Despairing to Hope

Pastor Malcolm
Romans 5:1-5
December 23, 2018

Despair: the

of hope or a cause of

Reveal Answer

Background of I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day

• Author: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
• Wrote the poem Christmas Bells on Christmas Day 1863
• Set to the tune as we have it in 1872

Reframing Despair and Hopelessness

Jesus is not

of the reality of despair in this life (John 14:27)

• The world gives peace through
  Reveal Answer
  , numbing the pain
• Jesus’ peace is a
  Reveal Answer
  in the midst of the pain

Jesus teaches us not to be

when trouble or trial comes (John 16:33)

Despairing to Hope (Romans 5:1-5)

We have

through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection (5:1)

At peace with God, we enjoy the

of God’s grace (5:2)

Suffering is a basis for further

in our

Reveal Answer

(5:3-4)

• Suffering produces
  Reveal Answer
• Endurance yields
  Reveal Answer
• Strength of character
  Reveal Answer

Hope doesn’t

– God’s love is shown from

Reveal Answer

(5:5)