New Covenant Church
Hope In The Waiting
Thank you for joining us at New Covenant Church. Stephen Warnock kicks our series Christmas at New Covenant Church with the message " Hope In The Waiting ". You can join in by attending one of our two in person services at 9:00am and 10:30am at our North and South Campus. We also have our online service at 10:30am CT. For more information visit wearencc.com
Locations & Times
New Covenant Church - South Campus
5621 Farm to Market Rd 2087, Longview, TX 75603, USA
Sunday 9:00 AM
Sunday 10:30 AM
- There was a gap between the promise of a savior and the arrival of the savior
- The hope of the coming savior didn’t start with prophet Isaiah, started in the Garden of Eden
- The hope of the coming savior didn’t start with prophet Isaiah, started in the Garden of Eden
The birth of Jesus was the beginning of the fulfillment of the promise God made in Genesis. His death and resurrection was crushing the head of serpent. God came through on His promise
Advent Reminds us of what Biblical Hope is.
Advent Reminds us of what Biblical Hope is.
1. Biblical Hope Is A Confident Expectation Rooted in God’s Promises
We look back at the promise of Jesus and the arrival of Jesus with the hope that God does come through on His promises.
- Advent teaches us to trust the promises of God, without knowing the timeline of God.
Advent reminds us that God’s delays don’t mean denial. Even when we can’t see Him, it doesn’t mean He isn’t working!
We look back at the promise of Jesus and the arrival of Jesus with the hope that God does come through on His promises.
- Advent teaches us to trust the promises of God, without knowing the timeline of God.
Advent reminds us that God’s delays don’t mean denial. Even when we can’t see Him, it doesn’t mean He isn’t working!
2. Biblical Hope is Anchored, Not Abstract
- Biblical Hope is anchored in the identity and faithfulness of God, not abstract circumstances.
- This is where faith and hope converge. Faith in the character of God gives us hope in the promise of God even when we haven’t seen the fulfillment.
Natural hope is based on circumstances changing, Biblical hope is based on someone who is unchanging.
- Biblical Hope is anchored in the identity and faithfulness of God, not abstract circumstances.
- This is where faith and hope converge. Faith in the character of God gives us hope in the promise of God even when we haven’t seen the fulfillment.
Natural hope is based on circumstances changing, Biblical hope is based on someone who is unchanging.
God confirmed His character and promise by sending Jesus to earth to die for us, then sending Him ahead of us to where to the very presence of God.
- We are not anchored to present circumstances, we are anchored to a future hope.
- 1 Peter 1 reminds us we have been born again to a LIVING hope through Jesus.
- We are not anchored to present circumstances, we are anchored to a future hope.
- 1 Peter 1 reminds us we have been born again to a LIVING hope through Jesus.
3. Biblical Hope Is Active Waiting, Not Passive Wanting
- Active Hope is - Actively obeying God when character is tested - Actively staying expectant of what God is doing when in trials. It’s looking to Jesus in the tension.
- Waiting with Hope does something IN us while we long for what God will do FOR us
- Hope lives in the tension between your expectation of what you see in the moment and what you believe is coming. - This kind of Hope carries you through the waiting room.
- Waiting with Hope does something IN us while we long for what God will do FOR us
- Hope lives in the tension between your expectation of what you see in the moment and what you believe is coming. - This kind of Hope carries you through the waiting room.
My hope is not in my behavior that earns His love, but in HIS love despite my behavior.
My hope is not in my situation changing, but in HIS mercy IN my situation.
My hope is not in my ability to be faithful to God, but HIS faithfulness to ME.
The hope of Christmas is not JUST that Jesus came, it’s that He’s coming again.
The posture of the believer is a posture of HOPE. Looking forward and looking up
“Look up, you whose gaze is fixed on this earth, who are spellbound by the little events and changes on the face of the earth. Look up to these words, you who have turned away from heaven disappointed. Look up, you whose eyes are heavy with tears and who are heavy and who are crying over the fact that the earth has gracelessly torn us away. Look up, you who, burdened with guilt, cannot lift your eyes. Look up, your redemption is drawing near. Something different from what you see daily will happen. Just be aware, be watchful, wait just another short moment. Wait and something quite new will break over you: God will come.”
- Dietrich Bonhoeffer - Reflections on Advent & Christmas
My hope is not in my situation changing, but in HIS mercy IN my situation.
My hope is not in my ability to be faithful to God, but HIS faithfulness to ME.
The hope of Christmas is not JUST that Jesus came, it’s that He’s coming again.
The posture of the believer is a posture of HOPE. Looking forward and looking up
“Look up, you whose gaze is fixed on this earth, who are spellbound by the little events and changes on the face of the earth. Look up to these words, you who have turned away from heaven disappointed. Look up, you whose eyes are heavy with tears and who are heavy and who are crying over the fact that the earth has gracelessly torn us away. Look up, you who, burdened with guilt, cannot lift your eyes. Look up, your redemption is drawing near. Something different from what you see daily will happen. Just be aware, be watchful, wait just another short moment. Wait and something quite new will break over you: God will come.”
- Dietrich Bonhoeffer - Reflections on Advent & Christmas
Five Functional Roles of the body we must know
1. The Body Has One Head — Jesus
1. The Body Has One Head — Jesus