Hope Community Church: Recent Episodes

Hope Community Church - Raleigh, NC

Welcome to the Hope Community Church audio podcast page. Hope is a multi-site campus with locations around the Triangle in Raleigh, Apex, Morrisville and Garner. Our services are designed for everyone to enjoy - even if you've never been to church before. Whether you're a Christ-follower or a spiritual seeker, we'll communicate the truth from the Bible in a way that's easy for you to understand and apply to your daily life. No matter who you are or where you come from, you are welcome here!

Have you ever walked away from a situation or job feeling pretty impressed with yourself, arrogant in your success and thinking nothing could stop you? Then, you were hit with a crisis, and you felt like God turned His back on you? This weekend, Chase Gardner, our Teaching Pastor, will share why these things might happen and how to avoid the pitfalls by following the example Jesus humbly gave to us.

humility #daniel

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Subscribe to Family Conversations for weekly prompts and resources: https://touchpoint.gethope.net/OnePageReg/2451

If you’d like to receive regular updates on what’s happening around Hope, subscribe to our newsletter here: https://gethope.net/enews/

If you’d like to view our message notes, click here: https://gethope.net/message-notes/

If you’re new to Hope or looking to get connected, click here: https://gethope.net/next/

If you’ve just made a decision for Christ, please respond here: https://touchpoint.gethope.net/OnlineReg/2048

To support this ministry financially to help us continue to love people where they are and encourage them to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ, click here: https://gethope.net/give/

Subscribe to our channel: https://bit.ly/2XBbBxq

Stay Connected with Hope:
Website: https://gethope.net/
Hope Community Church Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gethopecommunitychurch
Hope Community Church Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/get_hope/
Hope Community Church Twitter: https://twitter.com/get_hope
Hope Community Church YouTube: https://youtube.com/c/HopeCommunityChurch

Subscribe to Our Podcast
Hope In Real Life YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HopeInRealLife
Hope In Real Life Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7eifzI0r9uY8rUaBMGs7q1
Hope In Real Life Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hope-in-real-life-with-jason-gore/id1691710678?uo=4

Obeying God is an act of worship. When we're obedient, God opens doors for others to encounter Him. What's God calling you into? Hear from Bible teacher, public speaker, and live painting artist, Eric Timm, as he takes us through Daniel chapter 3.

obedience #daniel

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Subscribe to Family Conversations for weekly prompts and resources: https://touchpoint.gethope.net/OnePageReg/2451

If you’d like to receive regular updates on what’s happening around Hope, subscribe to our newsletter here: https://gethope.net/enews/

If you’d like to view our message notes, click here: https://gethope.net/message-notes/

If you’re new to Hope or looking to get connected, click here: https://gethope.net/next/

If you’ve just made a decision for Christ, please respond here: https://touchpoint.gethope.net/OnlineReg/2048

To support this ministry financially to help us continue to love people where they are and encourage them to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ, click here: https://gethope.net/give/

Subscribe to our channel: https://bit.ly/2XBbBxq

Stay Connected with Hope:
Website: https://gethope.net/
Hope Community Church Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gethopecommunitychurch
Hope Community Church Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/get_hope/
Hope Community Church Twitter: https://twitter.com/get_hope
Hope Community Church YouTube: https://youtube.com/c/HopeCommunityChurch

Subscribe to Our Podcast
Hope In Real Life YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HopeInRealLife
Hope In Real Life Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7eifzI0r9uY8rUaBMGs7q1
Hope In Real Life Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hope-in-real-life-with-jason-gore/id1691710678?uo=4

Do you believe that God can use the obedience of one person to change the world? In week two of the series, Teaching Pastor Chase Gardner reveals the power of influence and its Kingdom impact.

influence #daniel

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Subscribe to Family Conversations for weekly prompts and resources: https://touchpoint.gethope.net/OnePageReg/2451

If you’d like to receive regular updates on what’s happening around Hope, subscribe to our newsletter here: https://gethope.net/enews/

If you’d like to view our message notes, click here: https://gethope.net/message-notes/

If you’re new to Hope or looking to get connected, click here: https://gethope.net/next/

If you’ve just made a decision for Christ, please respond here: https://touchpoint.gethope.net/OnlineReg/2048

To support this ministry financially to help us continue to love people where they are and encourage them to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ, click here: https://gethope.net/give/

Subscribe to our channel: https://bit.ly/2XBbBxq

Stay Connected with Hope:
Website: https://gethope.net/
Hope Community Church Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gethopecommunitychurch
Hope Community Church Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/get_hope/
Hope Community Church Twitter: https://twitter.com/get_hope
Hope Community Church YouTube: https://youtube.com/c/HopeCommunityChurch

Subscribe to Our Podcast
Hope In Real Life YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HopeInRealLife
Hope In Real Life Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7eifzI0r9uY8rUaBMGs7q1
Hope In Real Life Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hope-in-real-life-with-jason-gore/id1691710678?uo=4

Are you starting to feel singled out and ostracized because you’re a Christian? Well, you’re not alone! There seems to be a lot of anger and hate in the world right now, and God is often labeled as the problem instead of the solution. This week, Chase Gardner, our Teaching Pastor, will share how we can live in a hostile world with conviction and integrity.

conviction #daniel

Subscribe to Family Conversations for weekly prompts and resources: https://touchpoint.gethope.net/OnePageReg/2451

If you’d like to receive regular updates on what’s happening around Hope, subscribe to our newsletter here: https://gethope.net/enews/

If you’d like to view our message notes, click here: https://gethope.net/message-notes/

If you’re new to Hope or looking to get connected, click here: https://gethope.net/next/

If you’ve just made a decision for Christ, please respond here: https://touchpoint.gethope.net/OnlineReg/2048

To support this ministry financially to help us continue to love people where they are and encourage them to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ, click here: https://gethope.net/give/

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/2XBbBxq

Stay Connected with Hope:

Website: https://gethope.net/

Hope Community Church Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gethopecommunitychurch

Hope Community Church Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/get_hope/

Hope Community Church Twitter: https://twitter.com/get_hope

Hope Community Church YouTube: https://youtube.com/c/HopeCommunityChurch

Subscribe to Our Podcast

Hope In Real Life YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HopeInRealLife

Hope In Real Life Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7eifzI0r9uY8rUaBMGs7q1

Hope In Real Life Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hope-in-real-life-with-jason-gore/id1691710678?uo=4

A change of heart rarely happens by our own efforts, but a true encounter with Jesus will change even the roughest among us. Through the story of Zacchaeus, Director of Preaching and Theology Clay Burgess reminds us that no one is too far gone.

encounteringjesus #summerserieslive

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Subscribe to Family Conversations for weekly prompts and resources: https://touchpoint.gethope.net/OnePageReg/2451

If you’d like to receive regular updates on what’s happening around Hope, subscribe to our newsletter here: https://gethope.net/enews/

If you’d like to view our message notes, click here: https://gethope.net/message-notes/

If you’re new to Hope or looking to get connected, click here: https://gethope.net/next/

If you’ve just made a decision for Christ, please respond here: https://touchpoint.gethope.net/OnlineReg/2048

To support this ministry financially to help us continue to love people where they are and encourage them to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ, click here: https://gethope.net/give/

Subscribe to our channel: https://bit.ly/2XBbBxq

Stay Connected with Hope:
Website: https://gethope.net/
Hope Community Church Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gethopecommunitychurch
Hope Community Church Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/get_hope/
Hope Community Church Twitter: https://twitter.com/get_hope
Hope Community Church YouTube: https://youtube.com/c/HopeCommunityChurch

Subscribe to Our New Podcast
Hope In Real Life YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HopeInRealLife
Hope In Real Life Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7eifzI0r9uY8rUaBMGs7q1
Hope In Real Life Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hope-in-real-life-with-jason-gore/id1691710678

For a follower of Jesus, the most important assignment in life is to find and follow God’s will. But to be honest, God sometimes calls us to do things that we don’t want to do. In his message based on the Book of Jonah, Raleigh Campus Pastor Duane Calvin shares about his journey from disobedience to obedience and reminds us that God is a God of second chances.

jonah #secondchances #summerserieslive

Subscribe to Family Conversations for weekly prompts and resources: https://touchpoint.gethope.net/OnePageReg/2451

If you’d like to receive regular updates on what’s happening around Hope, subscribe to our newsletter here: https://gethope.net/enews/

If you’d like to view our message notes, click here: https://gethope.net/message-notes/

If you’re new to Hope or looking to get connected, click here: https://gethope.net/next/

If you’ve just made a decision for Christ, please respond here: https://touchpoint.gethope.net/OnlineReg/2048

To support this ministry financially to help us continue to love people where they are and encourage them to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ, click here: https://gethope.net/give/

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/2XBbBxq

Stay Connected with Hope:
Website: https://gethope.net/
Hope Community Church Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gethopecommunitychurch
Hope Community Church Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/get_hope/
Hope Community Church Twitter: https://twitter.com/get_hope
Hope Community Church YouTube: https://youtube.com/c/HopeCommunityChurch

Subscribe to Our New Podcast
Hope In Real Life YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HopeInRealLife
Hope In Real Life Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7eifzI0r9uY8rUaBMGs7q1
Hope In Real Life Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hope-in-real-life-with-jason-gore/id1691710678

Don’t lose heart! In this touching message, Marriage Pastor Dave Lanuti shares how the worst thing you could ever imagine can actually become the greatest gift you ever receive.

dontloseheart #summerserieslive

Subscribe to Family Conversations for weekly prompts and resources: https://touchpoint.gethope.net/OnePageReg/2451

If you’d like to receive regular updates on what’s happening around Hope, subscribe to our newsletter here: https://gethope.net/enews/

If you’d like to view our message notes, click here: https://gethope.net/message-notes/

If you’re new to Hope or looking to get connected, click here: https://gethope.net/next/

If you’ve just made a decision for Christ, please respond here: https://touchpoint.gethope.net/OnlineReg/2048

To support this ministry financially to help us continue to love people where they are and encourage them to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ, click here: https://gethope.net/give/

Subscribe to our channel: https://bit.ly/2XBbBxq

Stay Connected with Hope:
Website: https://gethope.net/
Hope Community Church Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gethopecommunitychurch
Hope Community Church Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/get_hope/
Hope Community Church Twitter: https://twitter.com/get_hope
Hope Community Church YouTube: https://youtube.com/c/HopeCommunityChurch

Subscribe to Our New Podcast
Hope In Real Life YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HopeInRealLife
Hope In Real Life Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7eifzI0r9uY8rUaBMGs7q1
Hope In Real Life Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hope-in-real-life-with-jason-gore/id1691710678

We all have this picture of Jesus in our heads when we imagine him... What's your version of Him? Do you have expectations of him? Do you really KNOW Him? Have you experienced God for yourself? In week one of our new series, Summer Series Live, Ayren Nelson invites us to come and See Jesus for who He really is.

experiencegod #summerserieslive

Subscribe to Family Conversations for weekly prompts and resources: https://touchpoint.gethope.net/OnePageReg/2451

If you’d like to receive regular updates on what’s happening around Hope, subscribe to our newsletter here: https://gethope.net/enews/

If you’d like to view our message notes, click here: https://gethope.net/message-notes/

If you’re new to Hope or looking to get connected, click here: https://gethope.net/next/

If you’ve just made a decision for Christ, please respond here: https://touchpoint.gethope.net/OnlineReg/2048

To support this ministry financially to help us continue to love people where they are and encourage them to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ, click here: https://gethope.net/give/

Subscribe to our channel: https://bit.ly/2XBbBxq

Stay Connected with Hope:
Website: https://gethope.net/
Hope Community Church Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gethopecommunitychurch
Hope Community Church Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/get_hope/
Hope Community Church Twitter: https://twitter.com/get_hope
Hope Community Church YouTube: https://youtube.com/c/HopeCommunityChurch

Subscribe to Our New Podcast:
Hope In Real Life YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HopeInRealLife
Hope In Real Life Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7eifzI0r9uY8rUaBMGs7q1
Hope In Real Life Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hope-in-real-life-with-jason-gore/id1691710678

Beginning of Message

Grapes can only grow when they’re connected to the vine—the vine is what sustains life and makes it possible for fruit to grow. In the same way, humans need connection—not just any connection, but really a deep connection with Jesus.In the final week of the series, Duane Calvin shares what Jesus meant when He said, “I am the true vine.”

thetruevine #definingjesus

Subscribe to Family Conversations for weekly prompts and resources: https://touchpoint.gethope.net/OnePageReg/2451

If you’d like to receive regular updates on what’s happening around Hope, subscribe to our newsletter here: https://gethope.net/enews/

If you’d like to view our message notes, click here: https://gethope.net/message-notes/

If you’re new to Hope or looking to get connected, click here: https://gethope.net/next/

If you’ve just made a decision for Christ, please respond here: https://touchpoint.gethope.net/OnlineReg/2048

To support this ministry financially to help us continue to love people where they are and encourage them to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ, click here: https://gethope.net/give/

Subscribe to our channel: https://bit.ly/2XBbBxq

Stay Connected with Hope:

Website: https://gethope.net/

Hope Community Church Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gethopecommunitychurch

Hope Community Church Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/get_hope/

Hope Community Church Twitter: https://twitter.com/get_hope

Hope Community Church YouTube: https://youtube.com/c/HopeCommunityChurch

Subscribe Early to Our New Podcast – launching June 29

Hope In Real Life YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HopeInRealLife

Hope In Real Life Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7eifzI0r9uY8rUaBMGs7q1

Hope In Real Life Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hope-in-real-life-with-jason-gore/id1691710678

No one likes a spoiler, right? But the truth is, the Bible is pretty clear about how it all ends—and it’s good! Middle School Ministry’s Ayren Nelson takes the stage in week 5 to talk about Jesus as the resurrection and the life.

theresurrectionandthelife #definingjesus

Subscribe to Family Conversations for weekly prompts and resources: https://touchpoint.gethope.net/OnePageReg/2451

If you’d like to receive regular updates on what’s happening around Hope, subscribe to our newsletter here: https://gethope.net/enews/

If you’d like to view our message notes, click here: https://gethope.net/message-notes/

If you’re new to Hope or looking to get connected, click here: https://gethope.net/next/

If you’ve just made a decision for Christ, please respond here: https://touchpoint.gethope.net/OnlineReg/2048

To support this ministry financially to help us continue to love people where they are and encourage them to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ, click here: https://gethope.net/give/

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/2XBbBxq

Stay Connected with Hope:

Website: https://gethope.net/

Hope Community Church Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gethopecommunitychurch

Hope Community Church Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/get_hope/

Hope Community Church Twitter: https://twitter.com/get_hope

Hope Community Church YouTube: https://youtube.com/c/HopeCommunityChurch

Subscribe Early to Our New Podcast – launching June 29

Hope In Real Life YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HopeInRealLife

Hope In Real Life Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7eifzI0r9uY8rUaBMGs7q1

Hope In Real Life Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hope-in-real-life-with-jason-gore/id1691710678

After trying nearly every earthly means you can imagine, there was only one thing that ever truly satisfied Léonce Crump’s gnawing hunger for more. The Senior Pastor of Renovation Church joins us in week 4 for a look at true satisfaction and what Jesus really meant when He said “I am the bread of life.”

thebreadoflife #definingjesus

Subscribe to Family Conversations for weekly prompts and resources: https://touchpoint.gethope.net/OnePageReg/2451

If you’d like to receive regular updates on what’s happening around Hope, subscribe to our newsletter here: https://gethope.net/enews/

If you’d like to view our message notes, click here: https://gethope.net/message-notes/

If you’re new to Hope or looking to get connected, click here: https://gethope.net/next/

If you’ve just made a decision for Christ, please respond here: https://touchpoint.gethope.net/OnlineReg/2048

To support this ministry financially to help us continue to love people where they are and encourage them to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ, click here: https://gethope.net/give/

Subscribe to our channel: https://bit.ly/2XBbBxq

Stay Connected with Hope:

Website: https://gethope.net/

Hope Community Church Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gethopecommunitychurch

Hope Community Church Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/get_hope/

Hope Community Church Twitter: https://twitter.com/get_hope

Hope Community Church YouTube: https://youtube.com/c/HopeCommunityChurch

Subscribe Early to Our New Podcast – launching June 29

Hope In Real Life YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HopeInRealLife

Hope In Real Life Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7eifzI0r9uY8rUaBMGs7q1

Wouldn’t it be great if we could just skip to the good part? Movies we watch and books we read—even Bible stories—can make it seem like people skip to the promise in a matter of minutes or chapters. But a single chapter often represents decades of struggle. If you’re feeling like you’re in a place that doesn’t seem to match the promise you expected, you might be trying to fast-track your way there. In week five, Ayren Nelson shares the story of David who—even in the midst of the wilderness—trusted that it was all a part of God’s plan.

