Hope in the Heavens: Embracing True Christmas Gifts
Summary
The sermon series "Hope in the Heavens" is set against the backdrop of Ecclesiastes, which discusses the concept of "heav," symbolizing emptiness and meaninglessness. The series addresses the themes of chance, time, and the frustration of good things happening to bad people. The speaker suggests that the true gifts of Christmas—hope, peace, joy, and love—are internal, everlasting, and meant to be shared. These gifts are not what people often seek, such as stability or material wealth, but they are what is truly needed and cannot be taken away.
The speaker reflects on the common prayer for God to be against perceived threats, but instead, God is with us, even with those we oppose. This presence is the gift needed, symbolized by a life jacket in a storm, providing hope for survival. The sermon also touches on the inevitability of death and the limited control over life, encouraging wisdom and effort despite this. Jesus and Christmas are presented as the gifts we need, not necessarily the ones we want, and we are encouraged to be open to receiving what we truly need.
Jesus Christ is proclaimed as the hope of the world, offering comfort and sustenance in times of weakness and pain. Faith is described as hope for a new day when things will be made right. The speaker also discusses the significance of names, particularly those of God and Jesus, and how they resonate differently in various circumstances. The first Christmas is paralleled with today's longing for deliverance from life's challenges.
The sermon acknowledges the pain and challenges faced during Christmas, emphasizing that God is with us in our struggles. The arrival of Jesus is celebrated as the advent of hope. The speaker also addresses the practical aspects of Christmas, such as family dynamics and the upcoming Christmas Eve service, and expresses gratitude for the church's decorations and the birth of a new member.
Key Takeaways:
- The concept of "heav" from Ecclesiastes serves as a reminder that life is often marked by emptiness and chaos, yet within this reality, the enduring gifts of hope, peace, joy, and love emerge as the true essence of Christmas. These gifts are not subject to the whims of chance or time and are meant to be actively shared with others, transforming us into agents of hope and peace.
- The presence of God in our lives is not always in the form of intervention against challenges but rather as a steadfast companion through them. This divine companionship is the true gift of Christmas, offering hope and reassurance that we are not alone, even when facing the storms of life.
- The inevitability of death and the unpredictability of life are universal human experiences. The wisdom of the sermon lies in the encouragement to persist in living wisely and fully, despite these realities. The message of Christmas and the gift of Jesus Christ are presented as the unexpected yet necessary answers to our deepest needs.
- The power of names, especially those given to God and Jesus, reflects the multifaceted ways in which the divine interacts with human experiences. The sermon draws attention to the historical and contemporary longings for deliverance, emphasizing that the true deliverance we receive may not always align with our expectations but is precisely what we need.
- The sermon acknowledges the varied experiences of Christmas, recognizing that for many, it is a time of pain and struggle. The message of hope is central to the Christmas narrative, with the arrival of Jesus as a beacon of hope that assures us of God's unwavering presence and the promise that we are never truly alone in our difficulties.
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Deuteronomy 31:6 - "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."
2. Hebrews 13:5 - "Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, 'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.'"
3. Romans 15:13 - "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."
#### Observation Questions
1. What are the four themes of Advent mentioned in the sermon? ([27:05])
2. How does the speaker describe the concept of "heav" from Ecclesiastes? ([29:36])
3. What analogy does the speaker use to explain God's presence with us during life's storms? ([40:26])
4. According to the sermon, what is the significance of the names given to God and Jesus? ([36:59])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the concept of "heav" help us understand the unpredictability and challenges of life? ([29:36])
2. In what ways does the presence of God as "Emmanuel" provide hope and reassurance during difficult times? ([39:56])
3. How do the internal gifts of hope, peace, joy, and love differ from the external things people often seek during Christmas? ([47:53])
4. What does the speaker mean when he says that Jesus and Christmas are the gifts we need, not necessarily the ones we want? ([31:53])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt the "heav" of life. How did you cope with it, and where did you find hope? ([29:36])
2. How can you actively share the internal gifts of hope, peace, joy, and love with others this Christmas season? ([47:53])
3. Think about a current challenge you are facing. How can the presence of God as "Emmanuel" change your perspective on this situation? ([39:56])
4. What are some practical ways you can remind yourself of God's promises, such as those found in Deuteronomy 31:6 and Hebrews 13:5, during times of loneliness or struggle? ([43:11])
5. How can you shift your focus from seeking external stability and certainty to embracing the internal gifts that God provides? ([47:53])
6. Identify a person in your life who might be experiencing the "heav" of life. How can you be an agent of hope and peace for them this week? ([50:27])
7. Reflect on the significance of names in your own life. How does understanding the different names of God and Jesus deepen your relationship with Him? ([36:59])
Devotional
Day 1: Embracing the True Essence of Christmas
The true essence of Christmas lies in the internal, everlasting gifts of hope, peace, joy, and love. These gifts transcend the chaos and emptiness of life, offering a profound sense of fulfillment that material wealth cannot provide. They are the treasures that one should seek and share, becoming beacons of light in a world often shrouded in darkness. [07:40]
Lamentations 3:24-26 - "The Lord is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I will hope in him." The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord."
