Living in Hope: Embracing Our Unique Purpose
Summary
In today's gathering, we reflected on the profound uniqueness of our existence and the pivotal moments in Christian history, such as the resurrection of Jesus and the birth of the church at Pentecost. These events, unparalleled in their significance, remind us of our own unique place in God's creation. Each day is a singular moment in history, never to be repeated, and we are called to live with the awareness of our divine purpose.
We delved into the early church's struggles, particularly in Thessalonica, where new believers grappled with their cultural past and the transformative teachings of Christ. Paul addressed their pressing question: "What happens after we die?" This question, universal in its reach, finds a distinctive answer in Christianity. Unlike other religions that offer uncertain or conditional afterlife scenarios, Christianity provides a hope-filled assurance based on the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The resurrection is not just a historical event but the cornerstone of our faith, offering us hope and a future. It assures us that death is not the end but a transition to eternal life with Christ. This hope is not based on our deeds or knowledge but on the grace and power of Jesus, who conquered death. As believers, we are called to live in this hope, encouraging one another with the truth of Christ's return and the promise of eternal life.
Paul's teachings remind us to live soberly and vigilantly, guarding our hearts and minds against the influences of the world. We are to stand firm in our faith, knowing that God's wrath is not our destiny, for Christ has already borne it for us. This assurance should fill us with gratitude and motivate us to live lives that reflect the transformative power of the gospel.
Key Takeaways:
- Unique Existence and Divine Purpose: Each day is a unique moment in history, and we are called to live with the awareness of our divine purpose. Just as the resurrection and Pentecost were singular events, our lives are uniquely crafted by God, and we are fearfully and wonderfully made. [19:38]
- The Assurance of Eternal Life: Christianity offers a distinctive answer to the question of what happens after death. Unlike other religions that provide uncertain or conditional afterlife scenarios, our faith assures us of eternal life with Christ, based on His resurrection. This hope is not dependent on our deeds but on the grace and power of Jesus. [47:11]
- Living in Hope and Encouragement: The resurrection of Jesus is the cornerstone of our faith, offering us hope and a future. We are called to live in this hope, encouraging one another with the truth of Christ's return and the promise of eternal life. This hope transforms our grief into a confident expectation of reunion with our loved ones in Christ. [53:48]
- Guarding Our Hearts and Minds: We are to live soberly and vigilantly, guarding our hearts and minds against the influences of the world. Our faith should be evident in how we live, talk, and interact with others, reflecting the transformative power of the gospel. [01:06:33]
- Standing Firm in Faith: We are called to stand firm in our faith, knowing that God's wrath is not our destiny, for Christ has already borne it for us. This assurance should fill us with gratitude and motivate us to live lives that reflect the transformative power of the gospel. [01:14:29]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[19:38] - Unique Existence and Divine Purpose
[40:09] - Question of Life After Death
[43:09] - World Religions' Perspectives
[47:11] - Assurance of Eternal Life
[50:00] - The Power of Resurrection
[53:48] - Living in Hope and Encouragement
[55:22] - Control Over Our Destiny
[56:01] - Advent and Christ's Return
[58:27] - The Reuniting of Body and Soul
[59:15] - Encouragement in Tragedy
[01:00:46] - Children of Light
[01:04:02] - Staying Spiritually Awake
[01:06:33] - Guarding Hearts and Minds
[01:14:29] - Standing Firm in Faith
[01:20:31] - Closing Prayer and Benediction
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 - This passage addresses the hope of the resurrection and the return of Christ, which is central to the sermon.
2. 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 - This passage discusses living in light of Christ's return, emphasizing vigilance and encouragement.
3. 1 Corinthians 15:20-22 - This passage highlights the resurrection of Christ as the firstfruits of those who have died, reinforcing the hope of eternal life.
