This weekend we conclude our Hope in the Dark series.

How do you deal with a time of crisis?

What do you do when it seems like God isn't there and isn't listening?

What do you do when a crisis hits?

What do you do when you want to believe that God is good, but life isn't?

We ask these questions and more this week as we continue our series "Hope in the Dark"

The opening chapter of Habakkuk asks a lot of questions that many of us are asking too:

- Where are you God?

- Why aren't you doing anything?

- Do you even Care?

- How is this fair?

There are no easy answers, but we can wrestle with the questions and embrace what we know to be true of God.

We look at the last few verses of Ruth and see that God works through the ordinary, everyday obedience of those who follow Him.

We are into the final chapter of Ruth and witness Boaz stepping into his role as the redeemer at the city gate of Bethlehem.

We're continuing through the book of Ruth as we look at chapter three this morning.

Jesus comes to his disciples post-resurrection and does two things:

1) He affirms his resurrection.

2) He offers a commission—a new work for his

followers in this new world.

A North Star to follow in the new creation God is forming, and its

this: proclaim that repentance and forgiveness is possible in God’s new world through King

Jesus. Repentance—the idea that we can have a new life—and forgiveness—the idea that our

old shame and guilt can be dispelled—are the new possibilities in God’s new world. And in this

new world, the disciples are to go be witnesses to this possibility.

Our resurrected king gives us the grace and mercy of North Star—he gives us bearing in an

uncharted world. First—we can be sure he is alive. His body walked this earth after his death.

He is no ghost. He is no disembodied spirit. He is alive. And I want you to think about all the

ways he’s showing his life and activity to you in your current season. Keep those in front of you.

What habits are you embodying that cultivate thankfulness, faith, hope in a resurrected King?

Second—he gives us beautiful work. One of the beautiful things happening in this COVID 19

world is this tiny virus is plowing hard-packed soil in the hearts of people around us. It’s

unearthing fear and anxiety and longing for a better world for us. And if we are present through

this season, if we stand within the stories of our friends in a loving and patient way, then we

can participate in the true north work of witnessing. Of revealing to them in their fear and

anxiety and longing a better story, a better king, a better world. We do it through love and

speech and action. This is our bearing in an uncharted COVID 19 world. This should direct our

decision-making and action in this new world. Of staying home or not. Of being present in

person or through technology. Of working or not.

Jesus is the Risen King!

"The gospel is the ultimate story that shows victory coming out of defeat, strength coming out of weakness, life coming our of death, rescue from abandonment. And because it is a TRUE story, it gives us hope because we know life is really like that.

It can be your story as well." - Tim Keller

What Kind of King?

• Jesus is the kind of King who is unconditionally committed to us.

• Jesus is the Lamb of God.

• Jesus is the kind of King who endured suffering because He loved us.

• Jesus is the kind of King that even though we abandoned him, he has not abandoned us.

• Jesus is the kind of King who gave his life so that we can be made whole again.

We're in Mark 11 looking at Jesus' Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem. Through this text we find four things:

- Jesus is the one who is always in control

- Jesus is the one who submits to the Word of God

- Jesus is the one who embodies humility

- Jesus is the one who alone can save