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Hope Ain't a Hustle: Persevering by Faith in a Wearying World--Wisdom from the Book of Hebrews
Sometimes hope can feel like a scam―a swindle, a hustle. You thought it was real, and you bought into it. But then the tables turn, and you feel like you've been hustled―like you've been had. As Christians, we often respond to the brokenness of life as if we do not actually have hope―as if the promises of God are not really certain. But Pastor Irwyn Ince assures us that not only do we have hope, but that hope cannot disappoint us because it is validated by God himself. Hope Ain't a Hustle is a clear and accessible exploration of the epistle to the Hebrews, urging us to place our confidence in the finished work of our great high priest, Jesus Christ, and showing how that confidence changes the way we live in the here and now. It's not that Christians don't face grief or anger, disappointment or deep sorrow. It's that we don't face them as those "who have no hope."
- GenresTheology
208 pages, Paperback
Published February 6, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
March 1, 2024
"Hope is not a hustle because the kingdom we have received is one that will never be destroyed".
What is hope? What are we putting our hope in? How can we stay hopeful through seasons of grief and suffering? Dr./Rev./Coach Ince answers all of these questions and more while walking us through the book of Hebrews and other various passages in the Bible. As someone who struggles to be "hopeful", I was reminded over and over again how much my Savior cherishes me and isn't afraid to be my God despite my brokenness. My hope is not found in the things I do, the job that I am in, or the political party that I vote for, but through my Faith in Christ and what He has done for me.
What is hope? What are we putting our hope in? How can we stay hopeful through seasons of grief and suffering? Dr./Rev./Coach Ince answers all of these questions and more while walking us through the book of Hebrews and other various passages in the Bible. As someone who struggles to be "hopeful", I was reminded over and over again how much my Savior cherishes me and isn't afraid to be my God despite my brokenness. My hope is not found in the things I do, the job that I am in, or the political party that I vote for, but through my Faith in Christ and what He has done for me.
April 21, 2024
Summary: A series of messages from the book of Hebrews making the case for the confidence we may have in Christ, our great high priest who endured the storm, who sustains our hope, and calls us to enduring faithfulness.
There are a lot of hustles out there–on the streets, in business, and even in our email. Sometimes even Christianity has appeared to be a hustle, promising a good life, as long as one enriches the congregation’s coffer. Irwyn Ince contends that this is not true of God when he writes:
“But God is not a hustler. And the hope he calls us to cannot be built on naive expectations that people will start seeing the things the way we do. Our longing cannot be built on the arrogant assumption that we are completely right in the positions we take. It cannot even be built on an expectation of steady improvement. If the arc of the moral universe does indeed bend toward justice, that arc will never be smooth and straight from a human perspective. It will have twists and turns, ups and downs, starts and stops. Our hope, if it is to be enduring, must be rooted in the glory of Jesus Christ.” (p. 9).
In this book, Pastor Ince works from the book of Hebrews to show that hope grounded in the person and work of Jesus will never disappointment and will sustain us through the greatest of life’s challenges.
The book is organized in three parts. The first, “The Storm Before the Calm” addresses the storm the readers of Hebrews may be facing and the supreme authority of Jesus as Son amid the storms. Not only that, Jesus was made like us and entered the danger zone where we live. He came to liberate, to intercede, and to help as high priest and son over God’s house, superior to Moses. Through our hope in Jesus. we may rest in the danger zone, like John Lewis and Diane Nash as leaders of the Nashville sit-ins. As we rest in Jesus who went before us, we may rest while we suffer, knowing we will share in the rest of his glory.
Part Two, “Keep Hope Alive” begins with those words from Jesse Jackson at the 1988 Democratic Convention. Ince explores the unreasonable hope of Abraham and the arc between Melchizedek and the greater high priest Jesus, reflecting on unreasonable hope in the face of prison and plundering that the Hebrews faced, and the assurance they have in a great high priest who offered himself. He was the high priest who became perfect for us through his obedience, who is able to perfect us. His ministry, covenant, and promise are better than all who came before him. There is no better place to go, no better person in whom to find hope, than Jesus. To him we need to return, and he will keep our hope alive.
