The Hope We Have

The God Space sermon series has really challenged all of us to be intentional in our conversations, interactions, and relationships with others. Our motivation for sharing our salvation story is a response to God’s love that has been shown to us.

As we become constantly aware of “God Space”, we will have the chance to turn a normal conversation into a spiritual conversation. However, most people don’t want a spiritual smorgasbord of information about our story. Rather, I think we should be prepared to share “spiritual appetizers” with those who are curious about matters of faith. In this way we will be prepared to live out 1 Peter 3:15, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.”

Doug Pollock in his book, God Space (2009, Group Publishing), offers 15 questions to help us work through our salvation story. I’ve included the questions here along with a few responses from some people in our church. As others respond to me, I’ll post them here. My goal is that a beautiful tapestry of faith will emerge as we share different elements of our salvation story.

As a spiritual exercise, I would encourage everyone to download this word document with the 15 questions in it. Over the next 15 days, take a few moments and type out a 7-10 sentence response to each of these questions. This essentially will serve as your spiritual autobiography, and will prepare you to share the hope that you have.

Blessings,
Pastor Mark

How would your family and friends have described your life before God showed up in it?

What phrase sums up your attitude toward the life before you came to know God?

It was all about me! Before I came to know God I was extremely self centered. In every situation, circumstance, and relationship what was most important was what I personally could gain. My thoughts, words, and actions were predicated off my wants and needs being fulfilled at the expense of others. I was so self-absorbed I did not see the needs of others much less try to meet others needs. Bottom line: I was a taker. I believe most of this attitude stemmed from my own depravity, but also know it was a defense mechanism coming from a broken home. I learned to fend for myself and become self reliant in an unhealthy fashion. I trusted no one and invested very little of myself in anyone. I lived a very shallow, self centered, godless existence.

Michael Cochran

How did you attempt to meet the needs in your life apart from God?

What things motivated you most before you became a Christian?

I think the things that motivated me prior to my conversion plagues many other young adults as well. The desire to be successful, to be recognized in what I did, to advance in my job, to earn as much money as I could, etc. I still have some of those same desires, but I think the thing that changed the most was that it was not all about me anymore. It was about the One who works through me. In everything I do, I want to draw others to Christ. I want lives to be transformed by the one who transformed my life. Today I would say the things that motivate me are different from my pre-Christian days. Quite simply, they are the love and grace of God!

Diane Solberg
Where did you find your sources of identity before you encountered Jesus?

What or who did God use to awaken you to your need for him?

My wife was 5 months pregnant with our first child. We had been married for over five years and were childless. We were very happy at the prospect of our first born. My wife was on her way to work and her car was struck from behind by a careless driver pushing her into an oncoming lane of traffic where she was struck again and the car pushed over an embankment. She was severely injured I was told by the Doctor that my wife will be fine; but the baby will miscarry. Devastated, I went to God for the first time in years. I wasn't close to God at the time. I prayed that God would spare my wife and child and promised to turn my life over to him. My wife recovered and a fine healthy boy was born to us in about 4 months. I have tried to be faithful to that commitment since then.

Daniel Church

What struggles, doubts, and fears did you have about making a commitment to Jesus?

When and how did you make a commitment to Jesus? (Be specific)

How did you know for sure that a spiritual rebirth had taken place in your life?

What kinds of "aha's" do you remember experience when you were awakened to the reality of God?

There was a period in my life where I began wondering off the path. I wanted to do things my way and experience my own freedom. My relationship with my parents was being strained and everything around me seemed to be crumbling down. I had a boyfriend at that time that wasn't following God, and I thought he was my world. I began to notice that I was pushing my family and close friends away and even God. I began doubting life and who I was. I felt more lost than ever, and I hated who I had become. I was selfish, thinking I could handle life on my own. I had to lie to myself just to make it seem ok. Being influenced by the world, I began to tear myself down and harm myself because I wasn't perfect enough! My heart ached for something more, and I felt I was spiraling down into a dark hole that I couldn't get out of I was losing hope!

One night I had an argument with my family, and I had had enough. I went upstairs to my room, locked the door, went into my closet, and closed the door. I fell to my knees and began sobbing. I was done with life and everyone! I began begging God to help me and to not forsake me. At that moment I felt a warmth that I hadn't felt in a long time. God had always been there and I needed His light to get me back on his path. I literally felt His presence with me and I realized that I must draw close to Him and allow Him to heal my hurts and to forgive me. I felt relieved and so loved. From that moment I knew I was going to be a different person and truly try to live a life for Him and not me. A lot had changed after that prayer in my closet, and God opened up my heart and eyes. Don't get me wrong I still had a lot of challenges and hard times, but I knew God was always there to guide me. That little moment changed my life, and it affects me till this day. I'm so thankful God reached out his hand that night and pulled me out of the darkness.

Jessie Carter

What changes did God begin to bring about in your attitudes, actions, and appetites? Were they immediate, or did they take time? Explain.

