Hope of Christ Church: Recent Episodes
Hope of Christ Church
Daniel 6 (ESV) 1 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom 120 satraps, to be throughout the whole kingdom; 2 and over them three high officials, of whom Daniel was one, to whom these satraps should give account, so that the king might suffer no loss. 3 Then this Daniel became distinguished above all […]
The post The More Things Change… (Dan 6) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
John 13 (ESV) 13 Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2 During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of […]
The post The Servant King (John 13) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Daniel 5 (ESV) 5 King Belshazzar made a great feast for a thousand of his lords and drank wine in front of the thousand. 2 Belshazzar, when he tasted the wine, commanded that the vessels of gold and of silver that Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken out of the temple in Jerusalem be brought, that the king […]
The post The Writing on the Wall (Dan 5) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Daniel 4 (ESV) 1 King Nebuchadnezzar to all peoples, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you! 2 It has seemed good to me to show the signs and wonders that the Most High God has done for me. 3 How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders! […]
The post Those Who Walk in Pride, He Is Able to Humble (Dan 4) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Daniel 3 (ESV) 1 King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits and its breadth six cubits. He set it up on the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. 2 Then King Nebuchadnezzar sent to gather the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the justices, […]
The post I’ll Never, No Never, No Never Forsake (Dan 3) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Daniel 2 (ESV) 2 In the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; his spirit was troubled, and his sleep left him. 2 Then the king commanded that the magicians, the enchanters, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans be summoned to tell the king his dreams. So they came in and stood before the king. […]
The post God – The Revealer of Mysteries (Dan 2) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
2 Corinthians 1:3-11 (ESV) 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by […]
The post Hope for the Afflicted, Comfort for the Uncomfortable (2 Cor 1:3-11) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Daniel 1:1-21 (ESV) 1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. 2 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with some of the vessels of the house of God. And he brought them to the land of Shinar, […]
The post Of Diets and Deities (Dan 1:1-21) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Daniel 1:1–7 (ESV) 1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. 2 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with some of the vessels of the house of God. And he brought them to the land of Shinar, […]
The post Hard is Thy Faithfulness (Dan 1:1-7) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
John 20:19-31 (ESV) 19 On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. […]
The post Encountering the Resurrected Christ (John 20:19-31) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Psalm 56 (ESV) 56 To the choirmaster: according to The Dove on Far-off Terebinths. A Miktam of David, when the Philistines seized him in Gath. 1 Be gracious to me, O God, for man tramples on me; all day long an attacker oppresses me; 2 my enemies trample on me all day long, for many attack […]
The post When I Am Afraid (Psalm 56) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Luke 23:32-43 (ESV) 32 Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. 33 And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. 34 And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know […]
The post Encountering Jesus in the Depths of Your Sin (Luke 23:32-43) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
John 6:1-14 (ESV) 6 After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. 2 And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick. 3 Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his […]
The post Spiritual Recipes: Baking a Miracle (John 6:1-14) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Mark 10:13-16 (ESV) 13 And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. 14 But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. 15 Truly, I say to you, […]
The post Childlike Encounters with Jesus (Mark 10:13-16) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Mark 8:22-38 (ESV) 22 And they came to Bethsaida. And some people brought to him a blind man and begged him to touch him. 23 And he took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village, and when he had spit on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked […]
The post Halfway Encounters with Jesus (Mark 8:22-38) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Revelation 6:15–7:14 (ESV) 15 Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, 16 calling to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of […]
The post Missions (Rev 6:15-7:14) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Luke 7:36-50 (ESV) 36 One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house and reclined at table. 37 And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, 38 and […]
The post When Sinners Encounter Jesus (Luke 7:36-50) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Matthew 11:1-30 (ESV) 11 When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their cities. 2 Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples 3 and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall […]
The post When First Encounters Disappoint (Matt 11:1-30) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Mark 10:17-52 (ESV) 17 And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: […]