For more details on our Toy Store, click here: https://gethope.net/toy-store/

If you’d like to view our message notes, click here: https://gethope.net/message-notes/

If you’re new to Hope or looking to get connected, click here: https://gethope.net/next/

If you’ve just made a decision for Christ, please respond here: https://bit.ly/3aWvIZN

For more information about our Hope Where You Are campaign, visit https://gethope.net/hope-where-you-are/

To support this ministry financially to help us continue to love people where they are and encourage them to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ, click here: https://gethope.net/give/

Subscribe to receive our latest messages: https://bit.ly/2XBbBxq

Stay Connected with Hope:

Website: https://gethope.net/

Hope Community Church Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gethopecommunitychurch

Hope Community Church Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/get_hope/

Hope Community Church Twitter: https://twitter.com/get_hope

Hope Community Church YouTube: https://youtube.com/c/HopeCommunityChurch

Why do we struggle to grab ahold of something we think is so important? Maybe we feel empty, or maybe it’s because we think our lives will finally have meaning. But when we get that one thing…is it ever enough or do we start to fight for the next big thing? This weekend, Chase Gardner, our Teaching Pastor, will share how we can be made complete in God. Don’t miss week 4 of our series In the Wilderness.

For more details on our Toy Store, click here: https://gethope.net/toy-store/

If you’d like to view our message notes, click here: https://gethope.net/message-notes/

If you’re new to Hope or looking to get connected, click here: https://gethope.net/next/

If you’ve just made a decision for Christ, please respond here: https://bit.ly/3aWvIZN

For more information about our Hope Where You Are campaign, visit https://gethope.net/hope-where-you-are/

To support this ministry financially to help us continue to love people where they are and encourage them to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ, click here: https://gethope.net/give/

Subscribe to receive our latest messages: https://bit.ly/2XBbBxq

Stay Connected with Hope:
Website: https://gethope.net/
Hope Community Church Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gethopecommunitychurch
Hope Community Church Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/get_hope/
Hope Community Church Twitter: https://twitter.com/get_hope
Hope Community Church YouTube: https://youtube.com/c/HopeCommunityChurch

We spend so much time trying to avoid suffering that we sometimes miss the fact that going through hard things is actually what makes us stronger and wiser and better—it’s what helps us thrive. In week three of the series, Chase Gardner uses the story of Moses to show us that the things we often want God to protect us from are the very things He uses to shape and mold us. It's in these wilderness times when we learn to rely not on our own wisdom, power, or strength, but instead to rely on God.

If you’d like to view our message notes, click here: https://gethope.net/message-notes/

If you’re new to Hope or looking to get connected, click here: https://gethope.net/next/

If you’ve just made a decision for Christ, please respond here: https://bit.ly/3aWvIZN

For more information about our Hope Where You Are campaign, visit https://gethope.net/hope-where-you-are/

To support this ministry financially to help us continue to love people where they are and encourage them to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ, click here: https://gethope.net/give/

Subscribe to receive our latest messages: https://bit.ly/2XBbBxq

Stay Connected with Hope:

Website: https://gethope.net/

Hope Community Church Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gethopecommunitychurch

Hope Community Church Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/get_hope/

Hope Community Church Twitter: https://twitter.com/get_hope

Hope Community Church YouTube: https://youtube.com/c/HopeCommunityChurch

Have you ever felt abandoned by God, alone and fearful? You’ve stepped out in faith and you’re doing all the right things, but you still find yourself stuck in the wilderness—what gives? This week, Chase Gardner will help us see that God hasn’t forgotten us. Together, we’ll find some answers through the story of Abraham and the promises God has made.

If you’d like to view our message notes, click here: https://gethope.net/message-notes/

If you’re new to Hope or looking to get connected, click here: https://gethope.net/next/

If you’ve just made a decision for Christ, please respond here: https://bit.ly/3aWvIZN

For more information about our Hope Where You Are campaign, visit https://gethope.net/hope-where-you-are/

To support this ministry financially to help us continue to love people where they are and encourage them to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ, click here: https://gethope.net/give/

Subscribe to receive our latest messages: https://bit.ly/2XBbBxq

Stay Connected with Hope:

Website: https://gethope.net/

Hope Community Church Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gethopecommunitychurch

Hope Community Church Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/get_hope/

Hope Community Church Twitter: https://twitter.com/get_hope

Hope Community Church YouTube: https://youtube.com/c/HopeCommunityChurch

So many heroes of the faith spent time in the wilderness. In fact, it appears that the wilderness is the very place God brings the people He loves. In week one of the series, Chase Gardner reminds us that there is always a purpose for the times we find ourselves in the wilderness.

If you’d like to view our message notes, click here: https://gethope.net/message-notes/

If you’re new to Hope or looking to get connected, click here: https://gethope.net/next/

If you’ve just made a decision for Christ, please respond here: https://bit.ly/3aWvIZN

For more information about our Hope Where You Are campaign, visit https://gethope.net/hope-where-you-are/

To support this ministry financially to help us continue to love people where they are and encourage them to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ, click here: https://gethope.net/give/

Subscribe to receive our latest messages: https://bit.ly/2XBbBxq

Stay Connected with Hope:

Website: https://gethope.net/

Hope Community Church Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gethopecommunitychurch

Hope Community Church Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/get_hope/

Hope Community Church Twitter: https://twitter.com/get_hope

Hope Community Church YouTube: https://youtube.com/c/HopeCommunityChurch

Jesus was a master of noticing needs. He saw the hurting, the helpless, the people everyone else seemed to overlook—but He didn't just see them, He did something about them. The more you look around, the more you'll notice that needs are everywhere. You can find them where you live, learn, work, and play. Seeing the needs, serving the needs, and sharing God's love while we do it is more than a weekend sermon—it should be a way of life. Hear from Chase Gardner and Ayren Nelson about how YOU can be “hope for” your community.

Learn more about how to serve your community here: https://gethope.net/hopefor/

Learn more about our Fostering Hope ministry here: https://gethope.net/fosteringhope/

If you’d like to view our message notes, click here: https://gethope.net/message-notes/

If you’re new to Hope or looking to get connected, click here: https://gethope.net/next/

If you’ve just made a decision for Christ, please respond here: https://bit.ly/3aWvIZN

For more information about our Hope Where You Are campaign, visit https://gethope.net/hope-where-you-are/

To support this ministry financially to help us continue to love people where they are and encourage them to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ, click here: https://gethope.net/give/

Subscribe to receive our latest messages: https://bit.ly/2XBbBxq

Stay Connected with Hope:

Website:https://gethope.net/

Hope Community Church Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gethopecommunitychurch

Hope Community Church Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/get_hope/

Hope Community Church Twitter: https://twitter.com/get_hope

Hope Community Church YouTube: https://youtube.com/c/HopeCommunityChurch

Have you ever made an excuse to not do something out of fear or embarrassment? The Bible is full of people making excuses, but the greatest stories are of those who follow God in spite of them. In this final week of our Made for More series, Chase Gardner challenges us to stop making excuses and start making a difference. We can be MORE than what we think we can be, not because of ourselves but because of God!

Join a local table group to discuss this Made for More series at https://gethope.net/madeformore/

Learn more about our Fostering Hope ministry here: https://gethope.net/fosteringhope/

If you’d like to view our message notes, click here: https://gethope.net/message-notes/

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When your faith starts to feel boring, it may not be incorrect—it’s probably just incomplete. There’s more to being a Christ-follower than knowing God and surrounding yourself with a community of believers. In week five, Teaching Pastor Chase Gardner reminds us that we were made for a mission that calls us to GO. God fills us up so we can overflow into the lives of the people around us. And when we’re willing, He’ll use us to do just that.

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Are you tired of trying to keep up with the neighbors and all the comparison games? Wouldn’t it be nice to lay that down and just be content? This week in our Made for More series, Chase Gardner, our Teaching Pastor, will help us find true contentment through Jesus. Come and find the rest you’ve been searching for.

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We all want more out of our marriages. After all, marriage is one of the closest relationships we’ll ever have on earth and the foundation of our families. This week in our Made for More series, Dave Lanuti, Hope’s Marriage Pastor, will share a touching message in how to let God grow our marriages to more than what we could imagine.

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One of the hardest things you’ll do in life is raise a child! So how is this a blessing? During the message this week in our Made for More series, Chase Gardner, our Teaching Pastor, will help us view having children through God’s eyes. And Heather Sullivan, our Family Ministry Director, will share some of the realities of raising kids in today’s world with some practical parenting tips to get on the right path.

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Get the Family Plan Calendar here: https://familyplancalendar.com/

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Have you ever been stuck in the past thinking you’re not good enough? In this message, our Lead Pastor Jason Gore will help us move beyond the fear and shame of the past as we begin our new series, Made for More.

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Are you ready to let go of the masquerade, to stop wearing that mask of perfection? It’s exhausting always trying to hide our brokenness; but, in this message, Ben Foote shares how we can be free from living a life of pretend!

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If you’ve spent any time in the Bible, you probably have a favorite verse—one that jumps out at you or really speaks to something going on in your life. In this series, we’ll hear from three different speakers about the verses that affected them in profound ways to encourage all of us. This week, Duane Calvin, the Raleigh Campus Pastor, shares how John 3:16 changed his life and how it has the power to change yours.
____

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If you’ve spent any time in the Bible, you probably have a favorite verse—one that jumps out at you or really speaks to something going on in your life. In this series, we hear from three different speakers about the verses that affected them in profound ways to encourage all of us.

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Are you willing to do whatever it takes to step into the abundant life that Jesus has for you? There are lots of ways you can respond to the power and the presence of God, but only one way to get it—God’s way. In this message, Chase Gardner challenges us to see that doing it God’s way often means taking radical steps to protect the change.

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Every farmer starts with the harvest in mind. They plant the seeds for the crop they want to grow. They work diligently, and they patiently wait for the fruits of their labor to grow. In this message, Chase Gardner reminds us to faithfully sow and patiently wait for the abundant harvest that's to come.

Most of us never experience true freedom in life because we get caught up in sin, and a lot of the time we don’t even realize it. In this message, Ayren Nelson helps us understand what sinful habits may be holding us back and offers 4 steps for taking a path to healing.

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A lot of us don’t like being told what to do, especially if it’s something we don’t want to do. In this message, Chase Gardner explains that this habit can get in the way of us being the person God wants us to be. We can rely on the Bible as our ultimate roadmap to experiencing true freedom, power, and authority through Jesus.

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We all have a spirit inside of us – the spirit of flesh – but God has sent another Spirit to battle against it. In this message, Chase Gardner teaches about the Holy Spirit and how we can be in a relationship with Him. But we can’t just sense the Holy Spirit, we have to surrender to Him and that will truly set us free.

Message Notes:God can do more than we can imagine in our lives even when we fail and feel defeated.

In the past, God would sometimes place His people inside of His presence; but now, God places His presence inside of His people.

There is a battle going on inside of us between the Spirit and the flesh. Romans 8:5-9, 12-14 (NIV)

The most important thing you can do the moment you start following Christ is to cultivate a relationship with the Spirit.

Who is the Spirit of God? The Holy Spirit is a person.

How do we cultivate a relationship with the Holy Spirit?
1) Welcome Him.

Genesis 6:3 (NIV)
Ephesians 4:30 (NIV)
1 Thessalonians 5:19 (NIV)
Hebrews 10:29 (ESV)
The Spirit hates sharing your heart with something else.
When God moves in, other things have to move out.
The Spirit doesn’t remove things from your life. He just defeats them.

2) Commune with Him.

When you stop being indifferent to the Holy Spirit, you’ll start being different due to the Holy Spirit.

3) Walk with Him.

Amos 3:3 (NLT)
It’s not sensing but surrendering to the Spirit that makes all the difference.

“I will welcome the Spirit and follow His lead.”

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Do you ever feel spiritually beat up, like you’re in a constant battle? The truth is, you are in a battle – for your soul. In this message, Chase Gardner teaches us about the obstacles that trip us up in life and reminds us that we have the authority to be the person God wants us to be.

Message Notes:God can do more than we can imagine in our lives even when we fail and feel defeated.

Acts 3:1-2 (NLT) A man, who was born lame, was left outside the temple to beg.

Acts 3:3 (NLT) He asked Peter and John for money.

Acts 3:4-6a (NLT) Peter told the man he didn’t have any silver or gold.

Acts 3:6b-8 (NLT) Peter told the man that he had something different to offer, and it was healing in the name of Jesus Christ.

God doesn’t deal in small change but new creation.

Acts 3:9-10 (NLT) The people were astounded to see the man who was lame walking and praising God.

The “right hand” is a common metaphor in the Bible for power and authority.

Exodus 15:6 (NLT)
Deuteronomy 33:2 (NLT)
Luke 22:69 (NLT)
Acts 3:16 (NLT)
Luke 9:1-2 (NLT)
Luke 10:17-20 (NLT)

Through history, we see that God gave Adam and Eve the authority to rule the things of earth. Genesis 1:26 (KJB)

They gave up that authority to Satan.

Luke 4:6-7 (ESV)

When Jesus rose from the grave, He won back that authority Adam and Eve had lost.

