Northgate Christian Fellowship

(Col 1:3-14, 21-23, 25-27) Hope is often combined with Faith and Love in biblical text. It provides a foundation for life, produces the strength to endure, and reminds us that not all is fulfilled in this life. Hope gives us the bigger picture.

(Luke 1:26-38, Matthew 1:18-25) A carpenter in a small town and a young girl were selected by God, approached by angels and told an “unbelievable” prediction about themselves and their son. This is an incredible story of faith, hope and love manifested between God and his people that culminated in the birth of a Savior.

(Matthew 1:1-17) The are certainly better ways to grab a potential reader's attention that what Matthew did in Chapter 1. He essentially begins with a long list of names that seem to go on forever. But he wasn't going for really cool intro to a riveting best seller. His audience would essentially consist of skeptical Jews who needed to see the lineage of where this Jesus character came from. To that end, the opening pages of the book of Matthew was exactly the kind of intro it needed. Of course, within this list of sometimes unpronounceable names are some familiar ones, like Abraham, Isaac, Joseph, Ruth, King David and Joseph. But there are also some unexpected names, like Rahab, who was known to be a harlot. The point was that Jesus came from people just like us. Not everyone was spotless within his family tree. Yet all were important enough to be listed. Who have you “written off” and stopped inviting to church or stopped praying for because you think they’ll never come to God?

(Luke 1:57-80) Is Christmas season a time of Hope for you? Has the busy-ness and commercialism overwhelmed God‟s promise? "Hope for the World" is the first message in the December 2009 series "Finding Hope".

Tom Eggum, founder of Hope 4 Kids International, shares his vision for helping children all over the world for Jesus Christ.

(2 Corinthians 9:6-15) Generosity grows out of a grateful heart. And when those who have been recipients of another’s generosity are truly grateful they find a way to “pay it forward”.

(2 Corinthians 8:1-15 ) The early church members were dedicated to giving to one another in the church. It was out of their struggling that they continued to give which gave them joy and generosity. Generosity continues even when things are difficult that is what Jesus modeled with his life.

(1 Timothy 6:6-10, 17-21) Anyone who earns more than $37,000 a year is in the top 4% of wage earners world-wide. We may not feel rich but we are. That is both good news and bad news. We are pretty much aware of the benefits of wealth but blind to it’s dangers.

(Ecclesiastes 1:1-9, 5:10-15, 12:13&14) “I can’t get no satisfaction.” Sings Mick Jagger. The song lyrics only echo the words of King Solomon, the wisest man who every lived. No matter how much we have we always seem to want more.

(Psalm 39:4-7; Colossians 3:1-17 and Matt. 6:19-21) Bumper sticker: “He who dies with the most toys wins”. If the doctor told you that you only had one month to live you would probably change many of the things you do to reflect that news. But if you learned that a friend only had one month to live, would you tell him/her about heaven? The important thing to remember is that you never know if you even have one month!

(Luke 16:19-31; Romans 1:18-21, 2:1-4) Hell is a reality, created by God in righteousness and holiness. We may not like to think or talk about it, but it’s not our invention, it’s God’s.

(1Thessalonians4:13;Rev. 21:1-5) Do you think the Bible has a lot, or only limited, specific information about heaven? Do you think it is important? The Bible does say a lot about heaven and our lives there, but much of what we understand comes from many small references rather than long, detailed treatises. Some understanding comes by comparison to what the Bible says about the first paradise, the Garden of Eden, before sin and the curse. People have come to different conclusions on some of these issues, depending on how they interpret Scripture. Most of these differences are not essential beliefs and there is room within the united body of believers for some alternatives.

(Hebrews 9:27-28; 2 Cor 5:1-10; Rev. 20:11-15) Can you conceive of heaven and hell as real places, or are they just abstract concepts beyond your ability to picture? What basis do St. Peter at the Pearly Gates, baby-faced cherubs floating on clouds with harps, or ghosts and haunted houses have in the Bible? "The Moment After" is the first message for the October 2009 Series "If I Should Die Before I Wake"

(1 John 1:1-9) We are recipients of grace. We have experienced the power of grace in our own lives. In our own way we have “heard”, “seen” and felt the “touch” of Jesus on our lives. The full joy of this is experienced when we share it with others who experience His grace with us.

(John 13:1-17) Jesus was not one to just tell people what to do. He showed them. He spoke of love and then loved people, he taught Kingdom truth and He lived it. And he spoke of the greatness of serving and then he served.

(John 13:34-35, 1 John 4:7-21) Jesus said that the mark of his followers is love. The apostle John expounded on this truth years later in his first letter to the church. This is a remarkable message from one once called one of the “Sons of Thunder” (Mark 3:17). It was a message he learned from The Master.

Next: Unstoppable (Matthew 16:13-20, 28:18-20) Jesus said that he would build his church. The church is Jesus’ labor of love. He is the one at work but he has also called us to partner in his work. We are the one’s who have been commissioned to share the Gospel.

(Acts 20:17-30) None of us fully knows the future. We sometimes think, “If God would just lay it out plainly before me, just end me an email, then my decisions about the future would be much easier.

(2 Peter 1:1-11) Our calling is never static, it is always on the move. Our choice to follow Jesus Christ puts us on a path. And to follow that path is to constantly learn where God is leading and to follow Him closely.

(Matthew 25:14-30) All that we have comes as gift from God. But what He has given us is not for ourselves. A biblical understanding of our gifts, resources and finances is that they are never really ours.