The post What Do You Want Me to Do for You? (Mark 10:17-52) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Transfiguration (Mark 9:2-4) 2 And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, 3 and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them. 4 And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, […]
The post Encounters with Exaltation and Desperation (Mark 9:2-29) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Mark 5:21-43 (ESV) 21 And when Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered about him, and he was beside the sea. 22 Then came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, and seeing him, he fell at his feet 23 and implored him earnestly, […]
The post Helpless and Hopeless Encounters with Jesus (Mark 5:21-43) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Mark 2:1-12 (ESV) 1 And when he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. 2 And many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even at the door. And he was preaching the word to them. 3 And they came, bringing to him a […]
The post Encountering the Heart of Jesus (Mark 2:1-12) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
John 1:35-51 (ESV) 35 The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” 37 The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. 38 Jesus turned and saw them following and said to […]
The post The Overshadowed, Overlooked, and Underwhelmed (John 1:35-51) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
John 4:1-42 (ESV) 4 Now when Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John 2(although Jesus himself did not baptize, but only his disciples), 3 he left Judea and departed again for Galilee. 4 And he had to pass through Samaria. 5 So he came to a town of Samaria […]
The post When You’re Running from God and Meet Jesus (John 4:1-42) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
John 3:1-21 (ESV) 1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is […]
The post When the Religious Encounter Jesus (John 3:1-21) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Mark 6:30-52 (ESV) 30 The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. 31 And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. 32 And they went […]
The post Who is on the Mission? (Mark 6:30-52) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Matthew 5:13-16 (ESV) 13 “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. 14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill […]
The post Tools for the Mission (Matt 5:13-16) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Matthew 28:18-20 (ESV) 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all […]
The post What is the Mission of the Church? (Matt 28:18-20) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Ordained by Jesus Christ Matthew 28:18-20 (ESV) 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe […]
The post Baptism is… (Matt 28:18-20) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Matthew 6:5-13 (ESV) 5 “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 6 But when you pray, go into your room and […]
The post The Lord’s Prayer (Matt 6:5-13) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Luke 24:36-53 36 As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!” 37 But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. 38 And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 See […]
The post The Revelation of Jesus, part 2 (Luke 24:36-53) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Luke 24:13-35 {ESV) 13 That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, 14 and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15 While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. 16 But […]
The post The Revelation of Jesus, part 1 (Luke 24:13-35) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Luke 23:50-24:12 (ESV) 50 Now there was a man named Joseph, from the Jewish town of Arimathea. He was a member of the council, a good and righteous man, 51 who had not consented to their decision and action; and he was looking for the kingdom of God. 52 This man went to Pilate and […]
The post He Is Not Here, He Has Been Raised (Luke 23:50-24:12) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Luke 23:26-49 (ESV) 26 And as they led him away, they seized one Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it behind Jesus. 27 And there followed him a great multitude of the people and of women who were mourning and lamenting for him. 28 But turning […]
The post Crucifixion and Salvation: Accomplished and Applied (Luke 23:26-49) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Luke 23:1-25 (ESV) 23 Then the whole company of them arose and brought him before Pilate. 2 And they began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man misleading our nation and forbidding us to give tribute to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ, a king.” 3 And Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of […]
The post God in the Dock (Luke 23:1-25) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Luke 22:54-71 (ESV) 54 Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest’s house, and Peter was following at a distance. 55 And when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them. 56 Then a servant girl, seeing him as he […]
The post Denials and Trials (Luke 22:54-71) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Luke 22:39-54 (ESV) 39 And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. 40 And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” 41 And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and […]
The post What Did Jesus Want? (Luke 22:39-54) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Romans 7 (ESV) Died to the Law (1-6) 7 Or do you not know, brothers—for I am speaking to those who know the law—that the law is binding on a person only as long as he lives? 2 For a married woman is bound by law to her husband while he lives, but if her husband dies […]
