Hope Church Nashville Podcast: Recent Episodes
Hope Church
We exist to bring hope to our community by walking the way of Jesus until it is in Nashville as it is in heaven. https://linktr.ee/hopechurchnash.
Today Joel talked about the difference between knowing about God and actually knowing His presence, using Acts 19 where Paul meets disciples in Ephesus who'd never even heard of the Holy Spirit. He walked through three movements—faith without presence, the sons of Sceva learning that presence can't be borrowed secondhand, and the Ephesian believers burning their magic scrolls once God's presence made hiding unbearable. His invitation was simple: stop trying to manufacture or wield God like a tool, and instead come with open hands each morning praying "Holy Spirit, I'm open—not the concept of you, but you."
Support the show
This week Joel walked us through Acts 18, where Paul arrives alone in the loud, chaotic boomtown of Corinth by his own admission scared, in weakness and fear and trembling. He showed us the three gifts God gives frightened people: friends in Priscilla and Aquila who made sure Paul wasn't afraid alone, a promise in the night vision that "I am with you," and the assurance that God had already gone ahead of him, claiming many people in that city as His own before Paul had met a single one. We were left with the question of who the many people are that God already has in Nashville, still out there in the schools, job sites, recovery rooms, and shelters, and the reminder that when we're scared, God's got it.
Support the show
This week Joel walked us through Acts 17, where Paul stands on Mars Hill in Athens and, rather than mocking the city's countless idols, aches for it as a place of people starving for a God they cannot name. We are showed that an idol is not the absence of longing but longing that hasn't found its true home, and that God had been introducing Himself to Athens for six hundred years through their own poets and nameless altars before Paul ever arrived to fill in the name of Jesus. We are left with Paul's playbook for the Athenians in our own lives, to grieve instead of mock, to learn their poets, and to trust God's timing, reading our own stories as a hillside covered in altars marking every mercy God gave us before we knew Him.
Support the show
This week Joel walked us through Acts 17, where Paul and Silas move from Thessalonica to Berea and the same Gospel meets two very different responses. He showed us that the claim "Jesus is King" always lands as a threat to our personal sovereignty, and the only real difference between the two cities was whether they met that claim with a clenched fist or an open hand. The question we are left with is not which city we are but where our throne is? The seat we would still start a riot to keep, and how gently the King knocks on that door rather than storming it.
Support the show
This week Joel walked us through Acts 16, where Paul and Silas sing in a Philippian jail cell, and showed us that real freedom is not a circumstance to arrange but a person to receive. Tracing 2 Corinthians 3:17 through the story, he reminded us that freedom is the Spirit's presence, found not where the chains are absent but wherever the Lord is, even in the dark. The slave girl set free, the prisoners who stayed put, and the jailer who ended the night washing wounds and setting a table all point to the same truth, that when the Spirit comes in He goes to work and does not leave us where He found us.
Support the show
This week we end our journey through the Lord’s Prayer by reflecting on the final doxology: “For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.” Though not found in all Bible translations, this line is a powerful expression of praise rooted in Scripture and tradition. It grounds our prayers in God’s enduring reign, power, and glory, shifting our trust from ourselves to God and reminding us that all our hope rests in who God is and what God has done.
Support the show
This week, our journey through the Lord’s Prayer brought us to one of the most honest and, for many, most confusing petitions: “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” Even as we recite these words with familiarity, they invite us into profound vulnerability and dependence. Jesus acknowledges the reality of testing and temptation in every life and teaches us to seek both protection and deliverance, not because God tempts, but because we are weak and in need of grace. This is a prayer born out of humility and an admission that we are not as strong as we think. That only God’s mercy can keep us from moral failure and draw us courageously through our trials. In voicing this prayer, we learn to shift our trust from our willpower to God’s sustaining grace.
Support the show
Jesus places this line at the heart of the prayer, directly after “Give us our daily bread.” The order is intentional: after praying for daily provision, we turn to our daily need for grace. The very structure of the prayer teaches us that forgiveness is not a side issue—it’s central to life in the Kingdom. Jesus reminds us that sin is never the starting point—God’s character is. The prayer begins not with “Lord, I’ve messed up,” but with “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.” Before we ever name our failures, we are reminded of God’s goodness, mercy, and invitation to belong. Unforgiveness, however, is one of the greatest threats to that abundant life. It’s like a self-made prison—the longer we cling to resentment, the more we discover that we’ve locked ourselves in. Forgiveness, then, is not pretending something didn’t hurt—it’s choosing that the hurt no longer gets to be Lord of our life. Jesus’ command to forgive others “as we forgive our debtors” is not about earning God’s forgiveness; it’s about allowing His mercy to so deeply shape our hearts that it naturally flows outward. In the Kingdom of God, mercy received becomes mercy given.
Support the show
This week’s message continued our series on the Lord’s Prayer by connecting Jesus’ invitation to pray with his bold declaration, “I am the bread of life” (John 6:22-35). Jesus challenges the crowd who seek him primarily for physical needs, redirecting them to a deeper hunger—the spiritual fulfillment found only in him. He calls us to move beyond seeking temporary provisions and discover true satisfaction and eternal life through faith. The heart of prayer is trust in Jesus as the one sent by God to meet our deepest needs.
