**Summary:**

Today, we gather to celebrate the hope and joy that Christmas brings, focusing on the profound significance of Jesus' birth. As we sing ancient Christmas carols, we are reminded of the thrill of hope that Jesus' arrival brought to a weary world. At a time when darkness and oppression reigned, the birth of Christ in Bethlehem marked the dawn of a new era, fulfilling the long-awaited promise of a Messiah. This hope, prophesied by Jeremiah and Isaiah, was not just for the Israelites but for all humanity, offering a light in the darkness and a promise of renewal.

The story behind the beloved carol "O Holy Night" illustrates how even those distant from faith can be inspired by the message of Christ. The carol's line, "A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices," captures the essence of the hope that Jesus brings. This hope is not a fleeting, temporal wish but a living, eternal hope grounded in God's promises. Unlike human promises that often disappoint, God's promises are sure and steadfast, as demonstrated by the fulfillment of over 300 prophecies concerning the Messiah.

The name of Jesus, meaning "God is salvation," carries immense power. It is a name that brings healing, deliverance, and salvation. In a world filled with uncertainty and disappointment, the living hope found in Jesus provides an anchor for our souls, enabling us to rise above life's challenges. This hope assures us of a future with Christ, a promise that is as certain as the fulfillment of past prophecies.

As we approach a new year, let us hold onto this living hope, confident in the promises of God. Whether you are renewing your faith or seeking a deeper relationship with Jesus, know that He is the way, the truth, and the life. Embrace the hope of Christmas, a hope that transcends all earthly concerns and assures us of eternal life with our Savior.

**Key Takeaways:**

1. **The Hope of Christmas:** The birth of Jesus brought hope to a world in darkness, fulfilling ancient prophecies and offering a promise of renewal and salvation. This hope is not just historical but continues to infuse our lives with purpose and joy. [48:34]

2. **The Power of Jesus' Name:** The name of Jesus, meaning "God is salvation," holds transformative power. It is a name that brings healing, deliverance, and salvation, changing the atmosphere wherever it is proclaimed. [57:13]

3. **Living Hope as an Anchor:** In a world filled with uncertainty, the living hope found in Jesus provides an anchor for our souls. It enables us to rise above life's challenges, offering assurance and stability amidst the storms. [01:04:35]

4. **Confidence in God's Promises:** Unlike human promises that often disappoint, God's promises are sure and steadfast. The fulfillment of over 300 prophecies concerning the Messiah assures us of the certainty of God's word. [01:06:58]

5. **Eternal Assurance:** The living hope in Jesus assures us of a future with Him, a promise that is as certain as the fulfillment of past prophecies. This hope transcends all earthly concerns, offering us eternal life with our Savior. [01:08:42]

**Youtube Chapters:**

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [48:34] - Singing and the Hope of Christmas
- [53:01] - The Story Behind "O Holy Night"
- [55:16] - Temporal vs. Eternal Hope
- [57:13] - The Power of Jesus' Name
- [01:02:56] - Living Hope and Disappointment
- [01:04:35] - Hope as an Anchor
- [01:06:58] - Confidence in God's Promises
- [01:08:42] - Assurance of Eternal Life
- [01:11:24] - Invitation to Faith
- [01:13:32] - Closing and Announcements

**Bible Study Discussion Guide**

**Bible Reading:**
1. Isaiah 9:2, 6-7
2. Matthew 1:20-23
3. 1 Peter 1:3-5

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**Observation Questions:**

1. What was the historical context during the time of Jesus' birth, and how did it contribute to the hope that His arrival brought? [48:34]

2. How does the carol "O Holy Night" capture the essence of the hope that Jesus brings, according to the sermon? [53:01]

3. What is the significance of the name "Jesus," and how does it relate to His mission on earth? [57:13]

4. How does the sermon describe the difference between temporal hope and living hope? [55:16]

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**Interpretation Questions:**

1. In what ways does the prophecy in Isaiah 9:2, 6-7 illustrate the hope and renewal that Jesus' birth brought to the world?

2. How does the angel's message to Joseph in Matthew 1:20-23 emphasize the fulfillment of God's promises through Jesus? [57:13]

3. According to 1 Peter 1:3-5, what does it mean to have a "living hope," and how does this hope impact a believer's life?

