Chapter 10: Hope

I. The theological virtue of hope
    A. For the Christian, hope is not escapism or wishful thinking.
    B. Christians should think of the eternal world while working in this one.
    C. What the Christian hopes for is not available in this world.
II. A peculiar observation
    A. Those Christians who achieved the most occupied their minds with thoughts of Heaven.
    B. Since Christians largely ceased to think of Heaven, they have become less effective.
    C. Often, to arrive at a worthy goal one must aim at a better one.
III. Hope for Heaven
    A. Hope for Heaven is difficult.
        1. Most of our hopes are worldly.
        2. Heavenly hopes are often unrecognized.
    B. Heavenly hopes can lead to earthly disappointment.
    C. Three ways of dealing with the inadequacy of earthly fulfillment of hope
        1. Fool’s way — continually to try different things to reach fulfillment.
        2. ‘Sensible’ way — to lower one’s expectations.
        3. ‘Christian’ way —
            a. ... is to recognize that hopes and longings are meant to be fulfilled;
            b. ... is always to be thankful for what one has;
            c. ... is never to forget the desire for true fulfillment.
IV. Do not be fooled by the contempt some people have for Christian imagery for the inexpressible.

Discussion Questions: (pp. 134-137)
    1. Can you think of an example of the rule, “to arrive at a worthy goal, one must aim at something else, something better”? (pp. 134-135)
    2. What does Jesus say about hopes, as in Matt. 5:6 and elsewhere? (p.137)