Part 2: Hope

ILLUMINATE: THE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS

PART - 2

“And the angel answered her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the Child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God’...For nothing will be impossible with God.”

Luke 1:35,37 (ESV)

1. WHAT CAN WE PUT OUR HOPE IN?

“Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.”

Psalm 20:7 (NIV)

• Events - If only ____________ happened.

• Possessions - If only I had __________.

• People - If only they would __________.

• My circumstances - If only I were ________________.

2. JESUS INVITES YOU TO FIND HOPE IN HIM.

“In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.”

Luke 2:1-5 (NIV)

“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with Me.”

Revelation 3:20 (NIV)

3. HOPE IS FOR ALL PEOPLE.

“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.’”

Luke 2:8-10 (NIV)

“Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Luke 2:11-12 (NIV)

“After seeing Him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this Child. All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished.”

Luke 2:17-18 (NLT)

• God wants you to be a giver of hope.

“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.”

Romans 15:13 (NIV)

MY NEXT STEP TODAY IS TO:

• Do this week’s YouVersion® Bible App Reading Plan: “Christmas Hope” (5 days).

• Check out this week’s blog or podcast: “Filled With the Hope of Christmas.”

• Get more information about our next Baptism Day on December 12th.

• Ask God to fill me with overflowing hope so that I am a giver of hope to others in my life.