#### Observation Questions
1. What are the two pivotal events in Christian history mentioned in the sermon, and why are they considered unique? [19:38]
2. How did the cultural background of the Thessalonians influence their understanding of life after death? [40:09]
3. According to the sermon, what is the distinctive hope that Christianity offers regarding life after death? [47:11]
4. What does Paul mean when he refers to believers as "children of the light" in 1 Thessalonians 5:5? [01:00:46]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the assurance of eternal life through Christ's resurrection impact the way believers should view death and grief? [53:48]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that believers should guard their hearts and minds against worldly influences? [01:06:33]
3. What does it mean to live soberly and vigilantly as described in 1 Thessalonians 5:6-8, and how does this relate to the sermon’s message? [01:04:02]
4. How does the sermon explain the concept of standing firm in faith, and what role does gratitude play in this? [01:14:29]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt uniquely crafted by God. How can you live with a greater awareness of your divine purpose this week? [19:38]
2. How does the hope of eternal life with Christ change your perspective on current challenges or fears you face? [47:11]
3. Identify one way you can encourage someone in your life with the hope of Christ’s return. What specific action will you take this week? [53:48]
4. What are some worldly influences that you need to guard your heart and mind against? How can you practically do this in your daily life? [01:06:33]
5. Consider an area in your life where you need to stand firm in your faith. What steps can you take to strengthen your resolve and live out the transformative power of the gospel? [01:14:29]
6. How can you cultivate a spirit of gratitude in your life, especially in light of the assurance that God’s wrath is not your destiny? [01:11:24]
7. Think of a person who might be struggling with the question of what happens after death. How can you share the distinctive hope of Christianity with them in a compassionate and understanding way? [40:09]
Devotional
I'm ready to provide the 5-day devotional based on the steps outlined. Here it is:
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Day 1: Embracing Our Unique Existence
Each day of our lives is a unique moment in history, crafted by God with a divine purpose. Just as the resurrection of Jesus and the birth of the church at Pentecost were singular events, our lives are uniquely designed by God. We are fearfully and wonderfully made, called to live with an awareness of our divine purpose. This understanding should inspire us to approach each day with gratitude and intentionality, recognizing that our existence is not a mere accident but a deliberate act of creation by God. [19:38]
"For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well." (Psalm 139:13-14, ESV)
Reflection: How can you intentionally live out your unique purpose today, recognizing that this day is a singular moment in history?
Day 2: Assurance of Eternal Life
Christianity offers a distinctive answer to the question of what happens after death, providing a hope-filled assurance based on the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Unlike other religions that offer uncertain or conditional afterlife scenarios, our faith assures us of eternal life with Christ. This hope is not dependent on our deeds or knowledge but on the grace and power of Jesus, who conquered death. As believers, we are called to live in this hope, encouraging one another with the truth of Christ's return and the promise of eternal life. [47:11]
"For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." (2 Corinthians 5:1, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways can you share the hope of eternal life with someone who may be struggling with fear or uncertainty about the future?
Day 3: Living in Hope and Encouragement
The resurrection of Jesus is the cornerstone of our faith, offering us hope and a future. This hope transforms our grief into a confident expectation of reunion with our loved ones in Christ. We are called to live in this hope, encouraging one another with the truth of Christ's return and the promise of eternal life. This assurance should fill us with gratitude and motivate us to live lives that reflect the transformative power of the gospel. [53:48]
"But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope." (1 Thessalonians 4:13, ESV)
Reflection: Who in your life needs encouragement today? How can you be a source of hope and encouragement to them, reminding them of the promise of eternal life?
Day 4: Guarding Our Hearts and Minds
We are called to live soberly and vigilantly, guarding our hearts and minds against the influences of the world. Our faith should be evident in how we live, talk, and interact with others, reflecting the transformative power of the gospel. This requires a conscious effort to stand firm in our beliefs and to be mindful of the things that can lead us astray. By focusing on God's truth and surrounding ourselves with His word, we can protect our hearts and minds from the distractions and temptations of the world. [01:06:33]
"Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life." (Proverbs 4:23, ESV)
Reflection: What specific steps can you take today to guard your heart and mind against negative influences and distractions?
Day 5: Standing Firm in Faith
We are called to stand firm in our faith, knowing that God's wrath is not our destiny, for Christ has already borne it for us. This assurance should fill us with gratitude and motivate us to live lives that reflect the transformative power of the gospel. By standing firm, we demonstrate our trust in God's promises and our commitment to living according to His will. This steadfastness in faith is a testament to the hope we have in Christ and serves as a powerful witness to those around us. [01:14:29]
"Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain." (1 Corinthians 15:58, ESV)
Reflection: What challenges are you currently facing that require you to stand firm in your faith? How can you rely on God's strength to remain steadfast in these situations?
