1
00:00:00,366 --> 00:00:19,661
♪ theme music ♪

2
00:00:19,661 --> 00:00:21,517
(Derek) Welcome to Hope Sabbath School,

3
00:00:21,517 --> 00:00:23,154
an in-depth, interactive study

4
00:00:23,154 --> 00:00:24,260
of the Word of God.

5
00:00:24,260 --> 00:00:26,972
I'm glad you joined us today;
we are enjoying

6
00:00:26,972 --> 00:00:29,780
a very practical series of studies,

7
00:00:29,780 --> 00:00:33,023
<i>Ministering to "the Least of These":
People in Need,</i>

8
00:00:33,023 --> 00:00:34,300
and our topic today:

9
00:00:34,300 --> 00:00:36,672
<i>Living the Advent Hope.</i>

10
00:00:36,672 --> 00:00:39,437
What does it mean to live the Gospel

11
00:00:39,437 --> 00:00:41,350
in these last days of Earth's history?

12
00:00:41,350 --> 00:00:43,874
I'm excited about the topic,
and I'm excited

13
00:00:43,874 --> 00:00:46,275
because one of our team, Stephanie,

14
00:00:46,275 --> 00:00:48,847
is going to be teaching today,
great topic.

15
00:00:48,847 --> 00:00:51,191
We've got a great team here to share,

16
00:00:51,191 --> 00:00:52,762
and you're with us, too.

17
00:00:52,762 --> 00:00:55,175
And we always love to hear
interactions from you.

18
00:00:55,175 --> 00:00:57,261
I'm excited when people write and say,

19
00:00:57,261 --> 00:00:59,383
"Here's my response to the question

20
00:00:59,383 --> 00:01:00,548
that Stephanie asked."

21
00:01:00,548 --> 00:01:04,556
You can write to us at sshope@hopetv.org.

22
00:01:04,556 --> 00:01:05,610
We're glad you're part

23
00:01:05,610 --> 00:01:09,152
of our international Hope Sabbath School
family.

24
00:01:09,152 --> 00:01:11,158
And we want to thank you
for writing to us.

25
00:01:11,158 --> 00:01:12,653
Here are just a few notes.

26
00:01:12,653 --> 00:01:17,147
Tomson writes from Zambia and says,

27
00:01:17,147 --> 00:01:19,447
"I watch Hope TV, and I enjoy

28
00:01:19,447 --> 00:01:20,891
Hope Sabbath School.

29
00:01:20,891 --> 00:01:22,270
Thank you, dear brothers

30
00:01:22,270 --> 00:01:23,661
and sisters in Christ.

31
00:01:23,661 --> 00:01:25,423
May the God, the Holy Spirit,

32
00:01:25,423 --> 00:01:26,816
continue to be with us

33
00:01:26,816 --> 00:01:29,123
until the day Jesus comes." Amen?

34
00:01:29,123 --> 00:01:29,957
(Team) Amen.

35
00:01:29,957 --> 00:01:31,259
(Derek) You know, we've got

36
00:01:31,259 --> 00:01:32,965
lots of Hope Sabbath School members

37
00:01:32,965 --> 00:01:35,447
there in Zambia, and I want to thank you

38
00:01:35,447 --> 00:01:38,024
for being part of our team.

39
00:01:38,024 --> 00:01:41,164
You know, I had to write to this lady;

40
00:01:41,164 --> 00:01:45,330
her name is Het (H-E-T), Het Jane.

41
00:01:45,330 --> 00:01:49,708
She's from Brazil, and I had
to write and say,

42
00:01:49,708 --> 00:01:51,434
"Is that how your name is spelled,

43
00:01:51,434 --> 00:01:54,157
and how do I say it?" and it's Het.

44
00:01:54,157 --> 00:01:56,261
And Het writes and says, "We have

45
00:01:56,261 --> 00:01:58,715
an English Sabbath School class here

46
00:01:58,715 --> 00:02:02,172
at Sao Paulo Adventist University.

47
00:02:02,172 --> 00:02:04,438
Since I have decided to help the class

48
00:02:04,438 --> 00:02:05,846
as one of the teachers,

49
00:02:05,846 --> 00:02:07,147
I started to search

50
00:02:07,147 --> 00:02:08,970
the internet for some material

51
00:02:08,970 --> 00:02:11,472
and comments about Bible study,

52
00:02:11,472 --> 00:02:13,324
and I found Hope Sabbath School!"

53
00:02:13,324 --> 00:02:14,081
(Team) Amen!

54
00:02:14,081 --> 00:02:15,489
(Derek) We're glad, Het,

55
00:02:15,489 --> 00:02:17,372
that you did find Hope Sabbath School.

56
00:02:17,372 --> 00:02:19,717
She says, "It's been quite helpful to me,

57
00:02:19,717 --> 00:02:21,400
and every week I look forward

58
00:02:21,400 --> 00:02:23,510
to watch new episodes,

59
00:02:23,510 --> 00:02:24,870
not only for the task

60
00:02:24,870 --> 00:02:26,677
of leading the class,

61
00:02:26,677 --> 00:02:28,494
but for my own encouragement

62
00:02:28,494 --> 00:02:30,589
and spiritual enrichment.

63
00:02:30,589 --> 00:02:32,011
May God bless you all."

64
00:02:32,011 --> 00:02:33,999
Well, Het, we're just glad that you're

65
00:02:33,999 --> 00:02:35,976
leading an in-depth, interactive class

66
00:02:35,976 --> 00:02:37,158
there at a university

67
00:02:37,158 --> 00:02:39,382
in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

68
00:02:39,382 --> 00:02:41,178
God bless you and those

69
00:02:41,178 --> 00:02:43,818
who study with you.

70
00:02:43,818 --> 00:02:45,573
Here's a hand-written note

71
00:02:45,573 --> 00:02:48,641
from a donor in California,

72
00:02:48,641 --> 00:02:50,978
"Dear Pastor, thank you

73
00:02:50,978 --> 00:02:52,254
for Hope Sabbath School.

74
00:02:52,254 --> 00:02:53,858
It's been a blessing to me.

75
00:02:53,858 --> 00:02:55,179
I found Hope Channel

76
00:02:55,179 --> 00:02:59,184
on DirecTV, channel 368,

77
00:02:59,184 --> 00:03:01,858
when I was hopeless and looking

78
00:03:01,858 --> 00:03:04,341
for someone to study the Bible with me."

79
00:03:04,341 --> 00:03:08,588
(Team) Wow. Amen.

80
00:03:08,588 --> 00:03:12,484
(Derek) "Love you; you are my family.

81
00:03:12,484 --> 00:03:15,243
God bless you all,"

82
00:03:15,243 --> 00:03:18,643
and a donation of 25 dollars.

83
00:03:18,643 --> 00:03:21,103
We are glad, California Donor,

84
00:03:21,103 --> 00:03:23,373
that you're part of our family. Amen?

85
00:03:23,373 --> 00:03:24,246
(Team) Amen.

86
00:03:24,246 --> 00:03:25,410
(Derek) We've learned

87
00:03:25,410 --> 00:03:27,207
we've all got one Father and one God

88
00:03:27,207 --> 00:03:28,655
who's the Creator of all.

89
00:03:28,655 --> 00:03:30,842
And we really believe

90
00:03:30,842 --> 00:03:32,873
in a study of the Word of God,

91
00:03:32,873 --> 00:03:34,858
because it points us

92
00:03:34,858 --> 00:03:37,746
to our loving Creator God and Savior.

93
00:03:37,746 --> 00:03:41,414
Marek writes to us from Poland

94
00:03:41,414 --> 00:03:43,419
and says, "I welcome you,

95
00:03:43,419 --> 00:03:45,029
brothers and sisters in Christ.

96
00:03:45,029 --> 00:03:46,850
I've not heard about a school

97
00:03:46,850 --> 00:03:49,101
like Hope Sabbath School before.

98
00:03:49,101 --> 00:03:52,024
I'm inquiring, and the Lord has led me

99
00:03:52,024 --> 00:03:54,382
to know more about the Bible with you."

100
00:03:54,382 --> 00:03:56,427
(Team) Amen!

101
00:03:56,427 --> 00:03:58,380
(Derek) "Every quoted verse

102
00:03:58,380 --> 00:04:01,307
brings me closer to revealing

103
00:04:01,307 --> 00:04:03,914
the personality of Christ
and God Himself."

104
00:04:03,914 --> 00:04:06,034
(Team) Amen.

105
00:04:06,034 --> 00:04:07,643
(Derek) "Please pray

106
00:04:07,643 --> 00:04:09,891
for the successful completion

107
00:04:09,891 --> 00:04:12,957
of a house of prayer in my city.

108
00:04:12,957 --> 00:04:14,503
I'm praying for a blessing

109
00:04:14,503 --> 00:04:15,780
for the Bible classes

110
00:04:15,780 --> 00:04:16,969
that you are conducting.

111
00:04:16,969 --> 00:04:19,079
And you are welcome to Poland;

112
00:04:19,079 --> 00:04:20,482
it's a beautiful country."

113
00:04:20,482 --> 00:04:21,770
(Team) Amen.

114
00:04:21,770 --> 00:04:23,597
(Derek) "God bless you, Marek."

115
00:04:23,597 --> 00:04:25,498
Well, Marek, we're just glad you're part

116
00:04:25,498 --> 00:04:27,832
of our Hope Sabbath School family,

117
00:04:27,832 --> 00:04:30,447
and if we're ever in Poland...I know

118
00:04:30,447 --> 00:04:33,045
there are probably 10,000 Mareks there,

119
00:04:33,045 --> 00:04:35,347
but we're glad that you are part

120
00:04:35,347 --> 00:04:37,109
of our Hope Sabbath School family.

121
00:04:37,109 --> 00:04:38,431
Thanks for writing to us.

122
00:04:38,431 --> 00:04:41,969
One last note, from Joe in Kenya,

123
00:04:41,969 --> 00:04:43,258
and Joe writes (we've got

124
00:04:43,258 --> 00:04:45,951
some Kenyans on our team),

125
00:04:45,951 --> 00:04:48,706
"May the Good Lord be with you.

126
00:04:48,706 --> 00:04:50,623
As I write, I'm filled with joy

127
00:04:50,623 --> 00:04:54,129
to share messages of love with you all.

128
00:04:54,129 --> 00:04:58,935
I feel the love of our King Jesus
around all of us.

129
00:04:58,935 --> 00:05:01,628
You see, my spiritual journey

130
00:05:01,628 --> 00:05:05,782
has mainly been through the internet."

131
00:05:06,412 --> 00:05:08,553
There are a lot of bad things
on the internet,

132
00:05:08,553 --> 00:05:09,549
but we need to have

133
00:05:09,549 --> 00:05:11,632
the Good Word there, too, right?

134
00:05:11,632 --> 00:05:12,483
(Team) Amen.

135
00:05:12,483 --> 00:05:14,514
(Derek) "I am a living testimony

136
00:05:14,514 --> 00:05:16,962
of how Christ delivers."

137
00:05:16,962 --> 00:05:18,257
(Team) Amen.

138
00:05:18,257 --> 00:05:20,173
(Derek) "And as I sing along

139
00:05:20,173 --> 00:05:21,773
with every Bible study,

140
00:05:21,773 --> 00:05:24,537
I have joy in my heart.

141
00:05:24,537 --> 00:05:27,454
Praise be to God, for as of now,

142
00:05:27,454 --> 00:05:29,404
even on my spiritual journey,

143
00:05:29,404 --> 00:05:31,611
I've become a deacon in my church."

144
00:05:31,611 --> 00:05:34,067
(Team) Amen.

145
00:05:34,067 --> 00:05:36,036
(Derek) "Last Christmas I shared

146
00:05:36,036 --> 00:05:37,993
a Bible study with my father

147
00:05:37,993 --> 00:05:41,111
and taught him the facts about the Bible.

148
00:05:41,111 --> 00:05:44,793
At first, he saw me as his son

149
00:05:44,793 --> 00:05:46,674
who could not teach him anything,

150
00:05:46,674 --> 00:05:49,157
but through Christ, he was amazed."

151
00:05:49,157 --> 00:05:50,923
(Team) Amen. Wow.

152
00:05:50,923 --> 00:05:52,932
(Derek) You know, I just want to thank you

153
00:05:52,932 --> 00:05:54,025
for writing to us.

154
00:05:54,025 --> 00:05:59,109
These are beautiful testimonies,
aren't they?

