Encounter Henley Welcomes Senior Pastor of Encounter Church Adelaide: Mike Wardrop

In this message, Pastor Mike kicks off our Christmas series, “The Gift That Keeps On Giving,” using the framework of the classic novel, “A Christmas Carol.”

Drawing parallels to the ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future, Mike explores how our perception of hope is impacted by the hurts of our past, the comparisons of our present, and our view of the future.

The Ghost of Christmas Past (Hopes Gone By): Discover why we are often haunted by past trauma and broken promises, and how a modern culture’s embrace of “victimhood as sainthood” can prevent us from moving forward. Mike challenges listeners to acknowledge the pain but embrace the responsibility of choosing hope, much like the promise of a “green shoot” growing from the “stump of Jesse” (Isaiah 11).

The Problem: Why do we get trapped by the hurts of the past?

The Solution: The choice of what to do next is your responsibility. God can turn past pain to eternal goodness.

The Ghost of Christmas Present (Alternatives That Haunt Us): Mike discusses the challenges of FOMO, comparison, and a seemingly hopeless culture (housing crises, political polarization, etc.). He reminds us that if our hope is placed in temporary, tactile things, it’s not hope at all. Drawing from Isaiah’s message to King Ahaz, he asserts that Christians, as ambassadors of hope, must trust in God’s faithfulness, not political or economic circumstances.

The Context: Why do the challenges of the present feel overwhelming?

The Anchor: Hope assumes that God is faithful and is able to bring about His good purpose.

Tune in to be inspired, challenged, and equipped to find lasting hope in Jesus Christ, the Messiah—the ultimate anointed one!