Advent

REBUILDING HOPE

DECEMBER 3, 2023

Main Scripture: Hebrews 10:19-23

Additional Scriptures: Galatians 6:9, Hebrews 6:19-20, 13:8 1 Corinthians 4:3-5, 2 Corinthians 1:20,

POINTS:

• Compounded grief creates a feeling of overwhelming anxiety.

• Advent: The expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus at Christmas.

• Expectant: To believe something good is about to happen.

• Hope: The confident expectation of what God has promised and hope finds its strength in His faithfulness.

• Where we place our hope directly relates to how much joy we have.

• Idols: Something that we consider of equal or greater value than God.

• According to Timothy Keller, there are four source idols: Comfort, Approval, Control, and Power.

• Comfort idol indicators are blame, stress, and boredom.

• Real joy can’t be found in the pursuit of self-seeking pleasure. It can only be found in self-sacrificing service.

• Approval idol indicators are anxiety and discouragement.

• Gaslighting: Manipulating someone by using psychological methods to cause them to question their own sanity or powers of reasoning.

• Control idol indicators are gaslighting, anxiety, and loneliness.

• Power idol indicators are striving, exhaustion, and loneliness.

• To place your hope in Christ…

• You must believe that you are completely known by God and welcomed in His presence.

• And God is Faithful!

• We must place our hope in the Lord of the Harvest and not the harvest itself.