- The church is not a cultural institution. It is an organism. It is a family, a flock, a body, the bride of Christ.

- It is not a club, not a volunteer organization, nor is it a service provider. It is the Spiritual Authority on earth ordained by Christ Himself to officially affirm and give shape to Christian life and yours.

- The church wasn’t birthed by culture, she isn’t sustained by culture, nor will she be shattered by culture. In fact, she thrives the best when she is countercultural.

WE ARE THE CHURCH OF THE LIVING GOD!

> WE OUGHT TO LIVE DIFFERENTLY.

WE ARE THE FLOCK OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD!

> WE OUGHT TO THINK DIFFERENTLY.

WE ARE THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE FIRSTBORN!

> WE OUGHT TO RESPOND DIFFERENTLY.

WE ARE THE BRIDE OF CHRIST!

> WE OUGHT TO COMMIT DIFFERENTLY

WE ARE THE BODY OF CHRIST!

> WE OUGHT TO LOVE DIFFERENTLY.

WE ARE THE ONES FROM WHOM RIVERS OF LIVING WATER SHOULD BE FLOWING!

> WE OUGHT TO SOUND DIFFERENT.

- Job, in total despair, cries out “Where is my hope? Who will see my hope?” (Job 17:15)

- “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.” (Proverbs 13:12)

- Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 1:8, “…we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself…”

Can lead to A SENSE OF BEING ABANDONED BY GOD

- “My soul is bereft of peace; I have forgotten what happiness is; so I say, “My endurance has perished; so has my hope from the Lord.” Lamentations 3:18

Can bring A DEEP LONGING FOR LIFE TO END

- As judgment is being poured out on the Earth in its final days before its purification, it becomes evident that there is no hope for those who have actively rejected the LORD while His Holy Spirit was present…John records, “And in those days people will seek death and will not find it. They will long to die, but death will flee from them.” Revelation 9:6

Breeds PESSIMISM

1.We have a hope that is SURE in God the Father and HIS UNCHANGING LOVE and POWER (Psalm 9:1-2, 7-10)

2. We have hope that is SURE in the WORD of GOD which is forever settled. (Isaiah 40:6-8)

3. We have a HOPE that affects our present reality. Proverbs 10:28; 1 Corinthians 15:19

- We are of the Faith - the global Church

- We are in the Family - the local Church

4. WE HAVE HOPE THAT IS SURE THAT THERE IS A FUTURE GLORY (Romans 8:18-30)

5. WE HAVE A SURE HOPE THAT CHRIST WILL RETURN AS HE PROMISED. (1 Peter 1:3-12; Titus 2:11-14; 1 John 3:2-3)

IN SPITE OF THE WINDS OF THIS WORLD…WE ARE A PEOPLE OF HOPE!

IN SPITE OF THE DEVICES OF THE DEVIL TO DISCOURAGE, DISTRACT, AND DESTROY…WE ARE A PEOPLE OF HOPE!

NOT BECAUSE OF OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS, BUT IN CHRIST’S ALONE…WE ARE A PEOPLE OF HOPE!

BECAUSE OF GOD AND HIS REDEMPTIVE ACTS AS THEY CULMINATE IN THE BIRTH, SINLESS LIFE, DEATH, BURIAL, AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST…WE ARE A PEOPLE OF HOPE!

- As believers, we commit to God.

- As members, we commit to one another.

- As disciples, we commit to the world.

- As Grace Covenant, we commit to NOW!