Support the show
This week’s sermon continued our series on the Lord’s Prayer, focusing on the profound petition: “Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” This line is a revolutionary declaration that invites us to trade control for surrender and our self-built kingdoms for the life-giving reign of God. To pray “Your kingdom come” is to recognize that God’s reign is not just a future hope but a present reality breaking into our world through Jesus in acts of healing, forgiveness, and mercy. The phrase “Your will be done” is an act of radical surrender, a conscious choice to yield our own agendas and trust that God’s will is His perfect, holy love aimed at restoring all things. Finally, “on earth as it is in heaven” serves as a commission, a powerful call to active participation in God’s work, challenging us to embody heaven’s justice, peace, and worship in our homes, workplaces, and communities right now.
Support the show
This week’s sermon began a new series on the Lord’s Prayer by exploring the disciples’ request in Luke 11, "Lord, teach us to pray". It acknowledged that prayer is often difficult and that feeling inadequate is a common experience for all believers. Before diving into the words of the prayer itself, we looked at the posture Jesus invites us into. Using the scriptures surrounding the Lord's Prayer, we learned three foundational principles for preparing our hearts to pray: Honesty (Keep it Real), Simplicity (Keep it Simple), and Perseverance(Keep it Up).
Support the show
This week’s sermon focused on James 1:22-27, exploring the call to be “doers of the word, and not hearers only”. The central metaphor of the message was the Word of God as a mirror. This mirror doesn't exist just to show us our reflection; it's meant to transform us. James challenges the notion of a passive faith, suggesting that a genuine encounter with Scripture prompts us to live differently. This active faith, or "pure and faultless" religion, is measured by two practical tests: how we control our speech and how we show mercy to the most vulnerable among us.
Support the show
This week’s sermon explored James 1:19-27, where followers of Jesus are invited to be “quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry.” In a world that celebrates instant reactions and sharp words, Scripture calls Christ’s people into a deliberate, countercultural posture. Listening is not mere courtesy, but a calling. We’re shown that deep spiritual transformation reveals itself in how we respond with patience, tender words, and restraint. Anger itself is not sinful, but a signpost, beckoning us to slow down, examine our hearts, and invite the Spirit to guide our every response so that our lives and speech produce the righteousness God desires.
Support the show
This week’s sermon highlighted that priests, followers of Jesus, aren’t simply spectators or dreamers.
True priests let their hearts be moved by the world’s brokenness, and step into that brokenness with action. Through the stories of Nehemiah and the prophecy of Isaiah, we see that God’s people are called to: feel a “holy burden” for the ruins around them, step into those ruins with hope, persevere through opposition, and build for generations to come.
Support the show
This week, we focused on the prophecy of Joel and its fulfillment in Acts, exploring what it means that God pours out His Spirit on all people, sons and daughters, young and old. The reality of God’s Spirit indwelling every believer invites everyone to dream “Kingdom dreams. ”Spirit-shaped visions for blessing others, rooted in Scripture, tested in community, and aimed at the common good. Kingdom dreaming doesn’t belong to a select few or to adults only. Jesus invites all of us to recover a sense of childlike wonder, trust, and courage, and to take concrete steps, however small, to love others in His name.
Support the show
This past Sunday, we concluded our series on Communion by reflecting on its role in forming a community. Communion is not just a ritual but a powerful reminder of Christ’s sacrifice and His ongoing presence among us. It is a meal that transcends divisions, uniting believers from all walks of life in a shared identity through the grace of Jesus. As we come to the table, we are reminded of our eternal hope in Christ’s return, and we proclaim the gospel together as one body. In this sacred act, we find both unity and healing, looking forward to the day when we will feast with Christ in His Kingdom.
Support the show
This past Sunday, we continued our series “Intersections” by focusing on the theme of identity. Because of the presence of sin in the world and our hearts, all of us are tempted to construct an identity for ourselves or to live with a distorted vision of who God has made us to be. Only when we come to faith in Christ at the eternal intersection and begin to be healed by Christ do we truly understand that our identity must be found in Christ alone.
Support the Show.
This past Sunday, we began our new series entitled “Intersections,” exploring how God uses our unique encounters and experiences to bring value to the work of the kingdom. Through the story of Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch, we are given an example of how God can divinely weave together stories and moments for his purposes and the building up of the church. A life of engaging others with the gospel begins when our lives intersect with Christ, and we start the process of healing from sin, finding our identity fully in him, and being formed more and into his likeness.
Support the Show.
This past Sunday, we concluded the first section of our series in the Book of Acts by exploring the result of Stephen’s persecution: exponential growth in the church. While it may seem counterintuitive, in the book of Acts, we consistently observe opposition to the faith that leads to the advance of the gospel. As we reflect on the experience of the persecuted church in Scripture and throughout history, we’re reminded that persecution can solidify the integrity of our faith, inspire those around us, and unite us with our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Support the Show.
