Going Deeper | The Angels Sing – Part 2
Legacy of Hope
—
In many ways, my family’s legacy is death. It’s the thing that most people think of when they think of my family. It began in 1992 when my sister, Kelley Anne, passed away from cancer at the age of 5. Death continued on its journey to become synonymous with the Archer family name when my brother, Christopher, lost his 18-year battle to cancer at the turn of the new millennium. The legacy of death was cemented when my mom died at age 55, also from cancer, in 2008. Death officially established its dominion over my family.
This past Sunday, Pastor Tim continued our series “The Angels Sing” by sharing about the classic carol “O Come, O Come Emmanuel.” This song, which is all about the first and second coming of Jesus, is intended to bring hope to a hopeless world. Jesus came to bring hope to a hopeless world. He offers a hope that overcomes all darkness, all evil, and even death.
In Romans 6:9, Paul describes it this way:
Because Jesus didn’t just die, He rose from the dead… that means He conquered death. Death no longer has dominion over Him! And not only that — He came and conquered death so that it would no longer have dominion over us. Paul reminds us in Colossians 1:13 that, for those who have placed their faith in Jesus, “He [God] has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son.”
Because of Jesus, I have hope. Hope that even though death might take away our physical bodies, it no longer has dominion over me and my family. Hope that our family legacy will not be forever defined by death, but rather by Jesus — the one who came to give life and life abundantly. The one who offers life freely to whoever would receive it. The one who cares for us. The Wonderful Counselor, the Great Physician, the Mighty God, the Eternal Father, the Prince of Peace.
Our stories are likely not the same. You have different losses. Different difficulties. Different legacies. But no matter what is causing you to lose hope, know that hope can be found in Jesus. If you are hopeless, put your hope in Christ, who is Light in the darkness and has dominion over death.
Legacy of Hope
—
In many ways, my family’s legacy is death. It’s the thing that most people think of when they think of my family. It began in 1992 when my sister, Kelley Anne, passed away from cancer at the age of 5. Death continued on its journey to become synonymous with the Archer family name when my brother, Christopher, lost his 18-year battle to cancer at the turn of the new millennium. The legacy of death was cemented when my mom died at age 55, also from cancer, in 2008. Death officially established its dominion over my family.
This past Sunday, Pastor Tim continued our series “The Angels Sing” by sharing about the classic carol “O Come, O Come Emmanuel.” This song, which is all about the first and second coming of Jesus, is intended to bring hope to a hopeless world. Jesus came to bring hope to a hopeless world. He offers a hope that overcomes all darkness, all evil, and even death.
In Romans 6:9, Paul describes it this way:
“We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over Him.”
Because Jesus didn’t just die, He rose from the dead… that means He conquered death. Death no longer has dominion over Him! And not only that — He came and conquered death so that it would no longer have dominion over us. Paul reminds us in Colossians 1:13 that, for those who have placed their faith in Jesus, “He [God] has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son.”
Because of Jesus, I have hope. Hope that even though death might take away our physical bodies, it no longer has dominion over me and my family. Hope that our family legacy will not be forever defined by death, but rather by Jesus — the one who came to give life and life abundantly. The one who offers life freely to whoever would receive it. The one who cares for us. The Wonderful Counselor, the Great Physician, the Mighty God, the Eternal Father, the Prince of Peace.
Our stories are likely not the same. You have different losses. Different difficulties. Different legacies. But no matter what is causing you to lose hope, know that hope can be found in Jesus. If you are hopeless, put your hope in Christ, who is Light in the darkness and has dominion over death.
Author: Andrew Archer, Student Ministry Director
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Prayer Plan // April 2022Famous Last Words - Part 3 [Devo]Day 1 - Triumphal Entry // Holy WeekDay 2 - Cleansing the Temple // Holy WeekDay 3 - Last Supper // Holy WeekDay 4 - Jesus in the Garden // Holy WeekDay 5 - Barabbas // Holy WeekDay 6 - The Cross // Holy WeekDay 7 - Jesus in the Tomb // Holy WeekDay 8 - Resurrection // Holy WeekFinding Purpose - Part 1 [Notes]Finding Purpose - Part 1 [Devo]
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Baptism Sunday [Devo]Prayer Plan // June 2022Face to Face - Part 1 [Notes]Finding Purpose, Part 5 [Devo]Face to Face - Part 2 [Notes]Face to Face - Part 1 [Devo]Face to Face - Part 3 [Notes]Face to Face - Part 2 [Devo]Face to Face - Part 3 [Devo]Face to Face - Part 4 [Notes]Face to Face - Part 4 [Devo]
July
Face to Face - Part 5 [Notes]Prayer Plan // July 2022Face to Face - Part 5 [Devo]Face to Face - Part 6 [Notes]Face to Face - Part 6 [Devo]Face to Face - Part 7 [Notes]Put Down The Gavel // DevotionalFace to Face - Part 8 [Notes]Out of the Darkness// Face to Face, Part 8 [Devo]Face to Face - Part 9 [Notes]
August
Prayer Plan // August 2022Walk the Walk // Face to Face, Part 9 [Devo]MOVE UP Sunday // 2022Art of Neighboring - Part 1 [Notes]Won't You Be My Neighbor // Art of Neighboring, Part 1 [Devo]Art of Neighboring - Part 2 [Notes]Southern Hospitality // Art of Neighboring, Part 2 [Devo]Immovable - Part 1 [Notes]The Bible Is True // Immovable, Part 1 [Devo]Immovable - Part 2 [Notes]
September
Prayer Plan // September 2022Baptism Sunday - September 2022 [Notes]Yesterday for Today // Immovable, Part 2 [Devo]Be An Influencer // Baptism Sunday [Devo]Homecoming - Part 1 [Notes]Run The Race // Homecoming, Part 1 [Devo]Homecoming - Part 2 [Notes]The Truth Will Set You Free // Homecoming, Part 2 [Devo]Homecoming - Part 3 [Notes]Our Heavenly Bridge // Homecoming, Part 3 [Devo]
October
Homecoming - Part 4 [Notes]Prayer Plan // October 2022This Is Not Where We Belong // Homecoming, Part 4 [Devo]Homecoming - Part 5 [Notes]Treasures In Heaven // Homecoming, Part 5 [Devo]Homecoming - Part 6 [Notes]Worship As In Heaven // Homecoming, Part 6 [Devo]Homecoming - Part 7 [Notes]Choices // Homecoming, Part 7 [Devo]Take Time - Part 1 [Notes]
November
Our Deepest Desire // Take Time, Part 1 [Devo]Prayer Plan // NovemberTake Time - Part 2 [Notes]Advent: IntroductionHow Can I Take A Sabbath?Take Time - Part 3 [Notes]Take Time - Part 4 [Notes]Advent: Week One // HopeAdvent: He Has Come – Part 1 [Notes]Advent: Nov. 28 // His Name is JesusAdvent: Nov. 29 // Hold on to HopePrayer Plan // December 2022