Hope Church SermonCast: Recent Episodes
HOPE Church Malmesbury
Episode 10 - Pray for Courage - Never judge a chapter of your life until you reach the end - when you are in the middle you can not see the end
Episode 2 - Michelle explores the famous last words of Jesus on earth - the Mission given to the church
We start an epic new series: Mission Possible: Holy Ghost Protocol - reading through the entire book of Acts
Track 6 of our Hey Jude Series Mercy: Join Lydia as she digs into this weeks challenges from Jude.
Track 5 of our Hey Jude Series Mercy: Join Michelle as she digs into this weeks challenges from Jude - to Remember what God has done for us
Track 4 of our Hey Jude Series 1 Degree: being just one degree off course will have dramatic consequences over time if a course correction is not made. Join Mark as he digs into this weeks challenges from Jude.
In part 3 of our musical series on Jude, Mark delves into some ancient tales from the Jewish nation that Jude uses to illustrate his letter. Here be giants!
Join Pastor Steve as he encourages us to Contend for The Faith in part two of our mini musical series on the Book of Jude
Join Pastor Mark as he introduces our new musical series based on the book of Jude - the most neglected book in the New Testament.
Join Pastor Mark as he delves deep into the Hebrew and uncovers the blessings and the end of Shalom
This weeks messages takes from Eden to the Moon and back again, and unpacks the promise: God always comes to prepared places
This week Pastor Lydia shares a wide ranging message that captures four keys to unlock Shalom in your life
This week Pastor Steve continues our Search for Shalom - as he explores the impact of Relationship on our sense of Gods Peace in our Daily Lives
Nothing destroys peace like a breakdown in communication - this week Pastor Mark explores some of the reasons it feels like our prayers are not being Heard in Heaven
Inner peace - being comfortable in your own skin - knowing who you are - this is Shalom in Myself - listen and watch as Pastor Lydia unpacks this timely topic for our nation.
This week Sue continues to explore the theme of Shalom, and how in our believing we can experience God’s peace
Jesus is the Prince of Shalom - discover some amazing truths as Pastor Lydia continues In Search of Shalom this week and we discover how the Curse is Reversed in our lives.
Continuing our Search for Shalom, join Pastor Mark as he unpacks some of the consequences of Adam and Eves sin in the Garden of Eden - and the resulting complicated relationship between men and women.
The most important thing about you is what you think of when you think about God (Tozer)
Audio only recordings are available for Star Wars Sunday - our fun family service exploring the Gospel from a certain point of view inspired by the iconic movies.
Episode 151 of the Promise & The Purpose - the final message - as Jesus leaves his disciples on a mountain outside Jerusalem with a promise (I will be back) and a purpose (go and tell all that you have seen)
Episode 151 of the Promise & The Purpose - the final message - as Jesus leaves his disciples on a mountain outside Jerusalem with a promise (I will be back) and a purpose (go and tell all that you have seen)
Episode 150of the Promise & The Purpose - it is the evening of the first Easter Sunday, and two of Jesus disciples have a supernatural encounter on the road to Emmaus and rush back to tell the other disciples - and find Jesus there in the room as well.
Episode 149 of the Promise & The Purpose - it is the evening of the first Easter Sunday, and two of Jesus disciples have a supernatural encounter on the road to Emmaus.
Today is Easter Sunday - the climax of the movie, the finale of the story - the purpose of Jesus revealed the the promise of our future. It is the day when Jesus did exactly what he had told his followers to expect him to do, yet none of them understood or believed. Make today the day that you start believing what Jesus has told you again.
In this weeks episode, Sue reveals how God puts the right person with the right resources in the right place for His plans and purposes - and it might just be you!
Our journey through Luke reaches its epic finale as Jesus is led to His death - in this weeks message Mark focuses on the things that were said and discovers some surprises along the way
Manipulated by the vested interests, the crowd demands Barabbas is set free and Jesus is killed
This week Richard continues our walk through the life of Jesus: It’s Passion Week, and Jesus stands in trial in a kangaroo court led by the religious authorities jealous of his popularity.
Don't miss this weeks episode as we delve into the complex and emotional story of Peter's denial of Jesus. Join us as we examine the circumstances leading up to this pivotal moment in Peter's life, his personal struggle, and the powerful lessons we can glean from his experience. Gain new insights and understanding as we unpack the significance of this event within the larger narrative of Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection. Listen in and be inspired by the grace and redemption found in Peter's journey. Stay tuned for this thought-provoking episode that will challenge and encourage you in your own faith walk.
The final hours of Jesus' life rush to their dramatic conclusion - is this weeks episode Judas the betrayer arrives with a mob and soldiers to orchestrate the arrest of Jesus
It's the night of the Last Supper, Jesus goes out with his closest friends to pray in the Garden of Gethsemane. There he wrestles Under Pressure - knowing what He will face in the days that follow. Will He give up, avoid the trial or compromise? Learn how to handle Pressure in this weeks episode from Hope Church.
