Hope Sermon Series
Hope X: "Hope Killers"
December 8, 2019 • Paul Barnard
Hope IV “Hope Killers” Suffering causes severe things in our life (weakness, faltering and isolation) *1Pe 5:8* Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. The adversary (Against what is right) is the one is coming against you The devil-author of confusion, deception and fear —a beautiful angel of light, Prowling or roaming in his world (greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world) Like a lion- - Away from the herd - Weak and sick - Young *1Pe 5:9* Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. Resist him -Jas 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. firm in your faith- *intervention vs. prevention* Intervention faith is faith born out of crisis (foxhole faith) Prevention faith is faith born out of discipline and intentional, planned growth (faith before the foxhole) *Conclusion:* Satan is coming. When he gets here is not the time to grow faith your faith. Grow your faith before. How is your faith at this moment? Are you planning your faith or hoping your faith? First step is repentance, second is obedience and the third is victory. Connect, Grow and Repent (turn away from sin) _*Questions:*_ 1. How do you picture Satan when you see him in your head? What does he look like? Is this reality? 2. How has connecting, growing and repenting protecting you from Satan? (specific instances) 3. How does your faith measure up? Is it an intervention faith or prevention faith? 4. What are some ways to get prevention faith not intervention?
Hope VII "The Decisive Moment
November 24, 2019 • Paul Barnard
Hope VIII “The Decisive Moment” 1. 1Pe 4:1 Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 1Pe 4:2 so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God. * The more you go through the more you should have a “don’t quit now” * “Whoever has suffered for doing right, and has still gone on obeying God in spite of the suffering it involved, has made a clear break with sin.” (Grudem) 2. 1Pe 4:3 For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. You’ve already put in your time in that God-ignorant way of life, partying night after night, a drunken and profligate life. Now it’s time to be done with it for good. MSG * Suffering always leads to a decisive moment * Your decisive moment can be your defining moment 3. 1Pe 4:4 With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you; 1Pe 4:5 but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. * There are people all around that do not make it through the suffering and will encourage you to give in as well. * Once again, the tension rises and a decisive moment is born. * Example- Marriage suffering and the bad advice from other sufferers. Conclusion: You have a choice. Live for you or Jesus. Live for them or Jesus. Live for it or Jesus. Its time to make your decisive moment your defining moment *Life Group Questions:* 1. How does suffering cause you to be stronger in your fight against sin? 2. Have you had to decide to move forward in a time of struggle when you did not want to? What caused you to move forward? 3. Explain how your decisive moments can be you defining moments in your peronsal life. 4. How have people treated you when you abstained from sin? Negative? Positive? 5. What could Jesus have done to end His sfuffering on the cross? Did He? Should You?
Hope VI - “If you build it they will come…unfortunately.”
November 17, 2019 • Paul Barnard
Hope VI “If you build it they will come…unfortunately.” 1Pe 3:13 Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? 1Pe 3:14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, The challenger represents the challenge. Mat 10:34 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. Mat 10:35 For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law Church people come against you when you obey the Bible as an example. Christians come against you when you hold them to their faith Organizations come against you when you stand for what you believe Family come against you when you choose God over them 1Pe 3:15 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, - When you are weird people will always ask why. (John Litner) But don’t be arrogant or condescending (News reporter) 1Pe 3:16 having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. Slander and opposition will come. IF no one is coming against you, you are flowing with the current Conclusion: How you see the world determines how you react to it. It all comes down to who you choose to serve. Life group Questions: 1. How have you experienced opposition when doing what God called you to do? 2. What do Non-christians think about Christians and why do they think that way? 3. Why do you love people the way you do? 4. What will be the end result of other people’s slander of you when you follow Christ example?
Hope V: "Attitude of Hope"
November 10, 2019 • Paul Barnard
Intro: Do you believe the Bible? Do you trust God? What about when… *1Pe 3:8 Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.* *1Pe 3:9 Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.* -This is extremely counter culture, then and now. Injustice. -Retaliation rarely gives what it promises. -Anger satisfies the flesh. Action satisfies the anger. Action in anger creates regret. Don’t do something you are going to regret. -Stop drop and roll Pro 25:21 - 22 If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink, for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you. *1Pe 3:10 For “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; 1Pe 3:11 let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it.* -Good “loving life” days begin with your mouth. -Speaking deceit is saying things you don’t mean. -Seek peace (cant we all just get along)-but are you pursuing it? *1Pe 3:12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”* -God is looking on those who are walking in Him. -God’s protection is absent and His wrath is present in those who don’t *1Pe 3:13 Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good?* *1Pe 3:14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, 1Pe 3:15 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, 1Pe 3:16 having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.* -Stepping out in faith causes even good people to come against you. sometimes it is to justify inaction or wrong action. Mat 10:34 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. Mat 10:35 For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-lawWho do you serve? no fear -When you are weird people will always ask why. -But don’t be arrogant or condescending -Slander and opposition will come. *Conclusion:* -How you see the world determines how you react to it. -When you reflect Christ teachings and His spirit of Love in you, then you will not act in anger because you know who has your back, -watch what you say when you are emotional -and Seek peace and do what it takes to ensure peace. _*Group Questions:*_ 1. Where does “revenge” thought processes come from and what are the negatives to it? 2. How should you react to injustice against you? 3. Why do we struggle with injustice? 4. What are some practical ways that you can control reaction? 5. What are some practical ways that you can be preemptive in controlling actions?
