Sermon: A Prayer of Hope
Pastor Tony Arnold
Scripture Reference: 1 Thessalonians 3:11-13
November 26, 2006
There were two men who had retired from a career in the boating industry. One day, one man told the other ‘You know, we don’t listen to the weather report anymore like we used to. Back when we were in the open waters, we used to listen to it intently, as though our lives depended on it.’ Likewise, there is a tendency in the Christian life to forget to listen to the weather report and become at ease with the comforts of life. But what of when a storm comes? We should be prepared. Paul reminds the Thessalonians of these same great truths in his first letter to them. Join Pastor Arnold as he walks us through the prayer of hope found in 1 Thessalonians 3:11-13.
Like a man playing cards with a deck filled with only hearts and diamonds (and all number cards), many times, modern Christians aren’t playing with a ‘full deck’. We have a tendency not to investigate things to see if they are true and whether or not we’re missing something or have forgotten something of great importance. Pastor Arnold brings us back to remembrance the meaning of communion in this Sunday’s sermon from 1 Corinthians 10 and 11 – A Holy Thanksgiving.
Much talk has been given to the subject of reconciliation in the world today. People talk of ending divisions among ethnic groups, religious groups, gender equity and a host of other issues. But what is the greatest ‘wall’ that needs to be torn down? The wall of sin that separates men from God. Tony Arnold takes us on a tour around the edges of this wall and shows us in Ephesians 2:14-16 how Christ tears down the dividing wall and reconciles us to God Part of the No Dividing Wall series.
The idea of forgetting things seems to be a part of human development. The older we get, the more we forget. As children of God, if we forget the things, which are important to us, where will we place our faith? If things of great value and importance in the Christian faith are ‘left behind’ so to speak, where will we place our faith? As Christians, we are called to remember our very faith where we come from, who we are, and our identity as a people of God. In light of this, we look back to Ephesians 2:11-13 which is what Paul discusses the issue of Remembering. Part of the Power of God’s Mercy series.
Posted by gchurch 
Posted by gchurch 
Posted by gchurch 