This past Sunday, we continued our teaching series through the Book of Acts, exploring the strange process by which the apostles selected a successor for Judas Iscariot, Jesus's betrayer. In this passage, we read that Peter believes that the replacement of Judas fulfills Old Testament prophecy, which is why it is so odd that the disciples resort to using such a seemingly random process as “casting lots” to make the decision. This tension reminds us that while God’s plan is intricate and complex, his faithfulness is simple and true. And no matter what we are walking through or are uncertain about, we can count on the faithfulness of God in the grandest plans and the most minor details.
Support the Show.
This past Sunday, we explored our fourth and fifth core values at Hope Church- We live like Culture Matters and that the World Needs Hope. As followers of Jesus, we often feel that we are constantly at odds with the trends and forces shaping our culture. However, when we focus on places of overlap with our Christian worldview and engage fully in those areas, we are given an opportunity to tangibly present the Hope of Jesus to the world.
Support the Show.
This past Sunday, we explored our third core value at Hope Church- We live like Community is Essential. We are living through what many have called an epidemic of loneliness, where social connection and authentic community are becoming increasingly rare. Unfortunately, the church is no exception to this trend. The church in our day is often viewed as an event or social group that leaves many Christians unfulfilled. However, in Scripture, we are given a vision of how the new community of Jesus, the body of Christ, can exemplify unity, dependence, and maturity in our socially disconnected age.
Support the show
This past Sunday, we explored the first two of our five core values at Hope Church: We live like the Bible is True and that the Gospel Changes Us. While many people have various ways of understanding the Bible and its role in the Christian life, at Hope Church, we believe that the Bible is a unified story that leads to Jesus. And as we explore that story (Creation, Fall, Israel, Jesus, New Creation), we uncover good news or “gospel” that has transformed lives and communities all over the world.
Support the show
This is Sunday we talked about the mission statement of Hope Church and how we practically live that out as a church body and as individuals.
Mission Statement:
We exist to bring hope to our community by practicing the way of Jesus until it is in Nashville as it is in Heaven.
Support the show
This past Sunday, we explored the role that suffering plays in our spiritual formation, or how we are “shaped by suffering.” While many of us don’t like to consider how our suffering might be used for our spiritual maturity, the consistent teaching of the New Testament is that suffering is one of the primary means God uses to form the character of Christ in us. In the letter of 1 Peter, we are instructed to yield our suffering to God, knowing that it has the capacity to shape in us a resilient faith, a deeper joy, and an eternal hope.
Support the show
This past Sunday, we celebrated Jesus's resurrection and the hope we have in Christ because of the empty tomb. Many of us are tempted to grow overly familiar with this ancient truth. Still, just like Jesus’ disciples on the Road to Emmaus, we constantly need to have our “eyes opened” to the truth of the risen Christ, who is the only source of life and salvation that we can place our faith in. As we turn our eyes and hearts back to the resurrected Jesus and seek to become like him, we will discover his resurrection power at work in us in ways far greater than we can imagine.
Support the show
This past Sunday, we continued our teaching series through the life of Abraham, picking up in Genesis 15, several decades after God’s initial call of faith to Abraham and Sarah. God enters into a formal covenant with Abraham and invites him to trust his character even when his experience of his promises is incomplete. We explored how Abraham was counted righteous because of his faith (Gen 15:6) yet questioned how he could be certain God would be faithful (Gen 15:8), illustrating the tension of faith and doubt. Finally, in the covenant ritual, we are given a portrait of God’s unwavering commitment to his purposes of redemption and the sacrifice required to secure it.
Support the show
This past Sunday, we began a teaching series through the life of Abraham, exploring his initial “call of faith” in Genesis 12. Though Abraham lived in a land and among a people who did not know the Lord, he was willing to respond in obedience to God’s call on his life. In both the Old and New Testaments, Abraham is viewed as an example of faith, and his life illustrates some important aspects of what it looks like to be faithful to God’s leading. As we reflect on his call, we’re challenged to consider where God may be calling us to act in faith and what “gods” or “idols” we may need to cast off to do so.
Support the show
This past Sunday, we explored the corporate significance of our salvation in Christ and our commitments to one another as his body. While we affirm the importance of our individual relationship with God, we should never forget that the redemptive work that God is doing in the world is fundamentally communal. In Christ, all people are invited to become a part of the “people of God” (1 Pet 2:9-10). At Hope Church, we demonstrate our commitment to the body of Christ through four pillars: Gathering, Practicing, Serving, and Giving. As we exercise these things, the church grows in unity and power as a witness for Jesus and his kingdom.
Support the show
This past Sunday, we explored what it means to embrace Resurrection as a Way of Life through the words of Colossians 3:1-4. We all live from metaphors, and one of the defining metaphors of the Christian life in the New Testament is Resurrection. The Resurrection Life begins as we “accept the death” of our old self apart from Christ and receive the power of resurrection through the Holy Spirit. We live in the reality of the Resurrection through what we seek and what we set our minds on. As we participate in our transformation through the practice of resurrection, we confidently hope in the fullness of the resurrection to come.