The post Bad to the Bone (Romans 7) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Luke 22:24-38 (ESV) 24 A dispute also arose among them, as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest. 25 And he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors. 26 But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you […]
The post One Last Thing Before We Go… (Luke 22:24-38) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Luke 22:1-23 (ESV) Luke 22:1-23 (ESV) 1 Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called the Passover. 2 And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to put him to death, for they feared the people. 3 Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of […]
The post Preparing for Something New (Luke 22:1-23) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Ephesians 4:1-16 (ESV) 4 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is […]
The post We’re One, But We’re Not the Same (Ephesians 4:1-16) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
2 Corinthians 9:6-15 (ESV) 6 The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to […]
The post Stewards of the Kingdom (2 Cor 9:6-15) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Philippians 1:3-11 (ESV) 3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. 6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you […]
The post The Fellowship of the Saints (Philippians 1:3-11) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
1 Peter 2:4-10 (ESV) 4 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For it stands […]
The post What Is the Church? What Is this Building? (1 Peter 2:4-10, 1 Kings 8:27-53) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
1 Samuel 6:13-16 13 Now the people of Beth-shemesh were reaping their wheat harvest in the valley. And when they lifted up their eyes and saw the ark, they rejoiced to see it. 14 The cart came into the field of Joshua of Beth-shemesh and stopped there. A great stone was there. And they split up the […]
The post Restorations, Returns, and Renewals (1 Samuel 7) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Advent themes in Isaiah. Isaiah 8:22-9:7 Isaiah 5:20 Isaiah 6:1-7 Isaiah 25:6-8 Isaiah 26:19 Isaiah 40:1;10 Isaiah 42:1-3 Isaiah 49:1-7 Isaiah 50:10 Isaiah 53:1-6;11-12 Isaiah 59:9-10 Isaiah 60 Isaiah 61:1-5 Isaiah 65:17-25 Isaiah 66:1-2
The post The Light Is for the Darkness (Isaiah) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Luke 21:5-38 (ESV) 5 And while some were speaking of the temple, how it was adorned with noble stones and offerings, he said, 6 “As for these things that you see, the days will come when there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” 7 And they asked him, “Teacher, […]
The post It’s the End of the World as We Know It (luke 21:5-38) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Luke 20:45-21:4 (ESV) 45 And in the hearing of all the people he said to his disciples, 46 “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and love greetings in the marketplaces and the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, 47 who devour widows’ houses […]
The post Looks Can Be Deceiving (Luke 20:45-21:4) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Luke 20:19-44 (ESV) 19 The scribes and the chief priests sought to lay hands on him at that very hour, for they perceived that he had told this parable against them, but they feared the people. 20 So they watched him and sent spies, who pretended to be sincere, that they might catch him in something he […]
The post A Day of Questions: The Question of the Day (Luke 20:19-44) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Luke 17:7-19 (ESV) 7 “Will any one of you who has a servant plowing or keeping sheep say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and recline at table’? 8 Will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me, and dress properly, and serve me while I eat and […]
The post Cures for the ATaaBoC Syndrome (Luke 17:7-19) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Matthew 5:28 (ESV) 28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
The post You Shall Be Perfect (Matt 5:48) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Luke 17:1-6 (ESV) 17 And he said to his disciples, “Temptations to sin are sure to come, but woe to the one through whom they come! 2 It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were cast into the sea than that he should cause one of these little […]
The post Building the Unimaginable Community (Luke 17:1-6) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Luke 16:19-31 (ESV) 19 “There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. 20 And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, 21 who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover, even the dogs came and […]
The post #Blessed (Luke 16:19-31) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
John 14:1-14 (ESV) 14 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come […]
The post The Way (John 14:1-14) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Luke 16:1–18 (ESV) 16 He also said to the disciples, “There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was wasting his possessions. 2 And he called him and said to him, ‘What is this that I hear about you? Turn in the account of your management, for […]
The post A Shrewd Approach to Treasure (Luke 16:1-18) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Luke 15:11-32 (ESV) 11 And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. 13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took […]
The post The Awkward, Embarrassing, Ridiculous Compassion of a Father for His Lost Sons (Luke 15:11-32) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Galatians 5:13-26 13 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you […]
The post Walk Like a Man (Gal 5:13-26) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Luke 15 (ESV) 15 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” 3 So he told them this parable: 4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not […]
The post More Joy in Heaven (Luke 15) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Luke 14:25=35 (ESV) 25 Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them, 26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. 27 Whoever does not bear his own cross […]
