Hope Alliance Bethlehem

Life is hard. There is not getting around this. But in the midst of a broken world, we are buoyed by the goodness of God. The full glory awaits us, but in the meantime the Spirit is a present help. In all the good purposes of God will advance and those who have received Christ will be seen through to the end.

What is the answer to the ongoing struggle of sin? The answer is certainly not us! But it is the Spirit. All who have trusted in Jesus are indwelt by the Spirit which makes possible our being enlivened by the Spirit and led by the Spirit.

Sin is a continuing problem, so what should we do about it? Paul is careful to remind us not to try to deal with it through the law (religion, moralism). These things only make the situation worse, believe it or not. Sure they are good things, but they are not ultimate. Jesus is ultimate and it is through our union with him that we bear good fruit.

"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord." Paul's fervent reminder to those who follow Jesus that daily sin brings daily death. More importantly, it is Paul's urgent plea to live into our union with Jesus and experience the abundance of life that is ours now.

Paul's question is an important one - should we just keep living in sin so that God's grace would keep flowing? And his answer is critical - not a chance! Those who have trusted Jesus are dead to sin and may live a new life. So, we are called to recognize Jesus as King and sin as a deposed ruler.

How are we supposed to live in light of Jesus work of salvation for us? Paul centers on one word - hope. Our hope in God is not just for a future someday in heaven, but also for an abundant life now where we are experiencing the blessings of the gospel even in the midst of our broken world.

We all put our faith in something. Paul uses the example of Abraham to tell us that our faith is rightly placed in God, not in religion or in ourselves. God brings forgiveness, religion and morality bring wrath. How do we know we have this kind of faith in God? It causes us to give glory to God in all circumstances and it continues to grow as we use it.

Is God fair? This is a question we all have wrestled with time and time again. Perhaps, however, it is more appropriate to ask if God is kind. Paul reminds us that a fair God would punish us immediately for sin. But God is patient, withholding judgment in kindness so that it might lead us to repentance.

As much as we would rather not admit to it, sin is a universal reality. And it is something that we can't fix - not even with morality or religion. So the reality of sin for us is the fact that we are in need of rescue. And the corresponding reality from God is that Jesus is our rescue.

In our world, everyone is searching for identity. And most allow themselves to be defined by others. The apostle Paul gives us a totally different example. His encounter with Jesus radically changed his identity. In the opening section of Romans, he shows how his status, calling and story have all been given new meaning through Jesus.

When the angel told her she would give birth, Mary was confused. How could a virgin give birth? But the virgin birth of Jesus is so important. It proves he is not from man, demonstrates the power of God and shows how much God loves us. FYI - This audio recording contains a clip from the movie Elf.

As the story of Ruth continues, we see kindness in full display. Kindness of Ruth toward Naomi, kindness of Boaz toward Ruth and ultimately the kindness of God toward all of us. God's kindness is demonstrated in his providence, protection and provision.

As the story continues, Ruth and her daughters-in-law head back to Bethlehem. It is a story of faith, both waning and persevering. And it is a great reminder to us that God receives all who return to him.

As this short story opens, famine strikes the town of Bethlehem and a young family is faced with a difficult situation. Digging a little deeper however unveils the real reason for the famine. And this story helps us understand how we should respond to dry times in our lives as well.

Being humble is not easy. Any yet, the Bible calls us to live with humility toward others. In order to do this, we have to first have a posture of humility toward God.

Following Jesus promises a full life, not necessarily an easy life. Here, Peter reminds us that we shouldn't be surprised when we face trials or persecution. In fact, how we respond to these situations is meant to affirm our faith and direct our gratitude to Christ.

Every follower of Jesus has been given spiritual gifts. These come from God's grace and are used in God's power for God's glory. Unfortunately many people haven't discovered their gifts or aren't using them. For the church to be what God intends it to be, Peter reminds us that we need to use our gifts!

Hospitality is not equal to hosting. It is a way of life, a disposition of generosity that includes having an open home, open hands and an open heart. And those who follow Jesus are called to do it without grumbling.

Peter is so concerned about being sober that he says it twice in one sentence. Why? Because he is aware that we are easily intoxicated by the world around us. This reality should press us to a prayerful dependence upon God.

Forgiveness is at the center of God's story of love for man. The debt that God has forgiven those who receive it is incalculable. And the more we live in that story, the more we realize God' call on us to forgive others.

How do we receive and/or understand Jesus? These two parables help to remind us that Jesus must be central. Moreover, Jesus came to give us new life, not simply be a temporary patch and additive to life. This is good news!

Is God fair? This is a question as old as history. In reality, there are two ways to view the world: me-centered and God-centered. And how you choose to view it will have unbelievable ramifications on your understanding of God and life. And it will determine whether you are characterized by grumbling or gratitude.

What is your most prized possession? A man finds a treasure and sells everything he has to buy it. In this short parable, Jesus reminds those who will hear that the kingdom of God must be found, valued and bought. What value does the kingdom of God have to you?

When Jesus compares the kingdom is like a mustard seed, he is telling us that God takes the improbable and does the undeniable. And he is reminding us that the kingdom grows in order to bless the world and infuse with the gospel.

It isn't hard to look at the world and know that it is not now how God intended it. Jesus used a parable to illustrate this reality and to affirm that a time is coming that God will set things right. Jesus is also careful to remind us of God's patience and our tendency to want to act.