Hope Alliance Bethlehem

In Luke's gospel, Jesus' call of Peter is preceded by his miraculous catch of fish.  In this seeming intrusion of Jesus, we see Peter's process of embracing Jesus.  He defers which leads to worship.  And his worship enables him to follow Jesus.  Peter gave Jesus space to show himself and Jesus demonstrated his desire to grant him an abundant life.

To an exiled prophet and people, the vision of a valley of dry bones coming to life must have brought unthinkable hope.  And to those who have realized their brokenness and that of this world, the life that only Jesus can bring offers far greater hope, not just for the future, but also in the now.  In the footsteps of our king, we then move to proclaim and breath new life into this world.

The story of Esther reminds us that we all have a divine purpose and have been providentially placed by God.  So in this midst of a broken world, and now a community quarantined by pandemic, could it be that God has placed you in your spheres of influence for such a time as this?  You have a significant role to play!

Jeremiah's letter to the exiles was both good and bad news.  Seventy years of captivity, but even that could not rescind God's faithfulness.  His plan for them was a certain future and it brought with it resolute hope.  On the basis of this hope, the prophet tells the people to intentionally invest their lives, even while in exile.

The story of Joseph shows us two seemingly contradictory and yet equally true realities.  This world is broken and so there is pain and suffering.  But God is committed to restoring all things and therefore is working good in the midst of it.  As we face global pandemic, it causes us to ask real questions about God.  If we know him, it should also cause us to be looking for the good he might be wo...

After the Babylonians conquered Jerusalem, three young men found themselves in exile - a whole new world with all new challenges.  They even found themselves on the very precipice.  And yet, their faith preserved them in the midst of their fear.  Like them, we can have hope in the midst of real struggle and separation.

The eyewitnesses accounts of the centurion and Mary to the crucifixion and resurrection are so informative to us.  They show us the significance of a real encounter with Jesus that leads to a whole new identity and mission.  By the Scriptures, we too are eyewitnesses called to bear witness to a waiting world.

To finish his later to the Galatians, Paul takes the pen himself to write the conclusion.  Those who oppose the gospel boast in their fleshly self-effort, but Paul aimed to boast only in the cross.  It is the cross of Jesus that bestows new creation and the experience of mercy and peace.

Our view of ourself drastically affects our relationships with others.  A flesh-centered view leads to love of self and ends up in provoking and envying others.  A gospel-centered view leads to love of others and moves towards them with humility and boldness.

There is an ongoing battle in the life of the Christian between the flesh and the Spirit.  The flesh is our sinful self that craves control, power and the right to be king.  The Spirit glories Jesus as the rightful King.  It is only through the power of the Spirit and the internal, transforming work of the gospel that the fruit of the kingdom of Jesus is manifest in our life.

Religion has no power to gain us access to God or to transform us.  It is on the gospel that can set us free into God's family and unto a whole new experience of life.  So, stand firm in this gospel!

In Israel's history, Abraham famously had two sons.  Ishmael was born out of human effort, but Isaac was born out of God's promise.  Paul uses this example allegorically to show us that faith in human effort leads to slavery, while faith in the gospel leads to freedom.

Paul, as their founding pastor, offers a plea for the Galatians who he clearly loves.  His desire is that they would not fall trap to idols, even religious ones, but rather that they would be formed in Christ.  Like the Galatians, these are things we should be zealous for as well.

The glorious truth of the gospel is that in Christ Jesus we are all children of God through faith.  What was once just a promise hoped for has now been fulfilled and realized by Jesus' redemption of humanity.  And for those who embraced this gospel, the call is to regularly and intentionally clothe ourselves in it.

Paul makes it very clear that the promises of God have always been the point, not the Law of Moses.  But if that's the case, what was the Law for?  Was it a trick?  Was it simply to preoccupy the Israelites' time?   Paul helps the readers understand here (and in Romans) that the Law served a good purpose in guiding us to see what a life devoted to God should look like...but also convicti...

As Paul redirects the Galatians to the gospel of faith in Christ alone, he uses the example of Abraham.  Going beyond Moses and the law, he shows that entrance into the family of God has always been about faith in God.  And now through Jesus, not only has the curse of the law been reversed, but the covenant to Abraham has been fulfilled.

The purity of the gospel is so significant that Paul was willing to boldly confront Peter, who had been hypocritically proclaiming the gospel with his mouth, but not backing it up with his actions.  In this story we see just how easy it is to fall prey to the fear of man and in so doing forfeit our freedom in Christ.  And how our behavior flows out of our gospel identity, not simply our gospel und...

Paul uses a previous experience in Antioch to demonstrate the methods of false teachers in forcing gospel compromise.  And he reminds the Galatians and us how important it is to give no ground to any addition to the gospel.  Our standing in Christ gives us complete access to God.

Paul wanted the Galatians to know that his life journey was sovereignly enabled by God to lead him to bring the gospel to them.  Certainly his apostolic authority but also both his testimony of salvation and the testimony of his life made him the right voice for them.  Likewise, God has providentially place us as a witness and is preparing us to be his gospel voice where we are.

Paul confronts the Galatians' problem head on - any addition (or subtraction) from the gospel is no gospel at all.  Paul's warning to them is just as imperative to us as we seek to not only believe and find our identity in the gospel of Christ, but also to live in it.

Paul opens his letter to the Galatians by reminding them of his commission by Jesus and the beauty of a gracious gospel that brings true peace. 

When Jesus is brought to the temple as an infant, he has a surprising encounter with two older people - Simeon and Anna.  Their excitement at the presence of Jesus is the result of being people who are boldly waiting for redemption.  They have experienced exile, but even in it midst trust the goodness of God as they wait for his full plan to be revealed.

The arrival of the magi proclaiming Jesus as king in the face of King Herod sets up a perfect question for gospel readers.  Who gets to be king?  The reign of Jesus is a threat to all who want power and control, not just of a government, but of their own life.  The magi give us the perfect testimony of acknowledging Jesus as king and submitting to him.

In contrast to Caesar, the humble arrival of Jesus shows a very different kingdom with a very different gospel.  Peace is not attained through power and conquest, but through a God who willingly set aside power to redeem the world.  For shepherds like us, that is truly good news.

Amidst all kinds of people laboring to enable the restoration of Israel, God comes to a common, insignificant person like Mary and speaks a whole new identity over her.  And her faith in him leads her to embrace an unexpected hope not only for her, but the whole world.