Hope Spoken

TITLE:   Hope Spoken
TEXT:    Romans 10:13-17
THESIS: To Emphasize the urgency with which the Gospel of Hope must be proclaimed to a sin-laden and sorrow-ridden world.
SONG:   The Gospel Is For All

INTRODUCTION:

  1. First, we must define biblical hope and distinguish it from mere earthly hope.
  2. Second, each Christian, each congregation of the Lord’s church, each eldership, each preacher and each teacher must prayerfully review his obligation to proclaim God’s Message of Hope.
  3. Third, we must identify the target audience to whom we ought to proclaim the Message of Hope.
  4. Fourth, we must re-evaluate the available mediums of communicating the divine Message of Hope (of course, with due consideration of biblical authority).

BODY:
 I. Hope Defined.

  1. The concept of “hope” may be applied to non-spiritual matters pertaining to the physical universe and one’s existence therein.
  2. Further, “hope” may be applied to spiritual matters that transcend one’s physical surroundings.
  3. Most people who entertain hope do so with regard to their earthly existence only.
  4. Christians frequently entertain hope both regarding their earthly habitation and especially their spiritual citizenship in heaven.
  5. Unfortunately, vast numbers of the world’s population entertain neither earthly hope nor spiritual hope.
  6. Even more sad, many souls have an empty, false spiritual hope that is not substantiated by God’s Word.
  7. The apostle Paul wrote: “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable” (1 Corinthians 15:19).
  8. That sentiment is amplified for those whose hope pertains solely to this physical existence and doesn’t even entertain a heavenly pursuit (Luke 12:16-21).
  9. Most of the world’s population exists under some sort of great oppression that does not provide much prospect of hope in this life (e.g., political, religious, social, racial, economical, educational, handicapped, dysfunctional family, etc.).
  10. The only pursuits of many are to eat, have clothes and shelter; often, they will not have enough of any of it in this life.  They have no real hope.  Many despair in this life and know only a miserable existence.
  11. Even those who have real hope in this life regarding a measure of affluence, it is fleeting because of the temporary nature of life as well as the temporary duration of this world (James 4:14; 2 Peter 3:10-12).
  12. The Greek word “elpizo” [el-pid’-zo] is translated 18 times as “trust” and 10 times as “hope.”  It means “1a: in a religious sense, to wait for salvation with joy and full confidence.” (Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1995.)
  13. The Greek word “elpis” [el-pece’] is translated 53 times as “hope.”  It means “2a: in the Christian sense 2a1: joyful and confident expectation of eternal salvation.”  (Ibid.)
  14. Biblical hope rests on the divine assurance of eternal bliss after this life is concluded.
  15. As such, then, biblical hope pertains to salvation.
  16. There is only one hope (Ephesians 4:4).
  17. Our “God of Hope” is the source of the Christian’s hope (Romans 15:13).
  18. The Christian hope is Messianic in nature (1 Timothy 1:1; Titus 2:13).
  19. Further, the biblical hope is effective because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
  20. Biblical hope is the chief object of written revelation.
  21. Biblical hope was the subject of prophecy.
  22. Biblical hope provides confidence in this life and the approaching eternity, where faithful children of God will spend forever with God in heaven.
  23. Consequently, biblical hope is the source of great rejoicing (Romans 12:12; Hebrews 3:6).
  24. It is biblical hope that animates the Christian:  “. . . the hope that is in you . . .” (1 Peter 3:15).
  25. Therefore, unlike other souls, Christians can approach death with every confidence and expectation of spending eternity in heaven with God.  “. . . the righteous hath hope in his death” (Proverbs 14:32).
  26. For the child of God, then, life should not be one of despair, despite the physical circumstances in which he finds himself.  “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God” (Psalm 43:5).

II. Each Christian shares some degree of responsibility in proclaiming God’s Message of Hope.

  1. 2 Timothy 4:2, 5, “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine . . . But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.”
  2. 1 Timothy 4:16, “Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.”
  3. Hebrews 13:17, “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.”
  4. 1 Timothy 3:2, “. . . apt to teach.”
  5. Every Christian ought (has a moral obligation) to develop his teaching skills (Hebrews 5:11-6:2).
  6. The growth of the early church was not attributable solely to the work of apostles and other preachers, but depended heavily on the teaching done by other members of the church (Acts 8:1-4; 18:26).

III. Target Audience.

  1. Should we limit our presentation of the Gospel to the “unchurched”?
  2. Is anyone really lost, or will an infinitely loving God save everyone anyway?
  3. Are our denominational neighbors and friends in need of hearing the Gospel of Christ?
  4. Should the church preach the Gospel to members of the church, including faithful Christians?
  5. Biblical unity and fellowship are limited to those souls who have submitted to the divinely authored scheme of redemption and are practicing simple, New Testament Christianity.
  6. The so-called “unchurched” as well as every other lost soul, including denominational people need to hear the saving Gospel with its exclusive Message of Hope.
  7. Unfaithful Christians need to be rejuvenated with the Gospel (James 5:19-20).
  8. Even faithful Christians need to hear the Gospel over and over again.

IV. Contemporary Mediums of Communication.

  1. Preaching is the formal presentation of the Gospel message (Acts 5:42).
  2. Teaching is the informal presentation of the God’s Word (Acts 18:26).
  3. Of course, the committing of God’s Word to writing gave us both testaments (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Thessalonians 3:17).
  4. Preaching: pulpit messages, lectureships, debates.
  5. Teaching: Bible classes, VBS, workshops, seminars, schools of preaching, church camp.
  6. Writing: BCC, Gospel journals, Bible class material, religious books, mass mailing.
  7. Television:
  8. Radio:
  9. No one medium of communication is superior to any other medium of communication.
  10. Each medium of communication has its strengths and weaknesses.
  11. One or more mediums of communication should be utilized to the extent that they are useful in a given locality and financially feasible.
  12. It can employ preaching, teaching, oral presentations, colorful illustrations and written messages on demand at the convenience of the auditor.
  13. The internet is high tech and yet cost efficient.
  14. The potential audience runs in the millions and spans the globe.

Conclusion:

  1.  You and I must explain to the world the crucial distinction between biblical hope and earthly hope.
  2. You and I must realize that we alone have the responsibility to bring God’s Message of Hope to a lost and dying world; no one else can do it!
  3. You and I must accept the fact that all souls need to hear the Gospel’s Message of Hope, even our religious neighbors.
  4. You and I must take advantage of as many different, valid mediums of communication as possible to get God’s message out to the world.
  5. Brethren, let’s go to heaven together–and take as many souls with us as possible.  Tell someone about God’s Message of Hope today!

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