Hope before Christmas

The coming of Jesus wasn’t simply an event in history; it was a fulfillment of God’s promises! This series looks at predictions of the coming of Christ that are fulfilled in Jesus, which brings us hope for all that is to come.

The sermon, titled "Far Greater," focuses on the parallel announcements of John the Baptist's and Jesus's births in Luke 1, emphasizing God's power through impossible births (Elizabeth's barrenness and Mary's virginity). Through these accounts, the sermon illustrates three main points about God - His power to do the impossible, His preeminence shown through Jesus becoming the "most low," and His faithfulness to His promises despite our belief or unbelief.

The sermon discusses the concept of hope and deliverance through the lens of Isaiah 9, explaining that while humans often seek deliverance through self-reliant means, true deliverance comes through Jesus Christ. The message emphasizes that God's path to deliverance is different from our expectations - it primarily delivers us from sin rather than just circumstances, comes through the unexpected means of a child (Jesus), and is accomplished by a unique Deliverer who offers eternal salvation rather than just temporary relief.

The sermon discusses the concept of righteousness, defining it not just as moral behavior but as living life the way God intended - in perfect flourishing and abundance. Through Jesus Christ, God provides His righteousness as a gift to those who believe, making them right with Him and meeting their deepest needs for acceptance, security, and significance.

Based on this sermon, the key message is that true hope is found in Jesus Christ alone, not in our circumstances or worldly desires. The sermon emphasizes that God often works through seemingly insignificant things (like Jesus' birth in Bethlehem) to display His glory, and we should trust in Him rather than pursuing hope in what the world deems significant.