The Hope Effective
The Hope Effect
January 7, 2018
Rev. Gabe Sylvia
The sermon launches the 'Hope Effect' series, teaching that Christ's hope—anchored in grace and the promise of Christ's return—empowers and calls us to grow in holiness by preparing our minds, living soberly, turning from former lusts, and learning to live like children of God.
Summary
This message introduces a short series called the Hope Effect that re-centers the church on a new purpose, vision, and ministry commitments focused on proclaiming Christ's hope through worship, discipleship, community, mercy, and outreach. The preacher emphasizes that hope is the antidote to despair and the driving power for holy living: it conforms us to Christ and must be anchored in the certainty of his return and the reality of grace. Practical holiness requires preparing our minds for action, being sober-minded, meditating on the details of grace, and turning from former sinful habits—recognizing that being like Christ is accomplished by him while learning to act like him is our ongoing task. Finally, holiness is learned gradually, like a child learning to ride a bike: it takes time and effort but is secured by God's promise when we hope in grace.
Key Points
- Launch of the 'Hope Effect' series to renew the church's purpose, vision, and ministry commitments
- Core aim: to know and offer the power of Christ's hope across worship, discipleship, community, mercy, and outreach
- Hope is the antidote to despair, fuels courage and service, and is meant to conform us to Christ
- Today's focus: hope's connection to holiness—hope is the power and call to pursue holy living
- Christian life is founded on grace; before commands, God commends Christ to us—losing this foundation destroys hope
- Peter's first command: hope—anchored in the Second Coming and grounded in God's grace
- Practical requirement: prepare your mind for action and recognize our default unpreparedness
- Be sober-minded and meditate on the details of grace; holiness is our first responsibility
- Holiness means being and acting differently than the world and turning from former lusts
- Becoming holy is a process learned like a child learning to ride a bike: it takes time and is ultimately secure when we hope in grace
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