Hebrews 2:14-15 (NLT)

Colossians 2:14-15 (NLT)

Through faith in Jesus, we have spiritual authority, but not physical authority, again. Hebrews 2:8 (ESV)

The battles we have faced in our lives have already been won in Jesus.

Romans 8:1-2 (NLT)

Romans 6:14 (NLT)

Colossians 1:13-14 (NLT)

We can have freedom from our sin if we step forward into the belief that God has the power to defeat our sin. Are we willing to fight for our faith? To believe God can change us?

Isaiah 42:13 (NLT)

Psalm 18:31-32, 34-36, 39 (NLT)

Hebrews 12:12-13 (NLT)

“I will refuse to be anything less than who God has created me to be.”

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Worship is simply a statement of the things you assign value to. It’s more than a song. It’s more than one day a week. Worship is a lifestyle. It’s a choice that we make, every day of the week—at home, at work, and in the moments when we’re alone. Worshiping God is a response to His unending promise. It’s an outward expression of praise to the One who gave us everything we have. In this three-week series we’ll explore what it means to live a life of worship.

Week Three – What Shapes Your Worth?

Speaker: Léonce Crump (Senior Pastor of Renovation Church)

Psalm 100

If our sense of worth is shaped more by culture than by Christ, our worship will reflect this.

Worship is about God, but it's more about you than Him.
How we worship reveals what shapes our worth.

Worship impacts our way of life.

Romans 12:1

When we gather together, we invite God’s presence.

God visits His children wherever they are.
Based on history, we see that He has no preference for style of worship, language, altitude, pattern, building material, or physical location.

Worship precedes

We should live every day with our worth shaped by God.
Worship begins privately and overflows publicly.

Cultivation of worship vs. consumption of worship

If God is not shaping your worth, what is?

Next step—prioritize worship in every aspect of your life:

Start your day singing to the Lord.
Engage God throughout the day—ask Him for guidance.
Sing passionately and loudly in gathered worship.

The way we will accomplish our mission is to be passionate lovers and worshipers of God.

Series Description:

Worship is simply a statement of the things you assign value to. It’s more than a song. It’s more than one day a week. Worship is a lifestyle. It’s a choice that we make, every day of the week—at home, at work, and in the moments when we’re alone. Worshiping God is a response to His unending promise. It’s an outward expression of praise to the One who gave us everything we have. In this series, we’ll explore what it means to live a life of worship.

Episode Description:
Albert Tate unpacks 1 Corinthians 13 and reminds us that as true, wholehearted, fully-devoted worshipers of God, our worship inevitably should be marked by love. Hope Community Church on Sunday, June 19, 2022.

Worship = Love Better

1 Corinthians 13

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Worship is simply a statement of the things you assign value to. It’s more than a song. It’s more than one day a week. Worship is a lifestyle. In this message, Guest Speaker Jim Burgen, teaches us the true meaning of worship.

• Worship can be better understood through the history of the Old Testament.

1 Samuel 4:22 (NIV)

Psalm 132:2-5 (NIV)

2 Samuel 6:1-23 (NIV)

Psalm 47:1-2 (NIV)

Psalm 149:1-3 (NIV)

Psalm 134:1-2 (NIV)

1 Timothy 2:8 (NIV)

Psalm 150:1-6 (NIV)

2 Chronicles 29:25 (NIV)

Amos 9:11-15 (NIV)

The first sermon you will ever preach is your public confession and baptism.

The second sermon is your daily worship of Jesus.

Whether it's on social media or around the water cooler, it's becoming harder than ever to love people we disagree with. In this message, Duane Calvin talks about how we can use grace and truth as guiding principles to do it best.

Message Notes:
“How do I love people I disagree with? How do I respond with love to people that don’t like me or who deeply conflict with my Christian beliefs?”

It’s easy to love the people who are easy to love, but what about the people who are not that easy to love?

The best guiding principles on how to deal with confrontational or uncomfortable situations are found in God’s Word.

Grace:
- God’s undeserved favor
- Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV)
Truth:
- Anything that is consistent with the mind, will, character, glory and Word of God.
- Having complete reliability, reliability linked to the dependable, unchanging character of Jesus
- John 8:32 (NIV)

Jesus was and is the ultimate example of Grace and Truth, and they are linked to the very character of Jesus.

John 1:14 (ESV)
John 1:17 (ESV)

John 8:1-11 (NIV) This is an example of Jesus demonstrating Grace and Truth.

Practical examples of how we can love people who disagree with us:

1st - Recognize that Jesus has enough Grace and Truth for everyone, even them.
- John 1:14 (ESV)
- The word “full” in Greek is plḗrēs, which means “filled up, thoroughly complete; lacking nothing.”
2nd - Lean into what we lack.
- Truth apart from Grace often produces a sense of legalism where we value rules and punishment and fairness more than we value forgiveness and relationship and people.
- Grace-oriented Christians at times can struggle with Christian truths like obedience because it feels too restrictive and because they don’t want to be seen as being judgmental.
3rd - Live in the tension of Grace and Truth because the Tension is where love of Christ is shared.
- If we offend everyone, we are emphasizing Truth at the expense of Grace; but if we offend no one, we are probably watering down Truth in the name of Grace.

What will really make a difference in exercising these three truths in our lives is for us to put down the rocks.

James 5:16 (NIV) “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”

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For a deeper dive into any of the questions addressed in the Asking for a Friend series, check out some of the resources that guided our teaching team as they prepared for these messages: https://gethope.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Asking-for-a-Friend-Resources-1.pdf

Watch our Hope Music original, Asking for a Friend music video here: https://youtu.be/zuJ9HNmUXx4

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We’ve all wondered what will happen when we die, but many of us don’t really know. In this message, Chase Gardner uses scripture to give us a better idea of what to expect. He goes on to reveal that knowing what happens when you die will dramatically change the way you live your life until that time comes.

Message Notes:
Whether we’re new to Christianity or we’ve been Christians for years, there are questions we think about and sometimes argue about with others. Over the next five weeks, we’ll take a look at the top five questions our community has.

What happens when we die?

The answer offers us a hope the world desperately needs to know about.

God tells us clearly in hundreds of passages what we can expect to experience when we die.
These truths about eternity should change the way we live until the moment of death.

In order to understand the end, we have to understand where we began and where we are now.

There are three main periods or acts in the history of the world.
- Act one: The past (Genesis 1 and 2)
- Act two: The present (Genesis 3 through Revelation 19)
- Act three: The future (Revelation 20-22)

Act One

God creates the entire universe, and it was good.
Genesis 1:28
God had a clear purpose for Adam and Eve: fill the whole earth and rule it for God’s glory
Act one is similar to the present (same goal), but there was no sin or death.

Act Two

The beginning of act two: Adam and Eve eat the fruit, sin enters the world, and death is the consequence.
God creates a different place to hold the souls of people who die in act two
- “Sheol” (Old Testament) / “Hades” (New Testament)
- Three areas of Sheol
  - Paradise (present heaven)
  - Gehenna (present hell)
  - Tartarus (holding place for future judgment)
- What we learn from Luke 16:19-31
  - If you die before Jesus comes, your spirit goes to Sheol
  - We will still be us, conscious, and aware of what is going on on earth
  - Present heaven—we’re happy and fulfilled; waiting for act three
  - Present hell—we’re alone, we don’t know what’s going on on earth, we are suffering
- 1 Peter 3:18-19
- The Bible emphasizes the importance of faith in Christ.
- The Bible emphasizes that children have a special place in God’s heart.

Act Three

Jesus returns to earth
Souls come back from present heaven and present hell and receive their eternal bodies
Revelation 20:11-15
Revelation 21:1-5
We will still be us, but sinless
Everything will exist as it was intended at Creation
We will have the same command: to fill the earth and live for the glory of God
Jesus is the pinnacle
Romans 10:13-15

What does this mean for how we live our lives?

Every person you meet is an eternal being who will spend eternity in one of two places.
Our purpose is to share the Gospel so that every person we meet has the option to choose to accept salvation or not.
The truth of heaven means that for almost everything in my life, I can wait so that more can know.
Make your decision today, because there might not be a tomorrow.

For more information about our Hope Where You Are campaign, visit https://gethope.net/hwya/

If you’re new to Hope or looking to get connected, click here: https://gethope.net/next/

If you’ve just made a decision for Christ, please respond here: https://bit.ly/3aWvIZN

To support this ministry financially to help us continue to love people where they are and encourage them to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ, click here: https://gethope.net/give/

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In times of suffering, we often turn to God for understanding. In this message, Teaching Pastor Chase Gardner offers a powerful perspective on suffering in the world.

Whether we’re new to Christianity or we’ve been Christians for years, there are questions we think about and sometimes argue about with others. Over the next five weeks, we’ll take a look at the top five questions our community has.

If God is all powerful, why does He allow so much suffering in the world?

Habakkuk 1:2-4 (ESV) The prophet cried out to God questioning why he and his loved ones were suffering.

The Moral Argument Against God:

If God is all-powerful, all-knowing and all-loving and suffering exists, then God is either none of those things or He doesn’t exist.

The real argument is this: An all-powerful, all-knowing, all-loving God wouldn’t permit suffering to exist without a good reason. And because I cannot think of a good enough reason, there isn’t one. Therefore, God doesn’t exist.

When we see evil and suffering, something inside of us screams that this isn’t right, and we question why doesn’t God fix this?

We opened the door to what sin brings into the world through our free will.

God leads Habakkuk on a journey to better understand suffering.

God lifts Habakkuk’s eyes upwards to Himself.

Habakkuk 1:5-6 (ESV)

Isaiah 45:6b-7 (ESV)

Exodus 4:11 (ESV)

Psalm 135:5-6 (ESV)

Isaiah 45:9 (ESV)

“In seventy years we can develop a host of ideas about how indifferent God appears to be about suffering. But is it reasonable to judge God and his plan for the universe by the swatch of time we spend on earth? Have we missed the perspective of the timelessness of the universe?… Who would complain if God allowed one hour of suffering in an entire lifetime of comfort? Yet we bitterly complain about a lifetime that includes suffering when that lifetime is a mere hour of eternity. Next time you want to cry out to God in anguished despair, blaming him for a miserable world, remember: less than one-millionth of the evidence has been presented…” — Philip Yancey

Habakkuk looks back to the history of God’s faithfulness in the Old Testament.

We have to look back to the cross.

All doubts about the Father are silenced in the Son.

“For whatever reason God chose to make man as he is - limited and suffering and subject to sorrows and death - He had the honesty and courage to take his own medicine. Whatever game he is playing with his creation, he has kept his own rules and played fair.” – Dorothy Sayers

God points Habakkuk’s attention forwards.

Habakkuk 2:3 (NLT)

Evil people will not go unpunished, and there is a real place called Hell.

We will understand suffering as a whole and on an individual level at the final judgement.

Heaven will be a compensation for all the pain and suffering.

Romans 8:18 (ESV)

Heaven will be a justification for our suffering.

2 Corinthians 4:16-17 (NIV)

Habakkuk 2:4 (KJV) “The just shall live by faith.”

For more information about our Hope Where You Are campaign, visit https://gethope.net/hwya/

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Sometimes it can seem like science is at odds with religion, making it hard to believe in the God of the Bible. In this message, Chase Gardner teaches that science doesn’t contradict Christianity at all. In fact, he argues that science points to God as the ultimate creator, meaning that it can be a source to increase our faith, not decrease it.

Message Notes:

Whether we’re new to Christianity or we’ve been Christians for years, there are questions we think about and sometimes argue about with others. Over the next five weeks, we’ll take a look at the top five questions our community has.

Does science contradict religion?

The beliefs we have strongly influence the beliefs we form.
3 things involved in this question
1. Scientific data
2. The conclusion that religion is a story that fits with the scientific data we have.
3. OR The conclusion that all that exists is what we can see, touch, and study—hence, no God.
3 questions we need to ask
1. Does the Bible or Christian belief fit with scientific data? (evolution, age of the earth, dinosaurs, etc.)
  - Genesis—There is a continuum of beliefs about creation.
  - In all these different views, there is no direct conflict with the scientific data we have
2. Does science cause us to doubt religion?
  - Data that we have should cause people to doubt the purely naturalistic view.
  - Anthony Flu is an atheistic scientist who came to believe in God through his research based on the complexity of DNA arrangements required to create life that must have involved an intelligent Creator
  - Big Bang looks a lot like “Let there be light.”
3. What about beauty, emotions, and morality?
  - Science can’t account for things like beauty or the emotions we feel when we look at art or listen to music. It can’t account for morality, which is a deep part of who we are.

The beliefs we have strongly influence the beliefs we form.

What we find is different people with different experiences and different beliefs looking at the same data and believing by faith that their conclusion is right.

Ask yourself:

When I look at everything that I experience as a human, all of my desires and fears and hopes and dreams, my inner sense of right and wrong—which one of these stories is the most likely?
- Humans as a bunch of cells and meat with no purpose OR
- Humans created by a personal God with hopes, dreams, morals, and purpose

For more information about our Hope Where You Are campaign, visit https://gethope.net/hwya/

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Many people have wondered how a book written thousands of years ago and translated hundreds of times could be reliable. In this message, Chase Gardner tackles this question, offering context on Bible variants and what all of it should mean for you and your faith.

Message Notes:

Whether we’re new to Christianity or we’ve been Christians for years, there are questions we think about and sometimes argue about with others. Over the next five weeks, we’ll take a look at the top five questions our community has.

Is the Bible Reliable?

In the Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown, one character states, “The Bible is a product of man, my dear. Not of God. The Bible did not fall magically from the clouds. Man created it as a historical record of tumultuous times, and it has evolved through countless translations, additions, and revisions. History has never had a definitive version of the book…”

Bart Ehrman in his book, Misquoting Jesus, he states, “Not only do we not have the originals, but we don’t even have the first copies of the originals, or the copies of the copies, or the copies of the copies of the copies or the originals.”

New Testament:

Three questions we should answer to know whether we can trust the Bible:

How many discrepancies do we have in the New Testament? (variants)
What is the quality of the variants?
Do these affect our theology?

In fact, 70% of the variants we have are spelling differences. Not errors…just differences.

If we add up spelling differences and non-translatable differences, how many of those 400,000 variants are those? 99%

1/4 of 1% of the variants are viable and meaningful.

One example is Mark 9:29 and whether the Scripture says “prayer” or “prayer and fasting.”

These things are not critical to the foundations of the Gospel.

Even Bart Ehrman in the back of his book states, “Essential Christian belief is not affected by textual variant in the manuscript tradition of the new testament.”

Old Testament:

For many years, we based our Old Testament on three collections of the entire Old Testament from about 900 AD.

In the 1940’s, scrolls of all the books in the Old Testament except Esther were found from at least 100 BC. Only minor differences (not affecting the meaning) occurred in that one-thousand-year gap.