The post Counting the Cost or Weighing the Worth (Luke 14:25-35) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Luke 14:1-24 (ESV) 14 One Sabbath, when he went to dine at the house of a ruler of the Pharisees, they were watching him carefully. 2 And behold, there was a man before him who had dropsy. 3 And Jesus responded to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath, or not?” 4 But […]
The post The Lies You Tell Yourself (Luke 14:1-24) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
1 Peter 1:3-9 (ESV) 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, […]
The post The Hope of Christ (1 Pet 1:3-9) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Psalm 103 (ESV) 103 Of David. 1 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! 2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, 3 who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, 4 who redeems your life from the pit, who […]
The post The Father’s Grace (Psalm 103) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Luke 13:22-35 (ESV) 22 He went on his way through towns and villages, teaching and journeying toward Jerusalem. 23 And someone said to him, “Lord, will those who are saved be few?” And he said to them, 24 “Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be […]
The post Of Forests and Trees and Trees and Forests (Luke 13:22-35) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Luke 13:10-21 (ESV) 10 Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. 11 And behold, there was a woman who had had a disabling spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not fully straighten herself. 12 When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said to her, “Woman, you are […]
The post Of Sabbaths, Seeds, and Sourdough (Luke 13:10-21) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Luke 13:1-9 (ESV): 13 There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? 3 No, I tell you; but unless […]
The post Looking for Easy Answers to Hard Questions (Luke 13:1-9) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Luke 12:49-59 (ESV) 49 “I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled! 50 I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how great is my distress until it is accomplished! 51 Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. […]
The post Hearing and Heeding Hard Realities (Luke 12:49-59) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Philippians 1:12-30 (ESV) 12 I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, 13 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. 14 And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord […]
The post Joy in Hope (Phil 1:12-30) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Luke 12:35-48 (ESV) 35 “Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, 36 and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks. 37 Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when […]
The post Living in the Age of the Eschaton (Luke 12:35-48) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Luke 12:22-34 (ESV) 22 And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. 23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. 24 Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have […]
The post Fear Not, Little Flock (Luke 12:22-34) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Acts 1:1-11 (ESV) 1 In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, 2 until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. 3 He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by […]
The post Acts 1:1-11 first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
John 21:1-19 (ESV) Gone Fishin’ (John 21:1-14) 21 After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he revealed himself in this way. 2 Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. 3 Simon Peter said to […]
The post Do You Love Me? (John 21:1-19) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Mark 15:42-16:9 (ESV) 42 And when evening had come, since it was the day of Preparation, that is, the day before the Sabbath, 43 Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council, who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God, took courage and went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 44 Pilate […]
The post The Verifiable Good News (Mark 15:42-16:9) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Luke 12:13-21 (ESV) 13 Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” 14 But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?” 15 And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not […]
The post The Rich Fool (Luke 12:13-21) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Luke 12:4-12 (ESV) 4 “I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. 5 But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him! 6 Are not […]
The post Be Afraid… Be Very Afraid… (Luke 12:4-12) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Matthew 5:1-16 (ESV) 5 Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. The Beatitudes 2 And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be […]
The post How to be Happy (Blessed) (Matt 5:1-16) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Luke 11:37-12:3 (ESV) Woes to the Pharisees (Luke 11:37-44) 37 While Jesus was speaking, a Pharisee asked him to dine with him, so he went in and reclined at table. 38 The Pharisee was astonished to see that he did not first wash before dinner. 39 And the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside […]
The post Woe, Hypocrites! (Luke 11:37-12:3) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Luke 11:27-36 (ESV) 27 As he said these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed!” 28 But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” 29 When the crowds were increasing, […]