155
00:05:59,109 --> 00:06:00,806
"My dad still doesn't understand

156
00:06:00,806 --> 00:06:02,181
how it all came about

157
00:06:02,181 --> 00:06:03,533
to happen to me,

158
00:06:03,533 --> 00:06:05,331
but slowly, through Jesus,

159
00:06:05,331 --> 00:06:07,451
I'm going to teach him the Word of God."

160
00:06:07,451 --> 00:06:08,699
(Team) Amen!

161
00:06:08,699 --> 00:06:11,759
(Derek) "Shalom, and God bless
all of you. Joe."

162
00:06:11,759 --> 00:06:13,431
(Derek) Well, Joe, you are

163
00:06:13,431 --> 00:06:15,183
a miracle in progress,

164
00:06:15,183 --> 00:06:17,048
as are each one of us;

165
00:06:17,048 --> 00:06:18,796
we're all a miracle in progress.

166
00:06:18,796 --> 00:06:22,115
And as we prepare for the soon coming
of Jesus,

167
00:06:22,115 --> 00:06:23,536
we want to study today

168
00:06:23,536 --> 00:06:27,101
what it means to live the Advent hope,
and I'm excited.

169
00:06:27,101 --> 00:06:28,868
But before Stephanie prays

170
00:06:28,868 --> 00:06:30,294
and leads us in the study,

171
00:06:30,294 --> 00:06:31,977
we're going to sing our theme song.

172
00:06:31,977 --> 00:06:34,410
It's become one of my favorite
Scripture songs

173
00:06:34,410 --> 00:06:38,333
from 2 Thessalonians 3, verses 5 and 16,

174
00:06:38,333 --> 00:06:40,923
"Now may the Lord direct your hearts

175
00:06:40,923 --> 00:06:42,137
into the love of God."

176
00:06:42,137 --> 00:06:43,697
Let's sing it together.

177
00:06:43,697 --> 00:06:51,590
♪ music ♪

178
00:08:00,502 --> 00:08:02,365
(Derek) What a beautiful promise,

179
00:08:02,365 --> 00:08:03,993
even as we study today

180
00:08:03,993 --> 00:08:07,610
about <i>Living the Advent Hope.</i>

181
00:08:07,610 --> 00:08:10,439
(Stephanie) All right, let's pray
as we study.

182
00:08:10,439 --> 00:08:12,504
Dear Heavenly Father, Lord, thank You

183
00:08:12,504 --> 00:08:14,344
so much for the opportunity

184
00:08:14,344 --> 00:08:18,593
to study Your Word and to read

185
00:08:18,593 --> 00:08:21,522
the hope that we have in You.

186
00:08:21,522 --> 00:08:25,185
Teach us today; in Jesus' name. Amen.

187
00:08:25,185 --> 00:08:26,284
(Derek, Team) Amen.

188
00:08:26,284 --> 00:08:27,798
(Stephanie) So our study today

189
00:08:27,798 --> 00:08:30,389
is about the Advent hope.

190
00:08:30,389 --> 00:08:33,149
If you were going to define Advent hope,

191
00:08:33,149 --> 00:08:37,702
how would you define that? Travis.

192
00:08:37,702 --> 00:08:38,957
(Travis) I would define it

193
00:08:38,957 --> 00:08:40,484
as the Second Coming or the <i>hope</i>

194
00:08:40,484 --> 00:08:42,162
of the Second Coming of Jesus.

195
00:08:42,162 --> 00:08:44,584
(Stephanie) The hope of the Second Coming
of Jesus.

196
00:08:44,584 --> 00:08:45,873
So let me ask you this:

197
00:08:45,873 --> 00:08:50,635
How would you define hope? Jason.

198
00:08:50,635 --> 00:08:52,383
(Jason) If I could read a Scripture,

199
00:08:52,383 --> 00:08:53,961
would that be okay, to define it?

200
00:08:53,961 --> 00:08:56,471
(Stephanie) Sure, which Scripture
were you thinking?

201
00:08:56,471 --> 00:08:58,161
(Jason) Romans, the eighth chapter,

202
00:08:58,161 --> 00:08:59,359
and twenty-fourth verse.

203
00:08:59,359 --> 00:09:03,467
(Stephanie) Romans, chapter 8, verse 24.

204
00:09:03,467 --> 00:09:06,536
Let's see, Romans, chapter 8, verse 24,

205
00:09:06,536 --> 00:09:10,196
and this is going to define
what hope is. Okay.

206
00:09:10,196 --> 00:09:11,534
(Jason) And I'll be reading

207
00:09:11,534 --> 00:09:13,103
from the New King James Version,

208
00:09:13,103 --> 00:09:14,323
and the Bible says:

209
00:09:24,241 --> 00:09:26,251
(Stephanie) All right,
so hope is something

210
00:09:26,251 --> 00:09:28,035
that we haven't seen yet, right?

211
00:09:28,035 --> 00:09:29,231
Because if we've seen it,

212
00:09:29,231 --> 00:09:30,758
it's no longer hope.

213
00:09:30,758 --> 00:09:31,875
All right. Jason.

214
00:09:31,875 --> 00:09:33,645
(Jason) The word that comes to mind

215
00:09:33,645 --> 00:09:34,647
is an expectation,

216
00:09:34,647 --> 00:09:36,261
and in this context particularly,

217
00:09:36,261 --> 00:09:38,532
of something you're looking forward to.

218
00:09:38,532 --> 00:09:41,040
(Stephanie) Something that you're
looking forward to.

219
00:09:41,040 --> 00:09:42,994
So I have this question for you, then:

220
00:09:42,999 --> 00:09:44,848
Who needs a hope?

221
00:09:44,848 --> 00:09:47,037
Who needs the Advent hope?

222
00:09:47,037 --> 00:09:48,491
(Team) Everyone. All of us.

223
00:09:48,491 --> 00:09:50,446
(Stephanie) Everyone does, that's right.

224
00:09:50,446 --> 00:09:52,833
So, when you're ministering to someone,

225
00:09:52,833 --> 00:09:56,528
could we say that we could
minister to everyone

226
00:09:56,528 --> 00:09:59,941
by giving them the hope of the Advent,

227
00:09:59,941 --> 00:10:02,119
of the Second Coming? Yes, Travis.

228
00:10:02,119 --> 00:10:03,308
(Travis) I think that you

229
00:10:03,308 --> 00:10:04,361
really can't have hope

230
00:10:04,361 --> 00:10:06,076
unless you have a promise.

231
00:10:06,076 --> 00:10:07,896
(Stephanie) Unless you have a promise.

232
00:10:07,896 --> 00:10:09,047
Okay, so unpack that.

233
00:10:09,047 --> 00:10:11,097
(Travis) If someone's promised
me something,

234
00:10:11,097 --> 00:10:12,676
I have hope in receiving that.

235
00:10:12,676 --> 00:10:14,394
And the hope that we look for

236
00:10:14,394 --> 00:10:16,285
comes from promises that we're given

237
00:10:16,285 --> 00:10:17,286
from the Scriptures.

238
00:10:17,286 --> 00:10:19,633
(Stephanie) That's right; you're
absolutely right.

239
00:10:19,633 --> 00:10:20,618
(Derek) Good point.

240
00:10:20,618 --> 00:10:21,542
(Stephanie) Nicole.

241
00:10:21,542 --> 00:10:25,300
(Nicole) When Travis said that, I thought
it's an eager awaiting of something,

242
00:10:25,300 --> 00:10:27,588
because you're eagerly awaiting something,

243
00:10:27,588 --> 00:10:28,623
whether it's a gift,

244
00:10:28,623 --> 00:10:30,529
whether it's the Advent, whatever it is,

245
00:10:30,529 --> 00:10:33,143
it's an "eager awaiting," when I think
of the word hope.

246
00:10:33,143 --> 00:10:34,289
(Stephanie) I like that.

247
00:10:34,289 --> 00:10:35,341
And so we're thinking

248
00:10:35,341 --> 00:10:37,133
about this Advent hope,

249
00:10:37,133 --> 00:10:39,097
and we're looking for something

250
00:10:39,097 --> 00:10:41,468
that has been promised to us, right?

251
00:10:41,468 --> 00:10:44,075
And the reason we would hope

252
00:10:44,075 --> 00:10:46,178
in the Second Coming

253
00:10:46,178 --> 00:10:50,227
is because it's a better life, right?

254
00:10:50,227 --> 00:10:52,754
It's not just here and now;

255
00:10:52,754 --> 00:10:56,035
this is not our home, right?

256
00:10:56,035 --> 00:10:59,105
So, why would we want a better life?

257
00:10:59,105 --> 00:11:02,272
And I'm just setting a foundation here.

258
00:11:02,272 --> 00:11:05,090
Why would we want a better life?

259
00:11:05,090 --> 00:11:06,996
Because this world's damaged.

260
00:11:06,996 --> 00:11:10,866
It's very simple; this is not God's plan,

261
00:11:10,866 --> 00:11:14,463
and this is something that is not new.

262
00:11:14,463 --> 00:11:16,442
We know that people

263
00:11:16,442 --> 00:11:17,973
throughout the ages

264
00:11:17,973 --> 00:11:20,627
have looked at the world we live in,

265
00:11:20,627 --> 00:11:22,264
and they all have a common theme.

266
00:11:22,264 --> 00:11:23,357
So I'd like us to look

267
00:11:23,357 --> 00:11:25,642
at three passages as we begin.

268
00:11:25,642 --> 00:11:28,840
The first one is Psalm 94, and we'll

269
00:11:28,840 --> 00:11:30,751
be looking at verses 3 through 7.

270
00:11:30,751 --> 00:11:32,600
Gladys, if you could take that one.

271
00:11:32,600 --> 00:11:35,366
And then, Marcus, if you would be ready

272
00:11:35,366 --> 00:11:38,845
to read Habakkuk 1, verse 2,

273
00:11:38,845 --> 00:11:42,624
and, Evelyn, Revelation 6, verse 10.

274
00:11:42,624 --> 00:11:44,105
We're just going to read

275
00:11:44,105 --> 00:11:45,154
through these verses,

276
00:11:45,154 --> 00:11:47,201
and as we're reading, I'd like you

277
00:11:47,201 --> 00:11:49,007
to think about what the common theme

278
00:11:49,007 --> 00:11:51,360
is throughout. Gladys.

279
00:11:51,360 --> 00:11:52,434
(Gladys) I'm reading

280
00:11:52,434 --> 00:11:54,213
from the New International Version,

281
00:11:54,213 --> 00:11:57,641
Psalm 94, verses 3 to 7:

282
00:12:34,197 --> 00:12:37,090
(Stephanie) Thank you. Marcus.

283
00:12:37,090 --> 00:12:42,510
(Marcus) Okay, Habakkuk 1, verse 2,

284
00:12:42,510 --> 00:12:47,066
and I'll give everyone a moment 
to get there.

285
00:12:47,066 --> 00:12:50,192
I'll be reading from
the King James Version:

286
00:13:05,586 --> 00:13:06,818
(Stephanie) And Evelyn,

287
00:13:06,818 --> 00:13:11,996
Revelation, chapter 6, verse 10.

288
00:13:11,996 --> 00:13:14,083
(Evelyn) Revelation, chapter 6, verse 10,

289
00:13:14,083 --> 00:13:16,717
I'll be reading from the
New King James Version:

290
00:13:28,359 --> 00:13:30,087
(Stephanie) What is the common theme

291
00:13:30,087 --> 00:13:31,772
that you're hearing? Treva?

292
00:13:31,772 --> 00:13:33,454
(Treva) There is a crying out

293
00:13:33,454 --> 00:13:36,302
to the Father for justice,

294
00:13:36,302 --> 00:13:38,335
for something to be done

295
00:13:38,335 --> 00:13:42,566
because of some type of persecution.

296
00:13:42,566 --> 00:13:44,516
(Stephanie) Desire for freedom

297
00:13:44,516 --> 00:13:46,176
from persecution. Gladys.

298
00:13:46,176 --> 00:13:48,980
(Gladys) I like that the three verses
say, "How long?"

299
00:13:48,980 --> 00:13:50,787
So, just going back to the definition

300
00:13:50,787 --> 00:13:52,359
that we were giving, you know,

301
00:13:52,359 --> 00:13:54,136
it's like expecting something

302
00:13:54,136 --> 00:13:56,030
that has been promised.

303
00:13:56,030 --> 00:13:57,529
(Stephanie) Do these passages

304
00:13:57,529 --> 00:13:59,448
give you the impression that this person

305
00:13:59,448 --> 00:14:01,455
is feeling somewhat hopeless?

306
00:14:01,455 --> 00:14:02,198
(Team) Yes.

307
00:14:02,198 --> 00:14:03,640
(Stephanie) "What do we have?"