Isaiah 53:1-6 (ESV)

There is no other book in human history like the Bible with the amount of copies, in all the languages, reaching as far back into history and agreeing as much as it does.

For more information about our Hope Where You Are campaign, visit https://gethope.net/hwya/

If you’re new to Hope or looking to get connected, click here: https://gethope.net/next/

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We believe that we're all called to chase after more – but what does that look like for a church? In this message, Jason Gore shares a vision for Hope that we believe God is calling us into. Listen to find out more!

Message Notes:

As we grow in our faith, we learn that we are made for more in this life than a substandard existence. God has called us to more.

When we face big moments in life, we have the choice to follow God’s leading or not.

We have to decide—do we stay the same or do we chase after that opportunity?

“You were made to live life with a group of people that believe they could change the world and give your entire life to it…”

Jesus gave us direction before He ascended to heaven.

Matthew 28:19-20 (NLT)

At Hope Community Church:

Our Vision - Reach the Triangle and Change the World.

Our Mission - Love people where they are and encourage them to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ.

Over the next five years, we believe God has given Hope Community Church a picture of 100,000 men, women, and children thinking and living biblically in the

Triangle.

Our MUST DO’s:

WE MUST strengthen the core of families by investing heavily in marriage, parenting and youth.

WE MUST equip and empower our church to be missionaries in our current reality.

WE MUST meet the needs of our community before they come to us.

WE MUST mobilize the church through leveraging online platforms.

Generosity:

1 Timothy 6:18-19 (NLT)

Proverbs 3:9-10 (NLT)

Three steps to build towards something great:

Pray
Be Salt and Light
Take your next step financially

John 21:25 (NLT) Jesus did even more than what was written, and He is our guide to do even more than what we ever imagined.

For more information about our Hope Where You Are campaign, visit https://gethope.net/hwya/

For info on taking communion at home, visit https://gethope.net/communionathome

We encourage you to join us in 21 Days of Prayer. Download our guide at https://gethope.net/prayer

If you’re new to Hope or looking to get connected, click here: https://gethope.net/next/

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It’s easy to walk around so stuck in the mundane that we actually forget how to live. It’s like we’ve been lulled to sleep...but we were made for more. We were made to be salt and light to the world. In this message, Jason Gore breaks down what that means and what it might look like in your life. Listen to learn more!

Message Notes:

As we grow in our faith, we learn that we are made for more in this life than a substandard existence. God has called us to more.

Even when we don’t understand our purpose, we can know that God made us for more than what we expect.

So many of us are walking around so caught up in the mundane that we’ve actually forgotten how to live.

Jesus explains that we were made for more.

John 10:10 (ESV)

John 10:10 (NLT)

John 14:12 (NLT)

We were made to be the salt and the light of the world.

Matthew 5:13-16 (NASB)

How can we apply being salt and light to the world?

Read - Read Matthew 5:13-16 twice a day for one week.
Pray - Ask God for one place where He would have you focus on being salt and light.
Act - Do it.

If you’re new to Hope or looking to get connected, click here: https://gethope.net/nextsteps/

If you’ve just made a decision for Christ, please respond here: https://bit.ly/3aWvIZN

To support this ministry financially to help us continue to love people where they are and encourage them to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ, click here: https://gethope.net/give/

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Celebrate Easter with Hope! Listen in for a message of grace, love, and hope as we retell the Easter story through the eyes of Peter and Jesus’ other disciples.

Message Notes:

Many times in life, we find ourselves in situations we don’t expect or don’t know how to escape, but that is when we have a lifeline to the One who can save us, Jesus.

Like many of us, Peter found himself in a boat he didn’t want to be in, and he didn’t know what to do.

Luke 5:1-11 (NLT) This was the beginning of Peter’s calling when he left the boat and his entire way of life to become a follower of Jesus.

Mark 14:27-31 (NLT) When Jesus told His disciples about how He would be deserted, Peter protested that he would never deny Jesus even to the point of death.

John 18:15-18, 25-27 (NLT) Peter denied knowing Jesus three times.

Mark 14:71 (NLT) Peter swore and cursed that he didn’t know Jesus.

Luke 22:61-62 (NLT) Jesus looked at Peter, and Peter remembered what Jesus had said about denying Him. Peter was ashamed and wept bitterly.

John 21:3 (NLT) Peter left to escape to his old life.

John 21:3-13 (NLT) Jesus replicated the very first meeting with His followers.

John 21:15-17, 19b (NLT) Jesus redeemed Peter by replacing his shame of denying Jesus three times with a new question asked three times. Instead of the memory of his failure, he gained forgiveness and a renewed mission.

When we need to get out of the boat we are in, Jesus is the hand offering rescue.

Because of Easter…

New life is possible.

Change is possible.

Your marriage can be restored.

You can have victory over your addiction.

You can live a life of joy and hope and purpose.

Because of the resurrection of Jesus, you can have a…

Fresh Start

New Beginning

Clean Slate

You can say goodnight to your shame & good morning to joy.

Easter teaches us the truth that Jesus didn’t come to make bad people good but to make dead people live.

If you’re new to Hope or looking to get connected, click here: https://gethope.net/nextsteps/

If you’ve just made a decision for Christ, please respond here: https://bit.ly/3aWvIZN

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Stay Connected with Hope:
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Christians are called to love each other deeply, but this is easier said than done. In this message, Ayren Nelson shares 3 characteristics of Christian love that can not only help you live up to this calling but also better understand God’s love for you. Watch this message to find out what they are!

Message Notes:

As Americans, we have seen our world shift in the last few years. Christ followers used to make up the majority of the U.S. population, but now we find ourselves in the minority. What do we do? How do we live in a hostile world? This series will deal with how to counter the culture.

Countercultural love loves unconditionally, in proximity, and sacrificially.

1 Peter 1:22 (NLT) Peter tells us that once we are cleansed of our sins and believe the truth of Jesus, we must sincerely and deeply love each other.

John 13:35 (NLT) “Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”

Christ followers are called to love in these three countercultural ways:

Unconditionally

1 Peter 4:8 (NLT)

Psalm 103:1-14 (NLT)

In Proximity

Acts 10:24-28 (NLT)

1 Peter 3:8 (NLT)

Sacrificially

Matthew 5:46-47 (NLT)

Matthew 5:48 (NLT)

Save your seat at one of our upcoming Easter services at https://gethope.net/easter/

If you’re new to Hope or looking to get connected, click here: https://gethope.net/nextsteps/

If you’ve just made a decision for Christ, please respond here: https://bit.ly/3aWvIZN

To support this ministry financially to help us continue to love people where they are and encourage them to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ, click here: https://gethope.net/give/

Stay Connected with Hope:
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Most Christians don’t suffer the physical oppression described in the Bible but, in today’s world, many experience a different form of persecution. In this message, Chase Gardner shares 3 keys that will help you handle persecution in the workplace, at school, in social settings, and even at home. Listen this message to find out what they are!

Message NotesPersecution has been a part of many Christ followers’ lives in the past and present, but Peter gives us a defense against it.

Peter makes sure his readers know he’s talking about persecution and not punishment.

1 Peter 2:20 (ESV)

1 Peter 4:15 (ESV)

Peter teaches how to handle real religious persecution.

1 Peter 3:13 (ESV)

Peter gives us a three-step process on how to deal with persecution:
1. Endure

1 Peter 2:19-21a (ESV)

Matthew 13:20-21 (ESV)

Matthew 10:21-23 (ESV)

Entrust

1 Peter 2:21-23 (ESV)

1 Peter 4:19 (ESV)

Bless

1 Peter 3:9 (ESV)

1 Peter 2:21-24 (ESV)

Save your seat at one of our upcoming Easter services at https://gethope.net/easter/

If you’re new to Hope or looking to get connected, click here: https://gethope.net/next/

If you’ve just made a decision for Christ, please respond here: https://bit.ly/3aWvIZN

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Stay Connected with Hope:
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Many of us can easily think of an authority figure in our life who we have struggled to follow. In this message, Chase Gardner explains how important it is that we honor authority and choose to submit for God’s sake. Listen to this message to learn more!

Message NotesAs Christians, we need to adopt an attitude of submission to ultimately show honor to God.

1 Peter 2:11-12 (ESV) Be careful how you speak and act because the world is watching, and you need to live a life that glorifies God.

1 Peter 2:13-18 (ESV) Peter tells us to honor authority.

Submission is a choice.
Romans 13:1-2, 7 (ESV)

God will not ever raise you up until you learn to bow down.

1 Peter 5:5b-6 (ESV)

God will never call you to lead until He can trust you to follow.

Until you know the restraint of the spirit, you’ll never know the release of the spirit.

Save your seat at one of our upcoming Easter services at https://gethope.net/easter/

If you’re new to Hope or looking to get connected, click here: https://gethope.net/next/

If you’ve just made a decision for Christ, please respond here: https://bit.ly/3aWvIZN

To support this ministry financially to help us continue to love people where they are and encourage them to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ, click here: https://gethope.net/give/

Stay Connected with Hope:
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Hope YouTube: https://youtube.com/c/HopeCommunityChurch

Hope is something that most of us would like to have but, these days, fear, anxiety, and hopelessness are all around us. With mental health, addiction, and suicide rates increasing rapidly in recent years, it seems like we are losing the ability to remain hopeful. In this sermon, Jason Gore shares three keys that will help us all navigate life with an unshakable hope. Listen to this message to learn what they are!

Message Notes
To walk through life filled with an Unshakable Hope is countercultural.

1 Peter 5:8 (NIV) The devil fights against us.

Unshakable Hope in difficult times doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt. It means we know it’s temporary, and we have confidence in the future.

There are three keys to Unshakable Hope found in 1st Peter. (1 Peter 1:3-8 NIV)

Look to God.

1 Peter 1:3 (NIV) continued

Remember What He’s Done.

1 Peter 1:4-5 (NIV)

Have Confidence in the Future.

1 Peter 1:6-8 (NIV)

Revelation 21:4 (NLT) Everything that has been wrong will be made right again.

1 Peter 5:6-7 (NIV) God will take all our worry and anxiety because He loves and cares for us.

“Give all your worries and cares to him…because he cares for you.”

Save your seat at one of our upcoming Easter services at https://gethope.net/easter/
*Free tickets are available starting Monday, March 21 at 10:00 AM ET

If you want to get involved with our Spring Food drive, check out https://gethope.net/fooddrive/

If you’re new to Hope or looking to get connected, click here: https://gethope.net/next/

If you’ve just made a decision for Christ, please respond here: https://bit.ly/3aWvIZN

To support this ministry financially to help us continue to love people where they are and encourage them to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ, click here: https://gethope.net/give/

Stay Connected with Hope:
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Hope YouTube: https://youtube.com/c/HopeCommunityChurch

As popular culture seems to transition from Godly to godless, it can be challenging for Christians to do the same, to conform their beliefs and actions to everyone else’s. In this sermon, Chase Gardner outlines 3 motivations for Christ-followers to hold on to holiness in the world today. Listen to this message to learn what they are and how we can best respond to them.

Message NotesWhen we face persecution, the instinct is to turn our backs on our beliefs, but we must hold onto holiness.

1 Peter 1:13-19 (ESV) Peter encourages the Christians not to turn their backs on living holy lives.

Peter gives a definition of holiness. (1 Peter 1:15-16 ESV)

Holiness is being like God. It’s God calling us back to our original design.

That’s what God’s laws are for: to bend us and to mold us back into shape, back into His image.

Holiness is the mold that we are to be pressed into.

That’s what holiness is: the power to become who we were created to be…like God.

Holiness is something we as Christ-followers should pursue, not something we push on others.

Peter gives us three motivations to hold on to holiness.

1) Out of Reverent Fear
- 1 Peter 1:17 (ESV)
- Fear is just seeing God for who He really is.
- 1 Peter 3:14-15a (ESV)
2) Because You are Free
- 1 Peter 1:18-19 (ESV)
- You have been ransomed.
- 1 Peter 2:16 (ESV)
- Holiness is not God trying to rob you of joy; it’s God trying to lead you to joy.
- Psalm 19:7-11 (ESV)
3) To Unleash a Force
- Our pursuit of holiness will always offend certain people and attract certain people.
- 1 Peter 4:3-4 (NLT)
- Be ready to tell people what the source of your hope is. 1 Peter 3:15 (ESV)

If you want to get involved with our Spring Food drive, check out https://gethope.net/fooddrive/

If you’re new to Hope or looking to get connected, click here: https://gethope.net/next/

If you’ve just made a decision for Christ, please respond here: https://bit.ly/3aWvIZN

To support this ministry financially to help us continue to love people where they are and encourage them to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ, click here: https://gethope.net/give/

Stay Connected with Hope:
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Hope YouTube: https://youtube.com/c/HopeCommunityChurch

As Americans, we have seen our world shift in the last few years. What was once a nation where the majority believed in the Christian faith, the U.S. is now a place where Christ followers are a minority. Culture tells us a lot about who we should be, how we should behave, and what we should believe. With so many opinions and so much hostility, how will we ever fit in? Maybe we weren’t ever meant to. This series will deal with how to counter the culture.

Throughout history, Christians have been left out and persecuted for our faith. And while this isn’t new, we need to be equipped on how to deal with it.

Peter wrote to the Christ followers during the time of Nero, a Roman emperor who severely persecuted Christians.

1 Peter 1:1-2 (ESV)

Anger is one of the easiest emotions to fall into while we’re being mistreated, persecuted or simply being forced onto the sidelines.

Peter points out that our true enemy is the devil, not the institutions, organizations or political parties.

1 Peter 5:8-9 (ESV)

The tactics of Satan used to hurt Christians:

Separation - The enemy knows we are much easier prey when we are alone. Divide and conquer.
Attack the family - The enemy tries to dismantle the nuclear family and confuse people about gender and sexuality, which can destroy the family.
Indoctrination - The enemy teaches false ideas, and we can easily start to believe these lies if we’re not careful.

“Gradually, though no one remembers exactly how it happened, the unthinkable becomes tolerable. And then acceptable. And then legal. And then applaudable. Then everyone with a different view is seen as extreme, as backwards, and on the wrong side of history. They are threatened with the loss of jobs, the loss of respect, punished until they come to agree with the accepted ideology of the day.”

None of this surprises God.

1 Peter 1:1-2 (ESV)

1 Peter 4:12 (ESV)

The most powerful moments in church history are when Christ followers are overlooked, persecuted or even martyred for their faith.

1 Peter 4:19 (ESV)

How do we get through these hard times?

Trust and obey.

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We often want to serve where our gifts and talents can shine the brightest, but God wants us to meet the biggest needs first. In this sermon, Chase Gardner asks us to start with the little things and see where God will take us.

Message Notes
In the beginning of the Book of Acts, the Christian movement not only grew in numbers, but it was also healthy.

Acts 4:32-35 (ESV)

The two ministries of the church in Acts were:

Proclamation (Word)
Demonstration (Deed)

A growing church will have problems, which are growing pains common to all churches.