Support the show
This week we explored the theme of “obedience” in the letter of 1 John and its significance as an evidence of genuine faith in a disciple of Jesus. Though oftentimes we are tempted to view obedience as merely conforming to a set of rules or guidelines, biblical obedience involves the orientation of our whole heart and life toward God. This sort of obedience can be seen as an act of trust, a completion of love, and ultimately as the path to true freedom.
Support the show
This Sunday we explored God’s covenant with Noah and all creation following the Flood. God makes a promise that he is not giving up on his plan of redemption and that the blessing of Eden will be restored. God provides a sign of this covenant (the rainbow) to remind us of the triumph of his mercy over judgment and his love over our sin. Ultimately, his promise points us forward toward our need for a “new covenant” and a deeper heart transformation only found in Christ.
Support the show
This week at Hope, we celebrated baptism Sunday with several people publicly professing faith in Jesus and uniting with the body of Christ. In the message, we explored the meaning of this ancient Christian ordinance through the lens of symbol, statement, and spiritual warfare. Witnessing a baptism reminds us of the power of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection and invites us to reflect on how that pattern of dying to self and being given new life continues as we grow as apprentices of Jesus.
Support the show
This Sunday, we explored one of the strangest passages in the Bible (Genesis 6:1-4) that describes the rebellion of spiritual beings known as the “sons of god.” While this passage can be challenging for modern readers of the Bible to understand or believe, it is a helpful reminder that inherent in the Biblical worldview is the reality of a spiritual world. As uncomfortable as it may be for us to accept, this story reveals that there are supernatural realities behind the evils we experience in our world. The New Testament teaches that to practice the way of Jesus is to engage in spiritual conflict (Eph 6:10-12), but in Christ, our great hope is that we are involved in a conflict where victory has already been won.
Support the show
This past Sunday, we explored through the lens of Cain’s descendants the complicated legacies we can carry in our family history. Many of us allow legacies of brokenness in our family of origin to become a defining feature of our identity. But Christ has come to bring us into a new family and to give us a new legacy defined by his righteousness. We are called a new creation in Christ, and the places of pain and brokenness in our legacy can be healed. As we grow into this new creation, we become Christ’s representatives and are given the opportunity and honor to leave a legacy of eternal significance.
Support the show
This past Sunday, we looked at Genesis 3:20-24 and explored how God demonstrates Surprising Grace even amid the consequences of the fall. We see God’s surprising grace in the promise of a future deliverer, his provision for sin and shame, and protection from eternally living in a state of spiritual death. The great hope of the gospel is that there is a way back to the garden and the life we were always made for.
This way comes to us as the person of Jesus (John 14:6), the promised deliverer whose blood provides a covering for sin and shame and invites us back into the Kingdom through a life of apprenticeship to him.
Support the show
This past Sunday, we looked at Genesis 3:15-19 and explored how the fall of humanity resulted in a tangible experience of opposition in both our work and human relationships. Our work is fraught with “thorns and thistles” that create conflict and exhaustion. Human relationships are likewise filled with tensions and distorted power dynamics we were never intended to experience. The good news is that in Jesus’ kingdom, we are assured that all creation will one day be free of these corruptions. We have the hope that in Christ, we can experience both joy and a renewed vision for our work and relationships.
Support the show
This past Sunday, we looked at Genesis 3 to discover how chaos disrupted God’s perfect order. Adam and Eve made the conscious choice to disobey God’s plan introducing sin into the world. It is not God who breaks his promise to us, it is us who choose to live outside of God’s intended order seeking out chaos instead of hope. But God’s love for the world is so unceasing that we can find that hope as we learn to abide in Christ.
Support the show
This past week, we took some time to come to grips with the cynicism of adulthood. This cynicism has proven itself to make things particularly difficult when it comes to greeting the Kingdom with awe and wonderment–like we ourselves are children. We read that Jesus tells His disciples, us, that if we do not change and become like children in regard to humility, we can never enter His Kingdom. So the journey for us then lies so much in allowing the Holy Spirit to begin stripping away all of the ego and cynicism that we so often bring to the table. In doing so, only then can we begin to receive the Kingdom like it is a child and allow the Holy Spirit to cultivate it in our lives so that it continues to grow until it reaches its completeness in the end.
Support the show
This week we examined the value of church membership. We looked at multiple reasons as to why people choose to not join a local body of believers (busyness, can’t find the “right” one, hypocrisy, church hurt, etc). However, as we survey the New Testament, we find that none of it is written to an autonomous believer. Every book is written either to an entire local body of believers or a leader of a local body with the goal of instructing them how to love one another and the world around well—as Christ loved them.
Support the show
"He put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.”
Matthew 13: 31-32
This sermon was delivered on October 30, 2022, by Joel Frame at Hope Church in Nashville, Tennessee
If you have any questions, please reach out to us at church@hopechurchnashville.com or visit us at linktr.ee/hopechurchnash.
