No Future without No Future without ….….

HopeHope

Three part series on the Three part series on the Future of Faith at New Future of Faith at New

Life Life No Future without ForgivenessNo Future without Forgiveness

– 20072007 No Future without HopeNo Future without Hope

– 20082008 No Future without LoveNo Future without Love

– 2009 – God willing!2009 – God willing!

No Future without No Future without Forgiveness!Forgiveness!

““It isn't easy, as we It isn't easy, as we all know, to ask for all know, to ask for forgiveness and it's forgiveness and it's

also not easy to also not easy to forgive, but we are forgive, but we are people who know people who know

that when someone that when someone cannot be forgiven cannot be forgiven there is no future.” there is no future.”

- Desmond Tutu- Desmond Tutu

Message OutlineMessage Outline

I.I. Distinguish Hope from Hype.Distinguish Hope from Hype.

II.II. How to avoid Death by How to avoid Death by DisappointmentDisappointment

III.III. Journey to Emmaus… Journey to Emmaus…

IV.IV. Letting Jesus tell the storyLetting Jesus tell the story

V.V. Surprised by HopeSurprised by Hope

VI.VI. No Future without HopeNo Future without Hope

VII.VII. CommunionCommunion

Dealers in Hope?Dealers in Hope?

French General French General Napoleon Napoleon Bonaparte Bonaparte once said, once said,

““Leaders are Leaders are dealers in dealers in hope!”hope!”

Or Dealers in Hype?Or Dealers in Hype?

The Audacity of Hype!The Audacity of Hype!

What day is it today?What day is it today?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HAPPY BIRTHDAY

NEW LIFE!NEW LIFE!

#22#22

Where are all the Where are all the people?people?

Death by Death by DisappointmentDisappointment

Hope deferred Hope deferred makes the makes the heart sick, heart sick,

but a desire but a desire fulfilled is a fulfilled is a tree of life.tree of life.

- Proverbs - Proverbs 13:1213:12

Luke 24:13-35Luke 24:13-35

Now that same day two of them were going to a village Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him.  He asked them, "What are you discussing together him.  He asked them, "What are you discussing together as you walk along?" as you walk along?"

They stood still, their faces downcast. One of them, named They stood still, their faces downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, "Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem Cleopas, asked him, "Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?" "What things?" he asked. these days?" "What things?" he asked.

Luke 24:13-35Luke 24:13-35

"About Jesus of Nazareth," they replied. "He was a "About Jesus of Nazareth," they replied. "He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. The chief priests and our rulers handed him the people. The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; but we had hoped that he was the one who was going but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. In addition, some of our since all this took place. In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning but didn't find his body. They came and told morning but didn't find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. Then some of our companions went to the was alive. Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see." they did not see."

Luke 24:13-35Luke 24:13-35

He said to them, "How foolish you are, He said to them, "How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Christ have to suffer these not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?" things and then enter his glory?" And beginning with Moses and all And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. concerning himself.

  Luke 24:13-35Luke 24:13-35

As they approached the village to which they were As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther. going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther. But they urged him strongly, "Stay with us, for it But they urged him strongly, "Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over." So he is nearly evening; the day is almost over." So he went in to stay with them. went in to stay with them.

When he was at the table with them, he took When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, "Were not their sight. They asked each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?" to us?"

  Luke 24:13-35Luke 24:13-35

They got up and returned at once to They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, Eleven and those with them, assembled together and saying, "It assembled together and saying, "It is true! The Lord has risen and has is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon." Then the two appeared to Simon." Then the two told what had happened on the way, told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.them when he broke the bread.

The Journey to EmmausThe Journey to Emmaus

but we had but we had hopedhoped that he was the that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel.one who was going to redeem Israel.

The Journey to EmmausThe Journey to Emmaus

““How foolish you How foolish you are, and how slow are, and how slow of heart to believe of heart to believe all that the all that the prophets have prophets have spoken! spoken!

Did not the Christ Did not the Christ have to suffer have to suffer these things these things and then enter and then enter his glory?"his glory?"

The Journey to EmmausThe Journey to Emmaus

Then their eyes were opened and they Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight.from their sight.

Three Questions!Three Questions!

WHAT IS CHRISTIAN HYPE?WHAT IS CHRISTIAN HYPE?

WHAT IS CHRISTIAN HOPE?WHAT IS CHRISTIAN HOPE?

