The new creation work of Jesus means that peace can be in bloom in our world. More than just a feeling or experience, peace is a culture of healing, security and prosperity enabled by the just and righteous rule of Jesus. In a world pulled apart by anxiety, this peace protects our hearts and minds and sends us boldly into the world as ambassadors.
The resurrection means that love is in bloom in the new creation of Jesus. Love is volitional -gracious, self-giving, restorative actions toward others. When we encounter God's love regularly, it moves us to worship and on the basis of worship into love toward others. This love not only gives us a deeper knowledge of God, but makes an invisible God tangible to an onlooking world.
More than an emotion or experience, joy is a deep assurance of victory found in the gospel. When we lean into the gospel in obedience our experience of joy increases and works to transform our perspective and counteract our pain. The new creation announced in the resurrection of Jesus means that joy is in bloom in our lives and in our world.
The gospel of John reminds us that the resurrection isn't just factually true, but also the climax of God's grand narrative of creation. And so its no surprise we find Jesus in a garden being mistaken for a gardener where he has just defeated sin and death and the curse they brought. And in their place has cultivated the soil for new creation to bloom.
God continues to respond to the rebellion of the Israelites with grace. In this case, he graciously reaffirms the role and responsibilities of the Levites and the role and function of the priests to protect the people. Moreover, he gives them a readymade source of cleansing when the encounter death. In Jesus, the ultimate high priest, God brings us near to him without fear and offers us final and ongoing cleansing from our sin that leads to death.
Korah leads a rebellion assuming that his standing means he can assert himself as a priest. But God reminds all of Israel that he has chosen rightly with Aaron. Whereas Korah attempted to elevate himself and in so doing put the people at risk, the true high priest puts his own life at risk in order to rescue the people. How much more is this true of Jesus who has once and for all rescued humanity by laying down his life.
The story of the 12 spies shows us that is entirely possible to be presented with the same facts on the ground and come to entirely different conclusions. That is, as people of God, we can either view the world through the lens of his promises or our perspective. If we are going to follow God in faith, even amidst significant struggle, we must look for his faithfulness, remember his power and listen to his word. And his faithfulness and power are on its fullest display in Jesus - the living word...
As grumbling overtakes Israel, Moses is overwhelmed and Miriam and Aaron are envious - two emotions that are common amongst us! To each of them God demonstrates his grace, just in different ways. God raises us leaders to help Moses carry the burden. And God gives Miriam and Aaron an important reminder about their true identity. It is identity that brings true contentment.
Three days into the journey and the Israelites are grumbling. How does this happen? The same way it regularly happens in our lives. We cling to a sense of entitlement that shifts our perspective off of God's glory, presence and mission and onto our cravings and comfort. Rather than going to God in lament about the reality of our struggle we point our finger at him in disgust. And when grumbling starts, it spreads quickly. Only a mediator greater than Moses, namely Jesus, can save us from ourselv...
The cloud not only demonstrated God's purpose, but it would lead God's people on their journey. And in his kindness he provided two silver trumpets to help clarify this leading. Just like the Israelites, we are called to follow God in this life we are living, but it can be overwhelming and difficult at times. Praise God in his kindness he has provided two silver trumpets - the Scriptures and the Spirit to speak to us corporately and individually and keep us on track as we follow God by constantl...
Passover was a mandatory celebration for God's people because it helped them remember and embrace their identity. But Passover was always pointing to something greater. In Jesus, we have the ultimate Passover - a rescue from slavery and welcome into the family of God. So then, Jesus becomes a mandatory feast for all who desire to come to God.
Israel was God's people. He had adopted them, literally placing his name on them. And in so doing he promised to bless them. Blessing meant keeping and protecting them, taking delight in them, extending grace toward them and giving them peace. We see this ancient blessing find its ultimate meaning in the person and work of Jesus, through whom we have been adopted into God's family. And just like them, our only possible response is worship.
Impurity amongst the people of God is a big deal in the face of a holy God. And as God is about to depart with his people on a journey he wants to know if they are going to be faithful. The book of Numbers will show us that they aren't and in fact that they can't be. Here we see the true nature of God, who pursues his people relentlessly and ultimately in Jesus deals once and for all with our impurity.