Acts 6:1 (ESV) This had racial undertones because it was the Greek and Romans against the Jewish Christians.

They assumed bad intentions.
They didn’t take their complaint to the leaders.

Acts 6:2-4 (ESV) The apostles’ response was to set up the “demonstration” part of ministry to allow them to continue the “proclamation” part of ministry.

Acts 6:5-6 (ESV) The people were pleased and chose seven men to fill the needs of the church. Most of these men were Greek, which helped bridge the racial divide.

Acts 6:7 (ESV) The results were that God’s Word spread and many more came to Christ.

There were three things that enabled the church to overcome its growing pains to continue to impact the world.

Every member was a participant.
1. Acts 4:32 (ESV)
2. Ephesians 4:16b (ESV)
3. When one person sits out, everyone misses out.
They realized that small things matter.
1. Often the areas of greatest need are the small things.
2. Go where you are needed; and then, God will move you where he wants you.
Because they were faithful in the small things, God entrusted them with bigger things.

Are you ready to find your role in God’s story? Get signed up today at https://gethope.net/serve/

If you're interested in signing up for one of our upcoming classes, click here: https://gethope.net/classes/

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What if instead of being paralyzed by fear, we were mobilized by faith? In this sermon, Ayren Nelson encourages us to let God change our “what if” to a “why not?”

Message Notes

We all love a great story; but sometimes, we get confused about which ones we should believe and follow. In this series, we will look at THE main story that should be guiding our lives—God’s story, and what role we play in that story.

God sent Jesus to die in our place in order to save us from our sins.

2 Corinthians 5:21 (NLT)

We are minor characters in the story all about God, but we have a major role to play.

The words “what if” can be one of the biggest roadblocks in our obedience to God because our what-ifs are usually based in fear.

The difference between a concern and an excuse is…

To have a valid concern means to bring up an issue in hopes of finding a

solution. An excuse looks a whole lot like an emergency exit.

What if instead of being paralyzed by fear, we were mobilized by faith?

The story of Moses shows us how we can play a part in God’s story. (Exodus)

Exodus 3:7-9 (NLT)

Exodus 3:10 (NLT)

God sees, hears, is aware and gets involved… but He wants to do it through us.

Exodus 3:11 (NLT)

Exodus 3:12a (NLT)

Exodus 3:13 (NLT)

Exodus 3:14a (NLT)

It’s not about your ability; it’s about God’s power.

Exodus 4:10 (NLT)

Exodus 4:11-12 (NLT)

The difference between a “what if of fear” and a “what if of faith” is our focus.

Exodus 4:13 (NLT)

After God addresses all of Moses’ “what if’s,” the truth comes out.

Let God change your “what if?” to a “why not?”

Are you ready to find your role in God’s story? Get signed up today at https://gethope.net/serve/

If you're interested in signing up for one of our upcoming classes, click here: https://gethope.net/classes/

If you’re new to Hope or looking to get connected, click here: https://gethope.net/next/

If you’ve just made a decision for Christ, please respond here: https://bit.ly/3aWvIZN

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If we’re not the main character, what is our purpose in God’s story? In this sermon, Chase Gardner explains the role that a Christ-follower is called to play.

Message Notes:
We all love a great story; but sometimes, we get confused about which ones we should believe and follow. In this series, we will look at THE main story that should be guiding our lives—God’s story, and what role we play in that story.

• As minor characters in a story all about Jesus, we need to find the role all of us must play.

We are minor characters in a story all about Jesus.

God uses minor characters in major ways.

Jesus explained what type of Kingdom He was going to set up in the book of Mark.

Mark 10:32-34 (ESV)

Mark 10:35-37 (ESV)

Mark 10:38 (ESV)

Mark 10:39-41 (ESV)

Mark 10:42-45 (ESV)

Instead of chasing after a crown, Jesus tells us to pick up our cross.

Instead of chasing after glory for ourselves, we are called to do everything we can to glorify Jesus.

Glorify Jesus by serving others like He served you.

Mark 10:45 (ESV)

Serving is dying to yourself so that others can experience life.

2 Corinthians 4:11-12 (ESV)

Are you ready to find your role in God’s story? Get signed up today at https://gethope.net/serve/

If you're interested in signing up for one of our upcoming classes, click here: https://gethope.net/classes/

If you’re new to Hope or looking to get connected, click here: https://gethope.net/next/

If you’ve just made a decision for Christ, please respond here: https://bit.ly/3aWvIZN

To support this ministry financially to help us continue to love people where they are and encourage them to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ, click here: https://gethope.net/give/

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All of us walk around telling ourselves stories about our lives. Why we made that decision. Why things went wrong. Stories are the way we make sense of our lives and many of us believe that we are the main character. In this sermon, Chase Gardner will reveal that, instead, we only play a minor role in God’s greater story.

Message Notes:
We believe that we are the main character in a story that is all about us.

We are minor characters in a story that is all about Jesus.

Paul writes in the book of Colossians about who Jesus is and our role in His story.

Colossians 1:15 (ESV) “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.”

Colossians 1:16 (ESV) “For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities - all things were created through him and for him.”

Colossians 1:17 (ESV) “And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”

Colossians 1:18 (ESV) “And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.”

Why are you here? Jesus. What is your purpose? To glorify Him.

Are you ready to find your role in God’s story? Get signed up today at https://gethope.net/serveconnect/

If you're interested in signing up for one of our upcoming classes, click here: https://gethope.net/classes/

If you’re new to Hope or looking to get connected, click here: https://gethope.net/next/

If you’ve just made a decision for Christ, please respond here: https://bit.ly/3aWvIZN

To support this ministry financially to help us continue to love people where they are and encourage them to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ, click here: https://gethope.net/give/

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Even after we have renewed our relationship with God, we are still in a process of heart work that God has designed to get us to care about the things that He cares about.

Message Notes:

God is a God of second chances, and He wants to transform our lives.

Jonah 3:1-4 (ESV) Jonah answered the Lord’s call and warned Nineveh of future consequences.

Jonah 3:5-9 (ESV) The entire city believed God, repented and turned from their evil ways.

God is always working. Even when we can’t see it, even when we least expect it, He is working behind the scenes in every single person’s life in ways we will never understand.

Jonah 3:10 (ESV) Because the people of Nineveh repented, God stopped the disaster about to hit them.

Jonah 4:1-3 (ESV) Jonah was upset that Nineveh repented and was saved.

Jonah 4:4 (ESV) God asked Jonah if he had a right to his anger.

God was probing Jonah’s heart.

God began a process of exposing Jonah’s heart and asking him questions.

Jonah 4:5-11 (ESV)

What do you care about the most?

Our anger reveals what we really care about.

James 4:1-2a (ESV)

Psalm 37:4 (ESV) When you aim your heart towards God, He will change what your heart desires.

If you're interested in learning more about foster parenting, sign up to join us at our Fostering Hope Info Meeting on February 9n at 6:30 P.M. at https://gethope.net/fosteringhope

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God will often allow us to hit rock bottom because he cares more about changing our heart than our circumstances, but this temporary suffering is always worth it.

Message Notes:

Jonah 1:17 (ESV) Jonah is swallowed by a great fish and stays there for three days and three nights.

There are three principles of how reconciling with God will play out in your life.

You can turn back to God at any point.

Jonah 2:1-2 (ESV)

God will forgive your sin, but He won’t always remove the consequences.

Jonah 2:3-4 (ESV)

God wants to change your heart more than He wants to change your circumstances.

Jonah 2:5-6 (ESV)

Jonah 2:6-7 (ESV)

Jonah 2:8 (ESV)

When you say yes to God, you are about to enter into a season of refining, which can be a slow process to change your heart.

Jonah 2:8 (ESV)

Jonah 2:9 (ESV)

Jonah 2:10-3:3 (ESV)

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God is relentless in His pursuit of us. In this sermon, Clay Burgess teaches us that in His grace, He will sometimes send storms, to show us who we really are, and how much we desperately need Him.

Sometimes, we say no to God because we’re afraid, it’s not convenient, or we just don’t agree with God. In this series, we’ll discuss how this affects our lives and how we should respond.

Message notes:

When we encounter storms in life, God responds and reveals Himself to us.

Jonah encounters a storm when he runs away from God.

Jonah 1:4-17

You may run from God, but you can never outrun God.

When God is working through a storm, there are lessons to learn:

Storms Humble Us.

Pride isn’t always loud and obnoxious. Often it is quiet resistance.

Once we move the focus off us and onto others, we display great humility.

Philippians 2:3-4
Storms Expose Us.
Storms Prepare and Place Us.

Before God can do a work through us, He must do a work in us.

John 3:16-17

The God who sends is the God who saves.

“Everything is necessary that He sends, nothing can be necessary that He

withholds.” - John Newton, Amazing Grace

Jonah 1:17 Saying ‘no’ to God has consequences, but God is always working for our good.

Psalm 138:7 God is with us all the way.

______________________________________________

If you're interested in registering for our Nxt Level Parent Conference, click here: https://gethope.net/conference

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If you’ve just made a decision for Christ, please respond here: https://bit.ly/3aWvIZN

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God often works in ways that we don’t understand. In our confusion, we are often tempted to put distance between us and God. In this sermon, Chase Gardner breaks down why this is the last thing we should do.

Message Notes:

When we say no to God, we follow a predictable path that plays out the same way time and time again.

By studying the book of Jonah, we can see our own personal story as well:

[Jonah 1:1] Jonah was a real man with a real story
[Jonah 1:1-2] God Spoke to Jonah
[Jonah 1:3] Jonah Said No to God

Why did Jonah run?

He hated Ninevites
He was comfortable with his life
He was afraid
He didn't think God should ask him to do what He asked

People Who Say No to God, End Up Saying Yes to the Wrong Things

[Proverbs 14:12] No’s to God Always Lead to a Life That Falls Apart
No’s to God Effect the People Around You
[Jonah 1:4] You May Say No, But God’s Already Said Yes

Are You Ready to Stop Saying No?---
If you're interested in registering for our Nxt Level Parent Conference, click here: https://gethope.net/conference

If you’re new to Hope or looking to get connected, click here: https://gethope.net/nextsteps/

If you’ve just made a decision for Christ, please respond here: https://bit.ly/3aWvIZN

To support this ministry financially to help us continue to love people where they are and encourage them to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ, click here: https://gethope.net/give/

Stay Connected with Hope:
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Hope YouTube: https://youtube.com/c/HopeCommunityChurch

Whether you’re finishing 2021 strong or feel like you barely made it through the last year, we all find ourselves looking ahead to 2022 with the same feeling: hope. In this standalone sermon, we are looking back through the past year and looking forward to what God is doing in and through Hope Community Church.

Message Notes:

Looking BackOne of the best and most powerful things you can do in moments when your strength seems to fail a little is to look back.

Remember the faithfulness of God
Psalm 77:1-2 (ESV)
Psalm 77:11-15a (ESV)

Looking Ahead
Proverbs 29 says, “Where there is no vision, the people will perish…”

What if we could ALL ‘came back…’ and it still wasn’t enough? What if the real threat was not the lack of people in church on Sunday, but rather the lack of people thinking and living biblically Monday – Sunday?

Jeremiah 29:1-7 (NIV) “Seek the welfare of the city…”

Three takeaways from this text on how to be God’s people in exile:

Put down roots and play long ball
Build strong, God-honoring families
Invest in your community.

We Must:

Strengthen the core of families by investing in Marriage, Parenting and Youth
Equip and empower the Church to follow Jesus’s mission in our current reality
Meet the needs of our community even if they never attend a church
Mobilize the church through leveraging online platforms

BE THE CHURCH.

If you’re new to Hope or looking to get connected, click here: https://gethope.net/nextsteps/

If you’ve just made a decision for Christ, please respond here: https://bit.ly/3aWvIZN

To support this ministry financially to help us continue to love people where they are and encourage them to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ, click here: https://gethope.net/give/

Stay Connected with Hope:
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Hope Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gethopecommunitychurch
Hope Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/get_hope/
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Hope YouTube: https://youtube.com/c/HopeCommunityChurch

In this two-week series leading up to Christmas Eve, we look into the beauty and wonder of Jesus’ humble beginnings and shed light onto the meaning of Christmas.

Check out everything that’s going at Hope this Christmas season at https://gethope.net/christmas

If you’re new to Hope or looking to get connected, click here: https://gethope.net/nextsteps/

If you’ve just made a decision for Christ, please respond here: https://bit.ly/3aWvIZN

To support this ministry financially to help us continue to love people where they are and encourage them to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ, click here: https://gethope.net/give/

Stay Connected with Hope:
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Hope YouTube: https://youtube.com/c/HopeCommunityChurch

Week 1

This two week series leading up to Christmas Eve will look into the beauty and wonder of Jesus’ humble beginnings and shed light onto the meaning of Christmas.

How it started. How it’s going.

John 1:14-18 (ESV) John describes the first Christmas.

“For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.”

There are two approaches to life that human beings have been able to come up with.

Moralism
Relativism

Jesus says that both approaches are not enough.

Galatians 4:4-6 (ESV) God came down to us.

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. …For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.” John 1:14,16 (ESV)

To support the mission and vision of Hope Community Church, visit gethope.net/give.

Looking Back, Looking Forward

Vision 2021 Chase Gardner – Teaching Pastor, Jason Gore – Lead Pastor

When we come to the end of the year, it’s important to remember where we’ve been and what we’ve accomplished. It’s also the perfect time to look forward to what we can do together in the future.

We’re looking back through the past year and looking forward to what God is doing in and through Hope Community Church.

One of the best and most powerful things you can do in moments when your strength seems to fail a little is to look back.

Remember the faithfulness of God.

Psalm 77:1-2 (ESV)

Psalm 77:11-15a (ESV)

______________________________________________________________________________

Proverbs 29 says, “Where there is no vision, the people will perish…”

What if we could ALL ‘came back…’ and it still wasn’t enough?

What if the real threat was not the lack of people ‘in church’ on Sunday… but rather the lack of people thinking and living biblically Monday – Sunday?

Jeremiah 29:1-7 (NIV) “Seek the welfare of the city…”

Three takeaways from this text on how to be God’s people in exile:

Put down roots and play long ball.
Build strong, God-honoring families.
Invest in your community.

We Must:

Strengthen the core of families by investing in Marriage, Parenting and Youth.
Equip and empower the Church to follow Jesus’s mission in our current reality.

– “If we only focus primarily on a 1hr/week experience, we all will become irrelevant to a ’lost’ world faster than we realize.”

– “We are going to have to learn how to take our mission of ‘loving people where they are… and encouraging them to grow in their relationship with Jesus…’ out of the walls of our campuses.”

Meet the needs of our community even if they never attend a church.
Mobilize the church through leveraging online platforms.

BE THE CHURCH.

Two questions to consider:

What is one thing you can do to strengthen your family this Christmas?
What is one thing you can do to impact another family in your community this Christmas?

