Sermon on new hope

Here is a sermon on the theme of "New Hope":

Title: "A New Hope: Finding Renewal in Christ"

Text: Isaiah 43:18-19, Romans 8:28-30

Introduction:

As we gather here today, many of us may be feeling a sense of hopelessness. We may be facing challenges in our personal lives, struggling with relationships, or dealing with the uncertainty of the world around us. It's easy to feel like we're stuck in a rut, like there's no way out of our current circumstances.

But today, I want to remind you that there is a new hope available to us. A hope that is not based on our own abilities or circumstances, but on the power and promise of God.

The Old Hope

In Isaiah 43:18-19, God says, "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland."

The prophet Isaiah is reminding the people of Israel that their past experiences, their failures and disappointments, are not the defining factors of their lives. God is saying, "Don't get stuck in the past. Don't dwell on what's gone wrong. I am doing a new thing, and I want you to be a part of it."

But often, we find ourselves stuck in the old hope. We hold onto our past experiences, our fears, and our doubts. We let them define us, and we miss out on the new hope that God has for us.

The New Hope

But God is not just offering us a new hope; He is offering us a new way of living. A way that is based on His power, His presence, and His promise.

In Romans 8:28-30, Paul writes, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified."

This passage reminds us that God is working everything out for our good. He is taking our brokenness, our failures, and our fears, and He is using them to conform us to the image of His Son. He is calling us to a new way of living, a way that is characterized by hope, joy, and peace.

Finding the New Hope

So how do we find this new hope? How do we move from the old hope to the new hope?

First, we must acknowledge that our old hope is not enough. We must be willing to let go of our past experiences, our fears, and our doubts. We must be willing to surrender our lives to God and trust Him to guide us.

Second, we must focus on the present moment. We must stop dwelling on the past and stop worrying about the future. We must focus on the present moment, and trust that God is working everything out for our good.

Third, we must trust in God's power and promise. We must trust that He is able to do immeasurably more than we could ever ask or imagine. We must trust that He is working everything out for our good, and that He is conforming us to the image of His Son.

Conclusion:

As we close, I want to leave you with a challenge. I want to challenge you to let go of your old hope and to trust in the new hope that God has for you. I want to challenge you to focus on the present moment, and to trust that God is working everything out for your good.

Remember, God is doing a new thing. He is making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland. And He wants you to be a part of it. Will you trust in Him today? Will you let go of your old hope and trust in the new hope that He has for you?