This week Dave Jones continues our walk through the last week of Jesus’ life before Easter
We continue our Christmas Series - Songs of the Saviour, looking at the Christmas Story, inspired by our favourite Christmas Carols
We continue our Christmas Series - Songs of the Saviour, looking at the Christmas Story, inspired by our favourite Christmas Carols
We continue our Christmas Series - Songs of the Saviour, looking at the Christmas Story, inspired by our favourite Christmas Carols
Lydia starts our advent countdown with part one of Songs of the Saviour - revisiting the Christmas Story with the help of some classic Christmas Carols. The story starts with Mary
What happened to cause one of Jesus' disciples to turn traitor and hand him over to His enemies?
What can the preparations for the Jewish Passover teach Christians living in the 21st century?
What does it mean to be a Kingdom Carrier? Join Mark as he unpacks Jesus’ words as we continue our exploration of The Promise & The Purpose found in Luke’s Gospel.
Dave continues to unpack Jesus’ warnings and prophecies about the end of days and his return
This week Mark explains the 5 lies that are holding you back - 5 lies that have infected our Christian walk and need to be cleared out so that we can be the followers Jesus has called us to be.
Whose Son is Jesus? An important question - and this week Sue Jones brings the answer as we return from our summer break and resume The Promise & The Purpose.
Do things always work out the way God wants them to? Understand the sovereignty of God with Dave Jones
Walk This Way - Ever wondered why life seams so hard when you try to do the right thing? Lydia unpacks the secret to understanding how to walk out your faith every day. Walk this way.
Who is The Anointed - and what does it mean to be anointed? The answer might surprise you
Give God what is God’s, and the tax man what is his. What more do you need to know? OK, well maybe there’s a bit more to it - listen to find out!
This week Steve unpacks the parable of the wicked tenants - the last parable shared by Jesus in the hours before his death. What did it mean to the crowd at the time, and what relevance does it have for us today?
Authority and Faith go hand in hand. This week Pastor Mark unpacks what the bible teaches us about the Authority wielded by Jesus and the Authority yielded to his followers
This week Dave Jones unpacks what Jesus meant when we entered the temple after Palm Sunday and accused the merchants and the priests of turning God's house into a den of robbers
Jesus is moved to tears as he gazes upon the city of Jerusalem, knowing what the future holds for those who reject God and His Son
This week Mark opens up the story of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem - riding on a colt. This is an encouraging and challenging words that calls us all to Keep Going!
This week Jesus shares a parable and we are encouraged to be bold with the resources God has given us to use
This week Jesus encounters a little man in a tree - and David challenges us - how far would you go to see Jesus - how much do you care what other people think?
This week Pastor Lydia challenges us to get real with God and to ask for what we want - and don’t be afraid to beg!
This week Mark delves deep into the prophecies that describe with amazing accuracy the way Jesus would be treated at the hands of the establishment - and God's astonishing plan through it all
Jesus' encounter with a successful young man provides an opportunity for Jesus to explain his mission (The Gospel) in a nutshell. Join Sue Jones as she unpacks this meeting
We make live way more complicated than it needs to be. Perhaps the answer you need to the stress and worry is to take a more child-like approach. This week Pastor Lydia explains how.
We continue our reading of the Gospel of Luke. Today Pastor Pat joins us from Spain and unpacks the parable of the persistent widow and the unjust judge.
We continue our reading of the Gospel of Luke. Today Richard helps us unpack Jesus’ parable about the holy Pharisee and the outcast Tax Collector, and God’s unexpected response to them both
Taking inspiration from the story of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, this week Pastor Lydia explains what it means to be a Christian as we celebrate Easter
We continue our reading of the Gospel of Luke. Today Richard helps us unpack a challenging passage where Jesus talks about the second coming of the Son of Man - and provides a report on his recent trip to Turkey in the aftermath of the recent earthquakes
This week, Lydia unpacks essential keys which will release blessing and favour in your life and in your walk with God.
This week, Jesus turns to his disciples and reminds them that being a disciple is not like joining a club or a hobby - we are servants of the Master
This week we celebrate Hope’s 10th Birthday with an inspiring word from Dave Jones on the power and purpose of Faith and how to overcome unbelief.
This week we look at Jesus' teaching on how his followers should live together in community and avoid the trap of offence which splits families, friends and churches
How often do we not even do the least we can do, to help God's fellow children in their time of need? This week Pastor Lydia explores the challenges found the story of Poor Lazarus.
Few topics have caused more hurt and division in the modern church than the question of divorce and remarriage. What did Jesus say, and more importantly, what did he mean in the context of the questions he was asked. Join Pastor Mark as he unpacks the teachings and Jesus and reveals the heart and compassion of God for those who are hurt and hurting.