The post Looking for Signs with Eyes Wide Shut (Luke 11:27-36) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Luke 11:14-26 (ESV) 14 Now he was casting out a demon that was mute. When the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke, and the people marveled. 15 But some of them said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the prince of demons,” 16 while others, to test him, kept seeking from him a sign from heaven. […]
The post Enemies, Antagonists, and Skeptics (Luke 11:14-26) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Luke 11:1-13 (ESV) 11 Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” 2 And he said to them, “When you pray, say: “Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. 3 Give us each day our […]
The post Lord, Teach Us to Pray (Luke 11:1-13) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
1 Corinthians 12:12-31 (ESV) 12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one […]
The post Sumbibadzo, everybody (1 Cor 12:12-31) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Exodus 12:1-20 (ESV) 12 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, 2 “This month shall be for you the beginning of months. It shall be the first month of the year for you. 3 Tell all the congregation of Israel that on the tenth day of this month every man shall take a […]
The post The Significance of a Shared Meal (Exodus 12:1-20) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Genesis 17:1-14 (ESV) 17 When Abram was ninety-nine years old the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless, 2 that I may make my covenant between me and you, and may multiply you greatly.” 3 Then Abram fell on his face. And God said to him, 4 “Behold, […]
The post “I am (circumcised) Baptized.” So what? (Gen 17:1-14) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Revelation 21:1-8 (ESV) 21 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I […]
The post Everything Sad Will Come Untrue (Rev 21:1-18) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Lamentations 3:16-33 (ESV) 16 He has made my teeth grind on gravel, and made me cower in ashes; 17 my soul is bereft of peace; I have forgotten what happiness is; 18 so I say, “My endurance has perished; so has my hope from the Lord.” 19 Remember my affliction and my wanderings, the wormwood […]
The post Sorrow’s Need for Better Memories, Part 2: Hope first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Psalm 77 (ESV) In the Day of Trouble I Seek the Lord 77 To the choirmaster: according to Jeduthun. A Psalm of Asaph. 1 I cry aloud to God, aloud to God, and he will hear me. 2 In the day of my trouble I seek the Lord; in the night my hand is stretched out […]
The post Sorrow’s Need for Better Memories (Psalm 77) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Christ Presented at the Temple (Luke 2:21-39) A Sacrifice (Luke 2:21-24) 21 And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. 22 And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought […]
The post Christ Presented at the Temple (Luke 2:21-39) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
The Word Made Flesh (John 1:1-5, 10-14) In the Beginning was the Word (John 1:1-5) John 1:1-5 (ESV) 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing […]
The post The Word Made Flesh (John 1:1-5, 10-14) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
The Righteous Branch (Isaiah 11:1-[11) The Stump of Jesse (Isaiah 11:1) Isaiah 10:32-34 (ESV) 32 This very day he will halt at Nob; he will shake his fist at the mount of the daughter of Zion, the hill of Jerusalem. 33 Behold, the Lord God of hosts will lop the boughs with […]
The post The Righteous Branch (Isaiah 11:1-11) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
For Unto Us a Child is Born (Isaiah 9:1-7) 6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and of […]
The post For Unto Us a Child is Born (Isaiah 9:1-7) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Isaiah 7:1-17 A Message to Ahaz (1-0) Isaiah 7:1-9 (ESV) 7 In the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, son of Uzziah, king of Judah, Rezin the king of Syria and Pekah the son of Remaliah the king of Israel came up to Jerusalem to wage war against it, but could not yet mount an […]
The post God With Us (Isaiah 7:1-17) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
1 Thessalonians 5 Ready for Christ’s Return (1-11) 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 (ESV) 5 Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. 2 For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, “There […]
The post Living in Hope (1 Thess 5) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
1 Thessalonians 4 We are a holy family (1-2) 4 Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more. 2 For you know what instructions […]
The post Loving and Waiting (1 Thess 4) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
1 Thessalonians 3 (ESV) 3 Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left behind at Athens alone, 2 and we sent Timothy, our brother and God’s coworker in the gospel of Christ, to establish and exhort you in your faith, 3 that no one be moved by these afflictions. For you yourselves […]
The post May You Abound in Love (1 Thess 3) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Like Nursing Mothers (1-8) 2 For you yourselves know, brothers, that our coming to you was not in vain. 2 But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict. 3 For our […]
The post Our Labor Was Not in Vain (1 Thess 2) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
1 Thessalonians 1 (ESV) 1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace. 2 We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, 3 remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and […]
The post Thankful for a Good Report (1 Thess 1) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Mark 3:31-35 (ESV) 31 And his mother and his brothers came, and standing outside they sent to him and called him. 32 And a crowd was sitting around him, and they said to him, “Your mother and your brothers are outside, seeking you.” 33 And he answered them, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” 34 And looking about […]
