Walking in Faith, Hope, and Love Together
Summary
In today's gathering, we explored the profound themes of faith, hope, and love, drawing from the rich tapestry of biblical narratives and the lives of Old Testament figures like Abraham. We began by reflecting on the nature of God as a relational being who desires to walk with humanity, as seen in the Genesis account of God walking in the garden with Adam and Eve. This relationship was marred by sin, but God's plan for redemption through Jesus Christ was set in motion, demonstrating His unwavering commitment to humanity.
Abraham's journey exemplifies faith and hope. Called by God to leave his homeland, Abraham embarked on a journey of faith, trusting in God's promises despite the lack of details and the apparent impossibility of the situation. His story is a testament to the power of hope, as he believed in God's promise of descendants even when circumstances seemed insurmountable. Abraham's hope extended beyond his lifetime, looking forward to a future city with foundations built by God, symbolizing a lasting spiritual inheritance.
The New Testament introduces love as a central theme, with Jesus Christ embodying God's love through His life, death, and resurrection. Love becomes the dominant force in the Christian message, as seen in passages like 1 Corinthians 13, where love is described as the greatest virtue. While faith and hope are essential, love reflects the very nature of God and is eternal, continuing into the age to come.
As believers, we are called to embody faith, hope, and love in our lives. The New Testament emphasizes love as the culmination of God's redemptive plan, inviting us to walk in love as Jesus did. This love is not just a feeling but an active expression of God's character, empowering us to love others deeply and sacrificially.
In conclusion, we are reminded that God knows our capacity to love, as we are made in His image. Through Jesus, our capacity to love is unlocked, enabling us to walk in faith, hope, and love. Let us go forth, sharing the love of Christ with the world, confident in the knowledge that God's love is the foundation of our faith and hope.
Key Takeaways:
1. God's Relational Nature: God desires a relationship with humanity, as seen in the Genesis account of walking with Adam and Eve. Despite sin's corruption, God's plan for redemption through Jesus Christ demonstrates His unwavering commitment to restore this relationship. [01:05:28]
2. Abraham's Faith and Hope: Abraham's journey exemplifies faith and hope, as he trusted in God's promises despite the lack of details and apparent impossibility. His hope extended beyond his lifetime, looking forward to a future spiritual inheritance. [01:13:52]
3. Love as the Greatest Virtue: The New Testament introduces love as the central theme, with Jesus embodying God's love. Love is described as the greatest virtue, reflecting God's nature and continuing into eternity. [01:27:53]
4. The Culmination of God's Plan: Love is the culmination of God's redemptive plan, inviting us to walk in love as Jesus did. This love empowers us to love others deeply and sacrificially, reflecting God's character. [01:32:00]
5. Unlocking Our Capacity to Love: Made in God's image, we have the capacity to love. Through Jesus, this capacity is unlocked, enabling us to walk in faith, hope, and love, sharing the love of Christ with the world. [01:39:46]
Youtube Chapters:
- [0:00] - Welcome
- [01:03:07] - Introduction to the Gathering
- [01:04:30] - The Nature of God and Humanity
- [01:05:28] - Free Will and the Fall
- [01:06:51] - God's Plan for Redemption
- [01:09:07] - Old Testament Character Studies
- [01:10:46] - Abraham's Journey of Faith
- [01:12:25] - The Covenant with Abraham
- [01:13:52] - Hope in God's Promises
- [01:16:21] - Abraham's Vision of the Future
- [01:17:25] - The Eternal City
- [01:19:45] - Love in the New Testament
- [01:22:09] - Faith, Hope, and Love
- [01:24:22] - Heroes of Faith
- [01:26:10] - The Role of Love in Redemption
- [01:27:53] - Jesus as the Embodiment of Love
- [01:30:27] - The Eternal Nature of Love
- [01:32:00] - Love in the Christian Life
- [01:33:35] - God's Plan of Redemption
- [01:35:14] - Galatians 5: Freedom in Christ
- [01:38:26] - Abraham's Call and Salvation
- [01:39:46] - Humanity's Capacity to Love
- [01:41:15] - Faith, Hope, and Love in Action
- [01:43:37] - Closing Prayer and Reflection
- [01:46:08] - Invitation to Fellowship
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Genesis 12:1-3
2. Romans 4:18-21
3. 1 Corinthians 13:13
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Observation Questions:
1. What does Genesis 12:1-3 reveal about God's call to Abraham and the promises made to him? How does this relate to the theme of faith in the sermon? [01:10:46]
2. In Romans 4:18-21, how is Abraham's faith described in the face of seemingly impossible circumstances? What does this passage tell us about hope? [01:13:52]
