Living Evidence of Our Hope in the Resurrection
Summary
In my recent sermon, I began by emphasizing the significance of the resurrection as the focal point of our faith, highlighting its importance not only as a historical event but as a transformative reality that should impact how we live our lives. I reminded the congregation that without the resurrection, Jesus would be merely a kind man from history, but with it, He is confirmed as our Messiah and Savior. I encouraged the church to not only understand the resurrection but to be prepared to defend it and share it with others, drawing from the pamphlet we had previously discussed.
I then turned to the Apostle Paul's example in Acts 26, where he was on trial not for any crime but for his hope in the resurrection. I pointed out that Paul's hope is our hope, and that our hope is grounded in the knowledge that God hears us, loves us, is merciful, and forgives us. I stressed the importance of having evidence in our lives that reflects our hope in the resurrection, posing the question of whether there would be enough evidence to convict us of our hope if we were put on trial for it.
I delved into the theological, philosophical, historical, and personal defenses of our hope. Theologically, I referenced the prophecies that Jesus fulfilled, showing that the Messiah was promised and came as foretold in Scripture. Philosophically, I tackled the problem of evil and suffering, arguing that the existence of evil does not negate the existence of a good and powerful God. Historically, I pointed to the empty tomb, the eyewitness accounts of Jesus after His resurrection, and the transformation of the disciples as evidence of the resurrection's reality.
I also shared my personal testimony of how God reached me through a man named Art when I was a dishwasher in a coffee shop, leading me to faith and a life of pursuing God. I challenged the congregation to consider their own stories and whether they have shared them with others.
I outlined five ways we can be witnesses of our hope: through our lifestyle, our words, our testimony, our service, and our prayer life. I emphasized the importance of living in such a way that others can see the evidence of our relationship with Jesus, using our words to share the gospel, letting our testimonies of God's work in our lives be known, serving the least of these as Jesus taught, and being devoted to prayer, confident that God hears us.
I concluded by inviting the congregation to imagine the impact we could have if we committed to being praying people who serve, share, and speak words of encouragement. I envisioned a community transformed by the gospel, with lives changed and the baptismal filled every Sunday.
Key Takeaways:
1. Our hope in the resurrection is not a passive wish but a dynamic conviction that should be evident in our lives. Just as Paul was on trial for his hope, we should live in such a way that our hope in Christ is undeniable and visible to those around us. ([09:25])
2. The transformation of our lives is a powerful testimony to the truth of the resurrection. Just as the disciples went from fear to boldness, our lives should exhibit a radical change that points to the work of Christ within us. ([25:00])
3. The defense of our faith is not solely an intellectual exercise but a matter of the heart and life. Our ability to articulate the reasons for our hope should be matched by a lifestyle that reflects the character of Jesus. ([11:01])
4. Prayer is not just a religious duty but the lifeline of our relationship with God. Our commitment to prayer demonstrates our dependence on God and our trust in His power and love. ([37:21])
5. Sharing our personal stories of encountering God is not just for our benefit but for the encouragement and edification of others. Our testimonies can be the catalyst for someone else's journey toward faith in Christ. ([35:18])
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. Acts 26:6-8 (NIV)
> "And now it is because of my hope in what God has promised our ancestors that I am on trial today. This is the promise our twelve tribes are hoping to see fulfilled as they earnestly serve God day and night. King Agrippa, it is because of this hope that these Jews are accusing me. Why should any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead?"
2. 1 Peter 1:3 (NIV)
> "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."
3. Psalm 119:114 (NIV)
> "You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word."
### Observation Questions
1. What was the reason Paul was on trial in Acts 26, and how did he defend his hope? ([01:31])
2. According to the sermon, what are the five ways we can be witnesses of our hope in the resurrection? ([33:15])
3. How does the sermon describe the transformation of the disciples after the resurrection of Jesus? ([23:55])
4. What are the theological, philosophical, historical, and personal defenses of the resurrection mentioned in the sermon? ([11:01])
### Interpretation Questions
1. Why is the resurrection considered the focal point of Christian faith, and how does it transform our lives according to the sermon? ([00:46])
2. How does Paul's defense in Acts 26 serve as a model for defending our faith today? ([01:31])
3. What does the sermon suggest about the relationship between prayer and our hope in God? ([37:21])
4. How can sharing personal testimonies of encountering God impact others' faith journeys, as discussed in the sermon? ([35:18])
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own life: Is there enough evidence to convict you of your hope in the resurrection if you were put on trial for it? What changes might you need to make? ([08:34])
2. The sermon emphasizes living a life that reflects our hope in Jesus. What specific actions can you take this week to ensure your lifestyle visibly demonstrates your faith? ([33:15])
3. Consider the transformation of the disciples from fear to boldness. In what areas of your life do you need to exhibit more boldness for Christ? ([23:55])
4. How can you better articulate the reasons for your hope in Christ to others? What steps can you take to prepare yourself for such conversations? ([11:01])
5. The sermon highlights the importance of prayer. How can you deepen your prayer life to demonstrate your dependence on God? ([37:21])
6. Think about your personal testimony. Have you shared it with anyone recently? If not, who can you share it with this week, and how will you approach the conversation? ([35:18])
7. The sermon calls us to serve others, especially the least of these. Identify one person or group you can serve this week and describe how you will do it. ([36:19])
Devotional
Day 1: Visible Hope in Christ
The resurrection of Jesus is not just a cornerstone of Christian doctrine; it is a dynamic force that shapes the believer's life. The hope that stems from the resurrection should be as evident as a city on a hill, unmissable in its presence. This hope is not passive; it is active and alive, influencing every decision, action, and word. It is a hope that, like the Apostle Paul's, would be the cause for which one is 'on trial,' because it is so integral to one's identity that it cannot be hidden or ignored. Believers are called to live in such a way that their hope in Christ is undeniable, a beacon of faith that guides and inspires those around them. This visible hope is a testament to the transformative power of the resurrection, a power that believers are privileged to embody and share. [09:25]
"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." - Romans 8:24-25 ESV
Reflection: How does your daily life visibly reflect the hope you have in the resurrection of Jesus Christ?
