"Is the God of the Old Testament different to the God of the New Testament"?
"How does the 'Law' of the Old Testament fit with the 'grace' of the New Testament"?
What did Jesus think about the Old Testament?

These are just some of the questions many Christians have about the Bible - let alone the other questions unbelievers have! And at the risk of repeating myself too often - I love questions!!
We are going to spend the Sundays from October 25 to Christmas looking over and hearing about the "Hebrew Hope". The 'Old Testament' of the Bible is the Hebrew Scriptures, the holy writings of the Israelites (also known as the Jews, or Hebrews, at different times and for different reasons - that's a question for another day).
And these writings, from the very beginning to the last prophecy before Christ, all pointed forward to a mighty act of God in our history. The people of God (Israel) therefore lived in hope.

This hope was fulfilled amongst some farm animals in a small town within sight of some city walls. It was the arrival of a baby boy who would forever change history, the world, and eternity.

Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ.

Now the Christians live in hope of the return of Jesus, no longer a babe in a faraway stable, but the King of kings and Lord of lords, ascended into God's eternity in glory. At His return every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess, that Jesus Christ is Lord.
Just as God's promises and His peoples' hopes have been thoroughly fulfilled in days past, we live in expectation and anticipation of 'the Day of the Lord' to reveal once and for all the truth and majesty of the kingdom of God.

stewardship
[stoo-erd-ship, styoo-]
noun
1. the position and duties of a steward, a person who acts as the surrogate of another or others, especially by managing property, financial affairs, an estate, etc.
2. the responsible overseeing and protection of something considered worth caring for and preserving

We are spending three Sundays in October thinking about the many resources we have been generously given by the LORD our God, and what Scripture tells us is His expectation of their use.
Firstly we looked at Psalm 65 and the blessing of rain, from which life comes (just look at the excitement about the discovery of water on Mars and Pluto).
Then we heard about the poor widow in Luke 21:1-4 who put her two cent's worth into the Temple Treasury after the wealthy dropped in their many public offerings. Jesus noted that her heart was in the right place - in contrast to the loud givers.
Finally we look at Paul's second letter to the Corinthian Christians who were doing so well in so many ways - except in generosity... Are we falling into the same temptation? Have we already (willingly) succumbed to it?

It comes back to our point of view of what we have, and do not have.
Are we too focused on what others have, ignoring the many things we do have?
Are we stingy and ungenerous with our time, our talents, our treasure?

God has revealed His generosity in creating an ordered and 'very good' creation out of Himself. He has given us (especially in the West, in the last century) abundantly more than most other people in the world and history have ever had before.
Above all, He has opened the Way, the Truth and the Life for us to be reconciled to Him through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
What could we possibly offer in thanksgiving that would come close to being enough? Nothing.

God has done it all. That's called grace. Unconditional love. The only thing we can offer to Him in return is humble repentance for our bad stewardship of His gifts, His Creation, and His salvation which we take for granted.
the Good News is that He is the God who is willing to forgive, and His grace is sufficient to overcome our sinfulness.

We are called to be good stewards, and a good time to understand this is when we have received many good things from Him, in the good times. By the time the difficult time begins, it is too late. So now is the time to step up to God's call to stewardship of what He has given you, and me, today.