Support Hope Community Church's mission by donating at gethope.net/give.

House of Cards

Week 6 Parenting

God blessed humanity when He made us to live in community, and there is no closer community than our families. What makes a family strong? In this series, we’ll examine topics to help us get to a solid, Christian family based on God’s principles.

The Bible teaches us that there are 5 things every child (really every human) needs

Accept their uniqueness
Every child/person is unique
Ephesians 2:10 – You are a masterpiece that God custom designed before you were born.
Two enemies that fight against uniqueness:
The pressure to compare.
2 Corinthians 10:12
Comparing is a waste. God never intended for you to be like anyone else.
The pressure to conform.
When you try to be like someone else, you push pause on God’s plan/purpose for your life
Romans 12:2
Affirm their value
Affirmation should be constant
We all need to be reminded how valuable we are
Matthew 10:29, 31
The value of something is worth whatever someone is willing to pay for it. Jesus paid for you with His life.
How to help your kids see their value
Remind them how much God loves them
Every day show them (1) attention, (2) affection, + (3) appreciation
Trust them with increasing responsibility
Give them responsibility so they can be responsible
The goal of parenting is to move them from dependence on you to
Independence
And then to dependence on God (but with responsibility)
How?
Trust them with small things (Luke 16:10)
Trust them with possessions and money (Luke 16:11)
Trust them with something that doesn’t belong to them (Luke 16:12)
Correct without condemning
Proverbs 3:12
Punishment looks at the past. Discipline is correction for the future.
Never correct in anger
Choose your words carefully
Love them unconditionally
Forgiveness (ask for it, accept it, and forgive yourself)
Ephesians 4:32
Never give up on them
1 Corinthians 13:7

Application

Practice parenting on someone else’s kid—serve in Family Ministry! gethope.net/serve
Next Level Parent Conference (January 29)—Sign up at gethope.net/conference

Week 5 Wives

God blessed humanity when He made us to live in community, and there is no closer community than our families. What makes a family strong? In this series, we’ll examine topics to help us get to a solid, Christian family based on God’s principles.

The Bible says specific things to women as wives.

1 Peter 3:1-6 (ESV) This Scripture focuses on wives.

This is part of a larger discussion on submission.

1 Peter 2:13 (ESV)

1 Peter 2:18 (ESV)

All Christians are called to submit to many different people in many different spheres of life.

Submission is a voluntary disposition to affirm your husband’s calling to lead, and to use your gifts to help him do that.

Submission isn’t possible when you’re afraid. It’s only possible when you get rid of fear and replace it with faith.

Matthew 11:29 (ESV) The words “gentle” and “quiet” can be said of Jesus as well.

Week 4 Husbands

God blessed humanity when He made us to live in community, and there is no closer community than our families. What makes a family strong? In this series, we’ll examine topics to help us get to a solid, Christian family based on God’s principles.

The Bible gives specific instructions to men as husbands.

Ephesians 5:22-24 (ESV) This Scripture begins by addressing women first.

Ephesians 5:25-33 (ESV) The Bible tells husbands that they play the role of what Christ plays to the church. The husband isn’t Christ because he can never be perfect, but he should love his wife just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her.

Biblical, Christ-like love is an act of the will that leads to action for the good of the other person.

There are responsibilities of a husband.

Sacrificial love

Ephesians 5:25-27 (ESV) A husband must look out for the spiritual needs of his wife.

Ephesians 5:28-30 (ESV) A husband should love his wife as he loves himself.

Protective leadership

Husbands step into this leadership position to protect their wives and families.

Week 3 Sex

God blessed humanity when He made us to live in community, and there is no closer community than our families. What makes a family strong? In this series, we’ll examine topics to help us get to a solid, Christian family based on God’s principles.

When used in the right way, sex is an amazing gift that God gave us to enjoy.

Song of Solomon 2:3-6 (ESV) Part of this couples’ dating experience is the awakening of sexual desire for each other.

Song of Solomon 2:7 (ESV) She says to not awaken love until the time is right.

When it comes to sex, there’s a time not a line.

The proper time for any sexual touch or activity is after marriage.

Solomon records what the wedding night is like from the man and woman’s perspective.

Song of Solomon 4:1-5 (ESV)

Song of Solomon 7:7-8a (ESV)

Song of Solomon 5:10,14-15 (ESV)

Song of Solomon 4:16-5:1 (ESV)

There are aspects of sex that are incredibly helpful for married couples and incredibly harmful and destructive to anyone else.

Sex Blinds

“You can’t objectively judge compatibility with someone you’re sleeping with.” – Dave Lanuti

Sex Binds

Song of Solomon 6:3 (ESV)

Song of Solomon 8:6 (ESV)

1 Corinthians 6:12-18 (ESV)

1 Corinthians 6:9-11 (ESV) No matter what your past is, not only can God forgive you, but He can also cleanse you and use you in His Kingdom.

To support the mission of Hope Community Church, visit gethope.net/give today.

Week 2 Marriage

God blessed humanity when He made us to live in community, and there is no closer community than our families. What makes a family strong? In this series, we’ll examine topics to help us get to a solid, Christian family based on God’s principles.

What is the point of marriage?

Your marriage will reach its highest potential and will give you the greatest satisfaction when it is operating according to how God designed it.

Genesis 1:26-27 (ESV) God created man in His own image. He created male and female.

Genesis 2:18a (ESV) God said something He never had before. It wasn’t good for the man to be alone.

Genesis 2:18b (ESV) God made a helper fit for the man. This term implies a yin and yang situation, a complement to each other.

Genesis 2:19-20 (ESV) Even with all of creation surrounding him, Adam felt alone.

Genesis 2:21-22 (ESV) God crafted a woman by His own hand.

Genesis 2:23 (ESV) She was named “woman” because she was taken out of “man”. They were alike and yet so different.

Genesis 2:24-25 (ESV) A man will leave the comfort and safety of his family to join his wife because it’s not good to be alone.

Marriage exists to show the watching world what God is like.

Genesis 3:7 (ESV) When sin entered the world, their relationship with each other and with God became imperfect.

The purpose of your marriage is to tell a story about the saving and transforming love of Jesus.

Marriage is actually a sermon on the Gospel, proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ.

Marriage is not about what you can get out of it. It’s the means by which you tell a story that reflects Jesus.

The image of marriage is used throughout the Bible.

– The Bible starts with the marriage of Adam and Eve.

– Throughout the Old Testament, God uses the metaphor of marriage to describe His love for His people.

– Jesus begins His ministry at a wedding.

– Jesus teaches that the Kingdom of God is like a wedding reception.

– The New Testament uses the metaphor of marriage to describe Jesus’ love for us.

– Our first moments in eternity are described as a wedding and marriage celebration. Revelations 19:7 (ESV)

The purpose of your marriage is to tell a story about the saving and transforming love of Jesus.

To support the mission of Hope Community Church, visit gethope.net/give today.

Week 1 Dating – Ayren Nelson, Apex Middle School Pastor

God blessed humanity when He made us to live in community, and there is no closer community than our families. What makes a family strong? In this series, we’ll examine topics to help us get to a solid, Christian family based on God’s principles.

What is the purpose of dating?

Dating is a period of evaluation.

Song of Solomon 7:1-3 (NLT) Solomon wrote about his love and attraction in his descriptive poetry.

The natural progression of a dating relationship:

An immediate physical attraction – Song of Solomon 1:2-4 (NLT)
Just hanging out – Song of Solomon 1:7 (NLT)
A meaningful, God-honoring relationship – Song of Solomon 2:2-3 (NLT)

Evaluation of character is the first thing to look at while dating.

Song of Solomon 1:3 (NLT) The young man had a reputable and honorable character.

Proverbs 31 – Attributes of a Christian woman of character

Ephesians 5 – Attributes of a Christian man of character

Attraction grabs the attention, but character keeps them around.

You have to allow others to evaluate your relationship.

Song of Solomon 1:4b (NLT) Others supported their relationship.

One of the most accurate ways you receive the type of evaluation you need in dating is

to allow others to evaluate your relationship.

Allow God to evaluate your relationship.

Song of Solomon 2:2-3 (NLT) Their focus was on one another.

1 Corinthians 10:31 (BSB) Do everything to the glory of God.

You need to allow God to evaluate your relationship.

Inside Out: Week 5 Addiction

For five weeks, we will be tackling issues that have raged out of control over the last couple of years like anxiety, anger, depression, hurry and addiction. Our goal is to let God help us through these hard times, so that when challenges hit us and we start to feel it on the inside, we’ll have the tools to work it out.

Addiction can be to many different things and affects many people.

Addiction is a personal attempt to solve an emotional problem.

“I’ve learned that all people are addicts, that addictions to alcohol and other drugs are simply more obvious and tragic addictions than others have. To be alive is to be addicted, and to be alive and addicted is to stand in need of grace.” – Gerald May, Addiction and Grace

The Bible has a lot to say about addiction even without using the labels.

Addiction is really the worship of a false idol.

Romans 1:21-23, 25 (NLT) The people traded the truth of God for a lie.

Isaiah 44:9-10, 19-20 (NLT) The people bought into a lie and worshipped something worthless.

Addiction becomes a voluntary slaver with diminishing returns.

Jeremiah 2:13 (NLT) The people abandoned God and tried to fill the hole with something that can never fill it.

Romans 6:14 (NLT) People can live in the freedom of God’s grace.

To receive freedom and grace, you have to:

Admit you have a problem.
Allow God to meet your underlying need.

For more resources, click here.

To support the mission of Hope Community Church, visit gethope.net/give today.

Week 4: Hurry

For five weeks, we will be tackling issues that have raged out of control over the last couple of years like anxiety, anger, depression, hurry and addiction. Our goal is to let God help us through these hard times, so that when challenges hit us and we start to feel it on the inside, we’ll have the tools to work it out.

When we become too hurried, our lives can feel out-of-control.
In John Mark Comer’s book, The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry, he gives a quiz on the symptoms of Hurry Sickness.

Irritability
Hypersensitivity
Restlessness
Workaholism
Emotional numbness
Out-of-order priorities
Lack of care for your body
Escapist behaviors
Slippage of spiritual disciplines
Isolation
If you want to experience the life of Jesus, you must adopt the lifestyle of Jesus.

Jesus invited us into a “full life.” John 10:10 (MSG)

Jesus was busy but never hurried. The Gospels repeat the the phrase, “as Jesus walked along…”

Matthew 6:34 (NLT) Jesus said to not worry about tomorrow.

Jesus made several statements about how to live. Mark 1:35-39 (NLT)

Jesus made the first “thing” first.

Mark 1:35 (NLT)

This is the principle of the tithe: give back to God the first 10% of everything.
Jesus took control of His schedule.

Mark 1:36 (NLT)

Mark 1:37 (NLT)

Jesus said no.

Mark 1:38 (NLT)

Jesus did what God lead Him to do.

Mark 1:39 (NLT)

Matthew 11:28-30 (NLT)

Practice the discipline of “slowing.”

Drive the speed limit.
Get into the slow lane.
Show up 10 minutes early for an appointment.
Get in the longest checkout line at the grocery store.
Take your email off your phone.
Put your phone to bed before you and make it sleep in.
Keep your phone off until after your morning quiet time.
Set a time and a time limit for social media.
Take a regular day alone for silence and solitude.
Cook your own food…and eat in.

For more resources, click here or check out gethope.net/insideout.

To support the mission of Hope Community Church, visit gethope.net/give today.

Week 3 Depression

For five weeks, we will be tackling issues that have raged out of control over the last couple of years like anxiety, anger, depression, hurry and addiction. Our goal is to let God help us through these hard times, so that when challenges hit us and we start to feel it on the inside, we’ll have the tools to work it out.

Millions of people in this country and worldwide suffer from depression. Dr. Mike Garrett, Executive Director of Christian Counseling Associates of Raleigh, gives us insight into depression and how to address it from a christian perspective.

Statistics about Depression:

300 million people worldwide suffer from depression.
17 million Americans currently suffer from depression.
Anxiety screenings are up 634% since last January.
Depression screenings are up 873% since January of last year.

9 Primary Features of Depression:

Depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day
Loss of interest or pleasure in daily activities
Decrease or increase in appetite
Insomnia or hypersomnia (too little or too much sleep)
Feelings of restlessness or sluggishness
Fatigue or loss of energy nearly every day
Feelings of worthlessness or guilt
Inability to think or concentrate clearly (brain fog)
Recurrent thought of death or suicide

4 Different Types of Depression:

Biochemical Depression
Situational Depression
Toxic Depression
Spiritual Depression

Is there hope? Is there a cure/steps we can take? Yes!

Sleep
Diet/exercise
Vocational – work/life balance
Medication
Cognitive Therapy
Relationship Resolution
Spiritual Help (Matthew 5, Matthew 18, Hebrews 12:15, 1 Peter 5:7, Galatians 6:2)
Spiritual Steps/Perspective:
Galatians 6:2,5
Psalms 50:10
Jeremiah 2:13

Keep the main thing, the main thing. (Matthew 22:37-40)

To support the mission of Hope Community Church, visit gethope.net/give today.

Inside Out

Week 2: Anger

Everyone feels anger, we just respond to it in different ways. Anger left unchecked will destroy your relationships.

Ephesians 4:26 Be angry, but don’t sin.

God warns us about the dangers that come with anger.

Psalm 37:8

Proverbs 14:29

James 1:19

Anger is a warning that something is wrong. We should process the warning quickly or it can wreak havoc in our lives.

Ephesians 4:26

1 Peter 2:1

There are 2 types of anger:

Righteous anger – when something gets in the way of God’s desires
Unrighteous anger – when something gets in the way of your desires

Steps to process anger:

Ask which kind of anger you feel—righteous or unrighteous?
Lay anger aside and replace it with the appropriate emotion.

If your anger is unrighteous, you should repent and submit.

Philippians 2:3-5

If your anger is righteous, you should serve in love. Righteous anger says, This is wrong. God, would you make it right and use me to do it?

For additional resources, click here.

To support the mission of Hope Community Church, visit gethope.net/give today.

Week 1: Anxiety

For five weeks, we will be tackling issues that have raged out of control over the last couple of years like anxiety, anger, depression, hurry and addiction. Our goal is to let God help us through these hard times, so that when challenges hit us and we start to feel it on the inside, we’ll have the tools to work it out.

Millions of people in this country suffer from anxiety problems, and we need a Biblical way to help us deal with these issues.

Anxiety is basically the fear of something bad happening in the future, which causes mental, emotional and physical repercussions.

Matthew 6:25-34

Three truths about anxiety or worry to consider:

Worry is a sin.
Worry is unproductive.
Worry is acting as if God doesn’t exist.

Philippians 4:6 (ESV) God gives us a plan to get free from anxiety and worry.

Some ways to deal with anxiety and worry:

Write down the root of your worries.

Give your worries to God.