Day 2: Transformation as Testimony
The resurrection is not merely a past event to be celebrated; it is a present reality that transforms lives. The disciples' journey from fear to boldness after the resurrection is a clear example of this transformative power. Similarly, a believer's life should exhibit such a radical change that it points others to the work of Christ within. This transformation is a powerful testimony, one that speaks louder than words, for it is the evidence of an encounter with the living God. It is the kind of change that cannot be attributed to human effort alone but to the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit. As believers live out this transformation, they become walking testimonies to the truth of the resurrection and the hope it brings to a broken world. [25:00]
"And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death." - Revelation 12:11 ESV
Reflection: In what ways has your life changed since you embraced the hope of the resurrection, and how can you share this transformation as a testimony with others?
Day 3: Heart and Life Defense
Defending the faith is not just about having the right arguments; it is about having a life that reflects the character of Jesus. The reasons for hope that believers articulate should be matched by a lifestyle that exemplifies Jesus' teachings. This defense of faith goes beyond intellectual debates to the very essence of what it means to be a follower of Christ. It is about embodying the love, grace, and mercy that Jesus demonstrated, so that others may not only hear about the hope of the resurrection but also see it in action. The heart and life defense is a holistic approach to apologetics, one that recognizes the power of a life lived in alignment with the gospel. [11:01]
"But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect." - 1 Peter 3:15 ESV
Reflection: How does your lifestyle serve as a defense for your hope in Christ, and in what ways can you improve this testimony?
Day 4: Prayer as Lifeline
Prayer is the vital communication with God that sustains a believer's faith. It is not a mere religious duty but the expression of a deep relationship with the Creator. Through prayer, believers demonstrate their dependence on God, acknowledging His sovereignty and power in their lives. It is in the place of prayer that hope is nurtured, strength is renewed, and love is deepened. A commitment to prayer is a commitment to the lifeline of faith, a declaration that one's trust is not in human wisdom or strength but in the God who hears and answers. [37:21]
"Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving." - Colossians 4:2 ESV
Reflection: What specific steps can you take to deepen your prayer life and demonstrate your dependence on God's power and love?
Day 5: Sharing Our God Encounters
Personal stories of encountering God are not just personal milestones; they are gifts that can encourage and edify others. Sharing these testimonies can be the catalyst for someone else's journey toward faith in Christ. Each believer's story is unique and can resonate with others in ways that sermons or teachings might not. These stories of God's work in a believer's life are a powerful tool for evangelism and discipleship, as they offer real-life examples of God's love, mercy, and transformative power. By sharing these personal encounters, believers contribute to the great narrative of God's redemptive work throughout history and in the present. [35:18]
"And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death." - Revelation 12:11 ESV
Reflection: Reflect on your personal encounter with God. How can you share this story with someone this week to encourage their faith journey?
Quotes
1. "Is there enough evidence in your life to put you on trial for the hope that you have in the resurrection? The question is, do you want everyone to be as you? Imagine that. The apostle Paul says, I want you to be as me, except for the chains. You think about your friends. Think about your encounters. Do you want them to be like you?" [32:13]
2. "A witness of your lifestyle. You can say yes. Matthew 5, 16 says, In the same way, let your light shine before others that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven that they may see, we'll put it in context of the sermon, the evidence in your life." [33:15]
3. "Your words need to match your lifestyle. A witness of your testimony. A testimony. We talk about this often in the church is that God has given you some painful moments in your life. And this is what we do with those painful moments in our life. No one sees that. You know, God answered the prayer, but no one can see that." [34:48]
4. "Devote yourself to prayer. Because isn't that our hope? Our hope that God hears us. Why would we not talk to him if he hears us? And if he's all powerful, why would we not expect him to work? And if he's all knowing, why would we not ask our minds to be in tune with his?" [36:50]
5. "Very few things are more powerful than a praying believer in Jesus Christ. When a person is constantly praying, God is constantly working. You can absolutely bank on that if somebody is a praying person that they're going to see God working." [37:21]
6. "The transformed life. The historicalness of the disciples going from fleeing to embracing, to telling, to sharing, to going all over the world. That's huge. King Agrippa. Look at the historical evidence. Jesus rose from the dead. Theologically. It aligns. It aligns perfectly with the Bible." [25:00]
7. "Imagine what would happen if the 60 of us in this room just committed to being praying people. Praying people who served and shared and spoke words of encouragement and affirmation and support toward one another in these challenging times." [38:23]
8. "So that's my challenge to you. The resurrection is the focal point of our faith. Last week we talked about how to share it. Today we learned that there is some good evidence, philosophically, theologically, historically, personally, that we have, that we can encounter other people and share it confidently." [39:25]
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