4. How does the sermon suggest that the power of Jesus' name can transform situations and bring about change? [57:13]

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**Application Questions:**

1. Reflect on a time when you felt like you were in a "dark" period. How did the hope of Jesus help you navigate through it? [48:34]

2. The sermon mentions that God's promises are sure and steadfast. How can you remind yourself of this truth when facing uncertainty or disappointment? [01:06:58]

3. How can you incorporate the power of Jesus' name into your daily life to bring healing and transformation to your surroundings? [57:13]

4. In what ways can you hold onto the living hope found in Jesus as you approach the new year? What specific steps can you take to strengthen this hope? [01:04:35]

5. The sermon highlights the importance of having confidence in God's promises. How can you cultivate a deeper trust in God's word and His plans for your life? [01:06:58]

6. How can you share the hope of Christmas with someone who may be distant from faith or struggling with hopelessness? [53:01]

7. Consider the eternal assurance that comes with the living hope in Jesus. How does this assurance influence your perspective on life's challenges and your future? [01:08:42]

Day 1: The Dawn of Hope
The birth of Jesus marked a pivotal moment in history, bringing hope to a world shrouded in darkness. This hope was not just for the Israelites but for all humanity, fulfilling ancient prophecies and offering a promise of renewal and salvation. The arrival of Jesus in Bethlehem signified the dawn of a new era, a light piercing through the shadows of oppression and despair. This hope is not merely a historical event but a living reality that continues to infuse our lives with purpose and joy. As we reflect on the significance of Christmas, we are reminded that this hope is eternal, grounded in the steadfast promises of God. [48:34]

Isaiah 9:2 (ESV): "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone."

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you feel surrounded by darkness? How can you invite the light of Christ into these areas today?


Day 2: The Transformative Power of Jesus' Name
The name of Jesus, meaning "God is salvation," holds immense transformative power. It is a name that brings healing, deliverance, and salvation, changing the atmosphere wherever it is proclaimed. In a world filled with uncertainty and disappointment, the name of Jesus offers a beacon of hope and a source of strength. This power is not just theoretical but practical, impacting our daily lives and enabling us to rise above challenges. As we proclaim the name of Jesus, we invite His presence and power into our circumstances, experiencing the fullness of His salvation. [57:13]

Acts 4:12 (ESV): "And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."

Reflection: How can you intentionally incorporate the name of Jesus into your daily life, inviting His transformative power into your circumstances?


Day 3: Hope as an Anchor
In a world filled with uncertainty, the living hope found in Jesus provides an anchor for our souls. This hope is not a fleeting, temporal wish but a steadfast assurance grounded in God's promises. It enables us to rise above life's challenges, offering stability amidst the storms. As we navigate the complexities of life, this hope serves as a firm foundation, reminding us of the certainty of God's word and the fulfillment of His promises. By holding onto this hope, we find peace and assurance, knowing that our future is secure in Christ. [01:04:35]

Hebrews 6:19 (ESV): "We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain."

Reflection: What are some of the storms you are currently facing? How can you allow the hope of Jesus to anchor your soul amidst these challenges?


Day 4: Confidence in God's Promises
Unlike human promises that often disappoint, God's promises are sure and steadfast. The fulfillment of over 300 prophecies concerning the Messiah assures us of the certainty of God's word. This confidence in God's promises provides a solid foundation for our faith, enabling us to trust in His faithfulness. As we reflect on the fulfillment of these prophecies, we are reminded of the reliability of God's word and the assurance of His promises. This confidence empowers us to live boldly, knowing that God's promises are true and will come to pass. [01:06:58]

2 Corinthians 1:20 (ESV): "For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory."

Reflection: What is one promise of God that you are struggling to believe? How can you remind yourself of His faithfulness and trust in His word today?


Day 5: Assurance of Eternal Life
The living hope in Jesus assures us of a future with Him, a promise that is as certain as the fulfillment of past prophecies. This hope transcends all earthly concerns, offering us eternal life with our Savior. As we embrace the hope of Christmas, we are reminded of the eternal assurance we have in Christ. This assurance provides peace and joy, knowing that our future is secure in Him. As we approach a new year, let us hold onto this living hope, confident in the promises of God and assured of our eternal destiny with Him. [01:08:42]

1 Peter 1:3-4 (ESV): "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you."

Reflection: How does the assurance of eternal life with Jesus impact your perspective on current challenges? How can you live today in light of this eternal hope?