HOW DO WE KNOW THE HOW DO WE KNOW THE DIFFERENCE?DIFFERENCE?

What is Christian What is Christian Hype?Hype?

Jesus as the FIRST Super hero!Jesus as the FIRST Super hero!

And we can be Super Heroes Too!And we can be Super Heroes Too! Get the Get the T Shirt!T Shirt!

The Glory of The The Glory of The GospelGospel

And being found And being found in human form in human form

he humbled he humbled himself and himself and

became became obedient unto obedient unto

death, death, even death on a even death on a cross. (Phil 2:8)cross. (Phil 2:8)

The Vocation of the The Vocation of the Christian is Cross Christian is Cross

Shaped!Shaped!"If anyone would "If anyone would

come after me, come after me, he must deny he must deny

himself and himself and take up his take up his

cross and cross and follow me. follow me.

(Mark 8:34-35)(Mark 8:34-35)

How do we endure?How do we endure?

No Future without No Future without ……

Hope!Hope!

What is Christian What is Christian Hope? Hope?

He is not here; He is not here; for he has for he has risen, as he risen, as he said. Come, see said. Come, see the place the place where he lay.where he lay.– Matthew 28:6Matthew 28:6

There is Life after Life after death!There is Life after Life after death!

How do we know the How do we know the difference?difference?

Christian Hype Christian Hype proclaims a gospel proclaims a gospel of salvation of salvation FROM suffering!FROM suffering!

Christian Hope Christian Hope proclaims a gospel proclaims a gospel of salvation of salvation THROUGH suffering!THROUGH suffering!

Did notDid not the Christ the Christ have to have to suffersuffer these things and these things and thenthen

enter his glory?enter his glory?See also Mark 10:35-45See also Mark 10:35-45

Mark 10:35 - 45Mark 10:35 - 45

Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. "Teacher," they said, "we came to him. "Teacher," they said, "we want you to do for us whatever we ask."want you to do for us whatever we ask."

"What do you want me to do for you?" he "What do you want me to do for you?" he asked.asked.

They replied, "Let one of us sit at your right They replied, "Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory."and the other at your left in your glory."

Mark 10:35 - 45Mark 10:35 - 45

"You don't know what you are asking," "You don't know what you are asking," Jesus said. "Can you drink the cup I drink Jesus said. "Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?"baptized with?"

"We can," they answered. Jesus said to "We can," they answered. Jesus said to them, "You will drink the cup I drink and them, "You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, but to sit at my right or baptized with, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have belong to those for whom they have been prepared."been prepared."

Mark 10:35 - 45Mark 10:35 - 45

When the ten heard about this, they became When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. Jesus called indignant with James and John. Jesus called them together and said, "You know that those them together and said, "You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. be first must be slave of all.

For even the Son of Man did not come to be For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."ransom for many."

The Bicycle MetaphorThe Bicycle Metaphor

Christian Christian Hype puts all Hype puts all its weight on its weight on the FRONT the FRONT wheel!wheel!

CHRISTIAN HYPE

Surprised By Hope!Surprised By Hope!

N. T. Wright:N. T. Wright: God is CreatorGod is Creator God is Good!God is Good! Therefore, he is Therefore, he is

utterly committed utterly committed to setting the to setting the world right!world right!

SO we have SO we have HOPE!HOPE!

No Future without No Future without HopeHope

Hope is … Hope is … an an unshakeable unshakeable assurance assurance about what about what the future the future holdsholds..

Leslie Newbigin

No Future without No Future without HopeHope

It is It is the anchorthe anchor of the of the soul, firmly secured soul, firmly secured in that which is in that which is beyond our sight but beyond our sight but which is the real which is the real future. It therefore future. It therefore furnishes us with the furnishes us with the criteria for criteria for determining all action determining all action in the immediate in the immediate present.present.

Leslie Newbigin

The Christian Hope The Christian Hope rides on TWO wheels!rides on TWO wheels!

REALIZED HOPE REALIZED HOPE of of

Jesus Christ’s Jesus Christ’s Resurrection!Resurrection!

FUTURE FUTURE HOPE of HOPE of

our our ResurrectioResurrectio

n!n!

SummarySummary

Where will you be in 20 years time?Where will you be in 20 years time? Disappointed in faith because of Disappointed in faith because of

the Christian hype?the Christian hype? Steadfast in faith because of Steadfast in faith because of

the Christian hope?the Christian hope? There is NO Future without Hope!There is NO Future without Hope!