This week Richard continues our study of Luke 16 as Jesus explains the relationship between the Old Testament Law and the Kingdom of God that He was ushering in
This week Sue Jones unpacks the long and sometimes confusing parable of the Dishonest Manager
A parable has been described as a story with intent - it is story that awakens insight, pokes the conscience and moves us to take action. Parables were widely used by Jewish Rabbi’s in Jesus day - and in the hands of Jesus, His parables became prophetic instruments delivering a message from God. Listen as Mark unpacks the Parable of the Lost Coin
This week Lydia discovers the unexpected depth in the well known parable of the lost sheep
When you know you’re chosen, that’s when you know that you’re loved, and when you’re loved, well...that gives you the kind of confidence you need to walk through doors everyone else wouldn’t dare go through.
Todays message is to remind us all to watch the season - to spot when our season shifts and God moves us from one set of priorities to another, when the opportunities He has been preparing us for are presented before us and we have the choice of whether or not to take that step of faith and obedience
There’s no time for complacency. Richard Giles share this weeks message: The Narrow Door as we continue our series exploring The Promise & The Purpose found in Luke’s account of the life of Jesus.
What is the Kingdom of God - where can it be found - what is it like? Dave Jones dives in to these questions and more in episode 92 of The Promise & The Purpose
This week Steve explores one of the lesser known parables of Jesus: the unfruitful fig tree
The Promise and the Purpose found in this week’s passage is this:
We will all face the magistrate at the end of days - when God judges us all - the question is, have we reached a settlement with Jesus that means he paid the debt we owed to Justice?
Have our sins vanished in the eyes of God?
Are we free because Jesus has paid our ransom?
If the answer for you today is, honestly ‘no’ - then listen to the words of Jesus - Judge for yourself what is the right thing to do - while there is still time, take the opportunity to reach a settlement with God - take Him at his word
In todays passage, Jesus is continuing to teach his disciples what it means to be a Jesus follower - and after words of encouragement, telling them not to worry, promising that God will provide for them, this week he shares a warning -
This is not going to be easy - people will reject me, and when they reject me they will reject you as well.
But remember this - the purpose of what Jesus is saying in context - when people reject you because of your faith - they are only doing that because they reject Jesus first
So don’t take it personally, do not get worried about it, do not allow your fear of what other people think or say affect how you stand up for Jesus
This week Jesus shares a challenging word to anyone in leadership - and Dave Jones unpacks and explains it
This week Mark explains how Jesus' instruction to his disciples explodes the common world view of what people need in order to thrive and be fulfilled. Join us this week to uncover Maslow's pyramid of lies!
Our slow walk through the Gospel of Luke continues - this week Sue explores what is means to be acknowledged by God.
The purpose of todays passages - as Jesus speaks correction to ancient religious leaders - denominations and temple jobs that don’t exist anymore - the principles apply to us - people of the book - followers of God, that we should not fall into the same traps:
What goes on inside our head and heart is more important than what happens outside - so do what you need to do in order to guard your heart and mind - if that means giving away things you find to precious, then give them away - stop watching those programs or hanging out with those people.
Keep the main thing the main thing - focus on the transformation that God desires for you - do what is right in every situation, loving mercy, walking humbly with your God
Care what rubs off from you on those around you - speak life, build up, encourage
Recognise that scripture is not a stick to hit people with - it is a map that shows the way to a better life - so first make sure you understand it and how it applied to your life then you will be able to help other people understand what it says and how it applies to their lives
What Jesus is saying in this weeks passage is very much a continuation of what Steve covered last week - Jesus challenged the crowd to not only hear the word of God but also to do something about it
Then he makes these two comparisons - the Queen of Sheeba travelled for weeks to hear what Solomon had to say - and here right in front of you is something greater than Solomon - the very son of God - what do you want to learn from him, will you listen and be teachable
And the people of Nineveh - they repented when they heard the preaching of Jonah - and here in front of you is something greater than Jonah - will you repent when you hear what Jesus has to preach?
Steve finds unexpected depth in just two verses this week, as we continue to explore The Promise & The Purpose - our slow walk through the Gospel of Luke. This weeks message is a challenge to us all, to Hear and Do.
This week’s affection Dad Joke filled message from Lydia has a serious heart - you need to Finish The Job!
This week Mark unpacks the unusual accusation thrown at Jesus - that He is in league with the Lord of the Flies.
There is a world we can see, and then another realm we can sense - the supernatural - we see its effects on our world even though we can't see it directly.
We all make excuses, all the time. Putting things off we know we should do now - ignoring difficult decisions or hard questions.
