Sunday Morning’s Message: 27/10/2024
Part one of the 'Enduring Well' series
citywestchurch YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lktFjCouXY
Objective
To explore how biblical hope sustains us through hardship, serving as an anchor for our souls and as a promise of a future when God will wipe away every tear.
Key Verses
Romans 5:3-4
Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope.
Revelation 21:1-5
Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’[b] or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away
Hebrews 6:19-20
We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, 20 where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.
Romans15:13
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Key Thoughts
Enduring Through Hardship:
Hope in hardship is more than mere wishful thinking. The Bible describes hope as an active, expectant waiting rooted in confidence and trust in God’s promises.
● Hope Defined: In Greek, elpis (hope) suggests confident expectation; in Hebrew, yachal means “to wait” or “await.”
Discussion Questions
How does the Bible’s definition of hope differ from everyday uses of the word?
The “Now and Not Yet” of Hope:
In theology, the “now and not yet” reminds us that while Jesus inaugurated God’s kingdom, we await its full arrival. This tension reflects our current world—where hardship exists, but hope points us toward a future restoration when all will be made right.
● Illustration of Spring: Snow in early September- officially in spring but the warm sunny spring we love hasn’t yet arrived, the kingdom has come but isn’t fully realised yet.
Aspects of Hope
1. Hope as an Anchor
● Read Hebrews 6:19-20: Hope as an anchor secures us during life’s storms, connecting us to the “inner sanctuary,” representing God’s presence / heaven.
● Illustration: Like an anchor keeping a ship steady in rough waters, hope keeps us grounded in God’s promises, even when we can’t see the way forward.
Discussion Questions
How has hope served as an “anchor” for you in past struggles?
2. Hope as Living
● Read 1Peter 1:3-4: Through Jesus’ resurrection, we are born into a “living hope,” rooted in God’s eternal promise and unfading inheritance.
● KeyPoint: Christ is our living hope, the fulfilment of everything we wait for in this life
Discussion Questions
In what ways does knowing Jesus is your “living hope” impact your perspective on daily challenges?
3. Eternal Hope from God
● ReadRomans15:13: God, the source of hope, fills us with joy and peace, helping us to “overflow with hope” through the Holy Spirit’s power.
● Illustration: God’s hope brings light even in dark times, giving beauty for ashes, joy instead of mourning (Isaiah 61).
Discussion Questions
1. How does knowing God as the “God of hope” change how you view your hardships?
2. What are some ways you can “overflow with hope” to those around you?
Conclusion
Hope is a powerful gift that helps us endure through hardship, anchored in God’s faithfulness to us now, but also seeing His promised future to come. As we live in the “now and not yet,” may we hold firm to our living hope in Christ and allow it to overflow to others, sustaining us all as we travel through the ups and downs of life
Catch up with the Enduring Well series on YouTube:
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