As you look back over your journey to faith, what misconceptions did you have about God or Christians?

One of the biggest misconceptions I have had about Christianity is that the only righteousness that God accepts comes through faith in Jesus Christ. Period that is it. This is sooo hard to accept for some reason. Jesus' righteousness is credited to me because of what he did on the cross for me. None of my "righteous acts" puts me in a better position or makes me more acceptable. In fact, they are like filthy rags before our Heavenly Father (Isaiah 64:6). We like to make salvation something we work for and therefore something we earn and deserve because of all our hard work and time we put in. It is so simple yet so amazing! "What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus."

Michele Parks

What Scripture verses or quotes has God used to leave a lasting impression on you?

Luke12:48 speaks to me often, especially in moments when I'm too self focused.

"...From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked."  I don't understand why I'm able to put my kids to bed each night with full bellies and other moms, both near and far, must put their children to bed hungry.  I can't imagine what that feels like.  I quote this verse often to myself in hopes of finding my "much more".

Aimee Vernon 

What life lessons do you feel God has taught you along the way?

I have learned many life lessons as I have been on this journey as a Christ follower. The one that I continue to learn sometimes daily is that God is in control and will be there for every situation that life throws at me. 1 Peter 5:6-7 says " Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast ALL your anxiety on him because he cares for you."
I take such comfort in knowing that God is not blinded to the troubles that we may have but that he does care and will meet our needs in due time!

Larissa Goff

Is there one particular experience in your walk with God that left an immediate and lasting impression?

The experience in my walk that made an immediate and lasting impact was a mission trip I took about 14 years ago with my youth group. I experienced God in an entirely new way. He met me on that trip and opened my eyes and my heart. I remember praying and seeking Him for hours, just extremely hungry for His Spirit. One day as we were praying I remember the Lord saying, "Aaron, I have some of you, but I want your entire life! I want every bit of you to be committed to me." In that moment I remember surrendering to the Lord, and since that day I can honestly say that my life is different. I still stumble, but my confidence is no longer in myself instead it rests in God. He changed me that day, and I am forever grateful.

Aaron Webster

I grew up in the Bentonville Church of the Nazarene, but when I reached Jr. High age, we had a new pastor come to BCN with ideas that my dad could not agree with. So being the typical Skaggs male, he said little, but did not support those ideas. Before long, that pastor caused lots of damage toward our family by spreading false info to others. As a result, we left BCN to begin looking for another church to attend. Needless to say, experiencing that as a teenager, I had some very bitter feelings for that pastor, BCN, and the church in general. It wasn’t until college that I heard the Lord speaking through an evangelist, telling me that I had to let go of all the bitter feelings I had built up from those experiences. I remember a very warm feeling of relief wash over me when I went forward to ask forgiveness and leave that bitterness on the altar that night. I graduated from college not long after that, and had an opportunity to take my grandparents to BCN one Sunday that next winter during some bad weather. I took a deep breath as I walked back into BCN after being gone all those years and was able to not only endure, but enjoy worshiping there again. And as a minor side benefit, I saw my future wife Sharon that Sunday morning leading the music. Ain’t God good???

Steve Skaggs

God Space in the Birmingham Jail

Over the last few weeks I've been preaching through the book of Acts. My goal has been to highlight how the early church created “God Space” by boldly taking the good news of Jesus into "Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth." Believers filled with the Holy Spirit entered into homes, marketplaces, and the city squares and by their obedience created space for God to work in the lives of people. As you read through the sermons of Peter or the adventures of Paul, it’s clear that God’s plan is to use the Church as His agents of forgiveness, peace, and hope. I firmly believe that “the local church is the hope of the world.” (Bill Hybels)

This is an amazing task that the Church has not always accomplished very well. There have been moments in our history where the accomplishment of this mission was in serious jeopardy. That certainly was the case when Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote these words:

In deep disappointment I have wept over the laxity of the church. But be assured that my tears have been tears of love. There can be no deep disappointment where there is not deep love. Yes, I love the church. How could I do otherwise? …If today's church does not recapture the sacrificial spirit of the early church, it will lose its authenticity, forfeit the loyalty of millions, and be dismissed as an irrelevant social club with no meaning for the twentieth century. (Letter From a Birmingham Jail)

I’m glad Dr. King didn’t give up on the Church, even when self-proclaimed Christians opposed the fight for equality. We don’t always get it right, but God doesn’t give up on the Church. The Gospel of Jesus Christ brings hope for the hopeless and liberation for the oppressed. This news is too good to be suppressed by fear, squelched by intimidation, or neglected by complacency. As evidenced by the heroes of the American Civil Rights movement, the Gospel message entrusted to the Church has the power to transform individuals, break the power of oppression, and revolutionize societies. As we enter “God Space” on a daily basis, I pray that we would fulfill our mission with just a measure of the same boldness, tenacity, and steadfastness that was embodied in this movement.