1 Peter 5:7 (NIV)

Psalm 55:22 (NIV)

Remember God’s faithfulness.

Receive the peace of God.

To support the mission of Hope Community Church, visit gethope.net/give today.

It All Starts With…

Standalone message – Jason Gore, Lead Pastor

This week will be both informational and inspirational. As a church, we have been going through a transition, and we need to get back to the basics of who we are and where we are going.

As a group, we need to look at the direction of where we are going with some specific positions within the church and why we exist as a church.

1 Samuel 8:4-5 (NIV) The people of Israel wanted a king.

When situations get crazy and when things get out of our control, it’s always good to go back to the basics.

Matthew 22:35-39 (ESV) First, love the Lord with everything in you; and then, love your neighbor as yourself.

Why should we love God?

Philippians 2:6-8 (NASB)

Philippians 2:6-8 (The Message)

To love God, we need to:

Know Him (read Scripture)

Listen to Him (prayer)

To love our neighbors as ourselves, we need to:

Know them (BLESS)

Serve them

Who is our neighbor?

Let’s make a fresh covenant and commit to a few things together as Hope Community Church.

Commit to daily time in Scripture and listening to God in prayer.
Commit to daily serving someone, somewhere.

Week 3 Community – Duane Calvin – Garner Campus Pastor

As Christians, we were made to be in community. We need community to support each other in times of difficulty and to push each other to live the way God wants us to live.

As Christians, we must care for the people in our community who are may be far from God.

This fits into our mission statement at Hope, which is to love people where they are and encourage them to grow in their relationship with Jesus.

Matthew 5:13-16 (ESV)

Identity

Tendency

Opportunity

Here are some truths learned when seeking opportunities to share the Gospel:

Presence builds trust.

When you show up for people who are far from God, they are much more likely to show up for you.

God will provide the resources you need to reach people who are far from God.

We don’t have to add anything to our schedule, just be intentional with the resources you already have.

How do we apply these concepts?

1st – Take inventory.

2nd – Develop an action plan and get specific.

3rd – Take action and get after it. Go out and be salt and light.

Week 2 Community – Dave Ferguson – Community Christian Church, Chicago, IL

As Christians, we were made to be in community. We need community to support each other in times of difficulty and to push each other to live the way God wants us to live.

As Christians, we can further community by adopting the B.L.E.S.S. model of outreach, which teaches us how to share our faith.

Matthew 22:39 (NIV) “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Genesis 12:2,3 (NIV) God will bless us, and He wants us to be a blessing to the world.

“What do you value in a person with whom you would talk about spiritual matters?”

“Someone who will listen without judgment.”
“Someone who will allow me to draw my own conclusions.”
“Someone who has confidence in sharing their own perspective.”

There are five missional practices Jesus used over and over again, which can be remembered with the acronym for B-L-E-S-S.

B – Begin with Prayer.

L – Listen.

E – Eat.

S – Serve.

S – Story.

Week 1 Community – Albert Tate – Fellowship Church, Monrovia, CA

As Christians, we were made to be in community. We need community to support each in times of difficulty and to push each other to strive into the way God wants for us to live.

We need our Christian brothers and sisters to live in community with us so that we can be a support to each other.

Acts 2:42-47 (NIV)

Lean into community.

Lean into the practice of community.

Lean into the struggle of community.

Ghost Stories

Week 3 – Guide

In church, we speak about God and Jesus all the time, but we tend to avoid the subject of the Holy Spirit. By evading the topic, we miss out on an amazing gift God has given to us as Christians. The Holy Spirit acts as our teacher, advocate, and guide.

The Holy Spirit is given to us as Christians as a gift, and He acts as our guide.

John 16:13 (NLT) The Holy Spirit will guide us.

God’s will is a relationship with Him, and His Spirit helps us to know that will.

Romans 8:14 (NLT)

There are a few essentials the Holy Spirit offers us to know God’s will for our lives.

To know God’s will, we need God’s Presence.

Ephesians 5:18 (NLT)

Acts 2:4 (NLT)

Acts 4:31 (NLT)

To be guided by the Spirit, we need His constant Presence in our lives.

Prayer: “God, fill me.”

To know God’s will, we need God’s Purpose.

Ministry is using whatever God has given us to serve Him and the needs of others.

Ephesians 4:12 (NLT)

1 Corinthians 12:7,11 (NLT)

Prayer: “God, show me.”

To know God’s will, we need God’s Plan.

Isaiah 30:21 (NIV)

John 16:13 (NLT)

God shows His plan in four ways:

a. When the request is not right, God says, “No”.

Acts 16:6-8 (NLT)

b. When the timing is not right, God says, “Slow”.

c. When the request and timing are right, but you’re not right, God says, “Grow”.

d. When the request is right and the timing’s right and you’re right, then God says, “Go”.

Acts 19:21 (NLT)

Prayer: “God, use me.”

To know God’s will, we need God’s Power.

Acts 1:8 (NLT)

Prayer: “God, empower me.”

Week 2 – Advocate

In church, we speak about God and Jesus all the time, but we tend to avoid the subject of the Holy Spirit. By evading the topic, we miss out on an amazing gift God has given to us as Christians. The Holy Spirit acts as our teacher, advocate, and guide.

The Holy Spirit is given to us as Christians as a gift, and He advocates for us to God the Father.

Shame is an emotion felt by all people.

“It matters not if the person earns a two-comma salary or works for minimum

wage. She may be married or single. He may be African American or Caucasian.

Depressed, anxious or just plain angry; happy, sad or indifferent. He may be the father or the son, the employer or employee. It may be an individual, a couple, family, community, school or business organization. And you needn’t have ever darkened the office door of a psychiatrist. It doesn’t require the breakdown of our mental health to be plagued by it. It only requires that you have a pulse. To be human is to be infected with the phenomenon we call shame.” – Curt Thompson, “The Soul of Shame”

Genesis 2:25 (ESV) Humanity was created without shame.

Genesis 3:7 (ESV) They felt shame and tried to hide.

Genesis 3:1 (ESV) Satan began to deceive.

Genesis 3:2-3 (ESV) Eve got confused and began to doubt her own story.

Genesis 3:4-5 (ESV) Satan tempted Eve.

Genesis 3:7a (ESV) Once the man and woman disobeyed, they felt shame.

Genesis 3:7b (ESV) They tried to cover their shame.

Genesis 3:8 (ESV) They hid themselves from God.

The Holy Spirit is our advocate to God the Father.

John 14:16 (ESV)

1 John 2:1-2 (ESV) Jesus is another advocate as He covers the sin of the world.

There is no condemnation once Jesus has died in your place, and the Spirit lives in you.

Romans 8:1-2 (ESV)

Romans 8:33-34 (NLT)

Romans 8:15-16 (NLT)

Romans 8:5-6 (NIV)

Week 1 – Teach

In church, we speak about God and Jesus all the time, but we tend to avoid the subject of the Holy Spirit. By evading the topic, we miss out on an amazing gift God has given to us as Christians. The Holy Spirit acts as our teacher, guide and advocate.

The Holy Spirit is given to us as Christians as a gift, and He teaches us God’s truth.

The Bible mentions the Holy Spirit more than 800 times.

Genesis 1:2 (NLT)

Job 33:4 (NLT)

John 16:5-7 (NLT)

We need a Biblical understanding of who exactly the Holy Spirit is.

1st – The Holy Spirit is a person.

John 14:16-17 (NIV) “…he lives with you and will be in you.”

2nd – The Holy Spirit is God.

Francis Chan said, “While these serve as cute metaphors for an unexplainable mystery, the fact is that God is not like an egg, a three-leaf clover, or the three forms of water. God is not like anything. He is incomprehensible, incomparable, and unlike any other being. He is outside our realm of existence and, thus, outside our ability to categorize him. While analogies may be helpful in understanding certain aspects of him, let’s be careful not to think that our analogies in any way encapsulate his nature.”

Genesis 1:26 (NLT)

3rd – The Holy Spirit is eternal and holy.

John 14:16-17 (NIV) One God – coequal, coexisting and eternal

John 14:16-17 (NIV)

The Holy Spirit teaches me God’s truth.

John 14:26 (NLT)

1 John 2:27 (NLT)

This is an example of how to read/study the Bible:

Ask God to teach you.
Read the passage.
What does it say?
Why is this important?
What do I need to do?

The Holy Spirit makes me like Jesus.

Ephesians 4:21-24 (NLT)

Jeremiah 29:13 (NLT) We will find God if we look for Him.

EnoughWeek 3 – Talent

God knows we can hoard things in our hearts that can cause us to lose our way. He wants us to be content and not tied down with greed whether that involves our time, talent or treasure. God gives to us generously, and He wants us to give generously, so we can bring others to His Kingdom.

How do we use our talents to build God’s Kingdom?

Luke 16:1-2 (ESV) Jesus tells a parable to teach about using your talents.

Luke 16:3-4 (ESV) The manager in the parable comes up with a plan after he is fired.

Luke 16:5-7 (ESV) The man reduces the amount the debtors owe the master.

Luke 16:8 (ESV) The master commends the craftiness of the man.

Luke 16:8-9 (ESV) Jesus makes His point. We need to approach our jobs as Christians with as much shrewdness.

Ephesians 4:11-12 (ESV) God gives help to people to equip them for the work of the church.

This means two things:

The greatest ideas are in the congregation.
The greatest opportunities are outside the church doors.

Week 2 – Time

God knows we can hoard things in our hearts that can cause us to lose our way. He wants us to be content and not tied down with greed whether that involves our time, talent or treasure. God gives to us generously, and He wants us to give generously, so we can bring others to His kingdom.

Is there ever enough time?

James 4:14 (ESV) James wrote about how our lives are but a mist.

The right question to ask is, “What do I do with the time I do have?”

Psalm 90 is a prayer written by Moses as he faces the end of his life.

Moses mentions three truths through his prayer:

The clock is ticking, and we are fragile.

Psalm 90:1-2 (ESV)

Psalm 90:3 (ESV)

Genesis 3:19 (ESV)

Psalm 90:4 (ESV)

Psalm 90:5-6 (ESV)

The clock is ticking, and we are needy.

Psalm 90:7 (ESV)

Psalm 90:8 (ESV)

Hebrews 4:13 (ESV)

Psalm 90:9-11 (ESV)

“Only when we see the depth of our sin will we be electrified by the

wonder of grace.” Tim Keller

Psalm 90:12 (ESV)

The clock is ticking, and God is gracious.

Psalm 90:13-16 (ESV)

Psalm 90:17 (ESV)

Count your days so you can make your days count!

Two challenges to go after:

Pursue Jesus fully.

Luke 9:23 (ESV)

Invest in your family deeply.

Ephesians 5:15-16 (ESV)

Count your days so that your days count!

Week 1 – Treasure

God knows we can hoard things in our hearts that can cause us to lose our way. He wants us to be content and not tied down with greed whether that involves our time, talent or treasure. God gives to us generously, and He wants us to give generously, so we can bring others to His kingdom.

What is Enough?

Luke 12:13, 14 (ESV) A man is demanding legal advice from Jesus as a Rabbi, but

Jesus notices something different in the man.

Luke 12:15 (ESV) Jesus warns against covetousness/greed.

Greed is an enemy that attacks, so Jesus says to be on guard against it.

God doesn’t want to get your money. He just doesn’t want your money to get you.

Luke 12:16-19 (ESV) Jesus tells a parable about how the love of money can hurt a person.

Luke 12:20-21 (ESV) God rebukes the man.

Jesus points out two mindsets/beliefs that are foolish:

More will one day be enough.
It’s all mine.

Because we are stewards of what God has given us, that means two things:

We’re going to be held accountable.
Eventually, we will have to give it all back.

Luke 12:33-34 (ESV) Jesus gives an answer for the man who had abundance.

Generosity is the only defense against the enemy of greed.

With the extra in our lives, take one of these steps:

Give for the first time.
Give regularly.
Give proportionally.
Give extravagantly.

God doesn’t want to get your money. He just doesn’t want your money to get you.

Week 5 – Jesus is Glorious

As people, we all know what it’s like to question who we are and what our purpose is. But what about the identity of Jesus? Do we know who He is? The real Jesus not just the image we have of Him? His identity changes everything about who we are trying to be as Christians.

Jesus is Glorious.

John 11:1 ESV

John 11:2 ESV

John 11:3 ESV

John 11:4-6 ESV

John11:14-15 ESV “…Lazarus has died, 15 and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe…”

Job 42:5 ESV “I had only heard about you before, but now I have seen you with my own eyes.”

God will often delay His power in order to reveal His glory.

John 11:17-35 ESV

From the Message – John 11:33 “When Jesus saw her sobbing and the Jews with her sobbing, a deep anger welled up within him.”

John 11:34-35 ESV “And he said, ‘Where have you laid him?’ They said to him, ‘Lord, come and see.’ 35 Jesus wept.”

Jesus is the alpha and omega, the beginning and the end…but He’s also present at every step in between.

“Our tendency is to feel intuitively that the more difficult life gets, the more alone we are. As we sink further into pain, we sink further into felt isolation. The Bible corrects us. Our pain never outstrips what he himself shares in. We are never alone. That sorrow that feels so isolating, so unique, was endured by him in the past and is now shouldered by him in the present.”

– Dane Ortlund Gentle and Lowly

John 11:38-44 ESV

John 11:2 ESV “It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was ill.”

Revelation 21:1-5a NLT

Revelation 22:3-5 NLT

Week 4 – Jesus the Provider

As people, we all know what it’s like to question who we are and what our purpose is. But what about the identity of Jesus? Do we know who He is? The real Jesus not just the image we have of Him? His identity changes everything about who we are trying to be as Christians.

Jesus is the Provider we need.

John 6:1-15 This is the story of the feeding of the 5,000.

Jesus knew if He could provide for their physical needs, they’d be more open to what He could offer them spiritually.

Jesus is a Provider. Jesus is the Provider.

Jesus can provide everything from nothing.

If we’re empty, we have nothing to give.

The primary reason we don’t pray dangerous prayers is because they might prompt us to do hard things.

We don’t do hard things because we don’t know how to do hard things.

The greatest rewards in my life, I would have missed, if I wasn’t willing to do hard things to receive them.

Psalm 139:23-24, Psalm 139:19-22 David is praying to God.

Show me what I need to change.

If you pray this prayer, it will require you to acknowledge that you have some work to do…on YOU.

David asked God to reveal his anxiety.

“God, am I allowing crippling fear to short change my calling, purpose or blessing?”

David asked God to reveal his sin.

“God, is there a sin I need to put to death that is stifling my calling, purpose or blessing?”

David asked God to lead him.

“God, is there a place or calling in my life that I’m missing because I’m scared to follow you entirely?”

When Storms Hit

Throughout life, we will all face trials of many kinds. Some are personal struggles while others can effect the community as a whole. What do we do in times of trouble? How do we lean on God when it counts? How do we keep ourselves resilient?