Parables #Seed #Matthew13 #MustardSeed #Jesus #GospelofMatthew #Nashvillechurches #Hope #HopeChurch #EastNashville
Support the show
"He put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field; but while everybody was asleep, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and then went away. So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared as well. And the slaves of the householder came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where, then, did these weeds come from?’ He answered, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The slaves said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ But he replied, ‘No; for in gathering the weeds you would uproot the wheat along with them. Let both of them grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Collect the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.’ ”
Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples approached him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.” He answered, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man; the field is the world, and the good seed are the children of the kingdom; the weeds are the children of the evil one, and the enemy who sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. Just as the weeds are collected and burned up with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all evildoers, and they will throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Let anyone with ears listen!"
Matthew 13: 24-30; 36-43
This week we take a look at the parable of the wheat and the weeds. When we look at it in light of our apprenticeship to Jesus, we find that we have not been given the responsibility of picking and choosing who is or isn't going to hear and understand the good news of God's kingdom. Our mission, then, is to share the truth of His kingdom in every sphere of our lives.
This sermon was delivered on October 23, 2022, by Joel Frame at Hope Church in Nashville, Tennessee
If you have any questions, please reach out to us at church@hopechurchnashville.com or visit us at linktr.ee/hopechurchnash.
Parables #Seed #Matthew13 #Jesus #GospelofMatthew #Nashvillechurches #Hope #HopeChurch #EastNashville
Support the show
Live by the Spirit, I say, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. For what the flesh desires is opposed to the Spirit, and what the Spirit desires is opposed to the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not subject to the law. Now the works of the flesh are obvious: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. I am warning you, as I warned you before: those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit.
Galatians 5:16-25
As believers in Christ, we know that we are saved by grace through faith. But then what? In this passage, Paul communicates clearly about the challenges we still face and what a life lived with God looks like. Life as an apprentice of Jesus is not a list of things to avoid doing; it is a relationship to cultivate as the Spirit bears fruit in us. This fruit is central to understanding our faith.
This sermon was delivered on Oct. 2, 2022, by Zach Bevill at Hope Church in Nashville, Tennessee
If you have any questions, please contact us at church@hopechurchnashville.com or visit us at linktr.ee/hopechurchnash.
Galatians5 #FruitoftheSpirit #Love #Joy #Peace #Patience #Kindness #Goodness #Faithfulness #Gentleness #SelfControl #JesusChrist #ApostlePaul #Galatians #HolySpirit #WorksoftheFlesh #Nashvillechurches #Hope #HopeChurch #EastNashville
Support the show
"Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing every disease and every sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few."
Matthew 9:35-37 NRSV
Jesus says that the harvest is “plentiful”; which implies that it already exists. You don’t send someone out to gather something that doesn’t exist. So if it already exists and it’s plentiful, where is it?
It’s all around you; you just need eyes to see it. The problem is that so many times we’re blind to the needs around us that we completely miss opportunities to bring the Kingdom into those places.
This sermon was delivered on Sept. 25, 2022, by Jason Rumbough at Hope Church in Nashville, Tennessee
If you have any questions, please contact us at church@hopechurchnashville.com or visit us at linktr.ee/hopechurchnash.
Matthew9 #Jesus #GospelofMatthew #Nashvillechurches #Hope #HopeChurch #EastNashville #FollowMe #JesusChrist #faith #harvest #workers #KingdomofHeaven #KingdomofGod
Support the show
"As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, crying loudly, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!” When he entered the house, the blind men came to him; and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to him, “Yes, Lord.” Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith let it be done to you.” And their eyes were opened. Then Jesus sternly ordered them, “See that no one knows of this.” But they went away and spread the news about him throughout that district.
"After they had gone away, a demoniac who was mute was brought to him. And when the demon had been cast out, the one who had been mute spoke; and the crowds were amazed and said, “Never has anything like this been seen in Israel.” But the Pharisees said, “By the ruler of the demons he casts out the demons.”
Matthew 9:27-34 NRSV
These two blind men were the first people to call Jesus "Son of David." They saw him for who he was, even though they couldn't see him at all.
If you are really listening to who Jesus is and paying attention to his teaching, your mind CAN’T remain closed. Because you’ll miss everything he’s trying to do.
This sermon was delivered on Sept. 18, 2022, by Jason Rumbough at Hope Church in Nashville, Tennessee
If you have any questions, please reach out to us at church@hopechurchnashville.com or visit us at linktr.ee/hopechurchnash.
Matthew9 #Jesus #GospelofMatthew #Nashvillechurches #Hope #HopeChurch #EastNashville #FollowMe #Healing #Blind #Mercy #JesusChrist #demons #faith
Support the show
Many times, we approach Jesus with a version of him already fixed in our minds. Unfortunately, often that version is skewed by personal, cultural, and other baggage that forces us to put Jesus in a box he never intended to be in.
This week's teaching is the second half of what we looked at last week regarding the Greek word "Akoloutheo" (meaning: “Merge your path with mine”).
Many times we experience disappointment with Jesus because the box we've put him in doesn't line up with what he has said about himself--that he is the "way," not the "box."
Support the show
"As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth; and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed him.
And as he sat at dinner in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came and were sitting with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” But when he heard this, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners.”
