Birthing Hope
Advent week of Hope
Defining Hope Biblically
Hope, in Scripture, is not just wishful thinking or optimism—it’s a confident expectation in the promises of God. Hope is anchored in God’s faithfulness, His character, and His Word.
Hope: confident expectation in the promises of God.
The Bible gives us many examples of hope:
Hebrews 11:1 (ESV) ‘Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.’
Hope is the assurance that what God has promised will come to pass, even if we don’t see it yet.
Romans 15:13 (AMP) “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing [through the experience of your faith] that by the power of the Holy Spirit you will abound in hope and overflow with confidence in His promises.”
Hope is not passive—it’s active and alive, sustained by our faith in God’s promises. It gives us strength to endure hardships, courage to face the unknown, and assurance that God’s purposes will prevail.”
“Now that we understand hope as a confident expectation, let’s look at its companion: faith. If hope is the promise, faith is what moves us to trust and act on that promise.”
Defining Faith Biblically
“Faith is foundational to our walk with God, and the Bible provides a clear definition of what it means.
Hebrews 11:1 (ESV) ‘Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.’
Faith is believing in God’s promises even when we can’t see the outcome yet.
Faith is active, not passive. James 2:26 reminds us,
James 2:26 (AMP) For just as the [human] body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works [of obedience] is also dead.
Faith leads us to action—it’s trusting God enough to step out in obedience, even when we don’t have all the answers.
We also see that faith is deeply tied to trust.
Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV) 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.
Faith is surrendering our understanding to God and trusting Him to guide us.”
FAITH IS THE FOUNDATION ON WHICH HOPE IS BIRTHED
· WITHOUT FAITH, YOU HAVE NO BASIS ON WHICH TO HAVE HOPE
· AND IF YOU HAVE NO HOPE, THEN THAT IS A RESULT OF A FAULTY FOUNDATION OF FAITH
Buddy the Elf
Now, I wanted to find a good example of someone who exemplifies the essence of Hope and Faith…
And this wouldn’t be a Pastor Collin sermon without some sort of shenanigans.
Whether you’ve seen it or not, you’re probably familiar with this scene from one of the most treasured Christmas movies of all time… Let’s roll the clip.”
(Play the Elf clip: “Santa! I know him!” scene.)
Now, we all know Buddy the Elf isn’t exactly subtle, is he? His excitement about Santa—‘I KNOW HIM!’—is hilarious and endearing,
…but it also gives us something to think about. Buddy doesn’t just believe Santa exists; his belief drives him to act. That’s faith.
And his hope? It sustains him even when people doubt him.
I love the part where his boss says “this is the North Pole”
Buddy’s reaction is… “no it’s not”
Buddy’s reaction isn’t based purely on argument… he has personal knowledge of the North Pole, his belief is based on a solid foundation… He freaks out with excitement with the mentioning of the word SANTA… not because he’s a kid at heart, and kids love Santa… but because he has a personal relationship with the man… and it’s that personal relationship that drives his enthusiasm.
We’ll see this faith and hope in the very opening of the Christmas story, where a young woman’s faith and hope shaped the course of history.”
Part 1: Mary’s Faith and Hope
Mary’s Faith in Action
Luke 1: 26 – 38 (NLT)
26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, 27 to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. 28 Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!”
29 Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. 30 “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. 33 And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!”
34 Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.”
35 The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God. 36 What’s more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she has conceived a son and is now in her sixth month. 37 For the word of God will never fail.”
38 Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her.
That was faith—trusting God’s plan even when it didn’t make sense.
Oh, and don’t think this is a “I’ve lived a long life and have seen a lot of things, so I can totally comprehend this situation” type of thing…
Theologically and historically, the consensus is that Mary was likely between 12 and 16 years old when she became pregnant with Jesus.
Faith doesn’t wait for all the answers; it steps forward, believing that God is in control.”
Mary’s Hope in God’s Promise
“Mary’s hope came as she carried Jesus, trusting that God’s promise to save the world through her child would come true. On the journey to Bethlehem, through the trials of travel and the uncertainty of giving birth in a stable, Mary held onto hope. Her faith gave her the strength to act, and her hope kept her looking forward to God’s promise being fulfilled.”
(Transition to connect Mary’s story to the audience.)
“Mary’s story isn’t just something we read about during Christmas. It’s an example of how faith and hope work hand in hand in our own lives.”
Part 2: Reflective Questions and Biblical Examples
(Brief introduction to the questions.)
But what about my doubts!?!
We all have questions, doubts and uncertainties…
“As we explore faith and hope in Scripture, let’s ask ourselves some questions. These will help us reflect on where God is calling us to grow.”
Question 1:
How do I know if I truly have faith or if I’m just hoping for something?
- Biblical Example: Abraham was about 100 years old when God said he would have a son. And yet, as impractical as that sounds, Abraham had hope and faith that it would happen.
Romans 4:18-21 (NLT) 18 Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping—believing that he would become the father of many nations. For God had said to him, “That’s how many descendants you will have!” 19 And Abraham’s faith did not weaken, even though, at about 100 years of age, he figured his body was as good as dead—and so was Sarah’s womb.
20 Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. 21 He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises.
- Biblical Statement: Faith acts in obedience; hope trusts the outcome.
- Faith Example: Stepping out to serve in a ministry.
- Hope Example: Trusting God will use your obedience for His glory.
