Stories of Hope

Foundations of Hope      Colossians 1:24-29

 

“Men are God's method. While the church is looking for better methods; God is looking for better men.” - E.M.Bounds

 

Hope Defined

Worldly - “a feeling that what is wanted will happen.” Understood in this way, hope can denote either a baseless optimism or a vague yearning after an unattainable good.

 

Biblical hope is the anticipation of a favorable outcome under God’s guidance. More specifically, hope is the confidence that what God has done for us in the past guarantees our participation in what God will do in the future. - Holman Bible Dictionary.

 

Hope’s Paradox

Paradox = a statement or proposition that seems self-contradictory or absurd but in reality expresses a possible truth.

 

 “Biblical faith grows in the garden of adversity.” - Greg Laurie

 

Hope Revealed

“God will only give you what you   would have asked for if you knew everything he knows.”

- Tim Keller

 

Hope Personified

 

Hope Powered

 

Sermon by Pastor Dave Morley

Come On Down!

“Come On Down!”

Mark 3:13-14

 

Significance of our:

1. Time with the Father

Jesus went out to the mountainside to pray, and He spent the night praying to God.

Luke 6:12

 

 

 

Significance of our:

2. Calling by the Father

 

 

 

Significance of our:
 
3. Position with the Father

"As we gather unto Christ, we gather unto each other, and the nearer we get to Christ, the nearer we get to each other." - AW Tozer

 

Significance of our:

4. Purpose for the Father

“Men are God's method. While the church is looking for better methods; God is looking for better men.” - E.M.Bounds

 

Sermon by Pastor Dave Morley

The Importance of Preaching the Gospel

The Importance of Preaching the Gospel – Romans 10

 

Truth 1:

 

The DEFINITION of the Gospel

·       Lordship of Jesus: confess – lordship

·       Atonement of Jesus: believe – righteousness

 

Truth 2:

 

The COMMAND of the Gospel

Proclaiming the gospel is the full expression of our salvation

“How can they hear?”

“Beautiful Feet”

 

Truth 3:

 

The MOTIVATION of the Gospel

The Gospel is its own motivation for “preaching”

 

We must proclaim the gospel because . . .

People are searching and do not know how to be saved

Jesus will save everyone who believes in Him

It is God’s only plan for salvation

It is the foundation for a believing faith

We Are.......Pray-ers

WE ARE……PRAY-ERS Isaiah 62

 

We are pray-ers because it is commanded

Taught/emphasize each year:

PRAY, fasting, citizenship

. schools . baby dedications . missions . special events .

Congregational efforts:

intercessory prayers,

Lifegroups, Aaron-Hurr

 

Recently:

 

·       Prayer emphasis

·       Pastors event -spiritual awakening

·       Senior adults Sept/Oct

·       Student prayer meeting; planning for statewide event

 

We are pray-ers to encourage our faith.

   "Remembrances"

 

We are pray-ers because we believe God is a God of redemption

·       "Till He..."

·       "Shall" used 8 times

 

Prayer challenge:

·       Be obedient

·       Be committed

·       Be passionate

 

WE ARE……..PRAY-ERS

WE ARE .... Families

WE ARE………..Families         Ephesians 5

 

Struggles in culture:

·       Breakdown of the family

·       Divorce rate

·       Fatherless children

·       Lack of evangelism of children/students

 

Marriage is a picture of salvation

 

Family is the first plan of salvation

 

Family is the best church strategy

·       For salvation/baptisms

·       For strengthening the home

·       For raising spiritual champions

·       For reaching the community

 

WE ARE………..Families

WE ARE.........Witnesses

WE ARE……..Witnesses    Acts 3

 

But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me    in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Acts 1:8

 

Our focus must be:

WE ARE WITNESSES OF JESUS

 

·       "ninth hour"- hour of public prayer

·       "In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth"

 

ALL WE HAVE TO GIVE IS JESUS

 

"What I do have I give you"

 

when we witness of Jesus, incredible things happen

 

·       "Walking, leaping"

·       Praising God - trusted Jesus

·       "All the people saw"

·       Wonder/amazement

 

WE ARE……..Witnesses

How to love your next Pastor

Continue to be a Bible church - 2 Timothy 2:2-4

 

Do not compare us! 1 Cor. 3:1-6

 

Tithe – It affects him more than anyone else. 2 Cor. 8:1-7

 

Men – Continue to lead, serve, and support. 2 Timothy 2:1-2 See in ALL Paul’s letters

 

Love his family. John 13:34-35

 

Own your faith and church commitment. Ephesians 1:15-19 August series “We are …”

 

Pray for him. Ephesians 6:17-20

 

His Current Prayer List:

·       Softening his grip on current church

·       Prepare his family

·       Strengthen his quiet time to hear God’s voice

·       Open his eyes to FBC’s opportunities