1 Peter 3:15b Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you (NRSV) or

[And if anyone asks you about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it. (NLT)]

We do not have to have the answer to every question, every objection, and every problem.  Rather, we are called on to give an answer for the hope that we have from a life in Christ.

How do we share “Hope”?

It does not have to be complicated.  We do not have to quote verse after verse to speak God’s truth.  The truth of Scripture is true even if we do not quote the verse in conversation.

We share it by entering into conversations with people.  It starts with caring enough to really listen.  Our agenda should be to live out the love of God, the love God has for them and the love God has shown to us.

Surrounded by “brokenness”.

We are often in contact with people that are experiencing the results of broken lives, bodies, relationships, and dreams.  In fact, we are no different.  It is from our own experiences with “brokenness” that we can compassionately connect with our fellow man.

Sometimes we experience brokenness as a result of our own actions.  Sometimes we experience brokenness as a result of the hurtful and selfish actions of others.

Many people talked about the difficulties they are facing, or difficulties their loved ones are facing.  When the opportunity arises in a conversation I will ask something like, “Can I share with you what gives me hope?”  If they consent then I share something like the following:

Three Circles

(developed by Jimmy Scoggins, Pastor, First Baptist Church of West Palm Beach, Fl.)

God’s Design:

Genesis 1:31 says, “Then God look over all he had made and he saw that it was very good!” (NLT)

(Note: you do not need to quote the Bible verses to express the Biblical truth.)

God has a design for sex, marriage, finances, health…relationships.  When we depart from his design it result is our brokenness.  We not only can hurt ourselves, but we often hurt others.  Other people departing from God’s plan can also hurt us.  This departure from God’s design is what the Bible calls sin.  This departure leads to our brokenness and the brokenness of those around as, the brokenness of the world.

Romans 3:23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. (NLT)

Brokenness:

Proverbs 14:12 There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death. (NLT)

We experience brokenness in many ways: bodies, minds, finances, and relationships.  We then seek to cover up our brokenness in an attempt to fix ourselves.  Some self-help attempts may bring some improvements; but in the end they fall short.

We may also attempt to cover up the problem with drugs, alcohol, money, education, success, relationships, etc.  Some of these actions end up causing harm and lead to more brokenness.  None of them can fill the void or fix the damage.

At some point we realize that we cannot fix ourselves.  We have tried this and that and nothing really changes.

God did not leave us in despair. There is Good News.  He did for us what we could never do for ourselves.

The Gospel:

Gospel means Good News.  God loves us, his creation, so much that he sent his Son to live as one of us, yet without sin.  The Bible says, “He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that, free from sins, we might live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.” (1 Peter 2:24 NRSV)

Romans 10:29 If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  (NLT)

We know that we need to change.  But we cannot fix our selves.  The solution is not simply turning from “sin”.  We must turn toward the One who designed us.

This kind of “change” is what the Bible calls repentance.  When we confess that Jesus is Lord (that is, that He is Lord over our lives, this universe, our problems…) and believe that God raised Him from the dead (as such He is victorious over sin and even death itself) we will be saved.

“Saved” into a relationship with the Creator.  We become a new person.  It is as if we are born a second time.  We start to experience God’s design for us and His creation.

Readings: Isaiah 42:1-9; Psalm 89:20-29; Acts 10:34-38; Mark 1:7-11

Notes:

Jesus heard words of love before entering into the time of trial.  The wilderness is a time of preparation for what is to come.  It can make it difficult to endure temptation with the idea of God in our minds that He is mean, angry, and capricious.  Jesus heard a message from the Father that reinforced His deep love.

The angles were with Jesus.  Notice they did not keep Him from being tempted.  Rather they are there to remind him of the love and reality of His Father.

God is love.  His is was demonstrated in sending His Son. (John 3:16)

Zephaniah 3:17 For the LORD your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs

Psalm 149:4 For the LORD delights in his people; he crowns the humble with victory.

