater Centennial's Sunday Morning Service-The Necessity of Hope

Devotional

Day 1: Suffering now yields future revealed glory.

The present pains and trials do not have the final word; creation and believers alike are groaning, but that groaning points to a glory that is coming — so keep your hope anchored in the promise that this season is not all God has for you and that a greater revelation is on the way [01:02:08]

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Reflection: Name one present trial that tempts you to give up; what specific, practical step (a phone call to a believer, a daily Scripture reading, a short prayer schedule) will you do this week to hold on to the truth that glory is coming?

Day 2: Hope perseveres even against all odds.

When circumstances look impossible, faith like Abraham’s trusts God’s promise despite the evidence; do not let your body, your years, or the barrenness of a situation make you waver — instead cultivate the conviction that God is able to do what he promised and let that conviction grow you in faith [01:08:32]

"Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, 'So shall your offspring be.' Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised."

Reflection: Identify one promise God has spoken over your life that feels impossible right now; write it down and choose one concrete faith-step this week (a specific prayer time, a confession you will speak aloud, a person you will tell) that demonstrates you are trusting God for it.

Day 3: True hope waits for unseen promises.

Hope is not for what is already in hand; it is the patient expectation for what has been spoken but not yet seen — practice waiting with patience and speak life over the promises, reminding yourself daily that unseen hope requires steadfast waiting and persistence [01:17:18]

But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

Reflection: What one promise from God are you still waiting to see? Starting today, will you commit to speaking that promise aloud each morning for seven days and note any small ways God begins to move?

Day 4: God works all things for good.

Even broken situations, missteps, and seasons that feel "out of whack" can be used by God to bring blessing, restoration, and purpose; bring your brokenness to him, believe he specializes in broken things, and cooperate with him in practical ways so that what is painful now can be worked together for your good [01:22:25]

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Reflection: Name one broken area of your life you will intentionally lay before God this week; what is one practical, cooperative step you will take (forgiveness, seeking counsel, a financial plan, a reconciliation conversation) to let God begin to work it for good?

Day 5: Children belong in God's kingdom; receive them.

Jesus welcomed children and called the kingdom for those who receive it like a child; the church likewise opens its arms in baptism and invitation — whether you need to give your life to Christ, rededicate, or bring a child into faith, take the step of coming forward and receiving God’s grace with simple, faithful trust [01:54:56]

And they were bringing children to him, that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.

Reflection: Is the Lord calling you to a next step — to surrender, to rededicate, to bring a child to Christ, or to begin mentoring a young person? Name that step and plan one concrete action this week (visit the altar, call the pastor, enroll a child in children's ministry) to obey.

Sermon Summary

We opened Romans 8:18–28 and set our hearts on the necessity of hope. Hope is not wishful thinking; it is the settled, stubborn expectation that God will do what he promised. Creation groans, we groan, and even the Spirit groans for us—yet all those groans are labor pains, not funeral dirges. Because of Christ’s first coming, we are saved into a living hope, and in Advent we practice waiting for his appearing again. Waiting is not passive; it is faithful obedience sustained by hope.

I named three reasons to keep hope alive. First, it won’t always be like this. Present sufferings are real, but they’re not worth comparing to the glory that is coming. Storms don’t last; glory does. Second, I haven’t seen it yet. Hope aims at what is unseen—if you can see it, you no longer hope for it. Abraham teaches us to “hope against hope,” to keep expecting God when all visible evidence says otherwise. Third, I know it will work together for my good. Not because everything is good, but because God is able to weave all things—lies, losses, bills, diagnoses, and disappointments—into his good purpose for those who love him.

We also named how hope and faith walk together. Without hope, obedience becomes drudgery; with hope, obedience becomes endurance. Hope steadies prayer when words fail, because the Spirit intercedes with groans too deep for words. Hope steadies our identity when we feel disqualified, because broken crayons still color—God delights to use people who know they need him.

From there we looked to Jesus. The Son left glory, wrapped himself in our humanity, and was pierced for us. He came so the fallen would not stay fallen. That’s why I invited decisions for salvation, rededication, and fresh courage at the altar. We laid burdens down, asked for restoration of joy and peace, and trusted God to finish what he started. And we celebrated baptisms as living signs that the God who began a good work in us will carry it on. Keep your hope in God. It is necessary. It is fuel. It is how we make it home.

