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Jesus Christ, Our Anchor: Steadfast and Sure
Sermonette by Ted E. BowlingThe anchor is perhaps the most important piece of equipment on a vessel, holding a ship in place as it is moored, keeping the craft from drifting.
Saved By Our Attributes of Hope
Sermonette by Bill OnisickIn 2018, what is known as 'the ultimate storm,' whose 155 MPH winds generated waves 80 feet high, failed to scuttle a small boat out of New Zealand, Tonga.
Hope Is the Strategy
Sermonette by Bill OnisickHope is the ability to expect positive outcomes despite current circumstances. Faith, hope, and love are the three elements of the fuel for our spiritual journey.
The Elements of Motivation (Part Three): Hope
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughHope serves as a vital motivator in our spiritual journey, akin to an anchor that stabilizes and secures us amidst life's tempests. Like an anchor prevents a ship from drifting onto treacherous rocks, hope keeps us from idly drifting toward spiritual destruction, holding us firm to a steadfast foundation. Our hope is anchored in Jesus Christ, who, as High Priest, has entered the heavenly Holy of Holies on our behalf, ensuring our security through His intercession and watchful care over our lives. This hope is not fleeting or uncertain but is grounded in the absolute and all-powerful nature of God, providing a sure and wonderful goal that motivates us to endure. Through the relationship established by God's calling, Christ's sacrifice, and our commitment to the New Covenant, we are given the means to fulfill our part in this divine partnership, with hope enabling us to persevere through every trial and challenge.
Perseverance and Hope
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughHope serves as our anchor, a vital force that steadies us amidst life's turbulent storms. It is not merely a fleeting wish but a powerful motivator that sustains us through trials and pressures. This hope, derived from faith, drives us to endure actively, pushing us to overcome difficulties rather than passively waiting them out. It is an enduring hope, essential for maintaining our course, as we have not yet reached the perfection of holiness, and much remains to be done. Our hope is not anchored in promises alone, such as the resurrection or eternal life in the Kingdom of God, but in the Person who makes these promises. Jesus Christ is our hope, the foundation of our earnest yearning and confident expectation. He is both the Source and the Object of this hope, rooted in His character and integrity, which assure us that His promises are unshakable. As the Rock, He holds us firm, like an anchor securing a ship in a storm, preventing us from being dashed against the perils of this world. This hope in Him provides stability and security, encouraging us to face problems with resolve, knowing that His past constancy guarantees our future. With this assurance, we can walk before Him with confidence, striving toward perfection in a humble, submissive, and loving relationship. Our hope must remain steadfastly in Him, the holy and powerful Being who makes all promises worthwhile, guiding us through the pressures of these times.
Trumpets and Hope
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughHope serves as a steadfast anchor for the soul, both sure and immovable, rooted in the very presence of God. This hope is not merely a wish, but a solid, definite, and eternal assurance, grounded in the path blazed by Jesus Christ, the Forerunner. He has gone before us, overcoming the currents of this world and the obstacles placed in His way, sacrificing His life to secure the way to safety. By following the lifeline He has provided, we can emerge on the other side to inherit eternal life in God's Kingdom. This hope offers strong encouragement to those who flee for refuge, enabling us to lay hold of the promises God has made, confirmed by His unchangeable counsel. Though the journey is not easy, we are assured it can be done, for He has already accomplished it, leaving us a rope to follow into the very throne room of God the Father. With the strength God provides, we can pull ourselves along this path, hand-over-hand, confident in the reward and promise that await us.
The Only Sure Thing
Sermonette by Richard T. RitenbaughIn this unstable world filled with distrust among nations, economic uncertainty, and encroaching crime, there is a dire need for something reliable to hold onto. Amidst such turbulence, hope serves as an anchor for the soul, both sure and steadfast. This hope is rooted in the certainty of God and His Son, Jesus Christ. Their presence offers a firm foundation, like an anchor that reaches into the very throne room of Heaven, providing sure access to the Father. Through Jesus Christ, who has been resurrected and ascended, we have a steadfast connection, as if pulling on a rope that stretches from us to the divine Presence, ensuring that we can follow Him with confidence. This hope, grounded in Their unchanging nature and promises, allows us to live without fear, trusting that we will reach our ultimate destination if we hold fast.
Elements of Motivation (Part Three)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughIn the familiar triumvirate (faith, hope, and love), faith serves as the foundation, love serves as the goal, and hope serves as the great motivator.