Part Three, “In Need of Endurance” speaks of the dogged persistence our hope in Jesus sustains. Endurance is built on upward confidence, inward confession of hope, and outward commitment. Ince points to the teaching of Hebrews to endure by faith, in need, and in joy. He uses the example of Superman’s X-ray vision to describe the kind of faith that sees Jesus through the challenges we face. Those who endure by faith live for the heavenly city, the better country, like Freedom Rider Jim Zwerg who suffered a terrible beating while praying to remain nonviolent and to forgive his attackers. Those who endure run through exhaustion by staying with the crowd, by dropping the weight of sin, by keeping our heads up, and fixing our eyes on the future with gratitude, lighting up the darkness.
Pastor Ince writes a book on hope that doesn’t see the world with rose-colored glasses. He writes how the hope that doesn’t hustle that we have in Jesus helps us face dark times without retreating into either fantasy or despair. For those dismayed by the slow progress toward justice in so many aspects of life, he bids us to keep hope alive through Jesus who went there before us and is both the son who reigns and the great high priest who intercedes. He challenges us that hope endures. It never gives up, so certain is it in the promise of God. Through the text of Hebrews, tales of courage from the Civil Rights movement, and personal life, Pastor Ince offers the gritty instruction we need to live into our hope in a “wearying world.”
____________________
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for review.
There are a lot of hustles out there–on the streets, in business, and even in our email. Sometimes even Christianity has appeared to be a hustle, promising a good life, as long as one enriches the congregation’s coffer. Irwyn Ince contends that this is not true of God when he writes:
“But God is not a hustler. And the hope he calls us to cannot be built on naive expectations that people will start seeing the things the way we do. Our longing cannot be built on the arrogant assumption that we are completely right in the positions we take. It cannot even be built on an expectation of steady improvement. If the arc of the moral universe does indeed bend toward justice, that arc will never be smooth and straight from a human perspective. It will have twists and turns, ups and downs, starts and stops. Our hope, if it is to be enduring, must be rooted in the glory of Jesus Christ.” (p. 9).
In this book, Pastor Ince works from the book of Hebrews to show that hope grounded in the person and work of Jesus will never disappointment and will sustain us through the greatest of life’s challenges.
The book is organized in three parts. The first, “The Storm Before the Calm” addresses the storm the readers of Hebrews may be facing and the supreme authority of Jesus as Son amid the storms. Not only that, Jesus was made like us and entered the danger zone where we live. He came to liberate, to intercede, and to help as high priest and son over God’s house, superior to Moses. Through our hope in Jesus. we may rest in the danger zone, like John Lewis and Diane Nash as leaders of the Nashville sit-ins. As we rest in Jesus who went before us, we may rest while we suffer, knowing we will share in the rest of his glory.
Part Two, “Keep Hope Alive” begins with those words from Jesse Jackson at the 1988 Democratic Convention. Ince explores the unreasonable hope of Abraham and the arc between Melchizedek and the greater high priest Jesus, reflecting on unreasonable hope in the face of prison and plundering that the Hebrews faced, and the assurance they have in a great high priest who offered himself. He was the high priest who became perfect for us through his obedience, who is able to perfect us. His ministry, covenant, and promise are better than all who came before him. There is no better place to go, no better person in whom to find hope, than Jesus. To him we need to return, and he will keep our hope alive.
Part Three, “In Need of Endurance” speaks of the dogged persistence our hope in Jesus sustains. Endurance is built on upward confidence, inward confession of hope, and outward commitment. Ince points to the teaching of Hebrews to endure by faith, in need, and in joy. He uses the example of Superman’s X-ray vision to describe the kind of faith that sees Jesus through the challenges we face. Those who endure by faith live for the heavenly city, the better country, like Freedom Rider Jim Zwerg who suffered a terrible beating while praying to remain nonviolent and to forgive his attackers. Those who endure run through exhaustion by staying with the crowd, by dropping the weight of sin, by keeping our heads up, and fixing our eyes on the future with gratitude, lighting up the darkness.
Pastor Ince writes a book on hope that doesn’t see the world with rose-colored glasses. He writes how the hope that doesn’t hustle that we have in Jesus helps us face dark times without retreating into either fantasy or despair. For those dismayed by the slow progress toward justice in so many aspects of life, he bids us to keep hope alive through Jesus who went there before us and is both the son who reigns and the great high priest who intercedes. He challenges us that hope endures. It never gives up, so certain is it in the promise of God. Through the text of Hebrews, tales of courage from the Civil Rights movement, and personal life, Pastor Ince offers the gritty instruction we need to live into our hope in a “wearying world.”