"And human life had very little value during that, era of history. There was oppression and over -taxation. But yet, there was this people of God, the Israelites, that had the Torah, the old covenant. And they believed the promise that one day Messiah would come. And when Messiah comes, he'll make all things new, and he'll make all things right. And he'll rebuild Israel, and have a king sit upon the throne, and everything is going to be better. In fact, there was a prophet, his name was Jeremiah, and he lived and prophesied 600 years before Christ. And he called the coming of the Lord, and he called the Messiah this name. He is the hope of Israel. And sure enough, that hope would come in the form of an infant. And when Jesus entered the world, hope was birthed again in the hearts of God's people. And it's been happening ever since. When Jesus shows up, hopeless lives and hopeless situations are infused with fresh hope." [00:49:32] (56 seconds)


"Powerful stories of the hope of Christ. And so when Isaiah was prophesying about this dark time, 750 years before Jesus was born, here's what he said in Isaiah 9. The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine. For a child is born to us, a son is given to us, and the government will rest on his shoulders, and he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. This is the joy, and the hope that came with Christmas." [00:50:54] (34 seconds)


"So this hope is a confidence that the future is going to be bright, not based on what I feel or flawed humans have promised me, but on the eternal promise of a God who never breaks one. If you think about this, there's well over 300 promises in the Old Testament. In the form of prophecies and commitments from God, in fact, by theological count, there's 365 detailed prophecies about the coming Messiah, and do you know those were given, pronounced over the space of 1 ,500 years, and through the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, all 365 promises were fulfilled in detail to completion, and the mathematical odds of that are astronomical, but that took place because of the source, of those promises." [00:56:56] (49 seconds)


"Now, review for most of you, but here are the roots and the meaning of the name Jesus. It's Hebrew, Yahshua, which means God, Yahweh is salvation. In the Old Testament, it was Joshua. The Lord, Yahshua, delivers and saves. So the name Jesus actually means God, our savior and our deliverer. And it's just not like a name of a common garden variety. It is the name above every name. Let's talk to you for a moment about the name of Jesus. No other name has been given in heaven and earth whereby men might be saved. At the name of Jesus, demons tremble. At the name of Jesus, we lay hands on the sick and they recover. And there will be a day where every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. The name of Jesus has power. The name of Jesus changes the atmosphere. And the name of Jesus saves the world because he is the savior and the redeemer of the planet. There's power in his name today." [01:01:05] (64 seconds)


"And I know a lot of people take his name in vain. It's so common. But if you want to change the atmosphere of your workplace, if you want to change the atmosphere of the dinner table, if you have people far from God joining you over the holidays, just begin to talk about the name of Jesus and the person of Jesus. There is an inherent power in his name. He is the savior that's been sent to us. And a prolific writer put it this way. If our greatest need would have been information, God would have sent an educator. If our greatest need were technology, God would have sent a scientist. If our greatest need were money, God would have sent an economist. If our greatest need was pleasure, God would have sent us an entertainer. But our greatest need is forgiveness. So he sent us a savior." [01:02:09] (47 seconds)


"There is a living hope because of the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. And you know, no matter what you're going through, this is not it. I've got a higher call and I'm living for something beyond this life. In first Peter, it's called a living hope. Look at this. Blessed be the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ. According to his great mercy, he's caused us to be born again to a living hope. This inheritance can what? It can never perish. It can never spoil or it can never fade. Nobody can take this one away from you." [01:03:06] (36 seconds)


"And remember our definition of this living hope. It's a confident expectation of a better future based on the character and the credibility of the one making the promise. And if God promised David, there will always be one who will sit upon the throne and the Messiah will come for you. And a thousand years later, it came to pass. If God promised Isaiah that the darkness on Israel would be lifted and a savior would come for him, it would come to pass. And if God promised Isaiah that the darkness on Israel would come to pass, it would come to pass. And if God promised Isaiah that the darkness on Israel would come to pass, it would come to pass. And if God promised Isaiah that the darkness on Israel would come to pass, it would come to pass. And 750 years later, it came to pass. And on and on they go, 365 Old Testament prophecies completed in detail. What has he promised you and I for this life? He says, I'll give you a hope and a future." [01:06:58] (44 seconds)


"I promise that if you trust me, you will never be put to shame or disappointed. I promise that if you cast all your care upon me, I will care for you. He's promised us many things, but the most important, the most important promise is this, that he's coming back for his church. And this is the hope of Christmas. Not that we make it through the holidays without a family fight or bringing up politics as we eat the ham or the turkey, or we get the job promotion, all this stuff. That's so trivial in light of this question. Are we ready to see the savior when he comes back as he has promised?" [01:07:20] (37 seconds)

Awesome.

