Hope City Audio Podcast: Recent Episodes
Hope City Church
John 6:25-37 | Under Construction Part 8 | May 30, 2021
Humans were made in the image of God. Part of our restoration in Jesus is becoming more like Him, as we open every part of our lives to His grace and power.
Matthew 5:13-16 | Under Construction Part 7 | May 23, 2021
Historic Districts preserve the past – as part of a city’s culture they are amazing. They are not, however, the model for the life of a church. Sean Boyd calls us from a cloistered community that looks backwards to a golden era of being and instead challenges us to embrace the outward focused posture of Jesus, living out the gospel as salt and light.
Luke 6:46-49 | Under Construction Part 6 | May 16, 2021
No matter how beautiful or well kept your home, the strength of your home lies in its foundation. Brent Colby unpacks the necessity and strength in following the commands of Jesus as our life’s foundation.
Luke 10:38-42 | Under Construction Part 5 | May 9, 2021
In a frenzied world that is exterior focused and 100 mph, Jesus calls us to the renovation of our interior lives. Drawing from the account of Mary and Martha, Sean Boyd reminds us of the power of daily being in the presence of God.
Galatians 5:13-15 | Under Construction Part 4 | May 2, 2021
HOAs are created to protect the value of a community, but instead often devolve to nitpicky rules. In part four of our series, Sean Boyd brings the analogy to the church, and unpacks scripture's vision for how we were designed to protect and value one another as the church.
Matthew 6:19-21 | Under Construction Part 3 | April 25, 2021
Sean Boyd continues in our series on our spiritual architecture, contrasting the life centered on accumulating possessions with a life centered on the Kingdom of Heaven.
Colossians 3:11-14 | Under Construction Part 2 | April 18, 2021
Continuing in a series on our spiritual architecture, Sean Boyd examines Paul's exhortation to clothe ourselves in compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Far from being flimsy clothing, this Christ-centered approach actually weatherproofs our lives, drawing us into a posture of loving the world instead of retreating from it.
Ephesians 2:14-22 | Part 1 | April 11, 2021
In Part 1 of our series on our spiritual architecture, Sean Boyd walks through a passage in Ephesians, highlighting the work of Jesus in both purchasing us, renovating us, and dwelling in us.
John 20:1-10 | Easter 2021 | April 4, 2021
On Easter Sunday, Pastor Sean contrasts the responses of Judas and Peter in regards to their own painful dealings with failure, betrayal, and denial.
Immerse yourself in "For The Joy Set Before Him", a creative Good Friday Devotional centered on the Stations of the Cross. Written and presented by Marcus DeHart.
Find the PDF version of this devotional as well as other resources at www.hopecitych.com.
Philippians 4:10-23 | Formed Part 8 | March 28, 2021
Sean Boyd concludes our series on Philippians, focusing in on Paul's vision of contentment and how we exercise compassion for others.
Philippians 4:2-9 | Formed Part 7 | March 21, 2021
In Part 7 of our series Formed, Glenn Collins examines the exhortations of Paul (embracing gentleness, resisting anxiety, focusing on things of excellence and virtue) in light of the conflict the church in Philippi was currently experiencing.
Philippians 3:1 - 4:1 | Formed Part 6 | March 14, 2021
In Part 6 of our series on Philippians, Bob Card looks at Paul's encouragement to the church in Philippi, especially concerning where they find their hope and how to remain steadfast.
Philippians 2:12-30 | Formed Part 5 | March 7, 2021
In Part 5 of our Formed Series, Sean Boyd looks at how we are to work out what God works in us, and in how we can learn from the lives of fellow believers as we live in community.
Philippians 2:5-11 | Formed Part 4 | February 28, 2021
In Part 4 of our series on Philippians, Sean Boyd dives into the central piece of the epistle, a poem encapsulating the good news of Jesus. From this he draws out contrasts to Adam, along with attitudes for us to emulate.
Philippians 1:27 - 2:4 | Formed Part 3 | February 21, 2021
Jeff Springer continues in our Philippians series, examining a life (and a community of faith) in imitation of Christ, living lives that reflect the gospel.
