Hope of the World (Bill Hybels)

Welcome to CROLCC, we are so glad you are here worshiping with us. If you see yourself as a Christian, I don’t know if you think about what it means to be a Christian from time to time. Maybe because I am a pastor I think about that a lot. Especially growing up I hear people say make sure you are not a Sunday Christian only, and remember you need to be a Christian during the weekdays as well. But how often I see Christians don’t live up to that. We do what we want during the weekdays and we revert back to our Sunday Christian form when it comes to church on Sundays.

There was a period of time I began to doubt the existence and the meaning of church. I thought if church existed only because people didn’t have a better place to gather and make friends, then I wanted to be no part of the church. I could make friends elsewhere, better yet, I could make better friends elsewhere because we wouldn’t have to pretend and be hypocrites and put on our Sunday best.

There are a lot of things I am not satisfy with the state of the church, but time and time again I am reminded by someone older and wiser than me that church really is hope of the world. I hope you hear that today. And if you have doubts like I had, I hope you will be encouraged.

Moving Forward

The local church is the hope of the world. Do you believe that? If so, allow the power of the Holy Spirit to transform your life so that you can be salt and light on the earth.

Changing Your Mind

And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.
Matthew 16:18

Discussion Questions

1. If you could honestly answer this question, what would you say is the reason that you go to church?

2. What are some of the things you wish we could do better as a church, as Christians? What could you do better as a Christian?

3. You hear Bill Hybels say that the local church is the hope of the world, do you agree with that statement? Why or why not?

4. If you are willing to devote yourself to the Morning Prayer for the next 30 days, what else could you do to actively participate in the building of the local church? What could this group do to support you?