Our Lively Hope

Hope, apart from Christ, is meaningless

Have you heard someone say, “I manifested this lifestyle”? It’s become trendy lately to use that verbiage as people search for meaning outside of Christ. What they are implying is that they created a fabulous lifestyle by believing in it, themselves, and having hope it would come true.

The secular world is full of meaningless actions meant to bring meaning to a miserable existence. Manifesting, positive thinking, and self-improvement focus on the inner self. Humans want to apply logic and fix what is wrong, while acknowledging they need a little hope and call it manifesting.

But that hope is misplaced. When put in ourselves, it will only lead to disappointment, loneliness, and misery. Even if surrounded by riches, fame, and power; whatever purpose we come up with is meaningless apart from Christ.

Hope, in Christ, is full of life

Thankfully, when our hope is in Christ, it has a solid foundation. We know who we are — His beloved children — and that we have eternal salvation because of Christ’s death and resurrection. We can fulfill our lives with purpose and serve in our vocations with our God-given talents.

Yes, we will still encounter challenges, illnesses, and sorrow in this earthly life. But our hope tells us that we have an “inheritance that is imperishable . . . kept in heaven for you”.

For you.

You.

The gift of salvation, eternal life, is for you. What sweet comfort and joy. We rejoice in this solid foundation of hope in Christ.

Thanks be to God for our lively hope!

Here is the full sermon text from 1 Peter 1:3-9:

Born Again to a Living Hope

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, ⁴ to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, ⁵ who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. ⁶ In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, ⁷ so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. ⁸ Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, ⁹ obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

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Announcements

Going Away Potluck: Andrew and Elizabeth Berg will be leaving us soon for Fort Wayne, Indiana so Andrew can pursue an MDiv to become a pastor. Join us on April 30th, immediately after the church service, to wish them farewell with a potluck lunch.

Bible Study: Our midweek Bible study resumes this Wednesday at 7 pm. Contact Pastor if you want to attend the Zoom event. Sunday morning class continues to meet at church at 10 am.

Donations: While we have suffered a decline in attendance since the pandemic, unfortunately, the expenses continue. If you wish to donate, please mail your gift to the St. James post office box as that is a secure location. You may also donate online. We appreciate every dollar and thank you in advance for considering us.