1. Have I Got News For You? The X Factor/Hope 27th Nov 2005 The X Factor/Hope 27th Nov 2005

2. 75 000 7.5million 1.5million 3.5million

3. What is X factor?  Looks  Personality  Confidence  Talent  eXtra thing to make a star  ‘Flex the X’  Looks  Personality  Confidence  Talent  eXtra thing to make a star  ‘Flex the X’

4. Hoping for…  Fortune  Success  Recognition  Affirmation  Contentment and happiness  “A better life for us all” - Andy  “Waited whole life for this” - Conways  Fortune  Success  Recognition  Affirmation  Contentment and happiness  “A better life for us all” - Andy  “Waited whole life for this” - Conways

5. Judges  “Entertainment or loyalty?”  Ridicule  Shame  And Christians are judgmental?  “Entertainment or loyalty?”  Ridicule  Shame  And Christians are judgmental?

6. What will they get?  15 mins of fame  Who is this?  Last year’s winner Steve Brookstein  15 mins of fame  Who is this?  Last year’s winner Steve Brookstein

7. Even if they succeed  Does fame bring contentment?  Who is this?  Gary Glitter  Does fame bring contentment?  Who is this?  Gary Glitter

8. It’s all about Hope Confident expectation

9. Hope  And if you are asked about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it. (1 Peter 3:15 NLT)  What is our Christian hope?  And if you are asked about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it. (1 Peter 3:15 NLT)  What is our Christian hope?

10. Hoping for…  Fortune  Success  Recognition  Affirmation  Contentment and happiness  Fortune  Success  Recognition  Affirmation  Contentment and happiness  Prosperity  Big top speaker?  Status  From whom?  Easy life?  Prosperity  Big top speaker?  Status  From whom?  Easy life?

11. Hope when?  …we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. (Romans 5:3-4 NIV)  Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. (Romans 12:12 NIV)  …we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. (Romans 5:3-4 NIV)  Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. (Romans 12:12 NIV)

12. Response?  But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don't be afraid and don't worry. Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if you are asked about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it. (1 Peter 3:14-15 NLT)

13. Hope of suffering Is that it?

14. How about…  Full life  Forgiveness  Improved character  Friendship with God  Resurrection  Living with God forever  Full life  Forgiveness  Improved character  Friendship with God  Resurrection  Living with God forever

15. Our X factor…

16. Full life NOT easy life With God forever

17. Meditation Romans 5:1-11

18. Faith  Therefore, since we have been made right in God's sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of highest privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God's glory.

19. Hope  We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us--they help us learn to endure. And endurance develops strength of character in us, and character strengthens our confident expectation of salvation.

20. Holy Spirit  And this expectation will not disappoint us. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

21. Helpless  When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, no one is likely to die for a good person, though someone might be willing to die for a person who is especially good.

22. Made Right  But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God's sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God's judgment.

23. Restored  For since we were restored to friendship with God by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be delivered from eternal punishment by his life.

24. Rejoice  So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God--all because of what our Lord Jesus Christ has done for us in making us friends of God.