Reflection: How can you actively share the gifts of hope, peace, joy, and love with others this Christmas season?
Day 2: Divine Companionship in Life's Storms
God's presence in our lives is a steadfast companion through our challenges, not just an interventionist against them. This divine companionship is akin to a life jacket in a storm, providing hope and reassurance that we are not alone. It is the true gift of Christmas, one that offers comfort and sustenance in times of weakness and pain. [07:40]
Psalm 46:1-3 - "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging."
Reflection: In what ways can you remind yourself of God's presence during difficult times, and how can you embody that presence for others?
Day 3: Wisdom Amidst Life's Unpredictability
The unpredictability of life and the inevitability of death are realities that call for wisdom and effort. Christmas and the gift of Jesus Christ are the unexpected yet necessary answers to our deepest needs, guiding us to live wisely and fully in the face of these truths. [07:40]
Ecclesiastes 9:11-12 - "I have seen something else under the sun: The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise or wealth to the brilliant or favor to the learned; but time and chance happen to them all. Moreover, no one knows when their hour will come."
Reflection: What are some ways you can live more wisely and fully, acknowledging the unpredictability of life while embracing the hope of Christmas?
Day 4: The Multifaceted Divine Names
The power of names, especially those given to God and Jesus, reflects the diverse ways in which the divine interacts with our lives. These names resonate differently in various circumstances, drawing attention to the historical and contemporary longings for deliverance. The true deliverance we receive may not align with our expectations but is precisely what we need. [07:40]
Isaiah 9:6 - "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."
Reflection: How do the different names of God and Jesus speak to your current circumstances, and what deliverance do you find in them?
Day 5: The Advent of Hope Amidst Struggle
Christmas can be a time of pain and struggle for many, yet it is also the advent of hope with the arrival of Jesus. This beacon of hope assures us of God's unwavering presence and the promise that we are never truly alone in our difficulties. [07:40]
Matthew 1:23 - "The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel (which means 'God with us')."
Reflection: How can you find solace in the promise of Immanuel, and in what practical ways can you extend this hope to those who struggle during the Christmas season?
Quotes
"We're all going to die, no one is getting out of this life alive. So life is real, but we have limited control over it. But just give up? That's the worst thing you can do. So you're supposed to try, you're supposed to use wisdom, you're supposed to do your best." [31:53] (Download)
"Jesus and Christmas are the Christmas gift we didn't necessarily want but it turns out they're the one we need. Let me unpack that, so you see here a present, imagine that this is one of those Church events where you do a gift exchange." [32:27] (Download)
"The race doesn't always go to the fastest, the war doesn't always go to the strongest; sometimes the underdog wins, sometimes bad people get elected, sometimes the less qualified gets the position, sometimes bad things happen to good people, and possibly more frustrating, sometimes good things happen to bad people." [30:49] (Download)
"We often think we know what we need and what we want, but sometimes we don't actually fully grasp it. We want Christmas to be the pause button to the heaviness of life." [34:07] (Download)
"We were praying for God who is for us and therefore against that thing, that person, that whatever it is, and instead they got God with us. We get God With Us and therefore we also get a God who is with us and who is with them." [39:56] (Download)
"Once you put this on, you're okay because while the storm did not get removed, there's something that is going to go through the storm with you. You're going to be okay; this is your hope, your hope of surviving the storm, your hope of having a future after this storm." [41:50] (Download)
"Our hope is not in something; it is in someone, and that is Emmanuel, God With Us." [43:11] (Download)
"We often look for stability and certainty, and instead God gives us hope. We often look for victory over whatever we're facing, and instead we're given peace." [49:14] (Download)
"These gifts of hope, peace, joy, and love are things that I could choose to not access or have, but really it's almost impossible for anything or anyone to take them from me." [49:51] (Download)
"It's the Christmas gift I need that I'm supposed to give away. Receive and give, like so many things that are Spirit-filled, like the fruit of the spirit." [50:27] (Download)
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