Matt 28:18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Jesus was not given the knowledge of His Fathers love simply to make him feel better.  He had spent eternity with the Father.  We needed to know who He was.  We also need to hear the same words in our own spirit.

Jesus lives out he Great Commission by example through out the Gospel of Mark.  He, Proclaims, Calls, Teaches, Exercise Spiritual Authority, Healing, Sends Out.

• Proclaimed the “Good News” of God’s Kingdome and called people to repentance and belief (faith): Mk 1:15; 1:38
  • 1:15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God had come near, repent, and believe in the good news.”
  • 1:38 He answered, “Let us go on to the neighboring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; (What message? – 1:15) for this is what I came out to do.”
• Called people to “follow” Him: Mk 1:17; 2:13
  • Simon and Andrew (16); James and John (19); Levi (2:13)
  • 1:17 And Jesus said to them, “Follow me…”
• Teach Scripture: Mk 1:21
• Took authority over “unclean spirits” (demons) = spiritual warfare: Mk 1:23-26
• Healed the sick: Mk 1:29; 1:40-45
• Sends out to proclaim the message, have authority over demons: Mk 3:13-15

Does this message of being a beloved child of God ring true in your heart and mind?  If not, this is the place to start.  We start with our own response to His call to us to repent and follow.  It continues when we respond to His call in baptism.  God makes us His children.  He gives us a new heart, a new identity.  He sends the Holy Spirit which enables us to cry to God, “Abba” Father.

It is time for us to become the proclaimers of the Good News.  It is time for us to call other to repentance.  It is time to invite (call) others into community, into the Family of God.  It is time for us to take authority in the spiritual realm.  It is time to offer healing and hope.

As part of God’s family we all will participate in proclaiming, calling, teaching, and taking spiritual authority.  Yet each of us will live this out based on the unique gifts and tallest God provides.

It is time for us to live out, by the power of God’s Spirit, our baptismal call.

Readings: Isaiah 7:10-17; Psalm 24:1-7; Romans 1:1-7; Matthew 1:18-25

Listening skills are essential for any relationship.  Listening is more than hearing.  It is more than being able to repeat what the other person says.

Are we willing to listen?  I mean, really listen.  Consider the implications if Joseph was not willing to listen to the messenger of God.

• Joseph had genuine concern
• He resolved, made up his mind, to put Mary way (divorce) quietly.
• Many of was want God to speak to us. Are we listening to what God has already revealed?
• Consider who God spoke to directly throughout history. Consider the role that each played in God bringing about his plan of salvation for the whole world.
• An angle spoke to Joseph. Consider that Joseph has already been listening to God via the revealed word in the synagogue.
• A key and pivotal moment in history.
• Joseph was given a dangerous mission. King Harod would not look kindly on another claim to the throne.
• God first speaks through Scripture
• Are we listening?
• In Revelation: Those who have ears to hear, let them hear.
• Will we listen and receive? Are we willing to listen to the Apostles, to Paul, Peter, James, John and the others?  Are we willing to listen to words and actions of Mary, Elisabeth, Ruth and the other great women of the faith?
• Will we listen to the millions of voices throughout church history? Voices from Clement, Augustine, Ignatius, Teresa of Avila, Mother Teresa and countless others.
• Perhaps God does not speak more directly to us because we have not listened to God’s revealed Word.
• What is our role in the plan of salvation? Are we willing to take a risk for God, as Joseph did, to bring the knowledge of salvation to our families and communities?
• If we are willing to listen, as Joseph was willing to listen, a world will be opened up to us that goes beyond our expectations.
• Study, pray, share.