Genesis 1:31 – 2:4, Exodus 16:21-29, Mark 2:23-28 | Walk This Way 2 of 8 | July 19, 2020
Matthew 11:28-29 | July 5, 2020
Stress is a real thing we experience, and Jesus calls us to look to Him in our moments of stress. In times of uncertainty, we become overly stressed about the future. What can we do with our stress?
Luke 5:1-11 | Who Is In Your Boat 3 of 3 | June 28, 2020
The result of a miraculous catch changes the focus of Peter's life. As Peter's life plays out, we see that all that he experiences become ways to point others to Jesus.
Matthew 5:43-48 | Read. Do. Repeat 5 of 5 | June 14, 2020
In continuing to draw from the Sermon On The Mount, Joel Swan explores the powerful principle of loving our enemies. True love in practice is more than simple platitudes – it is an act of faith in Christ.
Matthew 1:9 | Read. Do. Repeat. 4 of 5 | June 7, 2020
In the Sermon On The Mount, Jesus tells us that peacemakers are blessed, and will be called sons of God. In the light of racial turmoil, Pastor Sean challenges us to be burden-bearers and peacemakers.
Luke 10:38-42 | Read. Do. Repeat. 3 of 5 | May 31, 2020
When two sisters host Jesus and His disciples in their home for a meal, differences between them become evident. Jesus’ response reveals both His love for the sisters as well as what He weighs as important in our lives.
Luke 7:28-35 | Read. Do. Repeat. 2 of 5 | May 24, 2020
In a teachable moment, Jesus instructs His disciples to forgo the opinion of the crowd and seek instead to live a life that pleases the Father.
John 17:15-23 | Read. Do. Repeat. 1 of 5 | May 17, 2020
We examine a prayer of Jesus in which His heart is revealed for us to live as sent ones, sharing hope and living in unity.
Matthew 7:24-27 | Becoming 3 of 3 | May 10, 2020
Against the backdrop of Jesus' parable of The Wise And Foolish Builders we study the foundations in our lives. While building on emotion and experience leaves us standing on shaky ground, there is a better way - living out the words of Jesus, which brings both character and contentment.
James 1:2-4, Matthew 6:25-34 | Becoming 2 of 3 | May 3, 2020
Uncertainty can be a real source of anxiety; what do we do with that? Drawing from the words of Jesus, we examine practical steps we can take to process our own anxiety, and move towards peace and trust.
James 1:2-4, Proverbs 12 | Becoming 1 of 3 | April 26, 2020
Many things are on hold right now, but our lives are not! To shift from "life on hold", we must guard and guide our intakes, live in grace, and be a creative force for kindness.
Matthew 21:28-32 | April 19, 2020
In speaking to a crowd, Jesus tells a parable that reminds us that both our fleeting intentions and our religious history do not determine our future. Trusting in the gift of grace offered in Jesus gives us a hope and a future.
Mark 15:22-32 | April 12, 2020
On Easter Sunday, Sean Boyd examines the responses of those who witnessed the crucifixion and how each is an insight into our own hearts.
John 12:1-19 | April 5, 2020
Jesus went from being welcomed and honored as He entered Jerusalem, to abandoned and arrested in the matter of days. As we begin Holy Week with observing Palm Sunday, we reflect on what it might mean for us to lay our palms down.
Psalm 32:8-9, Galatians 5:25 | March 29, 2020
Faith without facts can lead us into foolishness. Facts without faith can create fear. A life abiding in Jesus pairs both faith and wisdom.
James 5, Matthew 6 | March 22, 2020
As we all struggle to process and respond to COVID-19, Ben Tindall calls us back to a life of prayer, encouraging us to not be overwhelmed but to look to Jesus. He then leads the church through a time of prayer and reflection in the Lord’s Prayer.
Luke 5:1-11 | Who Is In Your Boat 2 of 3 | March 8, 2020
After a frustrating and fruitless night fishing, Jesus tells Peter to do something that makes no sense – to simply fish on the other side of his boat. The result is nets overflowing, and a shocked Peter. In the same way, Jesus speaks life to our disappointment, and leads us to respond to His words of life.
Luke 5:1-11 | Who Is In Your Boat 1 of 3 | March 1, 2020
To better address a crowd, Jesus steps into Peter’s fishing boat. In the same way, Jesus steps into our ordinary life and reorients us to what He is focused on.