Jesus faced the cross head on - no excuses, no delay - and he challenges us to face life the same way
Everyone is not on the same mission as you, they might not get what you are doing - that doesn’t mean you are wrong it simply means they are on a different mission
Just because I don’t share your passion and enthusiasm for something that doesn’t mean you are on the wrong track… And it doesn’t mean I am not hearing from God if I don’t get on board with you - you know we can all have different jobs to do
One body - many parts - each doing our bit means everything gets done
There are lots of things we do together
But there are lots of things we will do alone as well
Not everyone is going to get you - or get your mission - and that’s ok
There is power in the name of Jesus, but it's not a magic word - it's a powerful weapon reserved exclusively for family
The truth is not always plain or obvious. Today Dave explains one of the reasons why Jesus' disciples just didn't seem to 'get it'
Suffering and success are alike in that they do not make us or break us - but they do reveal who we really are - they are both a magnifying glass that shows our heart and character.
When a crisis hits, it is too late to prepare so heed the words of Jesus and prepare today for tomorrows troubles.
If fear sometimes makes you do something silly…. don’t worry - you are in good company!
Being a Christian - the gift of salvation is exactly that - a free gift from God given to everyone who believes in Jesus - but people often make the mistake of thinking that receiving that free gift - becoming a christian is the finish line. Its not, its the starting line
The most important question Jesus ever asked - he asked it to Peter, and He asks it of us today: Who do YOU say I am?
The feeding of the 5000 is a story that many have heard of, and even studied before. This week Mark explores this familiar old story and uncovers some new truths for today
A special message this week for our Fellowship Sunday as all the elders and Pastors take part in sharing our vision for Hope in 2022
Special guests Richard & Tracey explore Jesus' command to his disciples to Go and spread the Gospel and bring practical examples from the work of Sat7 in the middle east.
Don’t fall into the trap of treating faith like a magic spell - if only you can say the right thing, do the right thing, declare the right thing then you will get your miracle. There is no magic formula.
Jesus treats us all as individuals, and looking at two more reports of Jesus’ healing miracles we find him doing it differently once again.
Today more people are suffering from decision fatigue than ever before as the pandemic has thrown our usual routines into disarray forcing us to make many more decisions than we are used to and often trying to make decisions where there are loud and opposing voices telling to make opposite choices so the decision making is not clear cut and so becomes even more taxing.
This week learn how to:
Deal with decision fatigue
Spot the dangerous voices that seek you harm
Learn how not to judge others when they say or do something that upsets you
Realise who is the real church and your role within it
There will always be storms in this life - but how we face them depends on who is in our boat with us.
Join Lydia for a special Christmas Morning online service from our home to yours: Unwrap the Magic of Christmas
This week Ceridi Owen shares a different take on the Christmas Story - from the perspective of the shepherds who received a message about the new born baby in Bethlehem
Part three of our Christmas Series, Witness His Majesty, takes a look at the Christmas story through the eyes of Joseph and Mark shares three keys that will help you navigate any season of change of uncertainty.
Lydia brings a timely word that will help you make sense of this season, in part two of our Christmas series from Hope Church
A family business is what you get when people who are related to each other get on and build something together and with that definition, I would say that the local church, Hope Church, is a family business... We are a group of people who are doing something together
A family business is what you get when people who are related to each other get on and build something together and with that definition, I would say that the local church, Hope Church, is a family business... We are a group of people who are doing something together
When we read the bible or listen to a sermon that teaches us from the bible there are these four things that happen:
We get taught what is true
We realise what is wrong in our lives
We get corrected when we are doing or thinking wrong things
And we are taught how to do what is right
And all this is in order to equip us to DO - James and Paul agree on something for a change - don’t just be hearers of the word but do-ers - put into practice what your have learned.
It’s time to get Back to Basics with Pastor Lydia - a strategic, prophetic message for Hope Church.
This week Mark examines the role of the women who funded Jesus ministry then went on to plant churches and join the ranks of the apostles.
Jesus is the Forgiver… but he is not what people expected or even what they thought they wanted or needed
Jesus does not look at us in the same way we look at each other - he looks beyond our failings to see a beloved child of God.
This week Dave Jones invites us to look again at Jesus the Forgiver as we continue to discover the The Promise & The Purpose in the Gospel of Luke
Jesus is the Messiah… but he is not what people expected or even what they thought they wanted or needed
The same is as true today as it was 2,000 years ago.
This week Sue Jones invites us to look again at Jesus the Messiah as we continue to discover the The Promise & The Purpose in the Gospel of Luke
GOD SEES YOU and HAS COMPASSION ON YOU
In this miracle story NOBODY ASKS JESUS for ANYTHING…
And nobody is described as “believing for a miracle” – This miracle in today’s story comes out of the HEART of JESUS… HIS COMPASSION moves him into the miracle. Discover the depth of God’s compassion towards you today as Lydia shares a thrilling and uplifting word from Hope Church Malmesbury
Today’s message is about Faith and Authority… But mostly it is about Authority. Often, when we fail to see the breakthrough and success we are looking for in our life - it is not a lack of faith that is the problem, but a lack of authority that is blocking our breakthrough
Today Mark shares the two key principles of walking in authority as a disciple of Jesus
This weeks Sue and Michelle lead us into the heart of worship and show us how to test the treasure in our hearts
Get yourself right before you try to fix other people… self awareness leads to fairness!