308
00:14:03,640 --> 00:14:04,775
"How long are we going

309
00:14:04,775 --> 00:14:06,459
to be in this state?"

310
00:14:06,459 --> 00:14:08,947
Where do people find hope?

311
00:14:08,947 --> 00:14:10,089
Let me put it this way,

312
00:14:10,089 --> 00:14:12,844
where do people search to find hope?

313
00:14:12,844 --> 00:14:17,413
Or to find a future?

314
00:14:17,413 --> 00:14:19,162
Marcus and then Jason.

315
00:14:19,162 --> 00:14:20,190
(Marcus) I would say,

316
00:14:20,190 --> 00:14:23,115
and in this country especially,
like politics.

317
00:14:23,115 --> 00:14:26,393
People always hope that the next president

318
00:14:26,393 --> 00:14:27,636
or the next governor

319
00:14:27,636 --> 00:14:28,779
or the next whoever

320
00:14:28,779 --> 00:14:30,859
will be there to deliver them

321
00:14:30,859 --> 00:14:33,187
some type of reward

322
00:14:33,187 --> 00:14:35,196
or restitution for their suffering.

323
00:14:35,196 --> 00:14:36,815
(Stephanie) So, they're looking

324
00:14:36,815 --> 00:14:39,651
for people to give them hope. Jason.

325
00:14:39,651 --> 00:14:40,730
(Jason) I think people

326
00:14:40,730 --> 00:14:42,646
can look for relationships,

327
00:14:42,646 --> 00:14:44,647
whether it's a significant other

328
00:14:44,647 --> 00:14:46,861
or getting into a marriage

329
00:14:46,861 --> 00:14:48,003
or something like that.

330
00:14:48,003 --> 00:14:50,019
They can think that a relationship,

331
00:14:50,019 --> 00:14:52,544
a friendship, just having another person

332
00:14:52,544 --> 00:14:54,434
will give them that hope.

333
00:14:54,434 --> 00:14:55,514
(Stephanie) Puia.

334
00:14:55,514 --> 00:14:56,810
(Puia) I think people also

335
00:14:56,810 --> 00:14:58,597
look for hope in possessions.

336
00:14:58,597 --> 00:15:01,787
It could be money or things, you know.

337
00:15:01,787 --> 00:15:03,177
(Stephanie) Looking for hope

338
00:15:03,177 --> 00:15:04,912
in people, in possessions.

339
00:15:04,912 --> 00:15:10,922
How about positions? Possible?
All right. Jason.

340
00:15:10,922 --> 00:15:12,293
(Jason) Sometimes people can

341
00:15:12,293 --> 00:15:14,336
look to themselves for hope,

342
00:15:14,336 --> 00:15:15,662
as far as what they can do.

343
00:15:15,662 --> 00:15:17,049
They become self-absorbed

344
00:15:17,049 --> 00:15:17,989
in what they can do

345
00:15:17,989 --> 00:15:20,061
and try to make different moves

346
00:15:20,061 --> 00:15:23,559
or different ways of them finding hope

347
00:15:23,559 --> 00:15:25,745
into the situation that they may be in.

348
00:15:25,745 --> 00:15:27,945
(Stephanie) All right. Now, I'd like

349
00:15:27,945 --> 00:15:29,966
to go over to Lamentations,

350
00:15:29,966 --> 00:15:33,331
chapter 3, verses 22 through 26,

351
00:15:33,331 --> 00:15:35,128
and, Adison, if you would be prepared

352
00:15:35,128 --> 00:15:37,196
to read that for us.

353
00:15:37,196 --> 00:15:40,669
And let's take a look at what the prophet

354
00:15:40,669 --> 00:15:43,295
has found his hope in.

355
00:15:43,295 --> 00:15:47,953
And this is during some troublesome times,
right?

356
00:15:47,953 --> 00:15:50,400
Lamentations, chapter 3,

357
00:15:50,400 --> 00:15:53,459
verses 22 through 26.

358
00:15:53,459 --> 00:15:54,567
(Adison) I'm reading

359
00:15:54,567 --> 00:15:56,658
from the King James Version:

360
00:16:14,603 --> 00:16:16,303
(Stephanie) I don't know about you,

361
00:16:16,303 --> 00:16:18,357
but when I hear those verses,

362
00:16:18,357 --> 00:16:22,221
it just gives me hope, right?

363
00:16:22,221 --> 00:16:23,188
It gives me energy.

364
00:16:23,188 --> 00:16:27,365
Where did the prophet find his hope,

365
00:16:27,365 --> 00:16:29,145
or choose to find hope?

366
00:16:29,145 --> 00:16:30,872
(Derek) Actually, the next verse

367
00:16:30,872 --> 00:16:32,443
says, "'The Lord is my portion,'

368
00:16:32,443 --> 00:16:35,782
says my soul, 'Therefore I hope in Him!'"

369
00:16:35,782 --> 00:16:38,135
So that's where he chooses.

370
00:16:38,135 --> 00:16:39,716
And like you said, this is

371
00:16:39,716 --> 00:16:42,962
where Jerusalem has just been ransacked,

372
00:16:42,962 --> 00:16:45,136
the temple is in ruins,

373
00:16:45,136 --> 00:16:47,824
and Jeremiah is lamenting.

374
00:16:47,824 --> 00:16:50,218
That's where the Lamentations book
comes from.

375
00:16:50,218 --> 00:16:51,600
He's lamenting, but he says,

376
00:16:51,600 --> 00:16:53,392
"My hope is in God."

377
00:16:53,392 --> 00:16:55,544
(Team) Amen.

378
00:16:55,544 --> 00:16:57,988
(Stephanie) And through all
of that turmoil,

379
00:16:57,988 --> 00:17:00,305
that's where he placed his hope.

380
00:17:00,305 --> 00:17:02,445
And, I don't know, it just gives me

381
00:17:02,445 --> 00:17:04,365
such encouragement when I hear,

382
00:17:04,365 --> 00:17:06,126
"'The Lord is my portion,'

383
00:17:06,126 --> 00:17:08,028
saith my soul'...The Lord

384
00:17:08,028 --> 00:17:10,737
is good unto them that wait for Him."

385
00:17:10,737 --> 00:17:12,180
It just buoys up your spirits.

386
00:17:12,180 --> 00:17:14,937
Now, Jesus also speaks

387
00:17:14,937 --> 00:17:19,245
about where to find our hope

388
00:17:19,245 --> 00:17:23,261
or encourages us through a parable

389
00:17:23,261 --> 00:17:25,979
in Luke, chapter 18, and we'll go there,

390
00:17:25,979 --> 00:17:28,003
and, Billy, if you would read that for us,

391
00:17:28,003 --> 00:17:30,405
Luke, chapter 18, verses 1 through 8.

392
00:17:30,405 --> 00:17:35,304
And as we're reading through that parable,

393
00:17:35,304 --> 00:17:39,269
I'd like us to think about what is

394
00:17:39,269 --> 00:17:42,828
Jesus saying to us about finding

395
00:17:42,828 --> 00:17:45,011
our hope in God? Billy.

396
00:17:45,011 --> 00:17:46,540
(Billy) Okay, so I'll be reading

397
00:17:46,540 --> 00:17:47,946
from the King James Version:

398
00:18:26,971 --> 00:18:28,521
Is it to verse 5 or 6?

399
00:18:52,594 --> 00:18:55,244
(Stephanie) All right. From this parable,

400
00:18:28,521 --> 00:18:29,653
(Stephanie) Through 8.

401
00:18:29,653 --> 00:18:30,971
(Billy) Through 8, okay:

402
00:18:55,244 --> 00:18:57,186
what do we learn about finding

403
00:18:57,186 --> 00:19:01,446
our hope in God? Tricia Lee.

404
00:19:01,446 --> 00:19:03,876
(Tricia Lee) I think that Jesus

405
00:19:03,876 --> 00:19:05,726
is making an example,

406
00:19:05,726 --> 00:19:10,351
that even in an unjust situation -

407
00:19:10,351 --> 00:19:12,965
this earthly judge or court,

408
00:19:12,965 --> 00:19:16,039
if he was possibly unwilling

409
00:19:16,039 --> 00:19:17,615
to avenge her of her adversary

410
00:19:17,615 --> 00:19:20,048
as she's asking for the first time,

411
00:19:20,048 --> 00:19:21,931
eventually he did just because he was

412
00:19:21,931 --> 00:19:23,614
tired of hearing from her.

413
00:19:23,614 --> 00:19:25,043
And so He's making an example.

414
00:19:25,043 --> 00:19:26,296
If this earthly court

415
00:19:26,296 --> 00:19:27,926
or judge could act this way,

416
00:19:27,926 --> 00:19:29,972
your Heavenly Father, who is not tired

417
00:19:29,972 --> 00:19:30,984
when we call on Him,

418
00:19:30,984 --> 00:19:32,410
not tired when we pray to him,

419
00:19:32,410 --> 00:19:33,787
could never get tired of us,

420
00:19:33,787 --> 00:19:36,507
of course He will bring justice
to our situation.

421
00:19:36,507 --> 00:19:38,540
And so Jesus is asking them,

422
00:19:38,540 --> 00:19:40,446
when He says, "Will the Son of Man

423
00:19:40,446 --> 00:19:41,780
find faith on the earth?"

424
00:19:41,780 --> 00:19:43,600
will you still believe that God

425
00:19:43,600 --> 00:19:45,002
will do justice for you,

426
00:19:45,002 --> 00:19:46,943
even though you don't see it right away?

427
00:19:46,943 --> 00:19:48,575
So that's really what He's saying

428
00:19:48,575 --> 00:19:51,617
because sometimes we ask for things,
we don't get them right away

429
00:19:51,617 --> 00:19:53,323
or we're still in those situations.

430
00:19:53,323 --> 00:19:56,513
But Jesus is saying, "Do you have faith
to continue hoping," knowing

431
00:19:56,513 --> 00:19:59,158
that the promise, as Travis mentioned, 
is sure.

432
00:19:59,158 --> 00:20:03,231
(Stephanie) Pray without ceasing, right?

433
00:20:03,231 --> 00:20:07,918
Did anyone else have a comment?
All right, Marcus.

434
00:20:07,918 --> 00:20:11,560
(Marcus) Just, waiting really is
the hardest part.

435
00:20:11,560 --> 00:20:13,244
And when you've been

436
00:20:13,244 --> 00:20:15,143
through situation where you might have

437
00:20:15,143 --> 00:20:16,819
lost somebody close to you,

438
00:20:16,819 --> 00:20:18,366
and it might have happened

439
00:20:18,366 --> 00:20:20,986
under tragic circumstances,

440
00:20:20,986 --> 00:20:22,963
can you still trust and put your faith

441
00:20:22,963 --> 00:20:24,634
and hope in the Lord,

442
00:20:24,634 --> 00:20:26,789
even though it just doesn't look like

443
00:20:26,789 --> 00:20:28,986
the situation is going to get resolved,

444
00:20:28,986 --> 00:20:32,238
or there's so much grief in your heart?

445
00:20:32,238 --> 00:20:35,095
So I think that the relationship

446
00:20:35,095 --> 00:20:36,797
that you have with Christ,

447
00:20:36,797 --> 00:20:38,955
that you have with the Father,

448
00:20:38,955 --> 00:20:40,583
will help sustain you,

449
00:20:40,583 --> 00:20:43,962
but it's not an easy wait.

450
00:20:43,962 --> 00:20:46,546
(Stephanie) It's never easy
to wait, is it?

451
00:20:46,546 --> 00:20:47,991
So let me ask you this:

452
00:20:47,991 --> 00:20:49,877
When did you choose

453
00:20:49,877 --> 00:20:52,030
to find your hope in God?

454
00:20:52,030 --> 00:20:54,446
And I want to go a step further:

455
00:20:54,446 --> 00:20:57,167
What has your life been like

456
00:20:57,167 --> 00:20:59,201
since that decision?

457
00:20:59,201 --> 00:21:01,958
How has that changed your course? Nicole.

458
00:21:01,958 --> 00:21:03,769
(Nicole) It's not one decision for me.

459
00:21:03,769 --> 00:21:05,360
I think that I have to every day,

460
00:21:05,360 --> 00:21:08,381
and every time a new situation
approaches me,

461
00:21:08,381 --> 00:21:10,208
I have to choose my hope in God.

462
00:21:10,208 --> 00:21:12,616
And so, it makes it challenging,

463
00:21:12,616 --> 00:21:15,328
because when things don't go my way,

464
00:21:15,328 --> 00:21:17,874
I have to wait on what He's going to do,

465
00:21:17,874 --> 00:21:19,144
but I think that for me

466
00:21:19,144 --> 00:21:20,989
it's an ongoing decision daily

467
00:21:20,989 --> 00:21:22,451
to make that decision that I'm

468
00:21:22,451 --> 00:21:24,426
going to hope in God and His return.

469
00:21:24,426 --> 00:21:28,216
(Stephanie) Amen. I appreciate that.

470
00:21:28,216 --> 00:21:30,074
Jason and then Gladys.

471
00:21:30,074 --> 00:21:32,317
(Jason) I have a testimony to share.

472
00:21:32,317 --> 00:21:33,419
I was in the military,

473
00:21:33,419 --> 00:21:35,564
in the navy, specifically,

474
00:21:35,564 --> 00:21:38,565
and I joined without being able to swim.

475
00:21:38,565 --> 00:21:41,633
So, go figure, right?

476
00:21:41,633 --> 00:21:45,642
So, through my time in boot camp,
I tried to swim.

477
00:21:45,642 --> 00:21:46,916
I kept on being sent back,

478
00:21:46,916 --> 00:21:47,942
I was not qualified,

479
00:21:47,942 --> 00:21:49,519
maybe three or four times,

480
00:21:49,519 --> 00:21:50,670
but it came to a point

481
00:21:50,670 --> 00:21:51,950
that I had to pray to God,

482
00:21:51,950 --> 00:21:53,434
and I asked the Lord to help me

483
00:21:53,434 --> 00:21:55,531
because I wanted to graduate
from boot camp.

484
00:21:55,531 --> 00:21:57,894
It just so happened I was doing my part.

485
00:21:57,894 --> 00:22:00,486
I was doing my little motions
or what have you,

486
00:22:00,486 --> 00:22:01,413
praying and hoping

487
00:22:01,413 --> 00:22:03,274
that muscle memory would kick in.

488
00:22:03,274 --> 00:22:06,419
And when I went in the water for my test,

489
00:22:06,419 --> 00:22:08,574
I popped up, and I just remember
it kicked in,

490
00:22:08,574 --> 00:22:09,702
and I could just thank

491
00:22:09,702 --> 00:22:10,844
the Lord all the way.

492
00:22:10,844 --> 00:22:12,711
It was an Olympic-sized swimming pool,

493
00:22:12,711 --> 00:22:14,360
so I swam from one end to another,

494
00:22:14,360 --> 00:22:16,045
and I thanked God the whole way.

495
00:22:16,045 --> 00:22:17,527
That's when the hope kicked in,

496
00:22:17,527 --> 00:22:19,882
because I knew it was a miracle.

497
00:22:19,882 --> 00:22:21,516
I knew I didn't do this on my own.

498
00:22:21,516 --> 00:22:22,745
So right then and there,

499
00:22:22,745 --> 00:22:23,748
I was thanking God,

500
00:22:23,748 --> 00:22:25,331
and that's when, from that point

501
00:22:25,331 --> 00:22:28,331
for me, swimming, by God's grace,

502
00:22:28,331 --> 00:22:29,864
it just elevated my faith

503
00:22:29,864 --> 00:22:30,718
in Him even more.

504
00:22:30,718 --> 00:22:32,145
If I could trust Him in this,

505
00:22:32,145 --> 00:22:33,333
I knew I could trust Him

506
00:22:33,333 --> 00:22:35,863
in other things in my life.

507
00:22:35,863 --> 00:22:36,774
(Stephanie) Gladys.

508
00:22:36,774 --> 00:22:38,479
(Gladys) I think that sometimes,

509
00:22:38,479 --> 00:22:40,421
when things are going easy,

510
00:22:40,421 --> 00:22:42,995
we read the words of God and His promises,

511
00:22:42,995 --> 00:22:45,573
and we say "Amen."

512
00:22:45,573 --> 00:22:48,579
But it's not till the moment
of trial comes

513
00:22:48,579 --> 00:22:51,190
that that hope is really revealed.

514
00:22:51,190 --> 00:22:53,797
And I have shared with you guys before

515
00:22:53,797 --> 00:22:54,997
what happened with me

516
00:22:54,997 --> 00:22:57,723
a while ago with my surgery,

517
00:22:57,723 --> 00:23:02,921
and it's just like life comes
to your face,

518
00:23:02,921 --> 00:23:05,366
and you just say, "Do I really

519
00:23:05,366 --> 00:23:07,631
trust God with my life?"

520
00:23:07,631 --> 00:23:09,974
When it's a situation of life and death,

521
00:23:09,974 --> 00:23:11,840
that's when you really look

522
00:23:11,840 --> 00:23:13,317
at what you believe.

523
00:23:13,317 --> 00:23:14,560
And if you have that hope

524
00:23:14,560 --> 00:23:16,751
that God has you in His hands,

525
00:23:16,751 --> 00:23:19,448
things are just totally different,

526
00:23:19,448 --> 00:23:21,579
and it is not until that moment

527
00:23:21,579 --> 00:23:25,097
that you realize Whom you have believed.

528
00:23:25,097 --> 00:23:27,366
(Stephanie) And Nicole mentioned something

529
00:23:27,366 --> 00:23:31,384
about that hope in the Second Coming,

530
00:23:31,384 --> 00:23:33,625
and I'd like to look at that hope

531
00:23:33,625 --> 00:23:35,803
as we move on in our lesson

532
00:23:35,803 --> 00:23:39,162
in Matthew, chapter 24 and 25.

533
00:23:39,162 --> 00:23:40,663
You know that it talks

534
00:23:40,663 --> 00:23:43,071
about the Second Coming of Christ,

535
00:23:43,071 --> 00:23:46,295
and it's definitely the center

536
00:23:46,295 --> 00:23:47,678
of our hope, right?

537
00:23:47,678 --> 00:23:50,157
It's a pivotal point

538
00:23:50,157 --> 00:23:52,181
of where we place our hope.

539
00:23:52,181 --> 00:23:53,309
I'd like to take a look

540
00:23:53,309 --> 00:23:55,093
at what we should be doing

541
00:23:55,093 --> 00:23:58,683
in the interim between now

542
00:23:58,683 --> 00:24:00,210
and the Second Coming

543
00:24:00,210 --> 00:24:02,053
because I have a feeling

544
00:24:02,053 --> 00:24:04,611
we're not supposed to just be sitting down

545
00:24:04,611 --> 00:24:06,386
and twiddling our thumbs.

546
00:24:06,386 --> 00:24:08,081
There's something for us to do.

547
00:24:08,081 --> 00:24:10,881
So let's look in Matthew 24,

548
00:24:10,881 --> 00:24:14,661
and we'll look at verses 45 to 51,

549
00:24:14,661 --> 00:24:15,824
and, Travis, if you

550
00:24:15,824 --> 00:24:18,106
would read that for us.

551
00:24:18,106 --> 00:24:20,131
(Travis) Matthew, chapter 24,

552
00:24:20,131 --> 00:24:22,526
verses 45 to 51, I'll be reading

553
00:24:22,526 --> 00:24:24,822
from the New King James Version:

554
00:25:09,575 --> 00:25:10,899
(Stephanie) So, what does

555
00:25:10,899 --> 00:25:13,769
that passage say that we should be doing?

556
00:25:13,769 --> 00:25:15,414
(Gladys) Diligently working.

557
00:25:15,414 --> 00:25:18,087
(Stephanie) Diligently working.

558
00:25:18,087 --> 00:25:21,412
What else do you see there?

559
00:25:24,162 --> 00:25:26,547
Providing for the needs.

560
00:25:26,547 --> 00:25:27,841
"Blessed is the servant

561
00:25:27,841 --> 00:25:29,529
whom the Lord, when He comes,

562
00:25:29,529 --> 00:25:31,196
shall find him so doing."

563
00:25:31,196 --> 00:25:36,569
In verse 45, "When the faithful
and wise servant,

564
00:25:36,569 --> 00:25:37,944
whom the Lord hath made

565
00:25:37,944 --> 00:25:39,259
ruler of the household,

566
00:25:39,259 --> 00:25:42,503
to give them meat in due season."

567
00:25:42,503 --> 00:25:45,165
So that means feeding those

568
00:25:45,165 --> 00:25:47,617
that they have responsibility over,

569
00:25:47,617 --> 00:25:50,022
doesn't it? Yes, Tricia Lee.

570
00:25:50,022 --> 00:25:52,108
(Tricia Lee) There's also conflict

571
00:25:52,108 --> 00:25:53,968
that's taking place here.

572
00:25:53,968 --> 00:25:56,272
It talks about one servant

573
00:25:56,272 --> 00:25:58,538
is beating another servant,

574
00:25:58,538 --> 00:26:00,552
or they're beating their fellow servants

575
00:26:00,552 --> 00:26:02,587
and start to eat and drink with drunkards.

576
00:26:02,587 --> 00:26:04,145
And so it's this attitude that,

577
00:26:04,145 --> 00:26:05,832
if you lose your sight of the hope

578
00:26:05,832 --> 00:26:07,197
that the Lord is coming,

579
00:26:07,197 --> 00:26:08,344
the whole purpose, like,

580
00:26:08,344 --> 00:26:09,375
what are we here for,

581
00:26:09,375 --> 00:26:10,576
you start to get involved

582
00:26:10,576 --> 00:26:12,382
in disagreements or petty arguments,

583
00:26:12,382 --> 00:26:14,302
like, "Why are you beating each other?"

584
00:26:14,302 --> 00:26:15,968
And then the eating and drinking,

585
00:26:15,968 --> 00:26:17,572
it's like, to your point,

586
00:26:17,572 --> 00:26:18,827
they're just sitting back.

587
00:26:18,827 --> 00:26:20,732
It's like, we have work to do.

588
00:26:20,732 --> 00:26:21,786
We should be preparing

589
00:26:21,786 --> 00:26:23,095
for the Lord to come.

590
00:26:23,095 --> 00:26:25,385
It's as if the party started already,

591
00:26:25,385 --> 00:26:27,931
and it's the wrong type of party.

592
00:26:27,931 --> 00:26:30,150
And so, they've completely lost sight

593
00:26:30,150 --> 00:26:31,227
of what the focus is,

594
00:26:31,227 --> 00:26:32,579
and I think that's a danger.

595
00:26:32,579 --> 00:26:34,459
They start to fight amongst themselves,

596
00:26:34,459 --> 00:26:35,963
and they start having the party

597
00:26:35,963 --> 00:26:37,486
a bit too early, and the wrong

598
00:26:37,486 --> 00:26:39,001
type of party, in fact.

599
00:26:39,001 --> 00:26:40,671
(Stephanie) And let's move over,

600
00:26:40,671 --> 00:26:42,220
thank you very much, Tricia Lee,

601
00:26:42,220 --> 00:26:43,753
let's move to chapter 25

602
00:26:43,753 --> 00:26:46,675
and look at verses 14 and 15.

603
00:26:46,675 --> 00:26:48,769
And, Jason, if you would be willing

604
00:26:48,769 --> 00:26:51,404
to read that for us.

605
00:26:51,404 --> 00:26:54,490
This also gives us a choice.

606
00:26:54,490 --> 00:26:56,848
It shows us the options that we have.

607
00:26:56,848 --> 00:26:58,744
Let's go ahead and read

608
00:26:58,744 --> 00:27:02,725
verses 14 and 15 of Matthew 25.

609
00:27:02,725 --> 00:27:03,823
(Jason) I'll be reading

610
00:27:03,823 --> 00:27:05,367
from the New King James Version,

611
00:27:05,367 --> 00:27:09,048
Matthew, chapter 25, verses 14 and 15:

612
00:27:32,528 --> 00:27:34,629
(Stephanie) So, what are the options

613
00:27:34,629 --> 00:27:36,845
that these individuals have?

614
00:27:36,845 --> 00:27:38,190
They'd been given talents.

615
00:27:38,190 --> 00:27:39,384
What are the talents?

616
00:27:39,384 --> 00:27:44,684
What does that represent? Gifts? Skills?

617
00:27:44,684 --> 00:27:46,216
(Derek) In that culture,

618
00:27:46,216 --> 00:27:49,880
a talent was 6,000 days wages,

619
00:27:49,880 --> 00:27:51,532
so that's 20 years wages,

620
00:27:51,532 --> 00:27:53,960
even to the smallest portion.

621
00:27:53,960 --> 00:27:58,474
So, a massive amount of resource

622
00:27:58,474 --> 00:28:04,708
was given, according to the Master's plan,
to each of them

623
00:28:04,708 --> 00:28:07,389
with no specific instructions,

624
00:28:07,389 --> 00:28:09,223
except maybe their relationship

625
00:28:09,223 --> 00:28:11,071
would determine how they

626
00:28:11,071 --> 00:28:12,611
would use those resources.

627
00:28:12,611 --> 00:28:14,629
(Stephanie) That's right. Travis.

628
00:28:14,629 --> 00:28:15,754
(Travis) Well, the fact

629
00:28:15,754 --> 00:28:17,730
that they're called "servants,"

630
00:28:17,730 --> 00:28:19,633
servants means there is a responsibility

631
00:28:19,633 --> 00:28:21,235
with the resource.

632
00:28:21,235 --> 00:28:23,037
And I like the fact that Derek

633
00:28:23,037 --> 00:28:24,463
used the word "resource,"

634
00:28:24,463 --> 00:28:27,153
because resource can mean many things.

635
00:28:27,153 --> 00:28:28,557
Resource can be information,

636
00:28:28,557 --> 00:28:30,426
resource can be monetary, resource

637
00:28:30,426 --> 00:28:33,690
can be different responsibilities,

638
00:28:33,690 --> 00:28:34,811
but they're servants.

639
00:28:34,811 --> 00:28:36,110
So, when you're a servant,

640
00:28:36,110 --> 00:28:38,734
and the Master gives you a resource,

641
00:28:38,734 --> 00:28:39,951
there's a responsibility

642
00:28:39,951 --> 00:28:41,438
that comes with that resource.

643
00:28:41,438 --> 00:28:42,668
(Stephanie) All right,

644
00:28:42,668 --> 00:28:44,076
so they have options,

645
00:28:44,076 --> 00:28:47,535
either to use that resource wisely

646
00:28:47,535 --> 00:28:50,387
or to choose not to use it wisely.

647
00:28:50,387 --> 00:28:52,151
How do we relate that

648
00:28:52,151 --> 00:28:56,800
to what we should be doing
in our day

649
00:28:56,800 --> 00:29:00,451
between now and the Second Coming
of Christ? Treva.

650
00:29:00,453 --> 00:29:02,959
(Treva) I think also in the Scripture,

651
00:29:02,959 --> 00:29:04,522
we talked about this before,

652
00:29:04,522 --> 00:29:05,894
where people may feel like,

653
00:29:05,894 --> 00:29:09,141
"Well, what can I offer? What can I do?"

654
00:29:09,141 --> 00:29:10,708
And this Scripture shows us

655
00:29:10,708 --> 00:29:13,394
that God has given us something,

656
00:29:13,394 --> 00:29:14,772
some type of resource,

657
00:29:14,772 --> 00:29:16,741
even if it's your testimony,

658
00:29:16,741 --> 00:29:18,644
which is one of the most powerful things

659
00:29:18,644 --> 00:29:23,026
you can share to bring people
closer to Christ.

660
00:29:23,026 --> 00:29:24,436
So, if anything, that's

661
00:29:24,436 --> 00:29:26,042
what we should be doing.

662
00:29:26,042 --> 00:29:28,149
(Stephanie) All right. Tricia Lee,

663
00:29:28,149 --> 00:29:30,102
I see you're ready to say something.

664
00:29:30,102 --> 00:29:32,607
(Tricia Lee) Just a great question
that you're asking

665
00:29:32,607 --> 00:29:35,544
because we all have talents.

666
00:29:35,544 --> 00:29:38,009
Even just this week my husband and I
were commenting

667
00:29:38,009 --> 00:29:40,543
about a very popular musician,

668
00:29:40,543 --> 00:29:43,424
someone in the music industry,
who's in trouble.

669
00:29:43,424 --> 00:29:45,657
And we're thinking to ourselves,

670
00:29:45,657 --> 00:29:46,995
"What if this individual

671
00:29:46,995 --> 00:29:49,475
had used these gifts for the glory of God?

672
00:29:49,475 --> 00:29:51,255
Like, how many lives would he

673
00:29:51,255 --> 00:29:53,656
have impacted with his lyrics
and his music.

674
00:29:53,656 --> 00:29:55,248
He's so skilled and talented,

675
00:29:55,248 --> 00:29:57,303
and yet it's like just headline

676
00:29:57,303 --> 00:29:58,975
after headline of negative things.

677
00:29:58,975 --> 00:30:00,480
And so we have a choice

678
00:30:00,480 --> 00:30:02,174
to invest in the Kingdom of God,

679
00:30:02,174 --> 00:30:04,240
which is spiritual, blessing others,

680
00:30:04,240 --> 00:30:05,922
or we have an opportunity to invest

681
00:30:05,922 --> 00:30:07,784
in the things that are passing away.

682
00:30:07,784 --> 00:30:10,400
There's no doubt that this person
is talented,

683
00:30:10,400 --> 00:30:12,035
but the things that he spent

684
00:30:12,035 --> 00:30:13,631
his time investing in

685
00:30:13,631 --> 00:30:15,868
have not reaped anything beneficial

686
00:30:15,868 --> 00:30:18,295
to anyone in the long run.

687
00:30:18,295 --> 00:30:20,416
And so we could focus on our job

688
00:30:20,416 --> 00:30:22,183
or education or on things

689
00:30:22,183 --> 00:30:24,533
that might get us big wins in this life,

690
00:30:24,533 --> 00:30:26,246
but are we thinking about how we're

691
00:30:26,246 --> 00:30:28,666
using our skills to bless others,

692
00:30:28,666 --> 00:30:30,698
to bless and build the Kingdom of God.

693
00:30:30,698 --> 00:30:32,861
The option is there for us,

694
00:30:32,861 --> 00:30:34,246
but how do we use our skills

695
00:30:34,246 --> 00:30:36,274
to really build God's Kingdom.

696
00:30:36,274 --> 00:30:38,311
(Stephanie) I like that, and let's move on

697
00:30:38,311 --> 00:30:40,609
and look at some practical ways.

698
00:30:40,609 --> 00:30:44,138
And staying in Matthew, chapter 25,

699
00:30:44,138 --> 00:30:48,658
we'll be looking in verses 31 through 40,

700
00:30:48,658 --> 00:30:50,718
31 through 40, and Puia,

701
00:30:50,718 --> 00:30:52,732
would you read that for us?

702
00:30:52,732 --> 00:30:54,616
We're looking at some practical ways

703
00:30:54,616 --> 00:30:58,836
of how we should be spending our time
until Christ comes.

704
00:30:58,836 --> 00:31:00,239
(Puia) Sure, I'll be reading

705
00:31:00,239 --> 00:31:01,822
from the New King James Version,

706
00:31:01,822 --> 00:31:04,885
Matthew 25, verses 31 through 40:

707
00:32:29,110 --> 00:32:31,786
(Stephanie) Wow. So tell me,

708
00:32:31,786 --> 00:32:35,338
what have you learned from this passage

709
00:32:35,338 --> 00:32:37,158
as you've done your own study?

710
00:32:37,158 --> 00:32:39,304
Travis, and then we'll go to Gladys.

711
00:32:39,304 --> 00:32:41,272
(Travis) I remember reading in Matthew 7

712
00:32:41,272 --> 00:32:42,563
about a similar group,

713
00:32:42,563 --> 00:32:43,610
but this group said,

714
00:32:43,610 --> 00:32:45,796
"Look at what we've done,"

715
00:32:45,796 --> 00:32:47,218
and He said, "Depart from Me;

716
00:32:47,218 --> 00:32:48,866
I don't know you."

717
00:32:48,866 --> 00:32:50,613
And this group of people here,

718
00:32:50,613 --> 00:32:53,134
they're like, "When did we
do this for You?"

719
00:32:53,134 --> 00:32:55,034
And I remember Billy's story

720
00:32:55,034 --> 00:32:56,330
in a lesson or two ago,

721
00:32:56,330 --> 00:32:59,292
and I can imagine Jesus saying to him,

722
00:32:59,292 --> 00:33:02,662
"You know, I had pizza with you that day."

723
00:33:02,662 --> 00:33:04,547
And he's going to be like,

724
00:33:04,547 --> 00:33:06,197
"When did this happen?"...

725
00:33:06,197 --> 00:33:07,799
(Stephanie) We'll have to go back

726
00:33:07,799 --> 00:33:09,603
and listen to that lesson now, right?

727
00:33:09,603 --> 00:33:10,994
(Travis) But it's just like,

728
00:33:10,994 --> 00:33:12,700
when we're doing things

729
00:33:12,700 --> 00:33:15,057
with compassion for somebody else,

730
00:33:15,057 --> 00:33:18,751
Jesus resonates with each
and every person.

731
00:33:18,751 --> 00:33:20,799
And when you're doing something for them,

732
00:33:20,799 --> 00:33:22,547
it's like you're doing it for Jesus.

733
00:33:22,547 --> 00:33:24,067
And you didn't even realize it;

734
00:33:24,067 --> 00:33:25,904
that thought isn't even in your head.

735
00:33:25,904 --> 00:33:28,025
It's just like, "I want
to help this person,"

736
00:33:28,025 --> 00:33:29,936
and Jesus says, "You've done it to Me."

737
00:33:29,944 --> 00:33:31,755
(Stephanie) And, Travis, I appreciate

738
00:33:31,755 --> 00:33:33,759
the fact that you brought out that verse

739
00:33:33,759 --> 00:33:36,736
that says, "I never knew you,"

740
00:33:36,736 --> 00:33:38,389
when they showed Him.

741
00:33:38,389 --> 00:33:41,708
So this is not about, "I'm working

742
00:33:41,708 --> 00:33:43,471
my way to Heaven," is it?

743
00:33:43,471 --> 00:33:45,028
(Stephanie, Team) No.

744
00:33:45,028 --> 00:33:46,973
(Stephanie) It's talking about having

745
00:33:46,973 --> 00:33:49,911
that connection that allows

746
00:33:49,911 --> 00:33:53,255
the love to flow out through us. 
Yes, Gladys.

747
00:33:53,255 --> 00:33:55,606
(Gladys) That is exactly what I was
going to say,

748
00:33:55,606 --> 00:33:57,380
that when that connection is strong,

749
00:33:57,380 --> 00:33:58,680
you are just reflecting

750
00:33:58,680 --> 00:34:00,530
the character of God.

751
00:34:00,530 --> 00:34:02,615
The love of God is just flowing
through you,

752
00:34:02,615 --> 00:34:04,114
so you don't even realize it.

753
00:34:04,114 --> 00:34:05,934
It just becomes part of who you are.

754
00:34:05,934 --> 00:34:07,780
So it is just second nature

755
00:34:07,780 --> 00:34:09,994
to you to help others.

756
00:34:09,994 --> 00:34:11,780
(Stephanie) Amen. Marcus.

757
00:34:11,780 --> 00:34:13,973
(Marcus) A little bit of context to add

758
00:34:13,973 --> 00:34:15,339
to what Travis was saying

759
00:34:15,339 --> 00:34:19,205
is that basically when those people said,

760
00:34:19,205 --> 00:34:20,454
"We did good things,"

761
00:34:20,454 --> 00:34:22,152
"We did good works as well,"

762
00:34:22,152 --> 00:34:23,702
and the Father and Jesus said,

763
00:34:23,702 --> 00:34:25,359
"Depart, I never knew you,"

764
00:34:25,359 --> 00:34:26,925
it's because their hearts

765
00:34:26,925 --> 00:34:28,235
weren't in the right place.

766
00:34:28,235 --> 00:34:29,663
So, what I'm trying to say is,

767
00:34:29,663 --> 00:34:32,937
a great work that is done

768
00:34:32,937 --> 00:34:35,743
for some type of self-glorification

769
00:34:35,743 --> 00:34:37,802
is not acceptable to God

770
00:34:37,802 --> 00:34:39,025
versus a small work

771
00:34:39,025 --> 00:34:41,472
that is done in self-sacrifice

772
00:34:41,472 --> 00:34:44,992
and with no self included in that work.

773
00:34:44,992 --> 00:34:47,764
So, a small work done for the Master

774
00:34:47,764 --> 00:34:50,323
is better than a large and great work

775
00:34:50,323 --> 00:34:53,284
with just a little bit of self
injected in there.

776
00:34:53,284 --> 00:34:54,626
So, it's not the size

777
00:34:54,626 --> 00:34:56,557
of the work that we do,

778
00:34:56,557 --> 00:34:58,197
it is whether we have

779
00:34:58,197 --> 00:34:59,643
surrendered to the Master

780
00:34:59,643 --> 00:35:01,166
and want to give all glory

781
00:35:01,166 --> 00:35:02,578
and honor and praise to Him.

782
00:35:02,578 --> 00:35:04,616
(Stephanie) And that is amazing.