Joshua 4:1-9 | February 23, 2020
Upon crossing the Jordan, God instructed Joshua and the Israelites to make a memorial of stones from the river to remember what God had done for them. Through teaching and personal stories from Kristy Boyd and Joel Swan, we are encouraged to hold fast to what God has done, to remember His goodness, and to share our story.
Deuteronomy 8, Matthew 6, Matthew 4 | February 16, 2020
We explore the powerful spiritual discipline of fasting in both the life of Jesus and in His instruction to His followers.
Acts 2:42-47 | February 9, 2020
Sean Boyd unpacks the strength and benefit of living as God intended, in purposeful community. Just like Legos, we are stronger together, more useful together, and serve a larger purpose in displaying the Kingdom of God through our lives.
Various Scriptures | February 2, 2020
Drawing on comparisons between life and The Big Game, Sean Boyd examines how the grace of God leads us to actions over empty words, perseverance in trial, and steadfastness of spirit.
Luke 10:38-42 | January 26, 2020
In a culture that reaps chaos and stress from hectic schedules and constant busyness, Jesus leads us in a different direction. We were made for the abundant life that comes from doing less things as well as better things, learning to cultivate healthy souls through habits and disciplines.
Luke 18:9-13 | 21 Days Of Prayer 3 of 3 | January 19, 2020
Jesus tells a story contrasting two men that ultimately reveals the importance of our heart in prayer. Sean then looks at the impact that unresolved jealousy and bitterness have on our heart’s posture in prayer.
Matthew 6:9-13 | 21 Days Of Prayer 2 of 3 | January 12, 2020
Sean Boyd continues in Matthew 6, examining each part of the Lord’s Prayer as an invitation from God to know Him, partner with Him, trust Him, be accepted by Him, and rely on Him.
Matthew 6:5-8 | 21 Days Of Prayer 1 of 3 | January 5, 2020
Sean Boyd examines the instructive and cautionary words of Jesus on prayer, encouraging us to pray sincerely, in secret, and in simplicity.
Luke 2:8-20 | Unto You! 3 of 3 | December 22, 2019
God wasn’t confused; His decision to announce the birth of the Messiah to lowly shepherds was no mistake. Whether you relate to the shepherds and need to know you are on God’s radar, or whether you need to ponder and remember the gift of Christ, Sean points towards where true Christmas awe is found.
Luke 2:1-28 | Unto You! 2 of 3 | December 15, 2019
In a time of busyness and working hard to make everything perfect, Jeff Springer unpacks the Christmas narrative and encourages us to open our lives to holy interruptions.
Luke 1:26-45 | Unto You! 1 of 3 | December 8, 2019
Mary and Joseph, immortalized in the birth account of Jesus, were really just average people like you and me. They had to reject their fears and embrace radical trust, just as Jesus calls us to today.
John 6:23-40 | I AM 7 of 7 | November 24, 2019
Moments before His arrest, Jesus speaks words of comfort and courage to His disciples. In this final part of the I AM Series, we examine the rich metaphor of Jesus being The Vine, and what that means in a life that desires to be fruitful.
John 14:1-6 | I AM 6 of 7 | November 17, 2019
In a conversation encouraging His disciples, Jesus declares that He is the Way, Truth, and Life – that the way to the Heavenly Father is only through Him. Inspired by the writings of late author and pastor Eugene Peterson, Pastor Sean Boyd expands on his thought that “The Jesus way wedded to the Jesus truth brings about the Jesus life.” (Peterson, The Jesus Way), examining what it means to not only believe the truths about Jesus, but to apprentice to the Way Himself.
John 11:1-44 | I AM 5 of 7 | November 10, 2019
Upon hearing that His friend Lazarus is sick, Jesus waits before traveling to see Him. He arrives in Lazarus’ hometown of Bethany to find that he has died. In the midst of mourning, Jesus declares Himself to be the Resurrection and the Life, bringing His friend back from death. In this statement is not only our hope in the face of dying, but an invitation to trust God’s timing in our lives.
