THE HOPE

Sermon Summary from (July 19th), “The Hope” (Acts 16 to 18; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18) 

We’re in the midst of a series, “Paul: His Journeys and His Letters.”  Today we center our message on “Hope.”  One of the churches Paul founded lacked hope.  They lacked hope in the second coming of Jesus Christ.  Paul wrote to them not once, but twice.

Paul had concluded his first journey and launched the second with a new partner, Silas, returning to strengthen the churches.  He later finds a young Timothy and Luke who join them.  Led by the Spirit, he was prohibited from preaching in western Asia Minor and instead, had a vision calling him to Macedonia.  Paul’s ministry was entering Europe, and our world would never be the same!

In Philippi, Paul and his fellow travelers go down the River and find a woman, Lydia, a seller of purple goods (expensive cloth) who who listens, is converted, is baptized, and who invited Paul and his companions to stay in her house.  There the first house church in Europe established by Paul is founded. You can find the stories of Philippi in Acts 16. From Philippi we get a powerful image of baptism.

Paul next moves to the regional capital, the ancient city of Thessanolica founded in 600 bc,  and starts a church there.  He forms a strong familial bond with the church and later is concerned when he receives reports. One person is concerned that a loved one has died.  What hope have the dead Christ returns?  Another believes we have missed the Second Coming of Christ altogether.  Paul responds with soaring language: “For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God.  And the dead in Christ will rise first.  Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.  And thus we shall always be with the Lord.” (1 Thess 4:16-17 NKJV)  Thus from Paul and the church at Thessalonica we receive a powerful vision of hope.

We are baptized people of hope, called to remember our baptism: “As I dip in the water, I remember my baptism.  Wash me with your grace.  Fill me with your Spirit.  Renew my soul with hope.  I pray that I might live as your child today, and honor you with all that I do.”  May faith, hope and love abide in your always.  Amen.