Let’s be honest… It feels much easier to fix everyone else… to tell everyone what they are doing wrong… than to examine ourselves and make the changes we need to get right!
It is easier to criticise someone else rather than deal with those same faults in our own lives.
Learn the secret of self-awareness that leads to peace with Lydia this week
Jesus is gathering his disciples, he is making his apostles, he is explaining his new approach to life - he is defining what it means to be a Jesus follower, laying the groundwork for the new covenant and defining the culture of the Jesus people.
Jesus is - right here - in these pages of your bible - you can see the birth of a movement that would change the world and shape human civilisation for the next two thousand years
Jesus doesn’t lay out a vision, he doesn’t write down a mission statement instead he talks about how his follows should behave, their attitudes - he is defining the culture
Watch out Everyone - Lydia is preaching this week on part two of Jesus’ sermon on the mount. Following on from the beatitudes, this week we look at the woes- the warnings of Jesus.
This week Steve unveils The Promise & The Purpose of The Beatitudes - Jesus’ great reversal that shows the path through difficult times
It is in the Gospels that we find Jesus revealed as the Son of the Living God and the battle for our minds takes off – if we believe Christ’s teaching about God and His Kingdom, our previous understanding is turned on it’s head. Special Guest Pastor Pat joins us from Spain to share on the Power and the Purpose of Jesus
It’s not what you think - a timely and faith building message for this season from Mark. Whatever you think is going on in your life, whatever you think you have been through in the past year… it’s not what you think!
This week Lydia reveals 3 essential keys to unlock your healing and how to maintain your spiritual health
God’s not pleased with obedience, he’s pleased with the free choice to love because when we choose to love, when we chose mercy, when we chose compassion and when we chose justice then we are fulfilling our creation mandate to be imagers of God - to be like Him.
When Jesus stepped into the world, everything changed. History was split in two - BC and AD. The old rules that had governed peoples relationship with God, the Old Rituals people followed in order to connect with the divine, and the Old Response people had to God... In a moment all was swept away and replaced with something better, more glorious and more gracious. And people rejected it because people hate change.
This is Jesus’ purpose for you - that you would become the person God created you to be and that you would do all the amazing things God planned for you to do.
When you learn to put first things first, you unlock Gods blessing and power in your life, your priorities are reset and you find you have more time and energy - learn how to seek first the things of God’s kingdom and release God’s peace into your life today.
We are all unique and different, and we all done and said things we would be horrified if they were made public - maybe things we did and said before we knew any better, before we gave our lives to Jesus… Maybe things we did and said since we gave our life to Jesus and that’s why we carry the guilt with us still. These things can’t be undone so we don’t know what to do or say or feel about it, but the constant shame and guilt can end up leaving us … Numb
Will you stand?
To remain standing, to persevere, to be consistent and keep on turning up - this is what God calls us to do. To put on the armour of God and just… Stand.
Learn more about the work of opendoorsuk.org
Jesus didn’t choose Simon Peter because he was a brilliant speaker or a good writer or had any knowledge or useful skills to ministry. HE chose Simon Peter because he was enthusiastic. Because he was obedient. Because he was willing to step up. Because He could let go of his plans and shift into Jesus’ plan. How about you?
What is the Kingdom of God - Where can you find it and When does it reign in history? Answers to these questions and more as we continue to explore The Promise & The Purpose
Are you spiritual or logical - a person of science or of faith? This week Lydia explores how Jesus is the very essence of logic and reason - and following him is the only logical thing to do!
Going to church is not reliant on how good the service might be or who’s preaching this week or how many modern worship songs they might sing there… nor who’s leading the worship. That’s how you might choose to attend a conference or a concert… not how you choose whether to go to church!
Going to Church on a Sunday should be your custom, It should be an immoveable object in your life …
When you have a confident expectation of good - when you live in alignment with the truth that God has good plans for your life, when your Hope is based on God’s good promises not your own bad imaginations of what might go wrong - then you realise that Hope is the answer to every temptation.
Adam was formed from the dirt, from the created physical realm, yet he was animated to life when God breathed into him, imparting the breath of life - a phrase used only here in the whole bible -
Adam is different from all the other living things God created - Adam is a fusion of the physical with the spiritual - the breath of life shared from Yahweh dwells within Adam and his offspring and no where else.
The purpose of the story of Enoch is to illuminate the story of Jesus and to frame his victory on the cross as complete - not just reversing the sin of Adam - the rebellion of humans against Yahweh - but also dealing with the sin of the angels, the rebellion of the spiritual sons of God against Yahweh.