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Romans 12 (ESV) 12 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what […]
The post What is My Motivation? (Romans 12) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Romans 8 (ESV) No Condemnation – We are in the Spirit (1-11) 8 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. 3 For God has done what the law, weakened […]
The post Nothing Can Separate Us(Romans 8) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Psalm 150 (ESV) 150 Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens! 2 Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his excellent greatness! 3 Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp! 4 Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and […]
The post Finding Praise (Psalm 150) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
John 11 (ESV) 11 Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was ill. 3 So the sisters sent to him, saying, “Lord, he whom you love is ill.” […]
The post John 11 first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Luke 10:38-42 (ESV) 38 Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him […]
The post Martha, Martha (Luke 10:38-42) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Luke 10:25-37 (ESV) 25 And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” 27 And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and […]
The post Right Question Wrongly Asked (Luk 10:25-37) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Luke 10:1-24 (ESV) 10 After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go. 2 And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest […]
The post Called to Kingdom Work (Luke 10:1-24) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Luke 9:46-62 (ESV) 46 An argument arose among them as to which of them was the greatest. 47 But Jesus, knowing the reasoning of their hearts, took a child and put him by his side 48 and said to them, “Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. […]
The post Pride’s House of Mirrors (Luke 9:46-62) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Luke 9:37-45 (ESV) 37 On the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a great crowd met him. 38 And behold, a man from the crowd cried out, “Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, for he is my only child. 39 And behold, a spirit seizes him, and he suddenly cries out. […]
The post Back to Life, Back to Reality (Luke 9:37-45) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Luke 9:28-36 (ESV) 28 Now about eight days after these sayings he took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray. 29 And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became dazzling white. 30 And behold, two men were talking with him, Moses and […]
The post Jesus – the Son of God and Chosen One (Luke 9:28-36) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Luke 9:18-27 (ESV) 18 Now it happened that as he was praying alone, the disciples were with him. And he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” 19 And they answered, “John the Baptist. But others say, Elijah, and others, that one of the prophets of old has risen.” 20 Then he said to them, […]
The post Who Do You Say That I Am? (Luke 9:18-27) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Psalm 50 (ESV) 50 A Psalm of Asaph. 1 The Mighty One, God the Lord, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting. 2 Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines forth. 3 Our God comes; he does not keep silence; before him is a devouring fire, around […]
The post What If the Judge of All the Earth Was Only Just? (Psalm 50) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Psalm 51 (ESV) 51 To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet went to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. 1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me […]
The post Ten Lies We Believe About Sin, Confession, and Forgiveness (Psalm 51) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Psalm 23 (ESV) 3 A Psalm of David. 1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. 3 He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through […]
The post You Are With Me (Psalm 23) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Psalm 46 (ESV) 46 To the choirmaster. Of the Sons of Korah. According to Alamoth. A Song. 1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, 3 though its waters […]
The post What is Your Refuge (Psalm 46) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Psalm 19 (ESV) 19 To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. 1 The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. 2 Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. 3 There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. 4 Their voice […]
The post The Big Reveal(s) (Psalm 19) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Ephesians 2:1-6 (ESV) 2 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our […]
The post Rich in Mercy (Eph 2:1-6) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Psalm 2 (ESV) 2 Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? 2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against his Anointed, saying, 3 “Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.” 4 He who sits in […]
The post The Gospel Call to a Hating World (Psalm 2) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Psalm 42-43 (ESV) 42 To the choirmaster. A Maskil of the Sons of Korah. 1 As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. 2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? 3 My tears have been my food day […]
The post Psalms 42 & 43 first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Luke 9:10-17 (ESV) 10 On their return the apostles told him all that they had done. And he took them and withdrew apart to a town called Bethsaida. 11 When the crowds learned it, they followed him, and he welcomed them and spoke to them of the kingdom of God and cured those who had need of […]