The role of the Levites was critical to the function of the people of God. They protected, assisted with and transported the tabernacle in the wilderness. Through Jesus the presence of God is once again on the move in our world. And it is the job of the church to help transport this tabernacle as they go in their spheres of influence.
Why start a book with a census? To demonstrate the faithfulness of God to his people. What started as a promise of a great nation had played out before their eyes. What's more, God not only keeps his promises, but keeps his presence amongst his people. And he shows them that the only proper response is a life ordered around him.
Gabriel's final statement to Mary is the closing argument to his plea to not be afraid. Nothing is impossible with God. This no doubt brought to mind the power of God in creation and in keeping his covenant. Moreover, he empowered Mary's faith through the ministry of the Spirit and the testimony of Elizabeth.
God delivers on His many promises from over many years to crown a new King David. Jesus reigns with the heart of God and delivers his people to salvation, justice, and righteousness.
When Gabriel tells Mary her baby will be the Son of God, he is saying that the child will be Israel's long awaited Messiah - chosen by God to rescue his people and in so doing announce their forgiveness. In Jesus, we have the ultimate Son of God. God himself became flesh in order to offer a once and for all forgiveness, not just to Israel but the entire world.
When Gabriel tells Mary that she is going to have a child, her mind must have heard the echos of Abraham and Issac, but mostly Samson. Just like Jesus, Samson's birth was announced to a common and unsuspecting mother by an angel. And just like Samson, Jesus would be a deliverer of his people. What's more, he would have the name Jesus - literally Joshua. He would lead his people to finally possess the land/blessing God had promised.
What does it mean that Mary found favor with God? Simply speaking, God had extended himself toward her in grace. And just like Noah and Moses before her, God intended to demonstrate his glory and faithfulness. This truth led to a counter-circumstantial hope and joy for Mary and it can do likewise for us.
The people of God are called to be generous because God is generous. But living in generosity can be a challenging reality because we often have misplaced hope. It is only through hope rightly placed in God that we can take hold of true life and live in generosity rather than conceit.
Elders are entrusted to oversee the church toward gospel fidelity, doctrinal purity and fulfilling Jesus' mission for the church. They do this not for personal gain or positions of power and status, but rather to serve. They are shepherds not members of a corporate board. And the church is blessed to have them.
In the same way as gathering is an important part of our identity as the people of God, so too is our scattering. We have been commissioned to make disciples and this takes place literally "as we are going." In other words, we intentionally scatter for mission. This is the call on every follower of Jesus and our embrace of it gives glory to God.
The people of God have always been meant to be a people of prayer. So it is no surprise when we read the book of Acts that we find the church continually being described by a devotion to prayer. As God's people we pray to worship, to be formed in the gospel, to hear from God, to receive power and to advocate for one another. This is our vision for prayer at Hope.
The Bible is critical to our identity as the people of God. It speaks his word to us with authority by relaying the gospel and its implications on our lives. When we embrace it with an open heart as a church and as individuals, God uses it to teach us the gospel, rebuke and correct us when we embrace false gospels, and train us in how to live in light of the gospel.
Being the people of God means that we are committed to regularly gather for worship. This is so significant because it recanters our hearts on Jesus and realigns our lives to the gospel. From its inception the church has done this through teaching, worship and togetherness. Teaching and worship are central to this. But it equally clear that this is a "one another" reality, not just something to be consumed. We gather to participate and therefore to grow in our faith while also emboldening the fa...
The New Testament picture of the church is near universally in the first person plural - "we" rather than "me." In a decidedly isolated and individualistic culture, why and how can we lean into biblical community? The gospel brings about the experience of togetherness and our togetherness actually deepens our understanding and commitment to the gospel.
The church is like an orchestra playing the symphony of gospel music composed by Jesus and conducted by the Spirit. And each person plays an incredibly significant and unique part. Our giftedness is actually a means of grace and power to strengthen and mature the church. So, to not embrace our uniqueness and to not embrace and serve the church intentionally is to actually withhold the grace and power of God from his people. We each have a role to play. The absence of you is a loss for the church...
In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul makes it clear that we ARE one in the Gospel, and can maintain that same oneness through the Gospel rather than our own efforts or legalism. And when we are one, God gets the glory!
Jesus is the head of the church. He is the one who brings about and sustains the church through his good and gracious rule and direction. And if Jesus is the head, that means no on else is. There are roles and functions in the church, but all in subjection to the headship of Jesus.