Painting: The Dream of Saint Joseph By Philippe De Champaigne, 1643

Readings:
Genesis 12:1-8; Psalm 33:12-22; Romans 4:1-17; John 3:1-17

• John 3 is at the Heart of John’s Gospel
• God’s plan of salvation is for the wold.
• God loved the world… regardless of: race, wealth, abilities… Even those who did not love Him.
• This love is Agape – Doing what is right on the behalf of the object of love…not a feeling
• You are “whosoever”!  It is not limited to a color, size, nation, family, race, economic status, etc.
• How much of creation was waiting for redemption? (Romans 8)
• “…that the world might be saved through him.”  This makes clear the possibility for salvation.  Sadly some “might” not accept the invitation.
• A leader of the Jews, Nicodemus, seeks out Jesus.
• Why did he come by night? (5:55 — 7:16 — four theori es)
• What might have been going through Nicodemus’ head when he heard Jesus say “You must be born again (anew)?
• Who can enter the Kingdom of God?
• Can someone on the “outside” understand the ways of the Kingdom?  The Cross does not make sense to someone who is walking in darkness.
• What does it mean that the son of man “must be lifted up”? (v 14 and Numbers 21)
• It is not in our own efforts, but looking to Jesus that we find our deliverance/salvation.
• What do we see when we gaze upon the cross (or a crucifix)?
• How can we lift Him up in our daily lives?
• Not only eternal life…but abundant life (John 10:10)
• Condemnation is optional!  God has provided all we need.  Each of us is invited into a relationship with God through Christ.  Jesus did not come to condemn.  Rather, he came to save.
• There may be parts of our own lives, our own hearts, that we try to hid in the darkness.

Readings: Exodus 24:12-18; Psalm 99; Philippians 3:7-14; Matthew 17:1-9

What do I value?  From what do I derive my value?

St. Paul’s perspective concerning all his efforts, success, and prestige is worthless when compared to having a relationship, knowing, the King of Kings.  It is more than know about Christ.  He wanted to know Christ in the power of His resurrection.  The power to bring death to life.  Paul also acknowledges that this knowledge will be accompanied with suffering.

• Moses in Ex. 24 had a transfiguring experience with God.
• Some of the Disciples of Jesus had a transfiguring experiences with God on a mountain.
• St. Paul was transformed when he encounter Jesus on the road to Damascus
• Consider who Paul (Saul) was before he encounter Christ.
• Did Paul have cause to boast, put confidence, in his identity and heritage?
• Paul punched all the right tickets…  However, compared to knowing Christ it is all worthless.
• What does it mean to know Christ?
• What is the difference between know about someone and having a relationship?
•  Consider how we can misunderstand someone when we just know a little about them as opposed to knowing someone personally.
• Just knowing about Jesus is not enough to bring a transformation of our heart and lives.
• Experiencing the Power of His Resurrection.
• “I press on.”
•  I have not fully obtained, but what I do is lay it all aside.  I lay aside all that the world would consider “gain”.  I lay aside all that is behind me.  And I press on to know Jesus.
• What is weighing us down?
• Do we seek to know about Jesus?
• Do we seek to know Jesus in our experiences?

Readings: Exodus 17:1-7; Psalm 46; Romans 5:1-11; John 4:5-42

• It all starts and ends in knowing that He is God!
• Knowing about God…+knowing by relationship.  Know about God only gets us so far.  It is in a relationship that a deep trust is formed.
• Fear does not need to dominate our lives or our emotions.
• It is hard to be at peace, to be still, when we are playing God.
• Even when nature goes crazy…. (Ps 46:2-3)
• Even when nations go crazy…. (Ps 46:6)
• God over creation and the nations.
• Being still is not a lack of activity.  It is peace no matter what is going on.
• Circumstances do not change God.

Psalm 131:2

•  He is the Lord over creations and the Lord over the affairs of man!
• When we have our hope placed in God we can learn to be still.
• We can be nourished with the living whether, the same that he offered to the Samaritan woman in John 4:13-14.
• Nourished by God’s love that “has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.” (Romans 5:5)  God is always present with us.
• In what, or who do we place our hope?  Do we place our hope in medicine, in our success, in our abilities, in our spouses, in our children…?
• Practicing living our lives being still and know that He is God in the little things will help prepare us for whatever big events, like mentioned in this Psalm, that we may face.