Key Takeaways

1. Suffering is not the final word Present pain is real, but it is not ultimate. Paul teaches that the weight of coming glory outweighs the heaviness of now, not by minimizing suffering but by magnifying what God has promised. Hope trains our eyes beyond the present horizon so we don’t mistake labor pains for the end of the story. Glory is already on the way. [71:48]
2. The Spirit groans when we can’t Hope does not deny weakness; it brings weakness to God. When we don’t know what to pray, the Spirit intercedes with groans too deep for words, translating our ache into the will of God. Let your silence become prayer by trusting the Spirit’s advocacy. Helplessness can be holy when it leans on him. [62:08]
3. Keep believing what you can’t see If you can see it, it’s no longer hope. Abraham “hoped against hope,” trusting the God who raises the dead and calls things that are not as though they are. Waiting is not inactivity; it is allegiance to a promise that has not yet appeared. Speak life to your soul: it’s coming because he said so. [76:44]
4. Expect God to weave it for good All things are not good, but God is masterful at convergence. He gathers scattered pieces—sins confessed, slanders endured, bills due, storms survived—and threads them into a redemptive tapestry. Hope rests in his character, not our control, and therefore refuses despair’s final say. Love him; watch him weave. [83:12]
5. Advent hope fuels everyday obedience We light the candle of hope because we live between comings—saved by the first, steadied by the second. Hope makes obedience possible when outcomes are delayed, costs are high, and feelings fluctuate. Waiting becomes worship when it is anchored in the One who promised to return and make all things new. [67:10]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[60:04] - Call to Worship and Testimony
[60:44] - Scripture Reading: Romans 8:18–28
[62:44] - Prayer for the Word
[63:47] - Theme: The Necessity of Hope
[68:32] - Abraham Hoped Against Hope
[70:02] - What Hope Really Means
[71:06] - Reason 1: It Won’t Always Be Like This
[76:07] - Reason 2: I Haven’t Seen It Yet
[82:25] - Reason 3: It Will Work for My Good
[92:12] - Jesus Came to Raise the Fallen
[99:58] - Altar Call: Keep Hoping Like Abraham
[112:59] - Baptism Liturgy and Prayers
[126:51] - Offering and Benediction

Bible Study Guide

Small Group Bible Study — "The Necessity of Hope"
Based on Romans 8:18–28 and the sermon summary

Bible reading (ESV)
Read Romans 8:18–28 aloud together.

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.
20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope
21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.
22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.
23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.
24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees?
25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.
27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Observation questions

In verses 19–22 Paul uses images about creation. What specific words or images describe creation’s present state and its expectation? [01:01:14]
Verse 23 mentions “the firstfruits of the Spirit” and that “we groan inwardly.” According to the passage, what are we waiting for? How is that waiting described? [01:01:47]
Verses 26–27 speak about the Spirit helping in weakness. What does the text say the Spirit does when we don’t know how to pray? [01:02:08]
Paul writes, “hope that is seen is not hope” (vv.24–25). From the sermon, how did the pastor explain this phrase—what makes hope different from something already received? [01:16:44]

Interpretation questions (third-person, focused)

How should one interpret Paul’s claim that present sufferings “are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed” when a believer faces chronic, ongoing hardship? What does that comparison imply about present pain and future reality? [01:11:48]
How should a reader understand “For in this hope we were saved” (v.24)? Is Paul pointing only to future rescue, or also to a present experience of salvation that steadies the believer now? [01:07:10]
How ought one to understand “all things work together for good” (v.28) when some events are clearly evil or harmful? What limits or conditions does the verse place around that promise? [01:23:12]
What is the theological and practical significance of the Spirit “interceding with groanings too deep for words” for a congregation that struggles to pray? How should that affect corporate and private prayer life? [01:02:08]

Application questions (personal, specific)

Name one present situation where your hope feels weak (a relationship, health, job, finances, loss). What concrete next step will you take this week to “keep hope” in that situation (for example: call a friend to pray with you, memorize Romans 8:18, or write the promise you’re trusting on an index card)? [01:06:01]
The pastor invited people to come to the altar and lay burdens down. If you were to take that step this week, who will you ask to come with you for prayer, and when will you do it? (Give a plan: day, time, person.) [01:36:04]
Abraham “hoped against hope.” Identify one promise from God you have not yet seen. What is one tangible act of faith you will do this month that expresses your trust in that promise (e.g., make a sacrificial gift, start a reconciliation conversation, apply for a job you believe God opened)? [01:08:32]
When words fail in prayer, the Spirit intercedes. Try a “groaning prayer” practice this week: set aside two minutes each morning to sit in silence and bring the ache to God. Will you try this for five days and report next meeting what changed? [01:02:08]
Paul says “all things work together for good.” List two recent setbacks you’ve had and write one way God might be weaving them toward good. Then choose one practical cooperation step (forgiveness, service, budgeting, medical follow-up) you will take to align with that possible good. [01:23:12]
The preacher said “broken crayons still color.” Where do you feel disqualified or “too broken” to serve? Name one small service you can do in the next 30 days (help with a meal, serve in children’s ministry, make one encouraging phone call) that acknowledges your need but still contributes to the body. [01:31:03]
Advent was described as living between comings—how will you practice waiting this season? Pick one concrete spiritual discipline (daily Scripture reading, Sabbath rest, hospitality, regular confession) and commit to it for the next four weeks. Which one will you choose and when will you start? [01:07:10]

Use these questions to guide 60–75 minutes of group discussion. Encourage honesty and specific commitments. If time allows, close your session by pairing up for two minutes of mutual prayer focused on one person’s specific application step.

