Lighthouse Christian Church
“Hope in Christ”
1st Sunday in Advent
December 3, 2023
Key Verse: Romans 15:13 – “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
1. Old Testament prophets looked forward with hope and expectation to the arrival of the Messiah.
Genesis 3:15 – “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers, he will crush your head and you will strike his heel.”
Genesis 12:3 – “I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all people on earth will be blessed through you.”
Isaiah 9:7 – “He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.”
Isaiah 7:14 – “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.”
Micah 5:2 – “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”
Luke 24:27 – “And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, (Jesus) explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.”
2. Today all believers look forward with hope and expectation to the 2nd coming of Jesus Christ.
Matthew 24:44 – “So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”
Revelation 22:12 – “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done.”
Revelation 22:20 – “’He who testifies to these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming soon.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.”
3. As we celebrate the birth of Christ and look forward to His return, we are filled with hope in Christ for the present and the future.
Colossians 1:27 - "To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory."
Romans 15:13 – “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”