• Praying for baby Kale and the nurse who prepped him for surgery
• Gratitude for those caring for others in the church
• The Advent season and traditions
• Critique of excessive Christmas consumption as a pagan festival
• Encouragement to resist useless spending and practice contentment and generosity
• Giving to local needs in the community through partner organizations, including Safe Families and Healing Place
• Isaiah chapter 40 is read from verse 27
• The Lord is described as the everlasting God, creator of the ends of the earth
• He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak
• Hope is discussed as a powerful thing that shapes how people live
• A story about a community in Connecticut is shared to illustrate the effects of losing hope
• The Bible's promises are highlighted, including reversing the curse on creation, standing against oppression, overcoming sin, and bringing resurrection life
• The Bible shows people waiting for God to fulfill His promises
• It's a struggle to hold on to hope when experiencing pain and difficulty in life
• Isaiah 40 is about holding onto hope during a difficult time
• Israel is complaining that their cause is disregarded by God
• Context: Assyria destroyed the northern tribes of Israel, leaving Judah in the south fearful of being next
• Isaiah responds by reminding them of who God is and what He has done, to give them hope for the future
• The nature of God and His authority over the world
• The Exodus as an example of God's power and faithfulness
• Isaiah's prophecies about the coming Messiah and the glory of God
• Hope for the future based on God's past actions
• Modern-day challenges to hope, such as war, economic pressures, climate change, and personal struggles
• Kids walking away from faith due to loneliness, family brokenness, grief, sickness, and lack of hope
• Isaiah's ministry as a model for instilling hope through pointing back to God's past actions, particularly Jesus' birth and resurrection
• The importance of remembering God's promise fulfilled in Jesus Christ and the reason for worshiping
• Giving gratitude for Jesus' finished work on the cross and the significance of His resurrection
• Hope being built around Jesus gaining victory over sin, Satan, and death through His resurrection
• The centrality of the resurrection to Christianity and its implications for hope and faith.
• Jesus Christ breaking death and sin gives us hope for our bodies, world, and future
• Looking back on one's life and trusting in God's goodness and faithfulness
• Recognizing God's particular love through the work of Jesus and His presence in our struggles
• The promise to give strength to those who are weary and weak as they wait for Him
• The dynamic of waiting being a posture that leads to the working and strengthening of God
• Discussion of a banner with a hospital room scene and praying woman
• Visiting Nell Volcanier who is going through cancer for the second time and her statement about feeling God's strength
• Preaching on God's power and strength in times of weakness and struggle
• Isaiah's gift to the church: looking back at God's character as creator, controller, and provider
• Jesus' current role at the right hand of His Father, ruling over creation, and promise to come again
• Praying for those who feel weak, weary, and experiencing pain, loss, and grief
• Asking God to give them strength and power to meet life's challenges
• Thanking God that the tomb is empty and we can live with hope
• Praying for Jesus' soon return to bring healing and life to a world in need