Some illustrations for this sermon where found on Sermon Central.
Sermon by Mark Engler
Mt. Vernon Christian Church
Mt. Vernon, MO
“Hope In Christ”
Introduction: Talk about trip to Africa and about another ministers concern on what about to teach. My first thought, we are going to teach about Jesus.
Text: Jn 14:1-7 - “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” 6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”
Ø There is only one way to God, that is through Christ. He is our only hope!
Ø (Talk about hopes that are in this world) – more money, better jobs, better house, better cars, and better education. Nothing with any of these things, but most are putting their hope in the wrong place.
Ø Nothing wrong with any of those things, but Christ needs to be first!
Illus: Dennis said, "I don’t think I’ve ever experienced greater culture shock than what I experienced at the very first Thai village we visited. This was a village which the missionaries had not yet reached with the good news of Jesus. The people were still living with all their superstitions and fears.
"The missionaries tried to prepare us. They told us over and over again, `You need to understand, these people are very poor and very frightened of the evil powers they feel are all around them.’
"But there were no words to prepare us for what we were about to see. We expected to see poverty, but nothing like the deprivation and filth that we saw.
"We saw the most humble of dwellings made of bamboo and thatch, with none of the simplest sanitary conditions and certainly none of the modern conveniences that you and I take for granted every day.
"We saw people wearing filthy, tattered clothing, listlessly going about their tasks, with faces that were usually dirty because they had no reason to clean themselves up.
"We looked into the faces of children, with beautiful eyes and dark hair. And yet the children just stared vacantly into the distance. Yes, they were children, but already their lives had become a drudgery of work, and they had no hope of ever getting out of their present existence.
"Because, you see, the only hope that the Thai people think they have to get out of their poverty is education. But the government only provides education through the 4th grade. After that they have to pay, and the people have no money. So after the 4th grade they work in the fields or do whatever they can do, just to exist.
Dennis said, "I think that’s what hit me more than anything else. I kept wondering, ’What if I woke up tomorrow morning and found myself a member of this village? What if I should go out my front door and see those children standing there, and they’re my children? And I look into their dirty little faces and realize that we will live here all of our lives, and that their children will live all of their lives here, too.’
Dennis said, "After we came back to the missionaries’ house I felt so depressed and began to pour out my feelings. I felt like somehow I wanted to gather them all up and take them home, and wash their faces, and put good clothes on them, and give them good beds to sleep on, and good food to eat.
"But then I faced reality and said, ’There is no hope for these children. They can’t receive an education. There is no way they can get out of this awful life that they’re in. There is just no hope for them.’
"Then I heard a two-sentence missionary sermon. ‘There is hope,’ I was told. ‘Their hope is Jesus.’
Illus: What Does Hope Do For Mankind? John Maxwell from Think on These Things
Hope shines brightest when the hour is darkest. Hope motivates when discouragement comes. Hope energizes when the body is tired. Hope sweetens while bitterness bites. Hope sings when all melodies are gone. Hope believes when evidence is eliminated. Hope listens for answers when no one is talking. Hope climbs over obstacles when no one is helping. Hope endures hardship when no on is caring. Hope smiles confidently when no one is laughing. Hope reaches for answers when no one is asking. Hope presses toward victory when no one is encouraging. Hope dares to give when no one is sharing. Hope brings the victory when no one is winning.
Ø Close out intro and go into point.
Prop: Our hope in Christ should produce in us confidence.
Trans. Sentence: Our hope in Christ will produce confidence to:
1. SPEAK BOLDLY ABOUT CHRIST
Exp. Paul – Acts 9:26-28 - 26 When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus. 28 So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord.
Ø History tells us that Paul felt like he wasn’t a good speaker and he was rather humble in appearance, yet because of his hope in Christ he was bold when communicating his message to others.
Exp. Apollos – Acts 18:24-26 - 24 Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. 25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. 26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.
Ø Talk about the scripture & Apollos
Ø Talk about how our hope in Christ should excite us and compel us to reach out to others boldy.
Trans. Sentence: Our hope in Christ will produce confidence to:
2. FACE DESPAIR
Exp. Paul – 2 Tim 4:6-8 - 6 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
Exp. Phil. 4:11-13
Illus: A number of years ago researchers performed an experiment to see the effect hope has on those undergoing hardship. Two sets of laboratory rats were placed in separate tubs of water. The researchers left one set in the water and found that within an hour they had all drowned. The other rats were periodically lifted out of the water and then returned. When that happened, the second set of rats swam for over 24 hours. Why? Not because they were given a rest, but because they suddenly had hope!
Those animals somehow hoped that if they could stay afloat just a little longer, someone would reach down and rescue them. If hope holds such power for unthinking rodents, how much greater should is effect be on our lives.
Today in the Word, May, 1990, p. 34.
Exp. Peter walking on the water.
Exp. Mary Schrieder (woman with cancer that has always been joyful, wonderful
example to me)
Trans. Sentence: Our hope in Christ will produce confidence to:
3. APPROACH GOD’S THRONE
Exp. Heb. 4:14-16 - 14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. 16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Ø (Talk about scripture.) Because of what Christ did for us we can come before God’s throne with any issue and do it with confidence.
Ø When Jesus died on the cross God rent the curtain in two to the holy of holies. Now we can go to God ourselves.
Conclusion:
Ø Because of our hope in Christ we should have confidence to speak boldly about Christ, we should have confidence to face despair, we should have confidence to approach God’s throne, and to do much, much more.
Ø Sometimes we look at our present situations and think there is no way out, things are hopeless. Well, that may very well be true, if you don’t Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.
Ø If you have Him as your Lord and Savior you remember verses like “With God all things are possible” & “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” and others.
Ø Those who are without Christ today are without hope. Oh I don’t think that most of them are even thinking about their eternity. I think most people are thinking about how are they going to accomplish things in their life. How are they going to make their bills this month, am I going to have everything I need when I retire, what is the next best thing that will make me happy.
Ø People are continually looking for the next that will make them feel good. What they don’t know is that through Christ they can have a good feeling and a confidence and a surety that will never go away. Their hope is in this world and they don’t realize that the hope of all hopes is in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Ø One day every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. I hope that we all do that willingly, not reluctantly, or not with surprise.
Invitation:
