Talk

Fresh Hope in the Old Story

Ben Stuart
April, 9, 2023

How is it that an ancient story could give us hope for today? In this message, Ben Stuart walks us through the familiar Easter story in scripture and shares how it provides us with comfort for suffering, a reason for living, an anchor for justice, and hope for the future.

Key Takeaway

God gives us comfort for suffering, a reason for living, an anchor for justice, and hope for the future.

  1. A comfort for suffering. God did not just enter our story. He entered our pain, suffering, and death for us. The maker of all cares about us.

  2. A reason for living. We believe what happened to Him and that it had implications for me. There's a barrier to us that He crosses for us. It's one thing to believe there's a God up there. It's another thing to feel the ache of eternity in our hearts, longing for a connection. But hearing this endless ache points to that limitless source is something else entirely. We are not desperately trying to call out to Him...He came down to us.

  3. An anchor for justice. You're not angry at God. You're angry with God. God has indignation every day when He sees people made in His image abused, hurt, and violated by other human beings. He is a God of justice. And we want a God of justice. Without justice, there is no peace. Even when we know right or wrong, it doesn't necessarily make us right. Someone has to pay for justice. Jesus paid it all for us.

  4. Hope for a future. Because of Jesus' death and resurrection, death cannot touch the Christian. It is merely a shadow that passes by us.

“
"Pain, suffering, and death was not the end for Him, and it awakens the hope and possibility that it's not the end for us. That suddenly what feels like a tragedy doesn't have to dominate our story, and hope begins to rise."
”
Ben Stuart

Discussion Questions

  1. Oftentimes, we tend to think of God as passive in our stories. But He is an active participant. How does it make you feel knowing that God did not just enter our stories, but that He suffered for us?

  2. Have you felt a sense of hopelessness at any point in your own life?

  3. Do you tend to treat God as if He is someone who is unreachable?

  4. How has God shown up in your life personally?

  5. Do you think it's possible to have peace without justice?

  6. In what ways are you grateful for justice?

  7. What are some things that you want to see justice for?

  8. Does it give you comfort knowing that death cannot touch the Christian? That it is merely a shadow that passes by us? How so?

Scripture References

8But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.
9For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.
10He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him.
13Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.
14For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.
9for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God,
10and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.
Ben Stuart
Ben Stuart
Ben Stuart is the pastor of Passion City Church D.C. Prior to joining Passion City Church, Ben served as the executive director of Breakaway Ministries on the campus of Texas A&M. He also earned a master’s degree in historical theology from Dallas Theological Seminary. He and his wife, Donna, live to inspire and equip people to walk with God for a lifetime.