Hey, we're going to lift up some Christmas carols today. Our goal today is to exalt Jesus and thank the Father for sending Jesus to our broken planet. So I want to invite you to sing. Sing with all your heart. Sing loud. You know, find a harmony part. And if you don't know, well, Dave, I'm not much of a singer. That's why we crank up the band here. So you can be free, man. Sing away.

I do want to thank everybody who calls the Father's house home. We've had an amazing year as far as outreach and all of our campuses, our plants, the Prison Church Network. We love our city, global reach, world missions. We've done a lot financially. I want to thank you for being a generous church. If it is your home church, between now and the first, you have an opportunity for your year-end giving. You'll find this on the website and on the app. We're going to finish the year strong. Amen.

And then I want a special shout-out. Christmas Eve is this Tuesday. It really is a service and a night where people that don't go to church will show up. It's going to be a 55-minute service with a lot of good singing in it, a very simple but clear gospel message. Then we'll light candles together. It's going to be a great time. So I want to invite you. It's at 4 o'clock and 6 o'clock. The 6 o'clock service might be a better chance to get a seat. We'll see. But anyway, plan on being there.

Are you guys ready to sing? Why don't you turn and greet about, I don't know, 30, 35 people. Tell them Merry Christmas and that it's so good to see them in the house today. You look good. You look good. Let's go.

Merry Christmas. Merry Christmas.

Oh, you guys are singing. You're singing today. Oh, you know, I love these ancient Christmas carols, but they were written as hymns to glorify Jesus coming to this planet. My favorite Christmas carol, far and away, you sang it just a couple of minutes ago, is "O Holy Night." There's a line in there that I want to talk about for just a few minutes, and it's this line right here: "A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices."

I want to talk to you about the hope of Christmas, which is really the hope of Christ coming to earth. When Christ came to this planet in this little obscure village called Bethlehem, he showed up at a time that was really dismal in human existence. It was a dark time in many ways. There were tyrant leaders overseeing the Roman government that oppressed all the nations, especially the Jewish people. It was a time of slavery, poverty, war, and brutality. Human life had very little value during that era of history. There was oppression and over-taxation.

But yet, there were the people of God, the Israelites, who had the Torah, the old covenant. They believed the promise that one day the Messiah would come. When the Messiah comes, he'll make all things new, and he'll make all things right. He'll rebuild Israel and have a king sit upon the throne, and everything is going to be better.

In fact, there was a prophet, his name was Jeremiah, who lived and prophesied 600 years before Christ. He called the coming of the Lord, the Messiah, this name: "He is the hope of Israel." Sure enough, that hope would come in the form of an infant. When Jesus entered the world, hope was birthed again in the hearts of God's people. It's been happening ever since. When Jesus shows up, hopeless lives and hopeless situations are infused with fresh hope.

Just as you heard this morning, can we give it up for three brave people that shared those stories? Powerful stories of the hope of Christ.

When Isaiah was prophesying about this dark time, 750 years before Jesus was born, here's what he said in Isaiah 9: "The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine. For a child is born to us, a son is given to us, and the government will rest on his shoulders. He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace."

This is the joy and the hope that came with Christmas.

Back to our beloved Christmas carol, "O Holy Night," a little backdrop on that. It would be 1843 in a small village in France. There was a priest of a small parish, and he was trying to prepare something inspirational for the Christmas service celebration, as we do, right? He knew a guy in town, a small town, small village, who owned a wine shop, but he also wrote poetry. So he went to the guy, the side-hustle poem writer, and he asked him to write a poem for the Christmas celebration.

Now, according to history, the wine guy was not a devout man whatsoever, but he did his research. He read the stories of the coming Christ in the Bible and began to study the promises of the Messiah coming to earth so that he would have some authority and context when he wrote his poem. As he sat down to put pen to parchment, he came up with these words right here: "O Holy Night, the stars are brightly shining. It is the night of our dear Savior's birth. Long lay the world in sin and error pining till he appeared, and the soul felt its worth."