Question 2:
What do I do if I feel like my faith is weak and my hope is fading?
- Biblical Example: The father in Mark 9:24 admitted, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” Jesus honored his honesty and strengthened his faith.
- Biblical Statement: Pray honestly; God meets you in your weakness. Surround yourself with believers who can encourage and pray with you.
- Faith Example: Reaching out for prayer or attending a small group despite feeling discouraged.
- Hope Example: Trusting that God hears your prayers and is working, even when you can’t see it.
Question 3: Is it okay to feel doubt or fear, even if I have faith?
· Biblical Example: Peter walking on water—he doubted when he focused on the storm, but Jesus reached out to him in his fear. (Matthew 14:30-31)
- Biblical Statement: Doubt doesn’t disqualify your faith. Bring your doubts to God and redirect your focus to His promises.
- Faith Example: Taking a step forward in obedience even when you feel afraid.
- Hope Example: Trusting that God will catch you, even if you stumble along the way.
Question 4:
What if I act in faith, but the outcome I hope for doesn’t happen?
- Biblical Example: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego declared they would trust God even if He didn’t save them from the furnace.
Daniel 3:17-18 (NLT)
17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. 18 But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.”
- Biblical Statement: Faithfulness matters more than the outcome; trust God’s bigger plan.
- Faith Example: Continuing to pray for a situation even when it seems unchanged.
- Hope Example: Believing that God is still working behind the scenes for your good.
Question 5:
How can I hold onto hope when everything around me feels hopeless?
- Biblical Example: Job declared, “I know that my Redeemer lives,” even in the midst of suffering. (Job 19:25-26)
Context in Job’s Story:
Immense Suffering: By this point, Job has lost his wealth, children, and health. He is covered in painful sores, sitting in ashes, and wrestling with intense grief and despair.
Isolation and Accusations: Job’s friends, who initially came to comfort him, have instead accused him of being the cause of his own suffering, claiming that he must have sinned against God. Job, however, maintains his innocence.
Crisis of Understanding: Job is struggling to reconcile his understanding of God’s justice with his undeserved suffering. He feels abandoned by God, yet he refuses to curse Him, as his wife suggested earlier in the story (Job 2:9-10).
Job’s Declaration in Job 19:25-26 (ESV):
Despite his pain and confusion, Job boldly declares:
19:25-26 (ESV):
“I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end He will stand on the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God.”
This is a moment of unwavering faith and hope:
Faith: Job believes in the reality of a Redeemer who will ultimately vindicate him, even though his current circumstances suggest otherwise.
Hope: Job looks beyond his suffering to a future resurrection, trusting that he will one day see God face-to-face, even after death.
This declaration is remarkable because it highlights Job’s confidence in God’s justice and his anticipation of restoration, even as he remains in the depths of despair.
Question 6:
How can I have faith and hope for reconciliation in broken relationships?
- Biblical Example: The father in the parable of the Prodigal Son welcomed his son back with open arms. (Luke 15:20-24)
- Biblical Statement: Pray for softened hearts and take the first step toward reconciling.
- Faith Example: Reaching out to someone in humility and love.
- Hope Example: Trusting God to heal what feels impossible to restore.
START CLOSING MUSIC HERE
Question 7: What does faith in action look like in my everyday life?
· Biblical Example: The Woman Who Touched Jesus’ Garment
“Let me show you one of the most powerful examples of faith and hope in the Bible.”
(Call Alex to the stage, using Felicity’s Hello Kitty blanket as the garment.)
“In Mark 5:34, we find a woman who had been suffering for 12 long years. She had exhausted all her resources and found no relief. Yet, when she heard about Jesus, something stirred within her. She believed that if she could just touch His garment, she would be healed. That belief—that faith—compelled her to push through the crowd and reach out. And her hope? Her hope was the expectation that Jesus’ power could and would heal her.
(Demonstrate the act of reaching for the garment.)
“Picture her as she reaches out her hand. That simple act of faith made all the difference. Jesus stopped, turned to her, and said, ‘Your faith has healed you.’ But her faith didn’t act alone. It was her hope—her confident expectation in Jesus’ promise of healing—that drove her to act.”
(Connect the story to the audience.)
“How often do we find ourselves in situations where we need that same combination of faith and hope? Maybe you’re facing a health challenge, a financial struggle, or a broken relationship. Faith is what drives you to take the next step, to trust God with the outcome. And hope reminds you that His promises are true, even when the path is uncertain.”
(Pose a moment of reflection.)
“What’s your ‘garment’ to reach for today? Where is God calling you to step out in faith, and what promise are you hoping for as you do?”
Conclusion: Bringing It Back to Jesus
· “Let’s go back to that phrase from Elf: ‘Santa! I know him!’
· Just like Buddy declared his faith and hope in Santa, we have the privilege of saying the same about Jesus—but with eternal meaning.
· Faith drives us to say, ‘I know Him.’ It’s the action of pursuing Him, trusting Him, and obeying Him.
· Hope reminds us that through Him, all things are possible.
As we close, remember this:
Faith is the foundation on which hope is birthed. Without faith, hope has no ground to stand on. And without hope, faith lacks the vision of God’s promises fulfilled. Together, faith and hope lead us closer to Christ and the abundant life He has promised.”
· Romans 15:13 (ESV)
13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
· (End with prayer.)
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