Restoring Hope through the Church

Romans 12:11-13 CEV “Never give up. Eagerly follow the Holy Spirit and serve the Lord. Let your hope make you glad. Be patient in time of trouble and never stop praying. Take care of God's needy people and welcome strangers into your home.”

All of us have something we are hopeful for. It is a hope which will take us from where we are into something better tomorrow. Without hope, we would live lives of despair.

What is it you are hoping for? What is it you hope to see the church accomplish and hope to see changed in our community?

(1) The Church can never give up hope!

Psalm 71:14 CEV “I will never give up hope or stop praising you.”

Psalm 10:17 CEV “You listen to the longings of those who suffer. You offer them hope, and you pay attention to their cries for help.”

What do you trust in? The Bible says, “Some people trust the power of chariots or horses, but we trust you, LORD God.” Psalm 20:7

(2) The Church must hope to follow the Hoy Spirit and serve Christ!

Psalm 34: 18 CEV “The LORD is there to rescue all who are discouraged and have given up hope.”

Psalm 119:114 CEV “You are my place of safety and my shield. Your word is my only hope.”

 (3) The Church must rejoice in hope!

 1 Timothy 4: 10 CEV “We have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of everyone, but especially of those who have faith. That's why we work and struggle so hard.”

 

(4) The Church must hope in times of trouble and never stop praying!

 Romans 5:3-5 CEV “But that's not all! We gladly suffer, because we know that suffering helps us to endure. And endurance builds character, which gives us a hope that will never disappoint us. All of this happens because God has given us the Holy Spirit, who fills our hearts with his love.”

 

1 Peter 3:14-16 CEV “Even if you have to suffer for doing good things, God will bless you. So stop being afraid and don't worry about what people might do. Honor Christ and let him be the Lord of your life. Always be ready to give an answer when someone asks you about your hope. Give a kind and respectful answer and keep your conscience clear. This way you will make people ashamed for saying bad things about your good conduct as a follower of Christ.”

(5) The Church must help those in need and welcome them into their midst!

 Psalm 143:4 CEV “I have given up all hope, and I feel numb all over.”

 Hebrews 2:2-4 CEV “The message spoken by angels proved to be true and all who disobeyed or rejected it were punished as they deserved. So if we refuse this great way of being saved, how can we hope to escape? The Lord himself was the first to tell about it, and people who heard the message proved to us that it was true. God himself showed that his message was true by working all kinds of powerful miracles and wonders. He also gave his Holy Spirit to anyone he chose to.”