Hope Out of Focus

Orchard Community Church Sermon Audio

As we continue our "Focal Point" sermon series on the whole Bible, we are finishing up the Old Testament. Toward the end of the time of the Old Testament, God's people were in a desperate situation. They were living in exile away from their homes. It seemed like God's promises had failed. But then there was a glimmer of hope as they were allowed to return to their homeland and worship the Lord again. It seemed like everything would get better... except it didn't. What do we do when our hope is unfulfilled? In a sermon called "Hope Out of Focus" we look at the somewhat disappointing climax of the Old Testament History and the difficult times for God's people during the many years between the Old and New Testaments. We are challenged to see if our hope is properly focused on something that truly matters. In their disappointment, God's people were unknowingly waiting for something even better than they had hoped. Their hope would be fulfilled greater than what they thought possible by a baby born in a manger... but that part of the story will have to wait just a bit more.