783
00:35:04,616 --> 00:35:06,229
I definitely agree with that.

784
00:35:06,229 --> 00:35:08,018
I do want to say that,

785
00:35:08,018 --> 00:35:10,006
if someone is watching,

786
00:35:10,006 --> 00:35:11,778
and they say, "But that person

787
00:35:11,778 --> 00:35:14,530
did bless me by their acts of kindnesss,

788
00:35:14,530 --> 00:35:15,637
even though they had

789
00:35:15,637 --> 00:35:16,716
selfishness in there,"

790
00:35:16,716 --> 00:35:18,437
can God use that?

791
00:35:18,437 --> 00:35:20,538
Absolutely, He can still use people,

792
00:35:20,538 --> 00:35:21,893
even though their hearts

793
00:35:21,893 --> 00:35:25,339
may not be in the right place.

794
00:35:25,339 --> 00:35:28,507
Anything else that stands out to you

795
00:35:28,507 --> 00:35:37,129
in this passage? Yes, Puia.

796
00:35:37,129 --> 00:35:39,045
(Puia) Not exactly from the verse here,

797
00:35:39,045 --> 00:35:42,153
but I remember an experience that I had

798
00:35:42,153 --> 00:35:43,513
a couple of years ago

799
00:35:43,513 --> 00:35:45,014
when I was serving

800
00:35:45,014 --> 00:35:48,177
as a student volunteer in Hawaii,

801
00:35:48,177 --> 00:35:49,792
and there was a family

802
00:35:49,792 --> 00:35:51,873
that needed help with moving,

803
00:35:51,873 --> 00:35:52,947
as they were moving

804
00:35:52,947 --> 00:35:55,085
from one part of the island
to the other part.

805
00:35:55,085 --> 00:35:57,370
And they had so many things to carry,

806
00:35:57,370 --> 00:36:00,323
and they didn't have enough people
to help them out,

807
00:36:00,323 --> 00:36:01,591
so they invited me.

808
00:36:01,591 --> 00:36:03,374
So I went there, and a lot

809
00:36:03,374 --> 00:36:04,396
of people were busy,

810
00:36:04,396 --> 00:36:05,820
so they couldn't stay behind.

811
00:36:05,820 --> 00:36:07,670
So they asked me if I could stay

812
00:36:07,670 --> 00:36:09,437
a little longer, and I did.

813
00:36:09,437 --> 00:36:11,326
And I went inside, and I helped

814
00:36:11,326 --> 00:36:12,977
paint the house and all of that.

815
00:36:12,977 --> 00:36:15,984
And I had forgotten all about it.

816
00:36:15,984 --> 00:36:17,445
The end of the year came,

817
00:36:17,445 --> 00:36:18,585
and it was time for me

818
00:36:18,585 --> 00:36:19,808
to leave the island,

819
00:36:19,808 --> 00:36:22,468
and the family invited me over.

820
00:36:22,468 --> 00:36:23,751
As I walked into the house,

821
00:36:23,751 --> 00:36:24,926
they said, "Puia, do you

822
00:36:24,926 --> 00:36:25,896
remember this time?"

823
00:36:25,896 --> 00:36:27,160
like, "Remember this wall?

824
00:36:27,160 --> 00:36:28,467
This was what you painted."

825
00:36:28,467 --> 00:36:29,985
I was like, "Oh, wait a minute.

826
00:36:29,985 --> 00:36:31,454
Yes, this is what I painted!"

827
00:36:31,454 --> 00:36:34,242
You know, it brought joy to them
as well as me.

828
00:36:34,242 --> 00:36:36,635
The point is, sometimes

829
00:36:36,635 --> 00:36:40,864
it's not about trying to help people
all the time.

830
00:36:40,864 --> 00:36:43,168
I think it's about asking God

831
00:36:43,168 --> 00:36:44,467
to put us in places

832
00:36:44,467 --> 00:36:46,673
where He wants to use us.

833
00:36:46,673 --> 00:36:48,657
And when we place ourselves

834
00:36:48,657 --> 00:36:50,539
in the place where God can use us,

835
00:36:50,539 --> 00:36:51,998
He will bring us to the people

836
00:36:51,998 --> 00:36:54,793
who need our help when the time is right.

837
00:36:54,793 --> 00:36:56,415
(Stephanie) Being connected.

838
00:36:56,415 --> 00:36:57,934
Now, there's another hope

839
00:36:57,934 --> 00:36:59,440
that we want to take a look at,

840
00:36:59,440 --> 00:37:01,047
which is closely connected

841
00:37:01,047 --> 00:37:02,434
with the Second Coming.

842
00:37:02,434 --> 00:37:05,977
And this is an event

843
00:37:05,977 --> 00:37:08,984
that will take place at Jesus' return.

844
00:37:08,984 --> 00:37:10,564
It was a precious truth

845
00:37:10,564 --> 00:37:12,886
that was boldly proclaimed

846
00:37:12,886 --> 00:37:15,663
by the early Christians

847
00:37:15,663 --> 00:37:18,673
found in Acts, chapter 4, verse 33.

848
00:37:18,673 --> 00:37:20,471
And, Tricia Lee, if you

849
00:37:20,471 --> 00:37:22,330
would read that for us.

850
00:37:22,330 --> 00:37:26,800
Let's find out what that truth
and promise is.

851
00:37:26,800 --> 00:37:28,367
(Tricia Lee) Certainly, reading

852
00:37:28,367 --> 00:37:30,741
from the New King James Version:

853
00:37:41,378 --> 00:37:42,765
(Stephanie) What did they

854
00:37:42,765 --> 00:37:46,979
give testimony or witness to?

855
00:37:46,979 --> 00:37:49,996
(Stephanie, Team) The resurrection.

856
00:37:49,996 --> 00:37:54,192
(Stephanie) The resurrection. What had
they just gone through?

857
00:37:54,192 --> 00:37:56,532
If you think about Acts, chapter 1,

858
00:37:56,532 --> 00:37:58,977
what had they just seen?

859
00:37:58,977 --> 00:38:01,247
The ascension, they had just seen

860
00:38:01,247 --> 00:38:07,368
their crucified, buried, and risen Savior

861
00:38:07,368 --> 00:38:10,007
leave in Acts, chapter 1.

862
00:38:10,007 --> 00:38:11,689
And so they are able to proclaim

863
00:38:11,689 --> 00:38:15,509
with power, "My Savior died,

864
00:38:15,509 --> 00:38:17,840
and He rose again," okay?

865
00:38:17,840 --> 00:38:21,906
Now, here's my question for us:

866
00:38:21,906 --> 00:38:26,405
What is the importance, why is it

867
00:38:26,405 --> 00:38:32,057
so important or pivotal to our hope,

868
00:38:32,057 --> 00:38:35,567
that Jesus rose again?

869
00:38:35,567 --> 00:38:37,264
And I'd like us...Travis, can you

870
00:38:37,264 --> 00:38:40,317
take us to 1 Corinthians, chapter 15?

871
00:38:40,317 --> 00:38:42,780
And we'll take a look

872
00:38:42,780 --> 00:38:47,049
at a few verses, 12 through 19,

873
00:38:47,049 --> 00:38:49,377
and then, Treva, if you would read

874
00:38:49,377 --> 00:38:52,997
verses 20 through 23.

875
00:38:52,997 --> 00:38:54,818
Let's see what the Bible says,

876
00:38:54,818 --> 00:38:57,745
how pivotal this truth

877
00:38:57,745 --> 00:38:59,633
of the resurrection is

878
00:38:59,633 --> 00:39:03,612
to Christians living today.

879
00:39:03,612 --> 00:39:04,780
(Travis) I'll be reading

880
00:39:04,780 --> 00:39:06,390
from the New King James Version,

881
00:39:06,390 --> 00:39:09,482
1 Corinthians, chapter 15, 12 through 19:

882
00:39:59,631 --> 00:40:01,391
(Stephanie) So if Christ didn't rise,

883
00:40:01,391 --> 00:40:04,392
then what is the natural conclusion?

884
00:40:04,392 --> 00:40:07,045
We're still in our sins.

885
00:40:07,045 --> 00:40:08,704
There's no resurrection.

886
00:40:08,704 --> 00:40:12,913
We're miserable, there's no hope,
that's right.

887
00:40:12,913 --> 00:40:16,720
Let's look at verses 20 through 23, Treva?

888
00:40:16,720 --> 00:40:18,004
(Treva) And I'll be reading

889
00:40:18,004 --> 00:40:20,356
from the New King James translation,

890
00:40:20,356 --> 00:40:22,722
1 Corinthians, chapter 15,

891
00:40:22,722 --> 00:40:24,912
starting with verse 20:

892
00:40:56,380 --> 00:40:58,607
(Stephanie) So it's good news

893
00:40:58,607 --> 00:41:01,131
that Christ rose again, right?

894
00:41:01,131 --> 00:41:02,168
Now, does that mean

895
00:41:02,168 --> 00:41:05,785
that death is not a problem?

896
00:41:05,785 --> 00:41:07,565
No, death is an enemy.

897
00:41:07,565 --> 00:41:09,132
That's what the Bible says.

898
00:41:09,132 --> 00:41:11,658
It's an enemy, and it will be destroyed.

899
00:41:11,658 --> 00:41:13,731
But as Christians, Paul says

900
00:41:13,731 --> 00:41:16,088
that we don't sorrow

901
00:41:16,088 --> 00:41:17,968
as those who have no hope.

902
00:41:17,968 --> 00:41:19,788
I'd like us to turn over, and, Nicole,

903
00:41:19,788 --> 00:41:21,320
if you would read this for us,

904
00:41:21,320 --> 00:41:24,922
1 Thessalonians 4, verses 13 through 18,

905
00:41:24,922 --> 00:41:30,888
and see why we can have this hope. Nicole?

906
00:41:30,888 --> 00:41:34,009
(Nicole) 1 Thessalonians 4,

907
00:41:34,009 --> 00:41:35,485
verses 13 through 18,

908
00:41:35,485 --> 00:41:37,793
from the New International Version says:

909
00:42:38,394 --> 00:42:39,665
(Stephanie) Amen. Have you

910
00:42:39,665 --> 00:42:40,669
ever been encouraged

911
00:42:40,669 --> 00:42:45,190
by the truth of the resurrection? Puia.

912
00:42:45,190 --> 00:42:48,272
(Puia) I never got to see my grandfather.

913
00:42:48,272 --> 00:42:51,133
He passed away before I was born,

914
00:42:51,133 --> 00:42:53,549
my grandfather from my father's side.

915
00:42:53,549 --> 00:42:54,886
And last year, when I had

916
00:42:54,886 --> 00:42:56,624
the opportunity to go back home

917
00:42:56,624 --> 00:42:59,124
to my country, Myanmar,

918
00:42:59,124 --> 00:43:00,811
I asked my grandmother

919
00:43:00,811 --> 00:43:05,526
if we could visit my grandfather's grave,

920
00:43:05,526 --> 00:43:06,971
you know, the tombstone,

921
00:43:06,971 --> 00:43:08,546
because, to be honest,

922
00:43:08,546 --> 00:43:10,658
I never really remembered

923
00:43:10,658 --> 00:43:12,255
that I'd ever visited

924
00:43:12,255 --> 00:43:14,240
that place, the cemetery.

925
00:43:14,240 --> 00:43:16,310
So we went over there, and we realized

926
00:43:16,310 --> 00:43:21,473
that there were no more markings.

927
00:43:21,473 --> 00:43:22,750
It was just a stone,

928
00:43:22,750 --> 00:43:24,987
and the markings were almost gone.

929
00:43:24,987 --> 00:43:26,946
So I told my grandma, "Grandma,

930
00:43:26,946 --> 00:43:28,769
we have to do something about this.

931
00:43:28,769 --> 00:43:31,297
We need to create a new,

932
00:43:31,297 --> 00:43:33,146
at least a good-looking tombstone,

933
00:43:33,146 --> 00:43:35,277
so that people in the future, you know,

934
00:43:35,277 --> 00:43:37,655
maybe, who knows, in the future

935
00:43:37,655 --> 00:43:39,419
our families would like to come back

936
00:43:39,419 --> 00:43:40,903
and know that this is where

937
00:43:40,903 --> 00:43:42,511
our grandfather is laid at rest."

938
00:43:42,511 --> 00:43:44,506
Now, the thing about my grandfather was

939
00:43:44,506 --> 00:43:47,186
he was once an alcoholic.

940
00:43:47,186 --> 00:43:49,674
I knew at least that much about him.