And the promise of Enoch is to know that we can please our God, not by living perfectly, not by working hard, but simply by believing him and believing his promise to reward his children.
When you walk with someone, you are going in the same direction they are going
When you walk with someone you have to be walking at the same pace they are walking at
Noah walked with God
The bible starts with Adam and Eve walking with God, and ends with God once more dwelling with his creation.
Walking with God is the key to success
When you walk with God you set your direction, and you make your choices to stay alongside God
Abraham and Sarah waited 25 years for the promise of a child to come to be.
Waiting is not punishment or learning or with any understandable reason – Sometimes it is just a part of life. We do not have all the information. God knows what we don’t. Trust Him.
Yes waiting tests our faith sometimes - but as I wrote this message I felt God impress upon my heart that it isn’t always for that reason.
GOD IS NOT REASONable – We cannot learn or grasp GOD with a human concept.
Sometimes we have to wait just because he hasn’t given us the fulness of the promise yet.
That’s it, no BIGGER REASON and we can laugh while we wait, and we can wait with faith, and we can expect with full confidence - because GOD has shown throughout time that He always keeps his promises in his timing, which is always on time every time!
When God tests us, when God puts a test before us - he presents us with a choice, an opportunity - an opportunity to see God move, and opportunity to grow our faith - to see something amazing
And the test for us is: what will we choose?
Join Pastor Lydia as she uncovers 2 big lies that could be holding you back your Awesome Blessings from God. Continuing our slow walk through Luke’s Gospel and the family tree of Jesus - today we look at the life of Jacob.
Our relationships define us - in ways that are obvious and subtle
We define ourselves based on our relationships - a husband, a pastor, a boss - our identity is closely linked to our relationships
Which means, when a relationship is healthy, it has a positive impact on our identify and our definition of ourself
And when the relationship is not healthy - it can have a negative impact
What if, the unhealthyness in the relationship comes not from the other person, but from you. From what YOU say, how YOU act, YOUR attitudes and YOUR behaviours… You will see in todays message, how that also has a negative impact on you - on your sense of identity and your definition of yourself.
Who you are - your identity and sense of self - is affected by how you treat other people just as much as by how other people treat you.
Can you imagine the tabloid headlines on uncovering that family line for Jesus?
I LOVE that God turns what we imagine in our self-righteous minds on it’s head.
If you have been made to feel unworthy or unusable by God because of your past or even because of your present status in life; It’s time for you to change that mindset over yourself.
TIME TO GET INTO YOUR REHAB
And… if you are guilty of discounting someone from ministry potential – you also need some Rahab rehab thinking today.
The downstream is what happens later…
You have no idea - we can not image what will happen downstream when we do the right thing today - the results of what we do, in God’s hands, are more than we can image
Don’t discount the downstream - as hard as doing the right thing today may be, don’t discount the downstream blessings it will unlock
The sons of Jesse are rejected one by one… until he seems to run out of sons… Samuel asks if there are any more sons…
It’s like the story of Cinderella isn’t it? The shoe does not fit any of these… is there anyone else?
And the answer, just like in Cinderella, is “oh well I guess there’s the insignificant one out doing the low, menial tasks”
Do you ever feel INSIGNIFICANT?
There’s no such thing in the life of a Christian!
YOU, like DAVID have been chosen!!
Don’t be surprise by opposition - don’t be discouraged if things get hard, it doesn’t mean you are doing anything wrong - it probably means you are doing something right - something worth opposing!
This opposition - it’s not what it seems - there were other things going on, out of sight…
God loves you - and so do we! God chose you to be loved before you ever did anything lovable or deserving. In this message from Mark on Valentine’s Day - learn what it means to be loved by God.
Jesus Promises to fill all of us who choose him with his Holy Spirit – he gives us substance!
Our Purpose is to live as spirit filled wheat in this world - No matter whether we are crushed or planted we will produce something of greater value or sustenance for others!
What should we do - the title of todays message: What should we do?
This is a good question we should ask ourselves - if you are a follower of Jesus - how are you living out the command of scripture to …
Eph 4:1 (NLT) lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God.
It can be frustrating to know you are in the right place but your “time has not yet come” Timing is important
Learn how to position yourself so you will be ready to step into you purpose at the right time.
Never look at your circumstances or your situation and think that they prove God is not working for your good
Don’t make assumptions about what God’s blessing is supposed to look like
God causes All things work together for the good of His people - whether or not we understand what is happening
Locks keep you out, they keep things out of reach
We have a lock on the barn where the hope van gets stored - I bet you have a lock on the doors to your house
If you want to get into your house, you have to master that lock, to take control of it and open it
Today I am going to share three locks - things that if you master them, will unlock for you the ability to thrive during lockdown 3.0 and beyond
And these locks are taught to us by the prophet Anna, two thousand years after she met the baby Jesus, her testimony continues to speak to us and all who eagerly wait to see the Lord move.
