Radical Hope: The Best Is Ahead!
October 25, 2026 · Sean Walker
Last few weeks:
- Radical Liberalism
- Radical Islam
- Radical Christianity
- Radical Hope
Recent Series:
- Why We Are Here (Mission/Strategy)
- We want to invite every single person in Acadiana to Know God, Find Community, and Make a Difference.
- Who We Are (Values/Culture)
- Everyone has a story.
- Life is better together.
- Rescued people reach people.
- The best is ahead! (Radical Hope)
So many are going through dark times:
- Challenges
- Fear
- Worry
- Shame
- Loneliness
- Hopelessness
- Sin
- God feels distant
The darkest moment in human history, God turned into the greatest moment in eternity!
“1Early on Sunday morning, as the new day was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went out to visit the tomb. 2Suddenly there was a great earthquake! For an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled aside the stone, and sat on it. 3His face shone like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow. 4The guards shook with fear when they saw him, and they fell into a dead faint. 5Then the angel spoke to the women. ‘Don’t be afraid!’ he said. ‘I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as He said would happen. Come, see where His body was lying.’” Matthew 28:1-6 (NLT)
When the world seems darkest, God is doing His best work!
“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them.” Romans 8:28 (NLT)
God sees your pain and is here TODAY to lift you up!
“You are the God who sees me.” Genesis 16:13 (NLT)
“The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.” Romans 8:11 (NLT)
We have RADICAL HOPE because of Jesus!
“3All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by His great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, 4and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. 5And through your faith, God is protecting you by His power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see. 6So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. 7These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. 8You love Him even though you have never seen Him. Though you do not see Him now, you trust Him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. 9The reward for trusting Him will be the salvation of your souls.” 1 Peter 1:3-9 (NLT)
“16Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (NIV)
Repent, receive Jesus and be made new!
“19Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away. 20Then times of refreshment will come from the presence of the Lord, and He will again send you Jesus, your appointed Messiah.” Acts 3:19-20 (NLT)
Hey Christian, look up!
- Stop complaining so much (Philippians 2:14-15)
- Remember that this world is temporary (2 Cor 4:18)
- Reject fearful lies (2 Tim 1:7)
- Get in community (Heb 10:25)
- Walk in His truth (John 16:33)
- Walk in His overwhelming victory (Rom 8:37)
- Walk in His eternal security (1 John 5:13)
Keep your eyes locked on what is ahead!
“1Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. 2And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, ‘Look, God’s home is now among His people! He will live with them, and they will be His people. God Himself will be with them. 4He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.’ 5And the one sitting on the throne said, ‘Look, I am making everything new!’ And then He said to me, ‘Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.’ 6And He also said, ‘It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life. 7All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children. 8But cowards, unbelievers, the corrupt, murderers, the immoral, those who practice witchcraft, idol worshipers, and all liars—their fate is in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.’” Revelation 21:1-8 (NLT)
Radical HOPE:
- Bc of who God is ...
- Bc of what He has done ...
- Bc of what He is doing ...
- Bc of what He promises to do ...
- The best is ahead!
“9If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 13For ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’” Roman 10:9, 13 (NLT)
Additional passages for further study:
- God sees our pain
- Psalm 56:8; 1 Peter 5:7; Matthew 11:28-30
- Eternal security
- Romans 8:39; Ephesians 1:13-14
- Jesus endured suffering with joy
- Hebrews 12:1-4
- God uses all things
- Genesis 50:20; Romans 8:18
- Additional reasons to have joy even in hard times
- 1 Peter 4:12-19
- Philippians 3:14-15
- 2 Corinthians 12:7-10
- Lamentations 3:23-26
- Philippians 1:6, 12-14 (written from prison!)
- Gospel in one verse
- 2 Corinthians 5:21
- God’s promises confirmed in Jesus
- 2 Corinthians 1:20
- New creation
- 2 Corinthians 5:17
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