941
00:43:49,674 --> 00:43:51,585
So in my mind, growing up,

942
00:43:51,585 --> 00:43:54,859
I used to wonder, question, you know,

943
00:43:54,859 --> 00:43:55,912
will I ever get to see

944
00:43:55,912 --> 00:43:57,809
my grandfather again,

945
00:43:57,809 --> 00:43:59,934
because, if he was an alcoholic,

946
00:43:59,934 --> 00:44:02,753
and if he did not really accept Jesus,

947
00:44:02,753 --> 00:44:04,546
then I didn't know

948
00:44:04,546 --> 00:44:06,229
if there could be any hope.

949
00:44:06,229 --> 00:44:07,367
That was the question

950
00:44:07,367 --> 00:44:08,795
that I had growing up

951
00:44:08,795 --> 00:44:10,099
because nobody ever told me

952
00:44:10,099 --> 00:44:11,157
much about his life,

953
00:44:11,157 --> 00:44:12,758
and all I knew was that he was

954
00:44:12,758 --> 00:44:14,420
never really someone who liked

955
00:44:14,420 --> 00:44:16,514
to go to church or read the Bible.

956
00:44:16,514 --> 00:44:18,686
So my grandmother said sure,

957
00:44:18,686 --> 00:44:20,863
so we called our family.

958
00:44:20,863 --> 00:44:22,631
We had a get together, we had a meal,

959
00:44:22,631 --> 00:44:25,303
and we talked about repairing the place

960
00:44:25,303 --> 00:44:27,110
where my grandfather is laid to rest.

961
00:44:27,110 --> 00:44:29,695
And in that process, one of my uncles

962
00:44:29,695 --> 00:44:31,098
stood up and shared

963
00:44:31,098 --> 00:44:33,074
a story about my grandpa.

964
00:44:33,074 --> 00:44:35,317
And one of the things he said was

965
00:44:35,317 --> 00:44:37,839
that just before my grandfather
passed away,

966
00:44:37,839 --> 00:44:39,929
he said my grandfather was

967
00:44:39,929 --> 00:44:43,205
going through that moment of repentance.

968
00:44:43,205 --> 00:44:45,232
He said my grandfather was crying,

969
00:44:45,232 --> 00:44:47,712
he said, on his deathbed,

970
00:44:47,712 --> 00:44:50,990
saying, like, "Oh, am I to meet Jesus

971
00:44:50,990 --> 00:44:53,385
without bringing anyone along with me?"

972
00:44:53,385 --> 00:44:56,506
You know, without bringing anyone to Him.

973
00:44:56,506 --> 00:44:59,257
"Am I to meet my Lord?"

974
00:44:59,257 --> 00:45:01,754
With those dying words,

975
00:45:01,754 --> 00:45:03,327
my grandpa passed away.

976
00:45:03,327 --> 00:45:05,339
So, when he said that,

977
00:45:05,339 --> 00:45:07,481
I realized, "Wait a minute.

978
00:45:07,481 --> 00:45:09,584
My grandfather repented of his sin

979
00:45:09,584 --> 00:45:12,917
just before he passed away,
and accepted Jesus!

980
00:45:12,917 --> 00:45:15,632
And that gave me so much hope,

981
00:45:15,632 --> 00:45:17,290
knowing that one day,

982
00:45:17,290 --> 00:45:19,065
when Jesus comes again,

983
00:45:19,065 --> 00:45:21,770
I will get to see my grandfather again.

984
00:45:21,770 --> 00:45:24,413
(Stephanie) Amen. I think all of us,

985
00:45:24,413 --> 00:45:25,565
I don't know about you,

986
00:45:25,565 --> 00:45:26,540
but in our minds,

987
00:45:26,540 --> 00:45:28,104
we're thinking about that person

988
00:45:28,104 --> 00:45:30,999
that we're going to meet.

989
00:45:30,999 --> 00:45:35,127
I know that I am, and, you know,

990
00:45:35,127 --> 00:45:36,478
as I think about that,

991
00:45:36,478 --> 00:45:37,804
we have such a hope

992
00:45:37,804 --> 00:45:40,395
in that resurrection morning.

993
00:45:40,395 --> 00:45:43,957
But some people are fearful of death,

994
00:45:43,957 --> 00:45:45,531
and they're fearful of death

995
00:45:45,531 --> 00:45:47,104
because of the judgment.

996
00:45:47,104 --> 00:45:48,857
They know, the Bible speaks

997
00:45:48,857 --> 00:45:52,674
that at the time of judgment,

998
00:45:52,674 --> 00:45:56,653
we will stand before the Judge,

999
00:45:56,653 --> 00:45:58,677
and the question is,

1000
00:45:58,677 --> 00:46:02,557
who is going to be with us, and what hope

1001
00:46:02,557 --> 00:46:07,375
do we have in this judgment?

1002
00:46:07,375 --> 00:46:09,201
So I'd like us to take a look

1003
00:46:09,201 --> 00:46:11,395
at John, chapter 5,

1004
00:46:11,395 --> 00:46:16,781
and verses 22 through 24,

1005
00:46:16,781 --> 00:46:19,207
and see what the Bible says

1006
00:46:19,207 --> 00:46:21,177
about the hope that we can have

1007
00:46:21,177 --> 00:46:23,250
even in the judgment.

1008
00:46:23,250 --> 00:46:27,515
John, chapter 5, verses 22 through 24,

1009
00:46:27,515 --> 00:46:31,374
and, Adison, would you read that for us?

1010
00:46:31,374 --> 00:46:32,871
(Adison) Sure, and I'm reading

1011
00:46:32,871 --> 00:46:34,632
from the King James Version:

1012
00:47:08,137 --> 00:47:09,634
(Stephanie) So, where do you

1013
00:47:09,634 --> 00:47:12,692
find hope in that passage? Tricia Lee.

1014
00:47:12,692 --> 00:47:15,872
(Tricia Lee) I think about the criminal
justice system in the U.S.

1015
00:47:15,872 --> 00:47:18,275
There is a court, there is a judge,

1016
00:47:18,275 --> 00:47:20,333
there is a jury, there are

1017
00:47:20,333 --> 00:47:24,490
typically lawyers, prosecution 
and defense,

1018
00:47:24,490 --> 00:47:26,759
and there could be witnesses
here or there.

1019
00:47:26,759 --> 00:47:28,224
If we read through the whole

1020
00:47:28,224 --> 00:47:30,260
Great Controversy themes of the Bible,

1021
00:47:30,260 --> 00:47:32,891
we're told that our great adversary,

1022
00:47:32,891 --> 00:47:35,148
the devil, is always trying to accuse us.

1023
00:47:35,148 --> 00:47:37,109
But here it's as if the system

1024
00:47:37,109 --> 00:47:39,086
is rigged in our favor, that the Person

1025
00:47:39,086 --> 00:47:41,261
who is advocating for us is Jesus,

1026
00:47:41,261 --> 00:47:44,751
the Person who is our
greatest sacrifice is Jesus,

1027
00:47:44,757 --> 00:47:46,695
the One who is witnessing on our behalf

1028
00:47:46,695 --> 00:47:48,408
is still Jesus and the Holy Spirit

1029
00:47:48,408 --> 00:47:50,832
who knows the conversion process
we've been through.

1030
00:47:50,832 --> 00:47:53,344
And now we find out that the judgment

1031
00:47:53,344 --> 00:47:55,465
is also being given to Jesus.

1032
00:47:55,465 --> 00:47:57,415
It's not as if we should take it lightly,

1033
00:47:57,415 --> 00:47:59,265
we can live our lives any way we want,

1034
00:47:59,265 --> 00:48:00,831
but we're seeing here that God

1035
00:48:00,831 --> 00:48:03,132
is literally doing everything He can

1036
00:48:03,132 --> 00:48:05,283
so that the ruling is in our favor.

1037
00:48:05,283 --> 00:48:07,385
If we accept His mercy and His sacrifice,

1038
00:48:07,385 --> 00:48:08,682
what He's doing for us,

1039
00:48:08,682 --> 00:48:10,606
it's like, how can we lose

1040
00:48:10,606 --> 00:48:13,235
when judgment is in favor of the saints?

1041
00:48:13,235 --> 00:48:15,229
it's in favor of His people.

1042
00:48:15,229 --> 00:48:17,758
(Stephanie) Amen. That's beautiful.

1043
00:48:17,758 --> 00:48:19,461
And I'd like for you to think

1044
00:48:19,461 --> 00:48:21,111
of maybe a Bible verse.

1045
00:48:21,111 --> 00:48:23,176
There's someone who may be watching today.

1046
00:48:23,176 --> 00:48:26,176
You may be watching us for the first time,

1047
00:48:26,176 --> 00:48:28,184
and you're wondering, "How can I

1048
00:48:28,184 --> 00:48:30,917
have hope in the time of judgment?"

1049
00:48:30,917 --> 00:48:33,012
So, what would you say to someone

1050
00:48:33,012 --> 00:48:35,781
who is wondering, "How do I

1051
00:48:35,781 --> 00:48:38,538
find hope even in the judgment?" Travis.

1052
00:48:38,538 --> 00:48:39,846
(Travis) I think of Romans,

1053
00:48:39,846 --> 00:48:41,676
chapter 5, verse 20.

1054
00:48:41,676 --> 00:48:43,701
(Stephanie) Romans, chapter 5, verse 20?

1055
00:48:43,701 --> 00:48:45,458
Would you like to read that for us?

1056
00:48:45,458 --> 00:48:46,543
(Travis) Sure, sure.

1057
00:48:46,543 --> 00:48:48,578
(Stephanie) Romans, chapter 5, verse 20,

1058
00:48:48,578 --> 00:48:50,799
and we're looking at hope

1059
00:48:50,799 --> 00:48:54,249
in the time of judgment.

1060
00:48:55,699 --> 00:48:58,052
All right, Romans, chapter 5,

1061
00:48:58,052 --> 00:48:59,230
(Travis) I'll be reading

1062
00:48:59,230 --> 00:49:00,927
from the New King James Version:

1063
00:49:09,966 --> 00:49:12,204
(Stephanie) So, unpack that a little bit.

1064
00:49:12,204 --> 00:49:14,152
What would you say to that person?

1065
00:49:14,152 --> 00:49:15,883
(Travis) So somebody who is fearful

1066
00:49:15,883 --> 00:49:17,821
of the judgment, has thought,

1067
00:49:17,821 --> 00:49:19,735
"I have so many sins in my life.

1068
00:49:19,735 --> 00:49:21,857
I have so many things in my life,"

1069
00:49:21,857 --> 00:49:23,898
but Jesus says if you confess your sins,

1070
00:49:23,898 --> 00:49:26,020
He is faithful to forgive us

1071
00:49:26,020 --> 00:49:27,973
and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1072
00:49:27,973 --> 00:49:29,390
(Stephanie) First John 1:9?

1073
00:49:29,390 --> 00:49:31,050
(Travis) Yeah, and then I think,

1074
00:49:31,050 --> 00:49:33,187
"How could He ever do this?"

1075
00:49:33,187 --> 00:49:35,820
And we can go to Romans 5:20 and say,

1076
00:49:35,820 --> 00:49:37,542
"Where sin abounds,

1077
00:49:37,542 --> 00:49:39,383
grace abounds much more."

1078
00:49:39,383 --> 00:49:42,854
He has more grace than you have sin.

1079
00:49:42,854 --> 00:49:45,217
(Stephanie) Was there another verse?
Yes, Jason.

1080
00:49:45,217 --> 00:49:47,690
(Jason) I've got an oldie but a goody.

1081
00:49:47,690 --> 00:49:49,848
(Stephanie) What verse would you
like to read?

1082
00:49:49,848 --> 00:49:50,910
(Jason) It's Psalms,

1083
00:49:50,910 --> 00:49:54,293
the eighty-sixth chapter, verse 5.

1084
00:49:54,293 --> 00:49:57,899
(Stephanie) Psalm 86 and verse 5,

1085
00:49:57,899 --> 00:50:00,463
and we're looking at promises

1086
00:50:00,463 --> 00:50:04,006
for hope in the time of judgment.

1087
00:50:04,006 --> 00:50:04,920
(Jason) I'm reading

1088
00:50:04,920 --> 00:50:07,753
from the New King James Version,

1089
00:50:07,753 --> 00:50:09,094
and the Bible says:

1090
00:50:19,478 --> 00:50:21,297
So it just shows that God,

1091
00:50:21,297 --> 00:50:24,321
He's ready to forgive.