The story continues, 8 days after the birth of Jesus on the first Christmas Day ... As Simeon meets the infant Jesus
Celebrate the Greatest Gift… And explore what the Wise Men may have seen in the sky over Bethlehem
The Birth of John the Baptist was unexpected in more ways than one!
This week Pastor (Nanny) Pat joins us from Spain
This is more than a simple story of two pregnant women meeting up for a coffee to talk about baby stuff. This is a prophetic, Holy Spirit centred declaration that Jesus Christ is the Messiah. This is the start of the renewed covenant, the Holy Spirit announcing the beginning of the Messianic Covenant (Salvation through Jesus Christ) and this is also about John the Baptist (Elizabeth’s son and the man charged with pathing the way for the Messiah) meeting with Jesus before they are born.
Luke is an educated man, the Apostle Paul refers to him as a Doctor in one of his letters (Colossians 4) - Luke is thorough… and his purpose in doing all this research and work - writing Luke and Acts - is so his friend called Theophilus can be certain of the truth of everything you were taught.
And this is my prayer for us, my purpose through this series - that we can all be certain of the truth of everything we were taught about Jesus - and you have never been taught to learn it for the first time.
And so let’s begin
Somethings you cant see - until you really see them or their effects
There are some truths that you really don’t see - until the day you see them for yourself and then you can’t un-see it. Are you ready for the Return of the King?
How does the Old Testament concept of the steadfast love of God relate to the idea of grace found in the New Testament?
What do the Angel Gabriel and Gandalf the Wizard have to do with this message?
Is it really too early to start Christmas?
The answer to all these questions and more in this week’s message of Hope: What’s So Amazing About Grace?
God does some of His best work, behind closed doors
The dead come back to life - dreams that have been set aside are reborn
God’s kingdom is not under lockdown
We don’t have to be able to meet together in order to meet with God - he mets us where we are
The Christian Life has often been compared to sailing a ship on the high seas - navigation is hard, storms come and the people sharing the voyage with you make a huge difference.
Week two of Reboot, Reset, Restart - and the last live service before we return to lockdown in the UK for 4 weeks Mark preaches a sermon backwards. Our theme this week is: Because Jesus Told Me To.
The answer to the identity angst that is visible in every part of our society at the moment… is not who we chose ourselves to be - it is to recognise our identity comes not from what we choose for ourselves but from the one who choses us and to see our identity through His eyes — as a child of God, a follower of Jesus - a part of the true vine
The theme of Covenant runs throughout the Bible - Old & New Testament - and shapes God’s relationship with humans. Knowledge and understanding of covenant can give rise to faith and enable us to overcome impossible odds. This week we look at the Covenant God made through Jesus - the new and better covenant that defines our relationship with God today
The theme of Covenant runs throughout the Bible - Old & New Testament - and shapes God’s relationship with humans. Knowledge and understanding of covenant can give rise to faith and enable us to overcome impossible odds. This week we look at the Covenant God made with Moses and how the Old Testament Law points us to Jesus and freedom.
The theme of Covenant runs throughout the Bible - Old & New Testament - and shapes God’s relationship with humans. Knowledge and understanding of covenant can give rise to faith and enable us to overcome impossible odds. This week we look at the Covenant God made with Abraham
The theme of Covenant runs throughout the Bible - Old & New Testament - and shapes God’s relationship with humans. Knowledge and understanding of covenant can give rise to faith and enable us to overcome impossible odds. This week we look at the first Covenant mentioned in the Bible - the covenant declared to Noah.
To tackle the Healing Gap - I’m going to first look at some Principles - what does the bible mean when it speaks of healing, some Promises - what does the bible say we should expect, and then the Problems - what are the things that gets in the way of Healings today and what can we do about them
We are called by Jesus to BE Peace makers and we are promised that it leads to blessing!
Being a peacemaker makes you Happy, Spiritually secure and to be envied
In a special edition of Hope Church online recorded by the Sea in Devon, Mark & Lydia share their favourite stories of Jesus by the sea
Today in Mind the Gap we are going to talk about a different kind of Gap - this is a Gap which can show up in our lives - and show us up. It is the Gap between what the bible says about God’s children and the life that we live and the proof that our life offers that the Gospel is true.
Today we will look into the Proof Gap
FAITH is literally exercised every moment of our day
You can’t say you are not a person of faith... What you mean by that is really you are not a child of God... If you CHOOSE not to believe that Jesus is the answer to salvation and eternal life then that’s your BELIEF choice.
Funny how we need a lot less convincing to believe that the Bible is wrong than to believe its right... we need less proof to convince us to go against the Christian faith... than we demand for us to commit to it.