____________________
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for review.
December 11, 2024
In Hope Ain’t a Hustle, Irwyn L. Ince Jr. offers a timely and pastoral reflection on the theme of perseverance by faith in a wearying world.
Drawing from the book of Hebrews, Ince presents Christian hope as something far deeper than mere optimism; it is a hope rooted in the lordship of Christ and the unity of believers bound together in love. This hope is not a fleeting sentiment or a hustle to gain earthly success, but a steadfast confidence in God’s promises, which endure even in the midst of suffering and hardship. Ince’s message is one of perseverance, urging Christians to hold fast to their faith, especially when the world feels overwhelming.
Ince skillfully unpacks the rich theological themes found in Hebrews, showing how the letter’s emphasis on hope is not just abstract doctrine but something that has practical implications for everyday life. He highlights the enduring confidence that believers can have in Christ, whose work on the cross secures not only our salvation but our place in the family of God.
Beautiful and Strange
Through Ince’s writing, we are reminded that Christian hope is a collective experience, one that is lived out in community, where believers encourage and support one another in the pursuit of faithfulness, no matter the trials they face. His reflections invite readers to see hope not as an individual effort but as a shared journey under the headship of Christ.
One of the standout qualities of this book is its pastoral tone. Ince writes in a winsome, approachable way that invites readers to lean in and listen. His words resonate with compassion and understanding, making the book feel like a conversation with a trusted guide.
In a world marked by division and polarization, Ince reminds the church of the beautiful and strange alternative it offers — a community of people who are united in the hope of the gospel. Even in the face of suffering, he reassures us that the pain we experience in this world is temporary, and that, ultimately, there is resurrection on the horizon. Hope Ain’t a Hustle is a timely and deeply encouraging book for anyone seeking to persevere in faith in a challenging world.
I received a media copy of Hope Ain’t a Hustle and this is my honest review.
Drawing from the book of Hebrews, Ince presents Christian hope as something far deeper than mere optimism; it is a hope rooted in the lordship of Christ and the unity of believers bound together in love. This hope is not a fleeting sentiment or a hustle to gain earthly success, but a steadfast confidence in God’s promises, which endure even in the midst of suffering and hardship. Ince’s message is one of perseverance, urging Christians to hold fast to their faith, especially when the world feels overwhelming.
Ince skillfully unpacks the rich theological themes found in Hebrews, showing how the letter’s emphasis on hope is not just abstract doctrine but something that has practical implications for everyday life. He highlights the enduring confidence that believers can have in Christ, whose work on the cross secures not only our salvation but our place in the family of God.
Beautiful and Strange
Through Ince’s writing, we are reminded that Christian hope is a collective experience, one that is lived out in community, where believers encourage and support one another in the pursuit of faithfulness, no matter the trials they face. His reflections invite readers to see hope not as an individual effort but as a shared journey under the headship of Christ.
One of the standout qualities of this book is its pastoral tone. Ince writes in a winsome, approachable way that invites readers to lean in and listen. His words resonate with compassion and understanding, making the book feel like a conversation with a trusted guide.
In a world marked by division and polarization, Ince reminds the church of the beautiful and strange alternative it offers — a community of people who are united in the hope of the gospel. Even in the face of suffering, he reassures us that the pain we experience in this world is temporary, and that, ultimately, there is resurrection on the horizon. Hope Ain’t a Hustle is a timely and deeply encouraging book for anyone seeking to persevere in faith in a challenging world.
I received a media copy of Hope Ain’t a Hustle and this is my honest review.
March 5, 2024
Dr. Ince brings to the forefront the hope that the author of Hebrews gives in the work and person of Jesus Christ. He gets started right away, and it’s apparent that his writing style is pastoral, honed from years of crafting sermons for the pulpit. And this book reads like that. Each chapter feels like a well preached sermon tackling a different chunk or chapter of Hebrews. The illustrations he opens with are quick, concise, and instantly relatable. But the big focus of this book, and the best part of it, is continuing to shine the light on Jesus and point us back to him. In a world that often feels hopeless each and every day, this book is a breath of fresh air pointing us to God’s Word and seeing Jesus for who he really is.
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