Matthew 9:9-13 NRSV
Jesus said to Matthew, "Follow me."
The Greek word here is "Akoloutheo," which was a common phrase used by rabbis when looking for students. Rabbis would often interview students, and once they had found the best of the best, they would invite them to be their apprentice with the invitation: “Follow me.” This phrase literally means “Merge your path with mine.”
Merging paths with Jesus means being open to having your life interrupted by Jesus and then learning how to abide in every moment so that your path merges with his.
This sermon was delivered on August 28, 2022, by Jason Rumbough at Hope Church in Nashville, Tennessee
If you have any questions, please reach out to us at church@hopechurchnashville.com or visit us at linktr.ee/hopechurchnash.
Matthew9 #Jesus #GospelofMatthew #Nashvillechurches #Hope #HopeChurch #EastNashville #FollowMe #Akoloutheo #Apprenticeship #Pharisees #TaxCollector #Sinners #Righteous #Mercy #JesusChrist
Support the show
"And just then some people were carrying a paralyzed man lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.” Then some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.” But Jesus, perceiving their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Stand up and walk’? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he then said to the paralytic—“Stand up, take your bed and go to your home.” And he stood up and went to his home. When the crowds saw it, they were filled with awe, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to human beings."
Jesus told the paralytic "Your sins [PLURAL] are forgiven.” This isn’t a one-time thing, this is the establishment of something new. Not just because Jesus is stating that this man doesn’t have to go to the temple anymore, but because what he’s offering is complete, whole, and comprehensive forgiveness of EVERY sin…not just the one.
Matthew 9:2-8, NRSV
This sermon was delivered on August 21, 2022, by Jason Rumbough at Hope Church in Nashville, Tennessee
If you have any questions, please reach out to us at church@hopechurchnashville.com or visit us at linktr.ee/hopechurchnash.
Matthew9 #Jesus #GospelofMatthew #Nashvillechurches #Hope #HopeChurch #EastNashville #paralytic #sinsforgiven #healing
Support the show
"When he came to the other side, to the country of the Gadarenes, two demoniacs coming out of the tombs met him. They were so fierce that no one could pass that way. Suddenly they shouted, “What have you to do with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?” Now a large herd of swine was feeding at some distance from them. The demons begged him, “If you cast us out, send us into the herd of swine.” And he said to them, “Go!” So they came out and entered the swine; and suddenly, the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and perished in the water. The swineherds ran off, and on going into the town, they told the whole story about what had happened to the demoniacs. Then the whole town came out to meet Jesus; and when they saw him, they begged him to leave their neighborhood. And after getting into a boat he crossed the sea and came to his own town." - Matthew 8:28-9:1, NRSV
When Jesus gets out of the boat, he’s in enemy territory. He's now in the country of the Gadarenes, which is Gentile/Pagan territory. He immediately comes across some demon-possessed men, and they're literally coming out of their tombs (like zombies) to confront Jesus.
This is chaos embodied, this is out of control; this is death/destruction/chaos walking — This is the storm not on the water, but within people.
This sermon was delivered on August 7, 2022, by Jason Rumbough at Hope Church in Nashville, Tennessee
If you have any questions, please reach out to us at church@hopechurchnashville.com or visit us at linktr.ee/hopechurchnash.
Matthew8 #Jesus #SeaofGalilee #GospelofMatthew #faith #exorcism #Peace #Storms #Nashvillechurches #Hope #HopeChurch #EastNashville #Demons #Demonic #possession
Support the show
"And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. A windstorm arose on the sea, so great that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. And they went and woke him up, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, you of little faith?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a dead calm. They were amazed, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him?” - Matthew 8:23-27, NRSV
As the disciples climbed aboard a boat to ride with Jesus across the Sea of Galilee, they probably didn't expect to face a crisis along the way. But when the wind and waves started rocking the boat, the disciples react in a way that is quite different from Jesus, who was fast asleep. As he woke up, he asked his disciples why they were so afraid during this crisis.
As Jason referenced in this week's sermon, "Crisis is a season of life where you have more questions than answers.” How do we respond in moments of crisis? Do we show the peace of Jesus or the lack of faith of the disciples?
This sermon was delivered on August 7, 2022, by Jason Rumbough at Hope Church in Nashville, Tennessee
If you have any questions, please reach out to us at church@hopechurchnashville.com or visit us at linktr.ee/hopechurchnash.
Matthew8 #Jesus #SeaofGalilee #GospelofMatthew #faith #CalmtheSea #Peace #Storms #Nashvillechurches #Hope #HopeChurch #EastNashville #CalmtheStorm
Support the show
"When Jesus entered Peter's house, he saw his mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever; he touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she got up and began to serve him. That evening they brought to him many who were possessed with demons; and he cast out the spirits with a word, and cured all who were sick. This was to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah, “He took our infirmities and bore our diseases.” - Matthew 8:14-17 NRSV
This sermon was delivered on July 17, 2022, by Joey Godhino at Hope Church in Nashville, Tennessee
If you have any questions, please reach out to us at church@hopechurchnashville.com or visit us at linktr.ee/hopechurchnash.