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Quotes
"but so is this moment in all of human history this has never happened before because you are not only one in seven billion today i don't even know what the number of people are that have lived in the last six plus thousand years but no one's ever been like you you're unique you're fearfully and wonderfully made this moment's never happened before and it will never happen again it's literally just like pentecost it's just like resurrection sunday a beautiful moment and as long as you've been waiting god's been waiting longer before he ever created anything he chose you the bible's very clear before the foundation of the world he knew you and he chose you then he called you so that he could conform you into the likeness of his son and so today today it's not a day like every other day it's a day that's never existed before it's never going to exist again" [00:18:22] (62 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
"We don't want you to be uninformed. We don't want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, which is a beautiful euphemism. Paul has turned the agony of loss into something that's far more peaceful. It's sleep. It's sleep. Now, they're awake on the other side. We know that. But right off the bat, he's trying to remove this overwhelming, and it is overwhelming in the moment, but it's been radically redefined. Because of Christ, okay? So that you don't grieve like the rest of mankind who have no hope. Well, there's the first practical implication. Would you think about that? Right, is that it's not that we don't grieve. We grieve deeply, but we grieve differently." [00:47:38] (47 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
"A hope that is living and is alive and is provable, not just possible. That we're going to base our hope on something, not a fairy tale, a factual reality of something so powerful and so profound. And this is it. For we believe, and this is unquestioned confidence, okay? It's not believing the Pythagorean theorem that A squared plus B squared equals C squared, although that's true. That won't change your life, okay? This belief is faithful, confident trust." [00:49:43] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
"Because you know enough about chairs to believe it has the capacity to hold you. That's our belief. Our belief, settled conviction, we're totally reliant on this, that Jesus died and rose again. Okay, we believe this. And again, never to get too technical, I don't want to be an academian because I'm not one of those. But you have to understand sometimes, in the English, we'd be able to use better language to what it would basically say is, Jesus willfully participated in his own death and willfully participated in his own resurrection." [00:50:33] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
"And that's the game changer. There isn't anything... Like, Christianity's either singularly correct or absolutely wrong. Right? There's no wiggle room, because it sets itself off in an area that is inconceivable. And we'll really dig into this in a few minutes, but you often hear us say that Christ was born of the Virgin Mary and became man. He suffered, died, and was buried. On the third day, he rose again from the dead using his own power, strength, and authority." [00:52:28] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
"So, Paul wanted to bring them some comfort that will lead to encouragement to tell them this. Yes, when we lose loved ones, it's a painful loss. But they are not lost. Paul would tell you, I know where they are. I know who they're with. I know what they're doing. And I know when we will see them again. They have got to be with him if he's going to bring them with him when he returns." [00:53:28] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
"Do you realize that you have the ultimate control over what happens after your death? You do. It's right there in your hands. You get to decide what happens after your last breath. Are you gonna be in the presence of the Lord? Are you gonna be dispatched to Hades, the holding center for the unrighteous dead, the ungodly dead, to be dealt with in the final days? Are you gonna be in the presence of the Lord? You get to decide. Like you can tell the world starting today, I know exactly what's gonna happen to me after I die." [00:55:15] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
"That Paul said, that we are no longer appointed to experience God's wrath. That it is impossible for you as a follower of Christ, after your last breath, to not know confidently you are not going to face God's wrath. You are no longer appointed to it. It is not possible for you to taste of his wrath, because Jesus drank fully of the cup of God's wrath for you." [01:11:04] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
"Stand for it. Firm. And that literally means the time has come to show a little bit more fortitude, a little bit more perseverance. And there is a line. Now, we're not called to aggressively cross it into the world and battle, but we are called to stop backing up from it. There's a line. And that line is caused by the fact that you're not going to be able to do what you're going to do this Thursday. Jesus Christ raised himself from the dead, and I'm not backing up." [01:14:29] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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