John 10:11-30 | I AM 4 of 7 | November 3, 2019
Jesus continues in his agrarian description of the Kingdom of God. From referring to Himself as The Door for the sheep, He now declares He is the Good Shepherd. From the words in John 10, Sean Boyd explores what calling Jesus our Good Shepherd means for us today.
John 10:1-10 | I AM 3 of 7 | October 27, 2019
After a blind man is healed by Jesus, he finds himself excommunicated from the Synagogue. Jesus reassures him that He is the one true Door into the Kingdom of God, and this Door doesn’t need bouncers. Pastor Sean examines the rich imagery Jesus used to describe Himself, and how it impacts us today.
John 8:2-12 | I AM 2 of 7 | October 20, 2019
Jesus is put on the spot by the religious leaders of the day, and His response brings light not only to a hurting woman, but to their motivations. His great statement I Am The Light Of World shows us love as it reveals the truth about us.
John 6:23-40 | I AM 1 of 7 | October 13, 2019
After a miraculous feeding of thousands, Jesus speaks to the deeper need of the human heart. His conclusion: We are soul-starved, and only find true satisfaction in a relationship of trust in Him, the Bread of Life.
Ephesians 3:16-21 | October 6, 2019
Most of us would say we want more of God in our lives, the fullness of His grace and goodness. Yet, along with that beautiful statement that God can do more than we ask or imagine, it is at according to the power at work in us. IN other words, we want more… but must make room for more.
Various Scriptures | September 29, 2019
Hope City kicks of our Family 5th Sundays with a message to encourage the church to be a church for every generation, serving this next generation that is sometimes fatherless, often hopeful, and absolutely worthwhile.
2 Kings 4:1-7 | September 22, 2019
In the account of Elisha and the widow in the Old Testament, we see a miracle done that fills her life with hope and abundance. Using this as a picture, Sean teaches on our lives needing to make room for God to pour richly into us.
Hebrews 12:14-15 | September 15, 2019
Joy is truly a strength in our life, so much so that we are wise to cherish and defend it. Sean examines how a root of bitterness truly can defile a harvest of joy, and how a life following Jesus must learn to let things go or make peace through forgiveness.
John 14:1-7 | September 8, 2019
Even as believers we can become short-sighted and focused on this temporal world, forgetting the joy of eternity with Christ. But there are things we can do to keep hope in sight.
Acts 15:36-40 | Walking The Path 10 of 10 | August 25, 2019
Paul’s journeys were intertwined with several partners in the mission, but things didn’t always turn out so rosy. His sharp disagreement with Barnabas over a common friend (Mark) sent them on separate paths. Through several letters and accounts from both Paul, Luke and Peter, we see how the early believers processed friendship, betrayal, mercy, and second chances.
2 Corinthians 12:1-10 | Walking The Path 9 of 10 | August 18, 2019
In an unnamed “thorn” in Paul’s life, he learns humility, gratitude, and the power of God’s sufficient grace. In our own weakness, we can find strength in Paul’s example.
Verses in 1 & 2 Timothy | Walking The Path 8 of 10 | August 11, 2019
Bob Card takes us through several scriptures that illuminate Paul’s mentoring relationship with Timothy, concluding that our lives as Christ followers are built and replicated through similar relationships of discipleship .
Galatians 2:11-14 | Walking The Path 7 of 10 | August 4, 2019
In Antioch, issues of freedom in Christ threatened the unity of the church and the purity of the gospel message. Paul shares his confrontation with the Apostle Peter and how he defended his Jesus following Gentile friends.
Galatians 2:1-10 | Walking The Path 6 of 10 | July 28, 2019
After years of preaching the gospel and serving the church in Antioch, Paul contends with those trying to compromise the pure gospel message. His passion to keep the good news of trusting Jesus central preserved the message of Jesus not only for the believers in Antioch, but for us today.
Acts 17:16-34 | Walking The Path 5 of 10 | July 21, 2019
Paul’s journey ended up placing him in Athens, where he engaged seekers and skeptics alike at the Areopagus (Mars Hill). Jeff Springer helps connect the dots from ancient Greece to our city today, and encourages the church to follow Paul’s example.
Acts 16:25-36 | Walking The Path 4 of 10 | July 14, 2019
One moment, Paul and his fellow traveler Silas were ministering to people in the city, and the next moment they found themselves imprisoned. Yet their devotion to God through both situations led not only to them experiencing freedom, but impacting the life of the jailer guarding them!
