Hope Motivating Growth
Sermon Recording
Sermon Outline
Speaker: Rev. Scott Strickman
Sermon Series: Faith, Hope & Love
1 John 2:28-3:3 (ESV)
28 And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming. 29 If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him.
3:1 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. 3 And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.
Sermon Outline
Christian hope sustains the motivation for on-going growth.
1. Change has begun.
3:2 “we are God’s children now”
3:1 “see what kind of love… so we are.”
2. Change continues.
3:1 “the world does not know us”
2:28 abide, 2:29 practice righteousness, 3:3 purify
3. Change will be complete.
3:2 “what we will be has not yet appeared”
3:2 “we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is”
3:3 “everyone who thus hopes in him”
Questions for Reflection
What are the most hopeful things about Christianity? If you were to rank the things you find most hopeful, where would you put the possibility that you will become like Jesus?
How are you affected by the inner voice that says “you are not good enough”? How or under what conditions does it motivate change? How or under what conditions does it hinder change?
Change has begun because God has loved us and brought us into His family. How can this new beginning grow an expectation in you that your changing for the better is a real possibility?
What are strategies for getting through periods where “I’m not good enough” is your dominant conviction, and you are low in hope?
How is Christian motivation to change different from either will power/self help, or a passive approach where you don’t expect to do anything while expecting that change will happen? Why is it important to get this right?
How can the promise that one day you will be transformed into someone glorious have an actual influence on your life? How can this mystery connect more with your current life, thinking and experience?
Where can you see Jesus now? If we are changed by seeing him, what can you do to see more of him?
Prayer of Confession
Our Father, we take so much for granted. We have not marveled at the remarkable love you have shown by making us your children. We have not hoped firmly in the day that Christ will appear. Instead, we have hoped in the wrong things, and when disappointed we have given up hope. We know we are not good enough. We confess that apart from you we are without hope. Thank you, Father, that we are not apart from you. Thank you for bringing us into your family. Thank you that you have begun a work of change whose completion our imaginations cannot fathom. Show us more of yourself so that in seeing, we will become more like you. Amen.