Hope IV - "Standing Strong"
November 3, 2019 • Brad Van Cleave
A Living Stone and a Holy People *1 Peter 2:1 *So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. *2* Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—*3* if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. *4* As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, *5 *you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. *6 *For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” *7* So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,”[a http://(https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+peter+2%3a1-12&version=esv#fen-esv-30390a)] *8* and “A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. *9* But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. *10* Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. *11 *Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. *12* Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. HOPE IV: Standing Strong in the Face of Opposition Hope begins with a Relationship with the Rock. (John 10:10) Mercy - compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one's power to punish or harm. Don’t be surprised when you face opposition. * Advancement invites opposition. * The devil doesn’t bother those who are not a threat. Behind every relational conflict there is one of three causes: * Power and Control - Who’s priorities matter and who gets to make the decisions. (Christ Centered vs Egocentric - It's all about me/all affects me) * Closeness and Care - Do we have each other’s back and are we in this together. (LIFE Groups and Family vs Isolated and Alone) * Respect and Recognition - Do you appreciate me and do you value me? (Grace & Mercy vs Truth & Justice) I’m not going to be moved by praise or criticism! * I’m not going to let praise get into my head or criticism get into my heart! The external opposition will only be as loud as my internal insecurities allow them to be. * Self Awareness and Accountability * If you want to change the other, change yourself (System Dynamics) * It is the way you treat the other that will ultimately tell you who you are * If you want to join the team and bring Hope and change to the world, share with the world how Hope and change has been brought to you The greater the opposition, the greater the opportunity for our God to fight for you. If I’m not ready to face opposition for my obedience to God, I’m not ready to be used by God! LIFE/Family Group Questions: 1. When you face opposition, how do you usually respond? 2. Why is it important for us to remember that we answer to God and no one else? 3. How have you received God’s Mercy and seen Him fight for you? 4. How can you prepare yourself for the opposition you will face as you pursue God’s work?
Hope III: "Action Time"
October 27, 2019 • Paul Barnard
Hope III “Action time” 1Pe 1:13 Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 1Pe 1:14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, * Go back to what conformed you and be set free * Your past doesn’t determine your future 1Pe 1:15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 1Pe 1:16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” * Clean or pure (get the dirt out) 1Pe 1:17 And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, 1Pe 1:18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 1Pe 1:19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. * There are things handed down to you that need to be addressed * Transformation is a given when we understand what the blood of Jesus did 1Pe 1:20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you 1Pe 1:21 who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. * Leaving the disfunction of hoping in the world and its worth *Life group questions:* Have you identified a weakness? How has it affected you in life? What is the difficulty that we have in searching out the root of our problems? What does our identity in Christ have to do with our weakness? What can we do this week to begin to break chains of our past?
Hope I - "Living Hope"
October 13, 2019 • Paul Barnard
Hope I “Living Hope” Hope I - Living hope Life is very difficult. Can you imagine what it must be like for people who do not know Jesus and have no hope? Worry anxiety fear. Denying the power of God in our lives increases the power of fear in our lives. *1Pe 1:3 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,* Life is hard, ministry is hard and sometimes you don’t see a way out Lam 3:21 But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: Lam 3:22 The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; Lam 3:23 they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. - Living hope never stops *1Pe 1:4 to an inheritance-* We have ownership of this hope it does not depend on circumstances We need to operate with understanding of this ownership It will change the way we view people considered to be lost causes People may say there is no hope. But that is not the case for me. t*hat is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept-* *in heaven for you,* Imperishable- It doesn’t fade like others forms of hope Undefiled- It is for your good- Rom 8:28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. Kept by God *1Pe 1:5 who by God's power are being guarded through faith-* *for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.* The hope is guarded by faith Faith in Christ It is ok if the answer is not revealed to us in our time *Life Group-* * Why does giving up seem to be a viable option for Christians? * How does “living” hope change our way of seeing a negative situation? * Give an example of how certain circumstances in our lives present a “no way out” situation. Is there truly no way out? * How does our faith affect our hope? * What is something the devil tries to convince you is without hope? *Podcast:* * Explain the new series? * What have you seen in people whose hope is lacking? * Is there ever a point when you give up? * What do you do when it seems hopeless?