Acts 26:9-18 | Walking The Path 3 of 10 | July 7, 2019
In Acts 26, Luke records Paul’s defense of himself on trial before the Roman king Agrippa. Paul shares with the king about his complete transformation from a man obsessed with stopping followers of Jesus to a man grateful to follow after him. This message expands on the phrase “kicking against the goads”, and challenges us as Christ followers to examine areas in our own lives in which we might actually be fighting against God.
Philippians 3:1-17 | Walking The Path 2 of 10 | June 30, 2019
In Paul’s letter to the Philippians, he warns them not to trust in their own efforts and righteousness, but instead to put their faith in Christ. His own bio was quite impressive (a top notch pedigree, lineage, and education!) and yet he counted it as nothing compared to knowing Jesus. His encouragement to them (and us) is to forget the past, strain towards what is ahead, and press on in perseverance towards all that is offered to us in Christ.
2 Corinthians 7:5-7 | Walking The Path 1 of 10 | June 23, 2019
In what seems to be a passing paragraph in Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians, we find hints of both his struggles with external conflicts and his internal fears. Openly sharing joys, fears, and regrets, Paul gives us a snapshot of his humanity while pushing us to courageously keep our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.
Genesis 1-3 | Father’s Day | June 16, 2019
Fatherhood is both a difficult calling and a complete joy. Dustin Elliott calls fathers to look to our Heavenly Father to better understand how to cultivate a heart that communicates, provides, sets boundaries, disciplines, and shows compassion.
John 20:24-29 | Unfollow 7 of 7 | June 9, 2019
In part 7, Ben Tindall concludes our Unfollow series with great insights on acknowledging and working through our doubts.
Romans 12:1-2 | Unfollow 6 of 7 | June 2, 2019
In week 6, Sean Boyd centers the teaching on the principles found in Romans 12 dealing with the renewal of our minds.
Proverbs 14:8 | Unfollow 5 of 7 | May 26, 2019
In the 5th part of Unfollow, we look at the value of inviting input, learning from others, and having trustworthy friends that speak truth and life to us. When we are humble and open to correction, we find strength all around us.
2 Corinthians 5:17-19 | Unfollow 4 of 7 | May 19, 2019
In Part 4 of the Unfollow Series, we tune in to the voice of life that tells us that in Christ we are new creations. We also learn to unfollow destructive voices that try to undermine our confidence in approaching God and growing in our pursuit of Jesus.
Galatians 6:4-5 | Unfollow 3 of 7 | May 12, 2019
Comparison parenting leaves us immobilized, holding a mask and closed off from change. What if the perfect image of a mother is not what God intended for you to chase? On this Mother’s Day edition of Unfollow, Sean Boyd challenges us to escape the comparison trap and instead focus on Jesus and His power to transform our hearts and minds.
Matthew 16:13-26 | Unfollow 2 of 7 | May 5, 2019
Far from a fiendish prankster in a cape and goatee, the devil is a very real enemy in our lives. In Putting The Devil On Mute, we examine Scripture’s view of Satan in both contradiction (the liar) and condemnation (the accuser), and how to silence the lies and accusations of the enemy.
1 Corinthians 3:21-23, 4:1-7 | Unfollow 1 of 7 | April 28, 2019
The young church in Corinth would rank and identify with leaders to inflate themselves. Our sense of who we are is often hollow and hurting, desperate and demanding. In reading through Paul’s response to the Corinthians, Sean Boyd examines two voices to unfollow, and one to make sure we follow.
John 11:1-44, John 19:16-30 | Easter Sunday | April 21, 2019
Jesus pointed to Himself as the Resurrection and the Life. In a poignant moment in the gospels, Jesus comforts the faith of his good friends after their brother’s death. Pastor Sean Boyd connects that resurrecting moment to our need for trusting God’s timing and power in our lives.
1 Samuel 24:1-24, 1 Samuel 26:1-25 | Kings And Crowns 4 of 4 | April 14, 2019
David lives in hiding and on the run from the murderous King Saul. In David, we see a heart that refuses to avenge, trusting God to take care of his adversary. We discuss the heart of revenge and the call to bless others.