Matthew8 #Jesus #Demons #GospelofMatthew #faith #PetersMotherinLaw #Isaiah #sickness #disease #healing #possession #Nashvillechurches #Hope #HopeChurch #EastNashville
Support the show
Sometimes we have a crisis and we WANT God to help, but we can’t possibly imagine HOW he would fix it — and so we do nothing. What should we do instead?
"When he entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, appealing to him and saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, in terrible distress.” And he said to him, “I will come and cure him.” The centurion answered, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only speak the word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and the slave does it.” When Jesus heard him, he was amazed and said to those who followed him, “Truly I tell you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith. I tell you, many will come from east and west and will eat with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, while the heirs of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” And to the centurion Jesus said, “Go; let it be done for you according to your faith.” And the servant was healed in that hour. -Matthew 8:5-13 NRSV
This sermon was delivered on July 17, 2022, by Jason Rumbough at Hope Church in Nashville, Tennessee
If you have any questions, please reach out to us at church@hopechurchnashville.com or visit us at linktr.ee/hopechurchnash.
Matthew8 #Jesus #JesusandtheCenturion #Nashvillechurches #Hope #HopeChurch #GospelofMatthew #faith #fear #faithversusfear
Support the show
“When Jesus had come down from the mountain, great crowds followed him; and therewas a leper who came to him and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, if you choose, you canmake me clean.” He stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I do choose. Bemade clean!” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed. Then Jesus said to him, “See thatyou say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”
- Matthew 8:1-4
Support the show
Everyone builds a house. Everyone chooses what they build their house on. Everyone realizes the outcomes of this decision.
Matthew 7:24-29
24“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. 25The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock. 26And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell—and great was its fall!”
28Now when Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were astounded at his teaching, 29for he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes."
This sermon was delivered by Joey Godhino; recorded on July 3, 2022 at Hope Church in Nashville, Tennessee.
Jesus #matthew #buildyourhouse #ontherock #ChristTheSolidRock #SermonontheMount #Matthew7
Support the show
"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles? In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will know them by their fruits. "Not everyone who says to me, "Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. On that day many will say to me, "Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many deeds of power in your name?' Then I will declare to them, "I never knew you; go away from me, you evildoers.'
-Matthew 7:15-23
Jesus spent 3 chapters explaining to us what life in the kingdom of God looks like. BUT he also recognizes that in the midst of this, there will come some who want to add things to it that will ruin the essence/flavor of the message which will not only make people sick, it will lead them down a dangerous road of separation from him and the kingdom. So, he begins to wrap up his teachings with a warning…
This sermon was originally delivered on June 26, 2022 at Hope Church in Nashville, Tennessee. If you have any questions, please reach out to us at church@hopechurchnashville.com or visit us at linktr.ee/hopechurchnash.
jesus #prayer #Matthew #sermononthemount #hope #sermon #sermons #eastnashville #nashvillechurch #nashville #life #gospelofmatthew #falseteachers #bearfruit #Matthew7
Support the show
Matthew 7:13-14: "Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. (NRSV)
Every day, you’re faced with hundreds if not thousands of micro-decisions that lead you down a path of life or death; these micro-decisions make up your life and your life’s orientation
What happens if you choose life? What happens if you choose death?
The original date of this sermon was June 19, 2022. If you have any questions, please reach out to us at church@hopechurchnashville.com or visit us at linktr.ee/hopechurchnash.
jesus #prayer #Matthew #sermononthemount #hope #sermon #sermons #eastnashville #nashvillechurch #nashville #life #gospelofmatthew
Support the show
Original sermon date: June 12, 2022 at Hope Church in Nashville, Tennessee, USA
The scripture passage for this sermon is from Matthew 7:12:
"In everything do to others as you would have them do to you, for this is the Law and the Prophets." - NRSVUE.
The Sermon on the Mount is all about life as an apprentice in the Kingdom of God, here and now. The goal of the Sermon on the Mount is to invite us into the Kingdom, to be in a place where we are “genuinely at home in God’s world." (Quote from Dallas Willard).
Jesus is pointing to an alternate reality where God’s rule and God’s reign are manifest in the current world through the lives of his people. When we understand and practice this teaching of Jesus, it leads to incredible freedom.
Thanks for listening! If you have any questions, please reach out to us at church@hopechurchnashville.com or visit us at linktr.ee/hopechurchnash.
jesus #prayer #Matthew #sermononthemount #hope #sermon #sermons #eastnashville #nashvillechurch #nashville
Support the show
This week, we talk about the hidden truth about prayer (HINT: it's not as complicated as we think it is.)
Support the show
Many of us remember a moment in our lives when a word of criticism was spoken to us. The words cut deep and we often carry the wounds with us for a lifetime. However, Jesus wants to turn the table and help us think about what happens when we are the ones offering those words to others. For Jesus, it makes all the difference.
Support the show
Many of us are "natural worriers." In fact, over 40 million Americans have been diagnosed with some sort of anxiety disorder. Yet, we often feel as though worry and anxiety is something we just have to "live with." Jesus, however, has a better solution that involves looking at the least likely of sources--the created world.