Jesus said accept as a child because they don’t reason and argue; they hear that God loves them and they believe – they hear that God has a purpose for them and they get excited and imagine it... they LOOK for purpose because they know they have it. They hear that they have power and they declare it and they claim it and they expect it.
Adults are so messed up
The enemy’s greatest tool in the west is Comfort!
We have believed the world’s lie that “A successful life is a comfortable life”
Our measurement of blessing is actual checked against our comfort levels
Perhaps The POWER GAP starts in the PURSUIT GAP
What are you pursuing in life?
When we change our perspective we can see clearly
Three perspectives to change this week:
-
God is working in your life
-
God is fighting for you
-
God will change your perspective when you call to him
We read in the Bible that:
Ephesians 2:10 (NKJV Strong's) 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
So what are those good works we are supposed to be doing - how do we spot them, how do we know what on earth we are supposed to be doing for heavens’s sake?
Prosperity comes when God blesses what you are doing
Provision is when God gives something to you
In Mind the Gap today we’re going to look at the promises of God concerning our provision and what might cause us to experience a Gap between those promises and our every day experience.
Our new preaching theme “MIND THE GAP” is turning out to need more like a series of teachings on each theme to properly find our way to closing the gaps we see between our Christian experience and what we see in the Bible and KNOW to be true.
Prosperity is God blessing the things you do - it is not sitting idle on your blessed assurance waiting for manna to drop from heaven
Our new preaching theme “MIND THE GAP” is turning out to need more like a series of teachings on each theme to properly find our way to closing the gaps we see between our Christian experience and what we see in the Bible and KNOW to be true.
So today we have PROPHECY PART 2 – The releasing of the PROPHETS
What is prophecy - is it for today? How do we close the gap between the expectation in the New Testament for the church to have a prophetic voice and what we experience in our loves today?
The Proximity Gap is the gap between us and God - does God feel close at hand or far away - do you find it easy to hear the voice of God or is He silent? When you have to make a decision do you find it easy or do you get stuck - not knowing which path to take and not knowing what God wants you to do? Learn how to close the Proximity Gap
The Gap is the distance between the church we see in Acts and the church we experience today - or to put it another way… The Gap is the distance between today and a revival!
Your Attitude determines your Altitude!
In the final part of our series No Turning Back, we see how the Israelites discovered Attitude makes all the difference to your wellbeing and victory.
The key to THRIVING as we are truly designed to do - in this life and the next – is in knowing our true identity and living it out!
There is more to being a Christian than being saved - we are designed to rise and soar like eagles. Once we start on the journey - there is no turning back!
This week we look at the Fear that Pushes us - pushes us into bad choices, rash decisions and pushes us away from the things we should be running towards
This is the war that rages within us - our flesh and the Spirit of God within us - opposed to each other keeping us from doing the things we want to do - which leaves us frustrated, depressed, disillusioned, disappointed. This week learn how to Remove Before Flight those things which seek to Control You
As a man prays - so is he. We pray about the things that matter most to us. Do our prayers reveal that there is a ‘secret materialist’ sitting inside my head - that we put more focus and value on the here and now in the physical world than I do on the spiritual word?
Learn how to identify the attitudes and beliefs that you need to Remove Before Flight
We become like the people we spend time with We begin to echo the voices we listen to
Learn how to identify the voices and people that you need to Remove Before Flight
There are things in our lives - attitudes, behaviours, relationships - mental strongholds - beliefs even - and they hold us back
Until they are removed - we can not soar
We’re not supposed to be held back, or held down by things from our past or the things we do today - we’re designed for freedom, not captivity
In the final chapter of our Easter series, we see God's Restoration in action.
Restoration is more than forgiveness
You may accept forgiveness from God, but have you allowed yourself to be restored?
When you are forgiven, God takes away the consequences of our sin
When we are restored, God gives back to us the things we lost as a result of that sin.
Experience the beautiful, gentle restoration of God in our message this week
Today is the day when everything changes. The tomb is empty, death is defeated, Jesus is alive!
The Easter story rushes towards its climactic conclusion. This week Pastor Lydia guides us through the next chapter of the story as we look at Easter through the eyes of the Apostle John and see first hand the humanity and compassion of Jesus.
Who is Jesus? The most important question anyone ever has to answer. Because the answer to that question changes everything. This week Pastor Mark explores who Jesus was to the characters in the Easter story including Judas, Peter, Pilate and the people in the street. We pray that you will find you answer - who is Jesus to you?
Jesus prayed for you - just before he was arrested - he took time to pray for you - and He continues to intercede on your behalf in the throne room of heaven. This is the assurance of every Christ follower - the the free offer available to any who would chose to believe today.
Easter is the culmination of the Christian year and the foundation of our Faith. Pastor Lydia starts our new series looking at Easter through the eyes of the Apostle John with a timely message on keeping a Christ-like perspective on life.