Sunday Services:

Dear Friends,

Are you a hopeful person? The life of an apprentice of Jesus is a life built on hope. A life not built on hope in circumstances but in God himself. Human beings need hope to thrive. The world we live in doesn’t offer much hope. The most popular films and books in recent years have become increasingly built on themes of doom and world destruction. Everything from zombies to fungal infections. Global warming, nuclear war, or alien invasion all fill popular media. Added to that, the practice of “doom scrolling” keeps people’s minds marinating in hopelessness and fear.

Philippians 4:6-8  Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7  And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8  Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.

The result is a forty percent rise in suicide, and levels of depression, anxiety, and anger are off the charts. Dread is often a reason to choose to delay having children or to go for it altogether. Does the gospel have an answer? Yes, it does.

The answer is the sure hope we have in God’s love and the resurrection of Christ from the dead.

1 Peter 1:3-7  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4  to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5  who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6  In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, 7  so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

This Sunday, I will preach on gospel hope. You and those you love need it. You and those you love want hope, whether they know it or not.

Invite them. Bring them. Welcome them. This is the life we seek, a life of hope.

Can’t wait to see you.
Joe

To read this week’s preparing for Sunday, click here.