Support the show
This week, we conclude our series on the sabbath by looking at what it means to practice sabbath for the sake of others.
Support the show
This week, we take another look at the invitation by Jesus to come and rest. This invitation, however, goes deeper than to simply have a day off to relax. It is an invitation into a place and time we were create to dwell in at the beginning of time. A place where God's presence and blessing intertwine and we can reside in safety, security, and stability.
Support the show
Taking a sabbath day to rest is a pattern that was established at the beginning of time and has been hardwired into the fabric of creation. This is why Jesus invites us to "come and rest"--to embrace his way of life. The danger, however, is that when we don't slow down, we run the risk of a slow death--killing not only our relationship, but ourselves in the process.
Support the show (https://www.hopechurchnashville.com/give)
Statistically speaking 6 out of every 10 people feel high levels of stress, accompanied by extreme fatigue, feeling out of control. The invitation by Jesus is to come and stop. But, how do we stop in the midst of work deadlines, family expectations, and the voice inside that says, "Keep going"? This week, we look at the ancient practice of "shabbat" and we explore how we can actually "stop" so that we don't collapse.
Support the show (https://www.hopechurchnashville.com/give)
Easter is one of the most well-known holidays in the church calendar. Yet, what often happens is that we forget it comes on the heels of one of the greatest catastrophes in human history. In light of this catastrophe, however, comes hope that our present suffering is passing because the kingdom has come and God is close.
Support the show (https://www.hopechurchnashville.com/give)
All of us have a vision statement--a guiding principle around which we orient our lives. Dale Bruner says, “The lamp of one’s life is one’s goal; if your goal is sound, your whole life will be luminous. But if your goal is wrong, your whole life will be darkness.” Today, we look at the goals that control us and ask the question: "What would it look like to have them oriented around the Kingdom?"
Support the show (https://www.hopechurchnashville.com/give)
This week, we look at a teaching by Jesus that one scholar calls “an assault on the whole human race.” This teaching in particular is not easy because it deals with two things that we often use to define who we are: status and security. However, what discover when looking at this teaching is that Jesus is not merely trying to use guilt or shame to manipulate us into behaving a certain way. Instead, he’s inviting us into something better—a way to finally experience freedom from the anxiety of trying to get more “stuff.”
Support the show (https://www.hopechurchnashville.com/give)
During this series, we've been looking at Jesus' warning to his apprentices in Matthew 6:1: "Beware of practicing your righteousness in front of others in order to be seen by them. For then, you will have no reward from your Father in the heavens." This week, we look at the spiritual practice of fasting: what is it, why should we do it, and what does Jesus have to say about it.
Support the show (https://www.hopechurchnashville.com/give)
During this series, we've been looking at Jesus' warning to his apprentices in Matthew 6:1: "Beware of practicing your righteousness in front of others in order to be seen by them. For then, you will have no reward from your Father in the heavens." This week, we look at vs. 5-15 (the familiar "Lord's Prayer") and discover Jesus' desire for us as his followers to be the place where the heavens and the earth collide as we converse with the Father through the practice of prayer.
Support the show (https://www.hopechurchnashville.com/give)
Last week, we looked at how our motivation for practicing good works should not be the approval of others, but instead the presence of God. This week, Jesus is pinpointing exactly what that looks like and he starts by confronting those who are actors in the Theater of Social Justice.
Support the show (https://www.hopechurchnashville.com/give)
This week, Micah Watson (our Hope Church worship pastor) walked us through the final teaching of our series on worship. for the past three weeks, we've been asking the question: what is worship? This week, Micah beautifully wrapped up the series by leading us to view every aspect of our lives--from changing diapers to singing songs on Sunday mornings--through the lens of asking: is this worship?
Support the show (https://www.hopechurchnashville.com/give)
In Matthew 22, Jesus tells us to love God with all of our heart, soul, and mind. This week, we look at the third of these three elements, discovering that loving God with our mind is actually loving God with the "muchness" of our lives.
Support the show (https://www.hopechurchnashville.com/give)
Jesus tells us in Matthew 22 to love God with all our soul. This word comes from the same word we use for psychology and psyche--meaning, it's the core of who you are. But, what does it look like to love God in this way...especially when just beneath the surface, there's a "personal shadow" that causes us to drift from the things of God and toward the things of death?
Support the show (https://www.hopechurchnashville.com/give)
The uncertainty that we all face in life many times leads to a fear that paralyzes us and keeps us from moving forward or a fear that leads to panic where we constantly move from thing to thing. What God calls us to, however, is something far greater…something that actually leads to freedom and peace. In this week’s message, we’re going to look at what it means to walk in the fear of the Lord and how it’s the only way we’ll actually experience freedom from the prison of paralysis and panic.
Support the show (https://www.hopechurchnashville.com/give)
The early church experienced radical growth as the Holy Spirit began to transform people’s lives and they began to follow Jesus.
Support the show (https://www.hopechurchnashville.com/give)