1 Samuel 18:1-11 | Kings And Crowns 3 of 4 | April 7, 2019
In Saul’s envy, he can’t help but hurl spears at David. Yet the King’s son Jonathan offers David his robe, bow and sword… along with loyalty and deep friendship. Today we contrast envy with the contentment that comes from a heart at peace.
1 Samuel 16:1-13 | Kings And Crowns 2 of 4 | March 31, 2019
God has rejected Saul, and has found a new leader for Samuel to anoint as future king of Israel. David is described as a man after God’s own heart. We examine themes of humility, repentance, and how to guard your heart.
1 Samuel 13:1-14 | Kings And Crowns 1 of 4 | March 24, 2019
Saul’s position as king begins with some successes, but soon enough his fear of man, seeming inability to admit wrong, and impatience with God’s ways all contribute to his downfall.
Mark 14:26-42 | Places Jesus Went 5 of 5 | March 17, 2019
Jesus confronts his own sorrows in Gethsemane. In the fifth and final message in Places Jesus Went, Sean Boyd walks through the place of friendship in sorrow, gut honesty with God and the power of trusting the Father’s will.
Matthew 14:22-33 | Places Jesus Went 4 of 5 | March 10, 2019
Jesus challenges and comforts His followers on the water. Sean Boyd breaks down the second half of Matthew 14, and we see that our eyes on Jesus in a storm is a lot different than our eyes on the waves.
John 4:1-42 | Places Jesus Went 3 of 5 | March 3, 2019
In Samaria, we see the heart of the Father expressed in Jesus as He breaks cultural barriers and defies prejudice to engage a Samaritan woman. Sean Boyd walks through the fourth chapter of John to discover our Samaria and challenge our hearts to follow after Jesus in engaging others in our world.
Matthew 14:1-23 | Places Jesus Went 2 of 5 | February 24, 2019
Sean Boyd continues our series on five places Jesus went that inform and challenge the lives of Christ followers today. In The Mountainside, Sean examines the choices Jesus made in Matthew 14. Refusing to let the frenzy of life dictate the tempo of the spirit, Jesus modeled for us the power of silence and solitude.
Matthew 4:1-11 | Places Jesus Went 1 of 5 | February 17, 2019
Joel Swan opens our series on five intentional places Jesus went that challenges the lives of Christ followers today. In The Wilderness, Joel walks through the temptations Jesus faced in Matthew 4.
Various Scriptures | Neighboring 5 of 5 | February 3, 2019
While neighboring is the heart of Jesus, it comes from your life in Him. It is an outflow. In this final piece of the Neighboring series, we learn to number our days and set healthy boundaries, knowing that we are not Jesus.
Various Scriptures | Neighboring 4 of 5 | January 27, 2019
We see the life of a Christ follower as one both poured into and pouring out into others. As those sent into the world for Christ, we then examine the intentional habits of missional living (B.E.L.L.S.) shared by Michael Frost.
Galatians 6:1-5 | Neighboring 3 of 5 | January 20, 2019
Following the arc of Jesus in stressing being the neighbor (instead of defining the neighbor), we observe themes of both caring for others and taking ownership of our own lives.
Various Scriptures | Neighboring 2 of 5 | January 13, 2019
From the wisdom given to the ancient Israelites through the letters to New Testament churches, God’s people are a people of rich hospitality. Further, we see that the hospitality of a gospel centered life see a love of strangers that become friends and family.
Luke 10:25-37 | Neighboring 1 of 5 | January 6, 2019
In a challenging question, a man asked Jesus to clarify who his neighbor was, so that he might define who he must love. The answer Jesus gives us puts the onus not on defining who our neighbor is (spoiler: everyone), but more importantly, who we are being a neighbor to.
Acts 6:1-6 | August 12, 2018
Sean paints a picture of the church that reflects Ohana, the Hawaiian word that means family. Throughout the New Testament, the church is called to a deeper community of mutual reliance, support, encouragement, and strength.
Matthew 28:16-20 | August 5, 2018
Jeff Springer shares his story of coming to trust in Jesus, and how Jesus’ desire is not simply for us to apprentice to Him, but to invest in disciples who will also invest in future disciples.