HOPE Box Size Height: 2.6 Width: 4.43 Position Horizontal: 5.33 Vertical: 4.67 Introduction Unwrapped: the real gifts of the season Hope is the first real gift of Christmas. But what should we put our hope in? Box Size Height: 2.6 Width: 4.43 Position Horizontal: 5.33 Vertical: 4.67 Introduction Should we hope in statistics? Should we hope in our wealth? Should we hope in ourselves or others? 1 Peter 1:13-21 (NLT) Box Size Height: 2.6 Width: 4.43 Position Horizontal: 5.33 Vertical: 4.67 I.God has a Plan (vs. 20) God chose him [Christ] as your ransom long before the world began, but now in these last days he has been revealed for your sake. Box Size Height: 2.6 Width: 4.43 Position Horizontal: 5.33 Vertical: 4.67 I.God has a Plan (vs. 20) A. God is Never Surprised Genesis 2:15-17 (NLT) Genesis 3:15 (NIV ) This verse points toward the ultimate defeat of the enemy by Jesus. Box Size Height: 2.6 Width: 4.43 Position Horizontal: 5.33 Vertical: 4.67 I.God has a Plan (vs. 20) Did God know we would sin? Yes. Did he hope we would or cause us to sin? No. Did his eternal plan account for sin? Yes. A. God is Never Surprised Box Size Height: 2.6 Width: 4.43 Position Horizontal: 5.33 Vertical: 4.67 I.God has a Plan (vs. 20) B. God Focuses on the End Result Not everything that happens is in the plan of God, but His plan takes into account everything that will happen. Romans 8:28 (NIV) Box Size Height: 2.6 Width: 4.43 Position Horizontal: 5.33 Vertical: 4.67 I.God has a Plan (vs. 20) We are never promised a perfect life. Psalms 42:1-3, 9-11 NLT There is a plan and purpose that extends beyond our current situation. B. God Focuses on the End Result Box Size Height: 2.6 Width: 4.43 Position Horizontal: 5.33 Vertical: 4.67 II. Christ is the Key (vs. 21) Through Christ you have come to trust in God. And you have placed your faith and hope in God because he raised Christ from the dead and gave him great glory. Box Size Height: 2.6 Width: 4.43 Position Horizontal: 5.33 Vertical: 4.67 II. Christ is the Key (vs. 21) A. Christ Unlocks New Life for Us God vindicated the worth of the ransom by giving the Son back his life. The way of Christ leads to glory. Box Size Height: 2.6 Width: 4.43 Position Horizontal: 5.33 Vertical: 4.67 II. Christ is the Key (vs. 21) A. Christ Unlocks New Life for Us Water Baptism is a symbolic act in which we identify with the death and resurrection of Christ. Romans 6:4-7 NLT 1 Peter 1:3-4 (NIV) Box Size Height: 2.6 Width: 4.43 Position Horizontal: 5.33 Vertical: 4.67 II. Christ is the Key (vs. 21) B. Christ Unlocks Hope For Others 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 NIV Causes we fight for: Save the environment Save door to door delivery Save our school parks Save the refugees Box Size Height: 2.6 Width: 4.43 Position Horizontal: 5.33 Vertical: 4.67 II. Christ is the Key (vs. 21) B. Christ Unlocks Hope For Others In Christ the plan of God is unlocked and hope comes to humanity. What is he asking us to do to bring hope? Box Size Height: 2.6 Width: 4.43 Position Horizontal: 5.33 Vertical: 4.67 HOPE Story of the Good Samarian Sometimes we forget what the hope we have should compel us to do. Box Size Height: 2.6 Width: 4.43 Position Horizontal: 5.33 Vertical: 4.67 HOPE Jesus' mandate found in Luke: (Luke 4:18, 19 NIV) The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lords favor. Box Size Height: 2.6 Width: 4.43 Position Horizontal: 5.33 Vertical: 4.67 HOPE Matthew 25: NIV When did we see you? God's rescue plan is launched when we all were far from God. Box Size Height: 2.6 Width: 4.43 Position Horizontal: 5.33 Vertical: 4.67 HOPE While we were yet sinners Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 We are saved by grace, this is not from ourselves-- no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8,9 Box Size Height: 2.6 Width: 4.43 Position Horizontal: 5.33 Vertical: 4.67 HOPE He lifts us at our point of need and gives us hope. Christ should be our inspiration to pass this hope on to others. Box Size Height: 2.6 Width: 4.43 Position Horizontal: 5.33 Vertical: 4.67 HOPE The age-old Refugee Challenges Refugees from Jericho Refugees from Syria Box Size Height: 2.6 Width: 4.43 Position Horizontal: 5.33 Vertical: 4.67 HOPE Community Response to the Refugee Situation Wednesday from 4-6 pm at GKM Thursday from 6-8 at the Scarborough Civic Centre Box Size Height: 2.6 Width: 4.43 Position Horizontal: 5.33 Vertical: 4.67 Scriptures