I don't know about you, but I think our wine guy, poem writer, hit a moment of inspiration right here. I think he moved a little bit out of his gifting, and there was a download from heaven because we've been singing this chorus and this hymn now into the third century.

Then he wrote this right here: "A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn." Then he calls the people of God to worship.

And I'd like us to lift up our voices. We'll sing this acapella or whatever you call it. You ready? "Fall on your knees. Oh, hear the..."

Oh, not like when Christ was born. Big notes coming. Ready? Oh, my. Let's go. Oh, divine.

Oh, that was incredible. Some of you took a hall pass on that high note. I heard you. Like, I'm going to grab this lower harmony right now. A powerful song.

Hope is something that we've been hardwired for. You have eternity bound in your hearts, it says in the book of Ecclesiastes. So, not just a temporal low-level hope, but God's love for you. God has designed us for a living hope, for an eternal hope.

Hope is something you don't think a lot about. You don't wake up in the morning and go, "Hey, how's my hope level? I hope I got some hope today." I think hope's kind of like oxygen. It's not a big deal until you run out.

When you talk to people, as you heard testimonies that reach that point of wanting to end their life, they all come to a place of hopelessness because we are designed to have a future to look forward to. Hope is future-focused.

Even right now, as we're turning the calendar from 2024 to 2025, there's something in people's hearts that has hope for a better year. Maybe you've had a rough year personally, and you're like, "You know, 2025 is going to be better. God's going to open doors. Things are going to come together. I'm going to get free of the addiction or lose the weight or do the deal or save the money or whatever's in your heart."

That is a good thing to have some hope for a brighter future. But if hope is only based on temporal circumstances and flawed people, often hope can disappoint. Our hopes get dashed, and we get disillusioned.

It says right here in Proverbs 13 that hope deferred or hope unanswered makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life. So there's a difference between common hope, temporary hope versus a living hope versus eternal hope.

You know, Webster's says, the dictionary says, hope is this: to want something to happen or something to be true. We just want this to happen. A few examples, because our lives are filled with lower-level hope.

We were hoping our team would go to the playoffs. Too soon? All right. Special prayer at the end of service for the Raiders fans. God be with you. That's my bad.

2025, you know, we hope the interest rates will drop and the stock market will keep going up. We hope that the wars in the world will be over for all. And we hope that somebody will figure out what in the world is happening with the mystery drones and tell us the truth. Has anybody else?

Don't get me started. Don't fly your drone over my house, man. I'm locked and loaded. I just lost the anti-gun people, but it gives you something to work through over the holidays.

How about this? If you're a single dude, you might be hoping that you're going to find the woman of your dreams in 2025. If you're a young lady that's been dating a guy, you might be hoping in 2025 that the proposal is on its way. If you have some grown kids at home, you could be hoping that this will be the year that they finally move out in Jesus' name.

But, you know, low-level hope actually leads to disappointment because the source of that hope is often uncertain. It's unstable. It's flawed because of the human element. Hope is only as strong and reliable as the one making the promise.

Yet biblical hope, eternal hope, living hope, here's a great working definition: Biblical hope is a confident expectation in God's future actions, grounded in his character and the certainty of his promises. It shapes the believer's life with trust, endurance, and joy, regardless of present challenges.

This hope is a confidence that the future is going to be bright, not based on what I feel or flawed humans have promised me, but on the eternal promise of a God who never breaks one.

If you think about this, there are well over 300 promises in the Old Testament in the form of prophecies and commitments from God. In fact, by theological count, there are 365 detailed prophecies about the coming Messiah. Do you know those were given, pronounced over the space of 1,500 years? Through the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, all 365 promises were fulfilled in detail to completion. The mathematical odds of that are astronomical, but that took place because of the source of those promises.

Now, the problem with prophecies and promises is that there's always a gap between the promise and the fulfillment. They had the promise of the Messiah, but a generation goes by, and everybody begins to die off. They would share the stories of the exodus and crossing over the Red Sea with the next generation. They would have hope of the Messiah, and then that generation got old, and they would share with their sons and daughters.

But because of delay, many just gave up on the promises. They went back into paganism. They no longer worshiped Yahweh. But it tells us in Hebrews that some died in faith, believing what God said. Though the delay of the Messiah coming seemed like a ridiculous delay for many generations, here's what the scriptures say: "At just the right time," would you say that with me? "At just the right time, Christ came and died on a cross for sinners." He went to that tomb, and then he resurrected three days later.