The post “You Give Them Something to Eat” (Luke 9:10-17) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Luke 9:1-10 (ESV) 9 And he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, 2 and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal. 3 And he said to them, “Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money; and […]
The post The Love of Christ Compels Us (Luke 9:1-10) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Luke 8:40-56 (ESV) 40 Now when Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed him, for they were all waiting for him. 41 And there came a man named Jairus, who was a ruler of the synagogue. And falling at Jesus’ feet, he implored him to come to his house, 42 for he had an only daughter, about twelve years of […]
The post Help for the Hopeless and the Helpless (Luke 8:40-56) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Luke 8:22-39 (ESV) 22 One day he got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side of the lake.” So they set out, 23 and as they sailed he fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water and […]
The post Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad… Jesus?? (Luke 8:22-39) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Luke 8:1–21 (ESV) 8 Soon afterward he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him, 2 and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, 3 and Joanna, the […]
The post How’s Your Hearing? (Luke 8:1-21) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Luke 7:36-50 (ESV) 36 One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house and reclined at table. 37 And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, 38 and […]
The post Presbyterians and Pagans Alike (Luke 7:36-50) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Luke 7:18-35 (ESV) 18 The disciples of John reported all these things to him. And John, 19 calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to the Lord, saying, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” 20 And when the men had come to him, they said, “John the Baptist […]
The post Learning from a Baptist (Luke 7:18-35) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Luke 7:1–17 (ESV) 7 After he had finished all his sayings in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum. 2 Now a centurion had a servant who was sick and at the point of death, who was highly valued by him. 3 When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent to him elders of the Jews, asking […]
The post The Power of the Resurrection of Jesus (Luke 7:1-17) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Luke 6:20-49 (ESV) 20 And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. 21 “Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied. “Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh. 22 “Blessed are you when people hate […]
The post Life in the Kingdom with Jesus as King (Luke 6:20-49) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Luke 6:12-19 (ESV) 12 In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God. 13 And when day came, he called his disciples and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles: 14 Simon, whom he named Peter, and Andrew his brother, and James and John, and Philip, […]
The post Chosen and Called (Luke 6:12-19) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Luke 6:1–11 (ESV) 6 On a Sabbath, while he was going through the grainfields, his disciples plucked and ate some heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands. 2 But some of the Pharisees said, “Why are you doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath?” 3 And Jesus answered them, “Have you not read what […]
The post Jesus… Lord of the Sabbath… Still (Luke 6:1-11) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Luke 5:27-39 (ESV) 27 After this he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax booth. And he said to him, “Follow me.” 28 And leaving everything, he rose and followed him. 29 And Levi made him a great feast in his house, and there was a large company of tax collectors and […]
The post The Righteous Need Not Apply (Luke 5:27-39) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Luke 5:17-26 (ESV) 17 On one of those days, as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with him to heal. 18 And behold, some men were bringing on a bed a […]
The post What’s That One Thing You Can’t Live Without? (Luke 5:17-26) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Luke 5:12-26 (ESV) 12 While he was in one of the cities, there came a man full of leprosy. And when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and begged him, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” 13 And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And […]
The post Healing You’re Looking for, Healing You Need (Luke 5:12-26) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Luke 5:1-11 (ESV) 5 On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, 2 and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. 3 Getting into one of the boats, […]
The post The Net-Rending, Ship-Swamping, Overwhelming Kindness of Christ (Luke 5:1-11) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Luke 4:31-44 (ESV) 31 And he went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee. And he was teaching them on the Sabbath, 32 and they were astonished at his teaching, for his word possessed authority. 33 And in the synagogue there was a man who had the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a […]
The post The Power of the King (Luke 4:31-44) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Luke 4:14-30 (ESV) 14 And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and a report about him went out through all the surrounding country. 15 And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all. 16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to […]
The post The Prophet’s Homecoming (Luke 4:14-30) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Luke 4:1-13 (ESV) 4 And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness 2 for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And he ate nothing during those days. And when they were ended, he was hungry. 3 The devil said to him, “If you are the […]