Sermon Clips

``I want to submit to you today that we who are believers in God must never allow the things that we go through, the trials of life, to cause our hope to erode. We may lose many things on this road of life. We may lose money. We may lose friends. We may lose a whole bunch of things. But through it all, we should never lose our hope in God, that our hope in God should be firmly established in his word because we know that his word is true and his word will come to pass. [01:06:01] (31 seconds) #AnchoredInGodsWord

No matter what it looks like, no matter what anybody says, I will keep my hope in God and his promises for my life. Abraham went through this trial, this tribulation of making sure he kept and he understood the necessity or being it necessary for him to keep his hope in God. Listen to what the Bible tells us in Romans chapter 4 about Abraham. That even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping, believing that he would become the father of many nations. [01:08:11] (34 seconds) #HopeLikeAbraham

All I'm trying to tell somebody is don't waver in your hope in God. I don't care what it looks like. I don't care what it feels like. I am fully convinced that what God has spoken in my life is going to come to pass in my life. You need to understand that. I understand that it is necessary for each and every one of us to keep our hope in God because trials are going to come. And so you got to make sure your hope is in the one that's going to bring you out of the trial. [01:09:21] (32 seconds) #HoldFastToGodsPromise

Storms are going to come in your life, but you got to make sure that your hope is in God because your hope in God is going to keep you through the storm. I wish I had somebody that been through the storm and all you had was your hope in God. I understand. I forgot to tell you what hope meant. Hope means that you're fully expecting the God to come through on his promises. And so I can still give God glory even though it don't look like what he spoke for my life. [01:09:53] (29 seconds) #HopeThroughTheStorm

First thing I want you to know today that it's necessary to keep your hope in God because, number one, it won't always be like this. I want somebody to know the reason why you can keep your hope in God is because no matter how bad it looks right now, it won't always be like this. I understand the wind is blowing, but it ain't always going to blow. I understand the rain is falling, but the rain ain't always going to fall. I understand you got sickness in your body, but you ain't always going to be sick. [01:11:06] (38 seconds) #ThisWontLastForever

Matter of fact, it's not always going to be like this. Listen to what the text says. He says, Paul says, I consider that the sufferings of this present time is not even worth comparing the glory that's on the way. Oh, you missed a good place to shout. I said, it's not going to always be like this because Paul said, I consider the sufferings of the present time not worth comparing the glory that's on the way. I came to buy to tell somebody there's glory coming your way. [01:11:45] (30 seconds) #GloryOnTheWay

I know I was talking fast in the early of the sermon you didn't hear me I said hope is the full expectation that God will come through on what he promised that's the definition of hope it is the full expectation that God is gonna come through on what he promised and the reason that I can say that I know it's gonna work together for my good is because I have full expectation that God is gonna do what he said he gonna do good morning greater centennial thank you so very much for coming this morning it's time for us to go to the house but before I do I need to give God the glory because I know that although it's messed up right now it's gonna work together for my good. [01:22:54] (55 seconds) #ExpectGodToDeliver

So Jesus left divinity. Wrapped Himself in humanity. And came to set me free. He let them put nails in His hands. For me. He let them put nails in His feet. He let them put a crown of thorn on His head and a spear in His side. For me. Good news. He didn't just do it for me. I know you were shaking your head when I told you how bad I was. But I wasn't the only one on that road. All of us have messed up. Mishaps. Mistakes. Misspoke. Misspoke. But it came. To save a wretch like us. [01:33:09] (70 seconds) #JesusRedeemedUs

And I don't believe that God has brought you this far to leave you now. God has not brought you through everything he brought you through to give up on you now. He's not through with you. You just can't be through with him. I know it's been rough. I know you've had some sleepless nights. Had some rough days. Some of you at this altar just sick and tired of being sick and tired. Came to tell you if you keep your hope in God, it won't always be like this. My sisters and my brothers, it won't always be like this. God will work it out. All you have to do is keep trusting. [01:38:52] (83 seconds) #GodIsNotDoneWithYou

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