In God's perfect timing, the arc of history, he fulfilled every promise.

Now, I want to visit one major promise that changes everything for all of us, and it's in the midst of the most important gender reveal in history. In the birth of Jesus, there's this moment where Joseph, soon to be the stepfather of God—no pressure—finds out, and not for Mary, by the way, that she's pregnant, and he's not the father.

Now, let's not try to gloss over or diminish the pain, confusion, and betrayal that Joseph was feeling in that moment. As their custom was, she should have been exposed to public disgrace as soon as he found out. But Joseph's a man of integrity. He's got great character. He's from the lineage of David. He's got royalty in his blood. He says, "You know what? I'm not going to disgrace Mary publicly." So he didn't say anything, but hey, disgrace and shame were on the way as she began to show.

In their culture, they didn't say anything. Being pregnant outside of marriage was far different than in our time and in our culture. But Joseph finds himself in this conundrum, and in the middle of it, he has an angelic visitation.

Matthew 1, look at this: "As Joseph considered this," and that is the breakup, "an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, 'Joseph, son of David,' the angel said, 'do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. She will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.'"

Now, all this occurred to fulfill the Lord's message through the prophet. Then the angel starts quoting the ancient prophecy of Isaiah: "Look, the virgin will conceive a child. She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Emmanuel, which means God with us."

So Jesus is born. According to Jewish custom, eight days later, they take the little eight-day-old baby to the synagogue for the circumcision and the official naming. In that moment, they call his name Jesus.

Now, a review for most of you, but here are the roots and the meaning of the name Jesus. It's Hebrew, Yahshua, which means God, Yahweh is salvation. In the Old Testament, it was Joshua. The Lord, Yahshua, delivers and saves. So the name Jesus actually means God, our savior and our deliverer.

It's just not like a name of a common garden variety. It is the name above every name.

Let's talk for a moment about the name of Jesus. No other name has been given in heaven and earth whereby men might be saved. At the name of Jesus, demons tremble. At the name of Jesus, we lay hands on the sick, and they recover. There will be a day where every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.

The name of Jesus has power. The name of Jesus changes the atmosphere. The name of Jesus saves the world because he is the savior and the redeemer of the planet. There's power in his name today.

I know a lot of people take his name in vain. It's so common. But if you want to change the atmosphere of your workplace, if you want to change the atmosphere of the dinner table, if you have people far from God joining you over the holidays, just begin to talk about the name of Jesus and the person of Jesus. There is an inherent power in his name. He is the savior that's been sent to us.

A prolific writer put it this way: "If our greatest need would have been information, God would have sent an educator. If our greatest need were technology, God would have sent a scientist. If our greatest need were money, God would have sent an economist. If our greatest need was pleasure, God would have sent us an entertainer. But our greatest need is forgiveness. So he sent us a savior."

For those of you in the room, I know there's a lot of Christ followers, and you have met this Jesus. You could testify of what happens. Something happens internally. There is a living hope because of the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. You know, no matter what you're going through, this is not it. I've got a higher call, and I'm living for something beyond this life.

In 1 Peter, it's called a living hope. Look at this: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. According to his great mercy, he's caused us to be born again to a living hope. This inheritance can what? It can never perish. It can never spoil or fade. Nobody can take this one away from you."

While your temporary hopes are dashed, disappointments come. People break their promises. You know, for instance, she said no when you asked her out. You didn't get the promotion. Dad did not take you fishing when he said he would. Or your parents forgot to pick you up from school and left you sitting on the curb. True story. I'm so sorry.

But what does this living hope establish and do in your life?

Number one, living hope will enable you to live above disappointment. It doesn't extinguish disappointment on a broken planet. It just allows you to live above it.

Romans 5 says, "We can rejoice when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance, and endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation."

Look at this: "And this hope will not lead to disappointment." Great word for disappointment. Disappointment means confusion, shame, and brokenness. So when you have this living hope, the confusion in your life is introduced to clarity and vision. The brokenness in your life receives healing. The shame that we carry from our past and our sin and our broken lives is laid at the foot of the cross. It says that he makes all things new. This is the living hope of Christ. Amen?

