Preparing for the Lord's Day
Kingdoms in Conflict
Several years ago, a small town in Maine was slated to become the sight of a new reservoir. Knowing that their town would soon sit at the bottom of a lake the citizens stopped taking care of their town. Lawns stopped being mowed, burnt-out streetlamps weren’t replaced, potholes weren’t filled, and litter was never cleaned up. By the time the flood waters came the city was fit for destruction. There was no future for this town, so the people stopped caring for it. They saw no reason to work toward maintaining the town when they knew it would eventually be destroyed.
This is how hopelessness works. When you believe that there is no prospect for the future you will make destructive decisions in the present. However, the word of God teaches us that we are not to give in to such hopelessness. Rather we are to place our hope in the promises of God’s Word. No matter how bleak our current outlook may be, those who trust in Christ always have reason to hope. To come prepared for the sermon take time this week to read and to meditate upon 2 Kings 6:24-7:20, Psalm 42:11, John 16:33, Acts 17:10-15, Romans 8:31, and Hebrews 6:19.
As we gather to worship our loving Father this Lord’s Day, we will join our hearts in song, singing the Hymn of Praise “To God be the Glory”, the Acclamation of Praise “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross", and the Hymn of Response “My Hope is in the Lord”. Let us come to worship this Sunday prepared to hear God’s Word, to receive it in faith, to love and treasure it in our hearts, and to practice it in our lives so that we may continue to glorify and enjoy Him!
Sermon Information
Text: 2 Kings 6:24-7:20
Title: The Promise of Hope
Outline
- Where Hopelessness Leads (6:24-33)
- Believe the Promise of Hope (7:1-2)
- Proclaim the Promise of Hope (7:3-11)
- Test the Promise of Hope (7:12-15)