The post Tempted, Tried, and Never Failing (Luke 4:1-13) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Luke 3:15-38 (ESV) 15 As the people were in expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Christ, 16 John answered them all, saying, “I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He […]
The post The End of John’s Ministry (Luke 3:15-38) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Luke 3:1-14 (ESV) 3 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, 2 during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came […]
The post Bear Fruit Fitting of Repentance first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Luke 2:41-52 (ESV) 41 Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. 42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom. 43 And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, 44 but supposing […]
The post That Time We Lost God’s Son… For Three Days! (Luke 2:41-52) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Luke 2:39-40 (ESV) 39 And when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. 40 And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him. The Obedience of Mary and Joseph The Growth of Christ The […]
The post Growing in Grace (Luke 2:39-40) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Luke 2:22-38 (ESV) 22 And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) 24 and to […]
The post Nunc Dimitis (Luke 2:22-38) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Luke 2:1-21 (ESV) 2 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to […]
The post The Upside-Down Nature of the Promise Delivered (Luke 2:1-21) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Luke 1:57-80 (ESV) 57 Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. 58 And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. 59 And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah […]
The post A Promise Delivered (Luke 1:57-80) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Luke 1:46-56 (ESV) 46 And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; 49 for he who is mighty has done great things for me, […]
The post Mary’s Song (Luke 1:46-56) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Luke 1:26-45 (ESV) 26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the […]
The post Unexpected Blessing (Luke 1:26-45) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Luke 1:5-25 (ESV) 5 In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. […]
The post Unspeakable Joy (Luke 1:5-25) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Luke 1:1-4 (ESV) 1 Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, 2 just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, 3 it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, […]
The post That You May Have Certainty (Luke 1:1-4) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
2 Samuel 24 (ESV) 24 Again the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he incited David against them, saying, “Go, number Israel and Judah.” 2 So the king said to Joab, the commander of the army, who was with him, “Go through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, and number the […]
The post Counting the Cost of Counting (2 Sam 24) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
1 Peter 2:1-10 (ESV) 2 So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. 2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. 4 As you come to him, a living stone […]
The post We Are Becoming Something (1 Peter 2:1-10) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
2 Samuel 23:8-39 (ESV) 8 These are the names of the mighty men whom David had: Josheb-basshebeth a Tahchemonite; he was chief of the three. He wielded his spear against eight hundred whom he killed at one time. 9 And next to him among the three mighty men was Eleazar the son of Dodo, son of Ahohi. […]
The post A League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (2 Sam 23:8-39) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
2 Samuel 23:1-7 (ESV) 23 Now these are the last words of David: The oracle of David, the son of Jesse, the oracle of the man who was raised on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, the sweet psalmist of Israel: 2 “The Spirit of the Lord speaks by me; his word is on […]
The post Famous Last Word (2 Sam 23:1-7) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
Acts 28:17-31 (ESV) 17 After three days he called together the local leaders of the Jews, and when they had gathered, he said to them, “Brothers, though I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, yet I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans. 18 When […]
The post Triumphalism, Despair, or Faithful Presence? (Acts 28:17-31) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
2 Samuel 22 (ESV) 22 And David spoke to the Lord the words of this song on the day when the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul. 2 He said, “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, 3 my God, my rock, in […]
The post I Call Upon the LORD, Who Is Worthy to Be Praised (2 Sam 22) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
2 Samuel 21:15-22 (ESV) 15 There was war again between the Philistines and Israel, and David went down together with his servants, and they fought against the Philistines. And David grew weary. 16 And Ishbi-benob, one of the descendants of the giants, whose spear weighed three hundred shekels of bronze, and who was armed with a new […]
The post Gargantuan Griefs and Colossal Concerns (2 Sam 21:15-22) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.
2 Samuel 21:1-14 (ESV) 21 Now there was a famine in the days of David for three years, year after year. And David sought the face of the Lord. And the Lord said, “There is bloodguilt on Saul and on his house, because he put the Gibeonites to death.” 2 So the king called the Gibeonites and […]
The post Of Covenant Mercy I Sing (2 Sam 21:1-14) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.