Church of Hope

9.13.15 // Favor Follows Faith

Heroes – Part 2
Scott Young.com – Pastor of Hope

C Confidence based on our
B Belief in God’s Word, that inspires
A Action to do good.

Hebrews 11:4 - By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks.

Genesis 4:2 - Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil.

[3] In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD. [4] But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, [5] but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.

A LIFE WITHOUT FAVOR: CAIN

1. Does Things Their Own Way

Genesis 4:3,5 - In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD … but on Cain and his offering (the Lord) did not look with favor.

2. Lives With Unresolved Anger
Genesis 4:5 - So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.

3. Will Not Change
Genesis 4:6-7 - Then the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted?”

A LIFE OF FAVOR: ABEL

1. Favor Gives Generously 
Hebrews 11:4 - By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man.

2. Favor Thinks and Acts Right 
Hebrews 11:4 - By faith (Abel) was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings.

3. Favor Leaves A Legacy 
Hebrews 11:4 - And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.

9.6.15 // Your Super Power

YOUR SUPER POWER

Heroes – Part 1

Scott Young.com – Pastor of Hope

 

Hebrews 11:6 - Without faith no one can please God. Whoever comes to God must believe that he is real and that he rewards those who sincerely try to find him.

 

Hebrews 11:1 - Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

 

THREE ESSENTIALS OF FAITH

 

1.    Confidence In God’s Word

Hebrews 11:1 - Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

 

hupostasis ► Definition: (lit: an underlying), (a) confidence, assurance, (b) a giving substance (or reality) to, or a guaranteeing, (c) substance, reality.

2.    Belief In God’s Promises

 

Hebrews 11:1 - Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Romans 4:18 -  Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping—believing that he would become the father of many nations. 

 

3.    Action Towards The Unseen

Hebrews 11:1 - Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

 

elegchos ► Definition: a proof, possibly: a persuasion; reproof.

 

pragma ► Definition: a thing done, a deed, action; a matter, an affair.

 

James 2:20 - Faith without works is dead.

 

THE CREATIVE POWER OF FAITH

Hebrews 11:3 - By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.

 

Ephesians 2:8 - For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, [9] not of works, lest anyone should boast.

8.30.15 // The Taste Test

Check Engine Light – Part 3

Scott Young.com – Pastor of Hope

Matthew 7:13 - Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. [14] Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

Matthew 7:15 - Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.

Matthew 7:16 - You will know them by their fruits … [17] Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. … [20] Therefore by their fruits you will know them.

Matthew 7:21 Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. [22] Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ [23] And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

OUR FRUIT IS OUR CHARACTER

Galatians 5:22 - But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, [23] gentleness, self–control.

1. Do I Give Love To All?

John 13:34 - A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. [35] By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” 

2. Do People Experience Joy Around Me?

John 15:11 - I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!

3. Do I Live In A Place Of Peace?

Romans 5:1 - Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.

8.23.15 // Check Up From The Neck Up

heck Engine Light – Part 2
Scott Young.com – Pastor of Hope

Colossians 3:2 - Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.

THINK GOOD THOUGHTS
1. Check Your Battle Lines

2 Corinthians 10:3 - For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.

Ephesians 6:12 - For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

2. Check Your Source of Strength

2 Corinthians 10:4 - The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.

3. Check Your Thoughts

2 Corinthians 10:5 - We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

 Arguments - logismos ___________________________

 Pretension - hupsoôma __________________________

 Thoughts - noeôma _____________________________

4. Check Your Relationship With Christ

2 Corinthians 10:5 - We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

8.18.15 // What Is My Motivation

WHAT IS MY MOTIVATION
Check Engine Light – Part 1
Scott Young.com – Pastor of Hope

1 John 2:15 - Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. [16] For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.

MY MOTIVATION COMES FROM...

1. Physical Feelings Or Biblical Faith

1 John 2:16 - For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.

Genesis 3:6 - When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.

Matthew 4:3 - The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the

Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” [4] Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

2. Immediate Gratification Or Eternal Reward

1 John 2:16 – For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.

Genesis 3:6 - When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.

Matthew 4:8 - Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. [9] “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”

3. Pride In Self Or Passion For Spirit

1 John 2:16 - For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh,

the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.

Genesis 3:5 - For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.

Matthew 4:5 - Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. [6] “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down.”

8.9.15 // Contagious Compassion

CONTAGIOUS COMPASSION                                                  

Matthew 15:29-38                                                                                

Sam Farina – Guest Speaker

Jesus went on from there and walked beside the Sea of Galilee. 