Number two, living hope gives us a secure anchor through the storms of life. Now, there's something that's true about all of us. You cannot get through this life and through this world without a bunch of storms hitting you. You're either in a season of storms or you've been through one. If you're in a season of calm, guess what? There's a storm up ahead.

Not trying to be Dave the Downer at Christmas. I just, I've read the book of Revelation. Buckle up. Okay, church humor.

Hebrews chapter six says, "We who have run for our very lives to God have this hope as an anchor for our soul. It's an unbreakable spiritual lifeline, reaching past all appearances right to the very presence of God where Jesus, running on ahead of us, has taken up his permanent residence."

Let me just say this. Today, if you feel like your life is being thrashed and bashed about and you can't get your bearings, I want to invite you to settle your life on the rock Christ Jesus and have an anchor of your soul as a savior who will never fail you and will keep every promise that he's ever made. In his word, this is his invitation to us. This is the hope and thrill of Christmas.

The final one, living hope gives us confidence that we will spend eternity with Jesus. Always a good question: Are you ready for the life after this one? What do you believe? What does that look like? Do you have a confidence and an assurance and a living hope that when Christ comes back for his church, that you're going to be ready for that event?

Titus 2:13 says, "We wait for the blessed hope, which is the glorious appearance of our great God and savior, Jesus Christ."

Remember our definition of this living hope. It's a confident expectation of a better future based on the character and the credibility of the one making the promise.

If God promised David that there will always be one who will sit upon the throne and the Messiah will come for you, a thousand years later, it came to pass. If God promised Isaiah that the darkness on Israel would be lifted and a savior would come for him, it would come to pass.

And 750 years later, it came to pass. On and on they go, 365 Old Testament prophecies completed in detail. What has he promised you and I for this life? He says, "I'll give you a hope and a future. I promise that if you trust me, you will never be put to shame or disappointed. I promise that if you cast all your care upon me, I will care for you."

He's promised us many things, but the most important promise is this: that he's coming back for his church.

This is the hope of Christmas. Not that we make it through the holidays without a family fight or bringing up politics as we eat the ham or the turkey, or we get the job promotion—all this stuff that's so trivial in light of this question: Are we ready to see the savior when he comes back as he has promised?

I want to have the band come up, and I want to read you, before we close, the words of Christ. I want to read you the words of Christ about a promise that pertains to your future. If you are a Christ follower today, this is for you, but perhaps you're not. Maybe you're here as a guest or a visitor, and you're trying to figure out religion or which God is which. I want to invite you to consider the promises of Christ and let the Holy Spirit today convict and convince you that, wow, I need a savior. I can't save myself because he made this promise to his church in John 14:

"Don't let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God. Trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father's home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I'm going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I'm going to come get you so that you will always be with me where I am."

Then he said this: "I am the way, I am the truth, and I am the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

This is the promise. He's preparing a place. This is not Christian mythology. This is not we're wishing and hoping that our religion is the right version. This is the spirit of truth that's been confirmed throughout the ages.

This is the promise of the living God. This is the hope of Christmas that surpasses all other hopes. It's a living hope that does not fade away. It does not perish. It does not diminish because it's grounded and founded upon the very words of Christ.

I'm willing to bet my life, Benny, and my eternity upon what Jesus has promised me. How about you?

I'm just making sure. I'm just making sure you're saved, dude. I feel good about you. How about you?

What's this new year look like? In just a moment, we'll stand to our feet and we'll sing, "He alone is worthy" and lift our voices one more time. But before we do that, I'm going to pray a prayer. I would love to include you in that if you've never fully surrendered your life to Jesus. Or maybe you did years ago and you've fallen away, faded away.

But perhaps in this moment, through these testimonies and the worship that's happened in this room, you'd like to head into this new year saying, "Jesus, I know I'm in a right relationship with you and all is well with my soul."

So if you would, would you bow your heads today? I'm going to pray over you, and then I'm going to invite you to pray with me.

As I pray over you today, I speak God's blessing over your family this holiday. I pray there'd be peace in your home. I pray that Christ would be at the center. I pray that your meals and your times together with friends and family would be sweet fellowship. There'd be a grace. I pray you'd have hope for a new year. A new year based on the promises of Christ.

Right now, I'm going to pray a prayer. If you need to join me in your heart, you can either whisper this or agree with it. God is looking at our hearts as we pray this.