1092
00:50:24,321 --> 00:50:25,587
He's sitting there waiting

1093
00:50:25,587 --> 00:50:27,242
for us to come unto Him, you know,

1094
00:50:27,242 --> 00:50:29,632
to be forgiven of our sins,
our trespasses,

1095
00:50:29,632 --> 00:50:31,182
so that He can just embrace us

1096
00:50:31,182 --> 00:50:33,705
like that picture in the Prodigal Son.

1097
00:50:33,705 --> 00:50:35,426
You know, the father, just waiting,

1098
00:50:35,426 --> 00:50:37,678
looking for his son to come to him,

1099
00:50:37,678 --> 00:50:39,069
so that he can embrace him,

1100
00:50:39,069 --> 00:50:40,762
so that's what I get from that.

1101
00:50:40,762 --> 00:50:41,673
(Stephanie) Derek.

1102
00:50:41,673 --> 00:50:43,091
(Derek) And that Scripture song

1103
00:50:43,091 --> 00:50:44,268
that Jason just read

1104
00:50:44,268 --> 00:50:46,420
was written by someone

1105
00:50:46,420 --> 00:50:48,187
who had committed adultery

1106
00:50:48,187 --> 00:50:51,119
and murdered someone and lied,

1107
00:50:51,119 --> 00:50:52,894
and damaged his family,

1108
00:50:52,894 --> 00:50:55,323
but had the courage to say,

1109
00:50:55,323 --> 00:50:58,421
"Create in me a clean heart, O God."

1110
00:50:58,421 --> 00:51:00,050
So he confessed his sins,

1111
00:51:00,050 --> 00:51:02,027
"Renew a right spirit within me."

1112
00:51:02,027 --> 00:51:04,715
And now he can write that testimony

1113
00:51:04,715 --> 00:51:06,814
because he's experienced it.

1114
00:51:06,814 --> 00:51:08,254
And I think hope comes,

1115
00:51:08,254 --> 00:51:10,451
even though we don't see, like you said,

1116
00:51:10,451 --> 00:51:13,514
we have seen what God is doing now,

1117
00:51:13,514 --> 00:51:15,999
and that gives us confidence
in His promise.

1118
00:51:15,999 --> 00:51:18,554
(Stephanie) Yes, and that reminds me

1119
00:51:18,554 --> 00:51:20,557
of the verse in 1 John 4.

1120
00:51:20,557 --> 00:51:25,236
We won't read it, but there's
no fear in love.

1121
00:51:25,236 --> 00:51:26,556
And when you have this,

1122
00:51:26,556 --> 00:51:28,911
when you know that God loves you,

1123
00:51:28,911 --> 00:51:30,382
and that Jesus loves you,

1124
00:51:30,382 --> 00:51:32,250
that fear at the time of judgment,

1125
00:51:32,250 --> 00:51:37,180
because He's standing
beside you, it is, it's gone.

1126
00:51:37,180 --> 00:51:42,010
We want to move on to our last hope

1127
00:51:42,010 --> 00:51:43,652
that we're going to look at,

1128
00:51:43,652 --> 00:51:45,080
which is hope realized

1129
00:51:45,080 --> 00:51:47,907
in the new heavens and the new Earth.

1130
00:51:47,907 --> 00:51:49,745
And I'd like us to take a look.

1131
00:51:49,745 --> 00:51:52,755
We know that from 2 Peter

1132
00:51:52,755 --> 00:51:56,424
that this new heavens and a new Earth,

1133
00:51:56,424 --> 00:52:01,562
this is where righteousness dwells.

1134
00:52:01,562 --> 00:52:06,298
When you hear that, what do you think of?

1135
00:52:06,298 --> 00:52:07,615
What comes to your mind?

1136
00:52:07,615 --> 00:52:09,713
(Derek) My favorite Hebrew word,
Hallelujah,

1137
00:52:09,713 --> 00:52:11,656
you know, because it doesn't dwell here.

1138
00:52:11,656 --> 00:52:14,671
I mean, we seek to let righteousness
be revealed

1139
00:52:14,671 --> 00:52:16,410
but there's so much darkness

1140
00:52:16,410 --> 00:52:18,048
in this present world.

1141
00:52:18,048 --> 00:52:20,169
(Stephanie) Right, and we
can't even imagine.

1142
00:52:20,169 --> 00:52:25,363
I think that we're so blinded

1143
00:52:25,363 --> 00:52:27,103
to the reality of what sin

1144
00:52:27,103 --> 00:52:29,495
has done to our world

1145
00:52:29,495 --> 00:52:31,118
that we can't even imagine

1146
00:52:31,118 --> 00:52:32,660
what that would look like,

1147
00:52:32,660 --> 00:52:37,418
except Revelation, chapter 21 and 22,

1148
00:52:37,418 --> 00:52:39,242
and, you know, I think we're

1149
00:52:39,242 --> 00:52:40,347
just going to go ahead

1150
00:52:40,347 --> 00:52:42,097
and read verses 1 through 5

1151
00:52:42,097 --> 00:52:44,641
in Revelation, chapter 21.

1152
00:52:44,641 --> 00:52:46,142
And, Evelyn, if you

1153
00:52:46,142 --> 00:52:47,703
would read that for us.

1154
00:52:47,703 --> 00:52:50,757
And then we'll read verses 1 through 5

1155
00:52:50,757 --> 00:52:54,256
in chapter 22 of this same book
in Revelation.

1156
00:52:54,256 --> 00:52:57,363
And, Jason, would you

1157
00:52:57,363 --> 00:52:59,422
be prepared to read that.

1158
00:52:59,422 --> 00:53:03,875
So, Revelation 21, verses 1 through 5.

1159
00:53:03,875 --> 00:53:05,138
(Evelyn) I will be reading

1160
00:53:05,138 --> 00:53:07,022
from the New King James Version:

1161
00:54:01,639 --> 00:54:04,052
(Stephanie) True and faithful words.

1162
00:54:04,052 --> 00:54:06,935
Jason, would you read for us

1163
00:54:06,935 --> 00:54:10,074
Revelation 22, verses 1 through 5?

1164
00:54:10,074 --> 00:54:11,226
(Jason) I'll be reading

1165
00:54:11,226 --> 00:54:12,760
from the New King James Version,

1166
00:54:12,760 --> 00:54:14,441
Revelation, chapter 22,

1167
00:54:14,441 --> 00:54:16,265
verses 1 through 5:

1168
00:54:59,290 --> 00:55:01,168
(Stephanie) Amen. And, by the way,

1169
00:55:01,168 --> 00:55:02,404
in the next verse, it says

1170
00:55:02,404 --> 00:55:05,502
that these words are faithful and true.

1171
00:55:05,502 --> 00:55:07,204
So, some people think

1172
00:55:07,204 --> 00:55:09,793
that this is a fairytale.

1173
00:55:09,793 --> 00:55:12,122
Do you believe the Word of God?

1174
00:55:12,122 --> 00:55:13,351
(Team) Yes.

1175
00:55:13,351 --> 00:55:14,746
(Stephanie) Can you imagine

1176
00:55:14,746 --> 00:55:21,037
what that will be like? Wow.

1177
00:55:21,937 --> 00:55:24,219
(Derek) And the reason we can
believe, Stephanie,

1178
00:55:24,219 --> 00:55:25,851
is because He's been so faithful

1179
00:55:25,851 --> 00:55:28,414
with the other promises He's given us.

1180
00:55:28,414 --> 00:55:30,692
He's given us freedom

1181
00:55:30,692 --> 00:55:32,500
from the guilt of sin.

1182
00:55:32,500 --> 00:55:34,294
He's given us a new heart.

1183
00:55:34,294 --> 00:55:36,410
We've seen the miracles, healings

1184
00:55:36,410 --> 00:55:38,664
that he's done in our friends' lives.

1185
00:55:38,664 --> 00:55:41,029
This is not just something
we're imagining.

1186
00:55:41,029 --> 00:55:43,855
It's based on our relationship with Him,

1187
00:55:43,855 --> 00:55:47,822
that we trust His promise.

1188
00:55:47,822 --> 00:55:49,852
(Stephanie) As you think about it...

1189
00:55:49,852 --> 00:55:52,870
And we've looked at the hope

1190
00:55:52,870 --> 00:55:55,288
that we have in God. Why?

1191
00:55:55,288 --> 00:55:56,560
Because we know that we're

1192
00:55:56,560 --> 00:55:58,210
in a broken world.

1193
00:55:58,210 --> 00:56:00,666
We have hope in God.

1194
00:56:00,666 --> 00:56:05,830
We have hope in the Second Coming
of <i>Jesus.</i>

1195
00:56:05,830 --> 00:56:08,143
We have hope in the resurrection

1196
00:56:08,143 --> 00:56:11,192
because of <i>Jesus.</i>

1197
00:56:11,192 --> 00:56:14,107
We have hope at the time of judgment

1198
00:56:14,107 --> 00:56:17,837
because <i>Jesus</i> will stand beside us.

1199
00:56:17,837 --> 00:56:22,985
And we have hope in eternity with <i>Jesus.</i>

1200
00:56:22,985 --> 00:56:25,345
Isn't this something that we want

1201
00:56:25,345 --> 00:56:27,653
to share with others?

1202
00:56:27,653 --> 00:56:29,960
There are people that need

1203
00:56:29,960 --> 00:56:33,646
to hear about Jesus.

1204
00:56:33,646 --> 00:56:37,461
The hope that we have in Jesus,
this Advent hope,

1205
00:56:37,461 --> 00:56:39,666
doesn't it make us want

1206
00:56:39,666 --> 00:56:43,033
to just get up and do something?

1207
00:56:43,033 --> 00:56:44,624
I hope that that's what we'll

1208
00:56:44,624 --> 00:56:46,175
walk away with today,

1209
00:56:46,175 --> 00:56:47,557
as we think about that,

1210
00:56:47,557 --> 00:56:49,880
that our hope really is in Jesus,

1211
00:56:49,880 --> 00:56:52,088
and we need to share that with others.

1212
00:56:52,088 --> 00:56:53,333
(Team) Amen.

1213
00:56:53,333 --> 00:56:54,509
(Derek) And I'm so glad

1214
00:56:54,509 --> 00:56:56,470
it's called Hope Sabbath School

1215
00:56:56,470 --> 00:56:58,831
because we've been talking
about hope today.

1216
00:56:58,831 --> 00:57:00,973
And really that's just God's leading

1217
00:57:00,973 --> 00:57:03,844
because without hope, people die.

1218
00:57:03,844 --> 00:57:05,412
But we have hope in Jesus.

1219
00:57:05,412 --> 00:57:07,259
Thank you, Stephanie; thank you, team.

1220
00:57:07,259 --> 00:57:08,761
Thank you to you for joining us

1221
00:57:08,761 --> 00:57:10,135
for our study today.

1222
00:57:10,135 --> 00:57:12,485
And, yes, how can we keep

1223
00:57:12,485 --> 00:57:13,887
that hope to ourselves?

1224
00:57:13,887 --> 00:57:18,259
We need to share that hope, 
that Advent hope

1225
00:57:18,259 --> 00:57:19,564
with those around us.

1226
00:57:19,564 --> 00:57:21,235
Let's pray; Father in Heaven,

1227
00:57:21,235 --> 00:57:23,154
we're so blessed as we come

1228
00:57:23,154 --> 00:57:24,257
and believe Your Word.

1229
00:57:24,257 --> 00:57:25,571
You've been so faithful

1230
00:57:25,571 --> 00:57:27,599
to all of the other promises

1231
00:57:27,599 --> 00:57:29,987
that have been already fulfilled
in our lives.

1232
00:57:29,987 --> 00:57:31,451
Thank You that Your Words

1233
00:57:31,451 --> 00:57:33,208
are faithful and true.

1234
00:57:33,208 --> 00:57:35,024
And thank You that we can

1235
00:57:35,024 --> 00:57:36,694
live the Advent hope

1236
00:57:36,694 --> 00:57:38,243
and share that hope with others.

1237
00:57:38,243 --> 00:57:40,396
In Jesus' name. Amen.

1238
00:57:40,396 --> 00:57:41,327
(Team) Amen.

1239
00:57:41,327 --> 00:57:42,488
(Derek) How can you keep

1240
00:57:42,488 --> 00:57:43,795
that hope to yourself

1241
00:57:43,795 --> 00:57:44,800
when there are people

1242
00:57:44,800 --> 00:57:46,504
who feel hopeless all around us.

1243
00:57:46,504 --> 00:57:48,422
Take that Advent hope

1244
00:57:48,422 --> 00:57:49,742
and make a difference

1245
00:57:49,742 --> 00:57:51,475
in the lives of those around you.

1246
00:57:51,475 --> 00:58:29,091
♪ theme music ♪