Expectation

[00:00:07] Speaker A: Welcome to the weekday podcast of Sugar Hill Church, where we desire to help you know God and discover your purpose, whether you're exercising, driving, meditating, or just hanging out while you tune in with us today. Thanks. We hope these next five minutes help you feel encouraged and inspired for your day. [00:00:22] Speaker B: Hi, everybody. Pastor Chuck Allen here with another weekday podcast. And today I want to talk about hope and expectation. Hope, my friend, is literally what keeps us going. I just know that most of us have been in seasons where hope felt so stinking distant, almost impossible to find, much less hold onto. The good news is that when we find Jesus and we come to his table, that Lord's Supper or that communion is a powerful reminder that hope is never lost. Listen to what Paul wrote to the Corinthians in First Corinthians 11:26, for every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord's death until he comes. I mean, communion, my friend, isn't just about remembering what Jesus did. It's also about looking for forward to what he's going to do. It's a declaration that he is indeed coming again, that his kingdom is advancing, and that he is making all things new, including you, the wonderful C.S. lewis. Put it this way. If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world. My friend, as followers of Jesus, you were made for heaven. I mean, golly, man, it doesn't get any better than that you were made for heaven. But too often we expect perfection from other people, the church, other followers of Jesus, from preachers, from spiritual leaders, from worship leaders. I mean, you know, I want to encourage you. We're not perfect any more than you are. And oftentimes we get so disappointed when people fail us, we forget that that's exactly why Jesus came. Because we're all, well, faulty. But communion reminds us that our hope isn't in other people, it's in Jesus. You say, well, why don't they act more like Jesus? And I would say, gosh, wouldn't it be great if we all did, including you? I mean, sometimes I think the best way for us to live up to an expectation of followers of Jesus is attempt in his power. Not ours, but in his power. For us to walk in that model. We see when we pretend that perfection should come from church or church leaders. And then when we're disappointed, we need something to return to, to let us claim hope. That's communion. It reminds us that hope isn't in people. It's in Jesus, and He is faithful. Time after time after time. He is our future. He is our hope. So today, as you reflect on this last segment on Communion, then I would encourage you let it fill you with hope. No matter what season you're in, know that Jesus is coming, the story isn't over, and his promises never fail. And at the end of the day, my friend, listen. He is always, always going to be the winner. That's it for today. I trust that if these words encouraged you that you'd share this podcast with someone who needs a reminder that they're not alone, that they're deeply loved and they have a place at the table. Not the kid table, but the grown up table sitting with Christ Himself. See you next time on the Weekday Podcast. [00:03:49] Speaker A: Thanks so much for joining us today for the Weekday podcast. Our prayer is that the encouragement you just heard would help you live more like Jesus today. We would love to see you at Sugar Hill Church for one of our gatherings each Sunday at 9, 15 and 11. And we're always streaming live at live Sugarhill Church. Thanks again for joining us today. As always, if today's message encouraged you, share it with friends and family by tapping the share button. Have an awesome day.