Together in Hope
MAIN IDEA -
God is faithful, and the promise of eternal life to those who place their faith in Christ alone defines the hope we possess and profess today. It can be difficult to maintain a commitment to hope on our own; therefore, we need a community to cultivate and stir within one another the accountability to remain in hope.
The author gives 3 vital actions that must take place for us to come together in hope.
CLARIFY OUR HOPE
The author challenges the reader to hold unswervingly, hold fast, and keep secure the hope we profess, because God, who made the promise, is faithful. The curtain that once separated the people from the Most Holy Place (the dwelling place of God) has been removed through the death and resurrection of Jesus, granting us unlimited direct access to communication with the Lord. Those who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior are promised eternal life, and God is faithful to fulfill that promise. This is the hope we have today as believers.
CULTIVATE HOPE IN OTHERS
In response to the hope we have in Christ, we must consider how to spur our fellow brothers and sisters on to love and good deeds because of this shared hope. When others see the church united in hope, they will become curious about the hope in which we place our confidence. We are called to love one another, and this will show others that we are truly disciples of Christ.
COMMIT TO HOPE TOGETHER
To remain committed to hope, we must come together and avoid making it a habit to miss the gathering of believers. This includes our Sunday services, House Church meetings, and other events where our church community gathers. The Christian life is a communal life, and we need one another to stay committed to hope until the 'Day' of Christ’s judgment.
SUMMARY AND APPLICATION
Clarify: We must recognize the hope is in Christ, faithful to keep His promise.
Cultivate: We must stir within others in the church to have and seek hope.
Commit: We must actively remain together so that we may encourage hope.
DISCUSSION QUESTION -
How does being part of a church help us hold on to hope, especially during difficult times? In what practical ways can we cultivate and stir up hope within one another?