3. According to 1 Corinthians 13:13, why is love considered the greatest virtue among faith, hope, and love? How does this align with the sermon’s emphasis on love? [01:27:53]
4. How does the sermon describe God's relational nature and His desire to walk with humanity, as seen in the Genesis account? [01:05:28]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does Abraham's journey of faith and hope serve as a model for believers today, especially when facing uncertain situations? [01:12:25]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that love is the culmination of God's redemptive plan? How does this understanding impact the way believers are called to live? [01:32:00]
3. How does the sermon explain the shift in emphasis from faith and hope in the Old Testament to love in the New Testament? What significance does this have for understanding the Christian message? [01:27:53]
4. What does the sermon suggest about humanity's capacity to love, and how is this capacity unlocked through Jesus Christ? [01:39:46]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you had to trust in God's promises without knowing all the details. How did that experience shape your faith and hope? [01:12:25]
2. The sermon emphasizes love as an active expression of God's character. What are some practical ways you can embody this love in your daily interactions with others? [01:32:00]
3. Consider the relationships in your life. How can you strengthen them by walking in love, as Jesus did? What specific actions can you take this week to demonstrate sacrificial love? [01:32:00]
4. How does understanding God's unwavering commitment to humanity, despite sin, influence your view of your relationship with Him? What steps can you take to deepen this relationship? [01:05:28]
5. The sermon highlights the importance of hope in God's promises. Identify an area in your life where you need to hold onto hope. How can you remind yourself of God's faithfulness in this area? [01:13:52]
6. How can you actively participate in God's redemptive plan by sharing the love of Christ with those around you? What specific opportunities do you have to do this in your community? [01:32:00]
7. Reflect on the idea that God knows your capacity to love. How can this understanding encourage you to step out in faith and love more boldly? [01:39:46]
Devotional
Day 1: God's Relational Pursuit of Humanity
God's desire for a relationship with humanity is evident from the beginning of creation. In Genesis, God is depicted as walking in the garden with Adam and Eve, illustrating His intention to be close to His creation. However, this relationship was disrupted by sin, leading to a separation between God and humanity. Despite this, God's commitment to restoring this relationship is unwavering, as demonstrated through His redemptive plan set in motion by Jesus Christ. This plan highlights God's relentless pursuit of humanity, aiming to reconcile and restore the broken relationship caused by sin. [01:05:28]
"And I will walk among you and will be your God, and you shall be my people." (Leviticus 26:12, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways can you actively seek to deepen your relationship with God today, acknowledging His desire to walk with you?
Day 2: Abraham's Journey of Faith and Hope
Abraham's life is a profound example of faith and hope in action. Called by God to leave his homeland, Abraham embarked on a journey without knowing the details, trusting in God's promises despite the apparent impossibility of his situation. His faith was not just a momentary decision but a lifelong commitment to believing in God's word. Abraham's hope extended beyond his lifetime, as he looked forward to a future city with foundations built by God, symbolizing a lasting spiritual inheritance. His story encourages believers to trust in God's promises, even when circumstances seem insurmountable. [01:13:52]
"By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going." (Hebrews 11:8, ESV)
Reflection: What is one promise of God that you find difficult to trust in fully? How can you take a step of faith today to trust Him more?
Day 3: Love as the Central Theme of the Gospel
The New Testament introduces love as the central theme of the Christian message, with Jesus Christ embodying God's love through His life, death, and resurrection. Love is described as the greatest virtue, surpassing even faith and hope, and reflecting the very nature of God. This love is not just a feeling but an active expression of God's character, inviting believers to love others deeply and sacrificially. As followers of Christ, we are called to embody this love in our daily lives, allowing it to guide our actions and interactions with others. [01:27:53]
"Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins." (1 Peter 4:8, ESV)
Reflection: Who in your life needs to experience the love of Christ through you today? How can you show them this love in a tangible way?
Day 4: The Culmination of God's Redemptive Plan
Love is the culmination of God's redemptive plan, inviting believers to walk in love as Jesus did. This love empowers us to love others deeply and sacrificially, reflecting God's character and fulfilling His purpose for humanity. Through Jesus, our capacity to love is unlocked, enabling us to live out the virtues of faith, hope, and love in our daily lives. As we embrace this calling, we become conduits of God's love to the world, sharing the transformative power of the gospel with those around us. [01:32:00]
"And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." (Ephesians 5:2, ESV)
Reflection: What is one practical way you can walk in love today, following the example of Christ's sacrificial love?
Day 5: Unlocking Our Capacity to Love
Being made in God's image, we have an inherent capacity to love. Through Jesus, this capacity is unlocked, enabling us to walk in faith, hope, and love. As we grow in our relationship with Christ, we are empowered to love others as He loves us, sharing the love of Christ with the world. This love is not limited to our own strength but is fueled by the Holy Spirit, allowing us to love deeply and sacrificially. As we embrace this calling, we become reflections of God's love, impacting the lives of those around us. [01:39:46]
"Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God." (1 John 4:7, ESV)
Reflection: How can you rely on the Holy Spirit to help you love someone who is difficult to love today? What steps can you take to show them God's love?
Quotes
1) "But, yeah, Robert sums it up really, really well. It's an awesome ministry that really is there for everyone and anyone to participate in. It has very minimal boundaries. You don't need a passport. You don't need to book a ticket, you can go and touch a nation which is part of who we are. As hopelands changing lives, impacting community and touching nations. You can reach out and touch a nation through a shoebox. Powerful, isn't it? So, so powerful." [01:03:07] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2) "God made humanity and his image and his likeness, and he has the capacity to trust in the wonder of his creation. So God knows the capacity of humanity, and he knows that humanity, joined together with himself, has the capacity to, in a phenomenal way, show forth love. Sin corrupts that Adam and Eve. When sin entered the world, there was a corruption of the capacity of humanity. Sin. And God then commences a journey to send his one and only begotten son, the Lord Jesus Christ, that humanity, you and I can be, can join back in relationship fullness with the father, and the fullness of the capacity of humanity could then be seen." [01:06:51] (79 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3) "Abraham's story is profound example of faith in action, his trust in God's plan. Even without knowing all of the details, when I read it there in Genesis, there's not much more than just a little bit of a sentence, is there? Abraham, come for a walk with me. God says, that's a little bit void of details. True. So there is faith. Even when knowing out, without knowing all the details. There is that obedience, there is faith, there is covenant. I've mentioned that the story emphasises the importance of God's covenantal relationship with humanity. Promising blessings, land and descendants, and there's a blessing of nations is significant." [01:12:25] (44 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4) "But despite these circumstances, despite these insurmountable obstacles, we could say Abraham held onto hope, hope that God was a deliverer of his promises. God is a fulfiller of his promises in the New Testament. When we look at Romans chapter four and 18 through 21, Romans 418, 21, I'm going to read through that. Through that passage, it says, even when there was like no reason for hope, yet in hope, Abraham believed so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, so shall your descendants be." [01:13:52] (53 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5) "Abraham's hope was not just immediate for the blessings of a single child, but for something that is much, much greater, a future with lasting impact on humanity. Hebrews 1110 and we can see that Abraham's faith and his hope extended beyond his life, it says, for he was looking forward to a city with foundations whose architect and builder is God. Abraham wasn't only for a physical land and his descendants, but in God's eternal plan. He looked forward into the future reality of a lasting inheritance that transcends, that goes beyond the earthly realm and earthly promises." [01:17:25] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6) "The New Testament reveals Jesus as the full expression of God's love. John 316, say it back to me. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only begotten son. Whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life. The picture of love new covenant love is Jesus death and his resurrection brought about a new covenant, not based on the law, but on the love of God, poured out through Christ the Son, Jesus. So therefore, apostle Paul emphasises love as a great virtue of the christian life. While faith and hope are essential, love is described as the greatest because it reflects the very nature and the very heart of God." [01:27:53] (59 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7) "God knows your capacity to love people. Let's go. Amen. Coffee and refreshments are available out in the foyer. That's just all sort of firing up right now. As I said earlier, I invite you to stay on for that part three of our service. Mix and mingle. Say hi to someone. Be bold and courageous. Shake a hand or give someone a hug. Praise be to the Lord. Amen." [01:47:18] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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