And he went along the mountain and sat down there, And great crowds came to him, bringing with them the lame, blind, the crippled, the mute, many others, and they put them at his feet, and he healed them, so that the crowd wondered, when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled healthy, the lame walking, and the blind seeing. And they glorified the God of Israel. 

(Matthew 15:29-31 ESV)

HOW DO YOU KEEP THE ENORMOUS NEED FROM 

DRIVING US TO WORRY?

Then Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I have compassion on the crowd because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat. And I am unwilling to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way.”  (Matthew 15:32)

HOW DO YOU KEEP THE DESOLATE PLACE FROM 

DRIVING US TO WORRY?

And the disciples said to him, “Where are we to get enough bread in such a desolate place to feed so great a crowd?” 

(Matthew 15:33)

WHAT IS THE ANSWER TO OUR INSECURITY?

Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.  (Matthew 11:11 ESV)

WHAT DO YOU HAVE?

And Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?” They said, “Seven, and a few small fish.” (Matthew 15:34 ESV)

And directing the crowd to sit down on the ground, he took the seven loaves and the fish, and having given thanks he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And they ate and were satisfied. And they took up seven baskets full of the broken pieces left over. Those who ate were four thousand men, besides women and children.

(Matthew 15:35-38 ESV)

8.2.15 // Strength Through Rest

Genesis 2:2 - And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. [3] Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.

Exodus 20:8 - “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. [9] Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work.

FINDING REST IN THE MIDST OF STRESS

Matthew 11:28 – “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. [29] Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. [30] For My yoke is easy and My burden 

1. Come To Christ

Matthew 11:28 – “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

2. Leave the Rest To God 

Matthew 11:29 -  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

3. Learn Rest From Jesus

Matthew 11:29 - Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Mark 6:31 -  Then Jesus said, "Let’s get away from the crowds for a while and rest." There were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn’t even have time to eat.

7.26.15 // I Will Make You... Fishers of Men

I Will Make You…Fishers of Men
Pastor Peter Young

Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” (Matthew 4:19)

Before you can begin fishing…
You must choose to follow Christ. In order lead others to Christ you must:

1. Be Authentic

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart— These, O God, You will not despise. (Psalm 51:17)

Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world. (James 1:27)

2. Be Opportunistic

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 28:19)

“…you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)

3. Be Consistent

“…teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20)

With my soul I have desired You in the night, Yes, by my spirit within me I will seek You early; For when Your judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness. (Isaiah 26:9)

4. Be Relevant

“But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you. (Matthew 5:44)

“And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’” (Matthew 25:45)

7.19.15 // The life in Pieces vs The life of Peace

If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. (Romans 12:18)

1. A life in pieces is artificial a life of peace is sacrificial

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. (Romans 12:9) 
Therefore, I urge you, brothers in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living scarifies, holy and pleasing to God… (Romans 12:1)

2. A life in pieces conforms a life of peace transforms

Do not conform any longer to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approved what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:2)

3. A life in pieces gets even a life of peace gives forgiveness

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. (Romans 12:17)
Do not take revenge, my friends… (Romans 12:19)

One the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this you will heap burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good (Romans 12:20-21)

4. A life in pieces lives in disunity a life of peace lives in community

Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. (Romans 12:4-5)

7.12.15 // Hope + Faith + Love

1 Corinthians 13:13 - And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

 What Is My Hope? What Do I Believe?
 What Is My Faith? What Am I Going To Say? 
 What Is My Love? What Am I Going To Do?

Colossians 1:4 – We have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God's people—[5] the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven …

HOPE + FAITH + LOVE = A BLESSED LIFE

1. From Pit To Palace – Joseph Genesis 50

Hope: Genesis 50:20 - But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good.

Faith: Genesis 50:19 - Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? … [21] Now therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.” Love: Genesis 50:21 - And he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.

2. From Hurting To Healed – Daughters Matthew 9

Hope: “Jesus is our healer.”

Faith: Matthew 9:18 - A synagogue leader came and knelt before him [Jesus] and said, “My daughter has just died. But come and put your hand on her, and she will live.”

Matthew 9:21 - She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.”

Love: Matthew 9:22 - Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed at that moment.

Matthew 9:25 - After the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up.

3. From Coward To Courageous – Peter Acts 2

Hope: Acts 1:8 - 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.

Faith: Acts 2:38 - Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

Love: Acts 2:44 - Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, [45] and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.