Hope - Come Thou Long Expected Jesus

Beginning our Advent Series

Hymns of the faith

• Theologically Rich
• Enter the Biblical Story
• Sing the Gospel

5 Christmas Carols

• HOPE/Come Thou Long Expected Jesus
• LOVE/O Holy Night
• PEACE/Hark the Herald Angels Sing
• JOY/Joy to the World
• CHRIST/Go Tell It on the Mountain

HOPE - Come Thou Long Expected Jesus

Charles Wesley—The Productive Poet

The Nature of Hope

Romans 8:24, 25

JESUS, Long Expected

The promise of his coming

John 4:1-30

Unexpected Words at Jacob’s Well

The promise of his coming again

1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

Faith in the now

Hope is Covenental - Jeremiah 29:10-14, Romans 15:4-7

Hope does not walk through the dark alleys of this life on its own...it always has a guide, an escort. We can put our faith in money, fame, an imagined future...but hope always has faith in something holding its hand. The question is whether we are locking arms with the hand of God or trying to find hope in the worship of idols.

Community Meditation Questions

Growing in knowledge

Suggestion—grab a copy of Vintage Jesus by Mark Driscoll and Gerry Breshears and read Chapter  3 “How Did People Know Jesus Was Coming?” We will give a free copy to the first 5 people to contact us this week at info@JacobsWellNJ.org.

Feeling life deeply 

Discuss your own struggle with hope by honestly asking this question: What causes you to despair and feel hopeless? How is the gospel and God’s promises relevant to this? Help one another here. Speak grace and truth to one another; stop and pray for each other. 

Living  with courage 

Spreading hope.  Write down the names of a few friends who seem to need hope.  Pray for opportunities to share with them that God promises in Christ to be present with us and will ultimately lead us home to the Kingdom of heaven.