· Showing up is crucial - there are many times when amazing things happen and we get to experience them because we showed up.
· Title of his message was "Called2Hope: The Hidden Part of the Gospel"
· Storms are rising throughout our land
· Manhattan will lose probably 100,000 jobs
· Citigroup plans to cut 53,000 jobs
· Expect things to be rough
· The most frequent command in the Bible is "Do not fear."
· The New Testament definition of hope: "an expectation of what will happen, that which drives anticipation."
· Jewish story of good news - hope.
3 Key Principles
1. You are called and led into the storm
2. You are called to ministry in the workplace (marriage, parenting, those who you work and play with).
3. While the world is broken, God is present.
You are called and led into the storm
· God is in the boat when the storm is coming.
· Don't wander in the storm - God is present.
Mark 4:35-41, Jesus Calms the Storm
That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, "Let us go over to the other side." Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?"
He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?" They were terrified and asked each other, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!"
God calls you at work.
· David was at work as a shepherd.
· We must exercise hope at work.
· Dr. Johnson shared a story of a nurse's aide who prayed for his recovery as he was paralyzed and dying - this individual exercised hope.
God is present in the storms of life.
· You can't see around corners, but you can have hope.
· You can have the assurance that God is present.
2 Corinthians 4:7-10
But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.
· Presence of God meets us in the storms of life.
· When we are broken, hope is revealed.
· Dr. Johnson used the analogy of a light stick that once it is broken, it brings forth light.
· Orthodox Jews start each morning and end each evening with the following prayer:
"Hear O Israel, Our Lord - the Lord is One."
· God is very close.
2 Components of Hope
1. God is our Creator who created all things good - the world is broken.
2. We are going back to the Garden - God has not abandoned this world. He makes all things new.
John 3:16
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
· Greek word for eternal life - means life, animated life, age to come.
· Salvation is bigger than you - Jesus is in the business of repairing a broken world.
· Jesus came to heal and to bring God's kingdom on earth.
· You are saved for a purpose. God breathes life into you.
Fear
· In Roman times, Caesar instilled fear.
· Believers during this time had hope - radical hope. It turned the world upside down.
· What is Caesar in our lives today? Anything that brings fear.
Flat Tire Analogy
· Dr. Johnson used an illustration of a flat tire and how his son wanted to participate in the changing of the tire. His son placed his hand on the tire jack/tool and his father did the work.
· Lesson - we get to participate in God's business.
· There is a purpose in our salvation - you are prepared to do good works.
· Jesus is Lord now - bring His kingdom on earth now.
· Need to be kingdom focused.
How to determine the Lord's will?
· Get moving.
· Dr. Johnson used a car analogy and putting the car in gear. God wants us moving. Don't stay in neutral or in park. Get moving.
· Things happen when we show up. We find direction as we are moving.
· Put in gear, get out of the church pew, and show up.
· Get started!
Closing Remarks
· Dr. Johnson encouraged us to read Matthew 5-7 (Beatitudes).
· Dr. Johnson recommended two books by an author named Tom Wright
- Evil & Justice of God
- Surprised by Hope