Resiliency in difficult times is something we all can strive toward.

Difficult times can lead to discouragement. Discouragement, if left unchecked, can lead to destruction.

Resiliency in difficult times can help us lessen discouragement and ultimately avoid destruction.

Resiliency – “Not just acceptance of a situation but, rather, an expectation to persevere through, with steadiness, and come out better on the other side.

Three keys to resiliency in the midst of difficult times:

Stay Close to God. (Spiritual Strength)
Stay Calm. (Emotional Health)
Stay Connected. (Relational Stability)

2 Timothy 1:1-3

Stay Close to God. (Spiritual Strength)

2 Timothy 1:5-7

2 Timothy 2:1

John 15:4-5

*If you want to be resilient in difficult times, you have to stay close to God.

Stay Calm. (Emotional Health)

2 Timothy 4:5

2 Timothy 3:1-5

What’s that thing for you right now?

Joshua 1:9

Sometimes the most courageous thing we can do is “Be still and know He is God.” (Psalm 46:10)

*If you want to be resilient in difficult times, you have to stay calm in the storm.

Stay Connected. (Relational Stability)

Staying connected to the church provides you with the relational stability you need to maintain resiliency.

Genesis 2:18

2 Timothy 4:9-11

*If you want to be resilient in difficult times, you have to stay connected to the church.

Week 3 – Healer

As people, we all know what it’s like to question who we are and what our purpose is. But what about the identity of Jesus? Do we know who He is? The real Jesus not just the image we have of Him? His identity changes everything about who we are trying to be as Christians.

We all face hard moments in life when we need Jesus as a healer.

It’s in those moments where we start asking some hard questions.

Question 1. God, why and why me?

Question 2. Is God a healer or isn’t He?

Question 3. What if I never get well?

Identity Crisis (who am I = my identity and who is God = His identity to me)

John 5:1-14 (NIV) This is about a man who is wrestling through a disability and his identity crisis with Jesus.

Jesus asked the man if he wanted to be healed.

Getting well often requires something of us.

Getting well means change.

Getting well might mean that there is a God.

Getting well means that our condition cannot become our identity.

John 5:7 The man makes excuses.

The biggest obstacle between hurting and healing is a step of faith.

What about when we don’t get healed?

In the Bible, Jesus didn’t heal everyone. So where is the fairness in that?

We find out what we really think about ourselves and what we really think about God.

In all of it, we’re reminded of the need for a Savior.

We have to trust God, but not for a moment, for all of eternity.

Week 2 – Rescuer

As people, we all know what it’s like to question who we are and what our purpose is. But what about the identity of Jesus? Do we know who He is? The real Jesus not just the image we have of Him? His identity changes everything about who we are trying to be as Christians.

Even as one of the top religious rulers in Jerusalem, Nicodemus knew he was missing something in his life.

John 3:2 Nicodemus sought Jesus out to gain some wisdom.

John 3:3 Jesus told him what he actually needed.

Jesus points out three things to Nicodemus:

You need to be born again. John 3:4
Jesus points out that you can’t understand this new birth, but you can see its effects. John 3:8
You can’t cause it, but you do have a part to play. John 3:9, John 3:14, Numbers 21:6, Numbers 21:7-9

John 3:16 Because God loved the world, He gave us Jesus.

John 19:38-42 Nicodemus made a decision to align with Jesus as he openly cared for Jesus’ body after the crucifixion.

Just like in Nicodemus’ case, Jesus can be your Rescuer. He can fill the void that’s missing in your life.

Week 1 – Forgiven

As people, we all know what it’s like to question who we are and what our purpose is. But what about the identity of Jesus? Do we know who He is? The real Jesus not just the image we have of Him? His identity changes everything about who we are trying to be as Christians.

You don’t work for your forgiveness. You work from your forgiveness.

Genesis 1:26-27 (NLT) God gave humans our intended identity from the very beginning.

We were created to know God, to be in relationship with God and to be like God.

Genesis 3:6-7 (NLT) With sin, we replace the identity God gave us and trade it in for shame.

Jesus came to fix the world.

John 8:1-2 (NLT)

John 8:2-3 (NLT)

John 8:4-6 (NLT)

John 8:6 (NLT)

John 8:7-8 (NLT)

John 8:9 (NLT)

John 8:10-11 (NLT)

Jesus said, “Neither do I (condemn you),” which is Grace.

Jesus said, “Go and sin no more,” which is Truth.

Here are a few lessons from this passage:

Put down your rock.
Eventually, it’s going to be just you and Jesus standing together.
Jesus does not punish you because he was punished for you.
Jesus forgives sin.

You don’t work for your forgiveness. You work from your forgiveness.

DNA: Week 6 – In It Together

Every church has certain aspects of mission and vision that are unique to each church. At Hope, we’re discussing the things that make us who we are at our very core, our DNA as a church.

A core value of ours is that we are In It Together.

For a team or a family to be at its best, everyone must think ‘we over me’.

John 17:20-23 Jesus wants us to be unified so that the world would know God sent Jesus and that God loved us.

The story of Nehemiah gives us some essential ideas to bring us together.

Nehemiah 1:3

Nehemiah 1:4

There are four essentials to be In It Together.

We have to CARE ‘about it’.

Know what your ‘it’ is and care about it.

We have to be Courageous for it.

Nehemiah 2:9-10

Nehemiah 4:1

Nehemiah 4:14

We have to be Selfless to it.

“If you want to achieve anything in life worth achieving, it will cost you something.”

Nehemiah 3:1

Nehemiah 3:8

Nehemiah 3:13

Nehemiah 7:70

“If you want to achieve anything in life worth achieving, it will cost you something.”

We want to reach the triangle and change the world.

We have to ‘Seek God through it’.

Chase after big things but only do so while seeking God through it.

Here are a few questions to ask:

What do we really care about? What’s our ‘it’?
Where do we need to be more courageous for our it?
Where do I need to be more selfless in it?
Am I seeking God in it?

Every church has certain aspects of mission and vision that are unique to each church. At Hope, we’re discussing the things that make us who we are at our very core, our DNA as a church.

We need to be as relevant as possible to as many as possible and to be as effective as possible at leading as many to Jesus as possible.

We strive to be Relevant and Effective.

Jesus often told stories using relevant examples from His culture. His healing and miracles helped people in their greatest needs.

Matthew 28:19 (NLT) The last words Jesus said to the disciples were about going out into the world and making disciples of all people.

1 Corinthians 9:1-2 (NLT) Paul gave a short resumé of who he was, but it wasn’t enough.

1 Corinthians 9:19-23 (NLT) Paul tried to do everything he could to find common ground with everyone, so he could share the Gospel with them.

Paul tried to be as relevant as possible to as many as possible and to be as effective as possible at leading as many to Jesus as possible.

Eugene Peterson wrote this in the message: “I didn’t take on their way of life. I kept my bearings in Christ – but I entered their world and tried to experience things from their point of view. I’ve become just about every sort of servant there is in my attempts to lead those I meet into a God-saved life.” 1 Corinthians 9 (MSG)

Two observations from Paul:

1. We contextualize the Gospel. We don’t compromise it.

Reject

Receive

Redeem

2. Our mission stays the same. The methods need to change.

The bottom line is that we need to be as relevant as possible to as many as possible and to be as effective as possible at leading as many to Jesus as possible.

What can we do?

Be relevant and effective in our Church.
Be relevant and effective in our Community.

DNA – We exist for those who aren’t here yet.

Every church has certain aspects of mission and vision that are unique to each church. At Hope, we’re discussing the things that make us who we are at our very core, our DNA as a church.

We exist for those who aren’t here yet.

We need to be a place where people can belong until they believe.

Why is it that the fastest growing religious group in the country right now are the “nones” (nothing). Why is it that people love Jesus, but they don’t want to follow him?

Do christians and churches make Jesus look confusing or make Him look bad?

Matthew 23:13 (NLT) Jesus gave a clear warning to the religious people of His day.

Mark 2:17 (NLT) All Jesus ever wanted was to help people who were far from God to know that God hadn’t given up on them.

An important value at Hope: We exist for those who aren’t here yet.

This impacts why we do some things the way we do.

Mark 2:1-12 (NLT)

Thought 1: If the Church is about sharing and showing Jesus…we should be people that

people want to be around.

Thought 2: We can’t be the kind of crowd that keeps people from Jesus.

Mark 2:3-4 (NLT)

Can we resolve today that we will give up our preferences so people far from God could

find a place to belong (meet Jesus) even before they believe?

Thought 3: Sometimes you have to get “dirty” to help people get to Jesus.

Mark 2:4 (NLT)

Thought 4: My faith impacts others.

Mark 2:4-5 (NLT)

We need to be a place where people can belong until they believe.

So how do we do this?

We ARE a church that is willing to give up our preferences for others.

Every weekend ministry is Designed with those who aren’t here yet in mind.

We need to be roof wrecking friends.

DNA – Equip the Church

Léonce Crump, Renovation Church & Jason Gore, Lead Pastor of Hope Community Church

Every church has certain aspects of mission and vision that are unique to each church. At Hope, we’re discussing the things that make us who we are at our very core, our DNA as a church.

We are meant to “Equip the Church” so that everyone can become who God intended him/her to be.

Ephesians 4:11-16 God gives gifts to different people for different purposes.

We question whether we have anything of worth to contribute.

The church is mobilized and catalyzed by the gifts God gives it—and He has wired you to be one of those gifts. (Ephesians 2:10)

Ephesians 1:22-23 The church is meant to be the fullness of Christ in the world, and we have a part in that.

Ephesians 4:10 Jesus ascended and took His place of authority beside God.

Jesus will fill all things through His church by filling His church with gifts and powers that allow God’s people to not only be who they are called to be, but to do what they are called to do! (Ephesians 1:23)

All people will be activated in the church by using their specific gifts. (Ephesians 4:11)

Gifts given to the church:

Apostolic Gift – Apostles are pioneers, risk-takers, movement starters and architects of systems that either produce or promote new and different.
Prophetic Gift – Prophetically gifted people tend to have a keen interest in justice, mercy and a vision for a better world.
Evangelistic Gift – Evangelists are particularly gifted at enthusing others about what excites them.
Shepherds/Pastors – Shepherds, beyond being activated in the church, are those who show a special concern for seeing and affirming what is human within others and caring deeply for people.
Teachers – Teachers are those who make incredible instructors and naturally inspire learning.

This five-fold paradigm applies to all Christians, not just to paid staff or leaders.

Jesus redeems what is already present, and realigns it with His restoration plan, giving each of us renewed and redemptive significance.

Every single person in this church is called to full-time ministry, we all just get paid from different places! (Ephesians 4:12)

This is so we can become unified. (Ephesians 4:13)

This matters because every person has a part!

____________________________________________________________________________

The mission of our church is to love people where they are and to encourage them to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ.

Why is it important to grow? It’s because Jesus came to bring us an abundant life. (John 10:10)

For you to experience abundant life, you have to grow in your relationship with Jesus.

DNA – Grace & Truth

Every church has certain aspects of mission and vision that are unique to each church. At Hope, we’re discussing the things that make us who we are at our very core, our DNA as a church.

The characteristic of “Grace & Truth” is the most important characteristic we can have.

John 1:14 Jesus was full of grace and truth.

Jesus wasn’t grace or truth. He was full of grace and truth.

Grace comes first.

Genesis 3:8-9 NIV

Romans 3:23-24 NIV

Romans 12:1 “…in view of God’s mercy…”

God knows that a heart must be prepared to receive truth.

Romans 2:4 Kindness leads to repentance.

Grace prepares a heart to receive truth.

Romans 15:7 Accept others because Jesus accepted you.

Every church has certain aspects of mission and vision that are unique to each church. At Hope, we’re discussing the things that make us who we are at our very core, our DNA as a church.

The Bible shows us that, aside from creation, all the amazing things God has accomplished on this earth the past few thousand years have been through people with big faith though the power of a big God.

Hebrews 11 is often referred to as the faith chapter.

Hebrews 11:7a

Hebrews 11:8

Hebrews 11:29-30, 32-35

We get to decide how much of God’s power and blessings we experience in our lives depending on whether we are willing to step out in faith.

Luke 7:1-10 Jesus was amazed at the faith of a Roman officer. Why?

He had costly faith.
He had selfless faith.
He had expectant faith.

What you ask God for reveals what you think God can do.

He had humble faith.
He had limitless faith.

Luke 8:45-46, 48 A woman reached out in faith and was healed.

Mark 6:3-6 Jesus was amazed at people’s unbelief.

Where faith is expressed, God moves.

Don’t let fear decide your future.

You have to step out to find out.

______________________________________________________________________________

James 1:27 God tells us to look after orphans and widows.

We’re launching a new initiative called ‘Fostering Hope,’ and we’re stepping out in faith.

Sometimes you go before you fully know…that’s big faith.

Take a bag. Fill a bag.

To Donate items/Volunteer/Give Financially go to gethope.net/fosteringhope.

There is something we can do, but we have to lead with Big Faith.

Resurrection Sunday

After Jesus’ death on the cross, He rose from the dead three days later. On Easter Sunday, we celebrate how Jesus conquered sin and death. Each year, it’s important to remember Jesus’ sacrifice and His triumph, which was made on our behalf.

The most significant event in human history is how Jesus conquered death and rose from the dead.

Luke 24:1-8 The tomb of Jesus is EMPTY!

Jesus and Christianity are so unique and utterly different from any other religion in the world not simply because of the teachings of Jesus but because of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus!

Philippians 2:6-8

Philippians 2:6 Jesus let go of heaven to come to earth to save us.

Philippians 2:7 Jesus made Himself human to become a servant here on earth for us.

Luke 2:12 Jesus was born as lowly as the ones He loved, you and me.

Philippians 2:8 Jesus died on the cross, which was a horrible death, because He had to in order to save us.

Isaiah 53:4-7 Jesus went to the cross, so we don’t have to. He sacrificed His life to save our lives.

Philippians 2:9-11 Jesus is alive! He is exalted!

Week Two – Palm Sunday

Jesus often began His lessons with an opposite statement as a way to highlight His challenge of common thought. By studying the teachings of Jesus, we’re sometimes confronted with the idea that what we think is the right thing is actually not. Could some of our preconceived ideas be wrong?

It’s not what you think.

Jesus was and is considered many things such as: prophet, healer, teacher, rebel leader, Messiah, etc.

After Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, His fame had risen to an all-time high.

Even when faced with threats, Jesus did the unthinkable and entered Jerusalem.

Three things you need to know from the Old Testament and the cultural background of Jesus’ time to understand the significance of Palm Sunday.

Everyone was required to walk into the city on Passover.
Solomon, the last great king of Israel, was anointed king and rode through the East Gate of Jerusalem on a donkey. 1 Kings 1:38-40
There was a prophesy in the book of Zechariah that said a different sort of King would come to rule the whole world, and he would come not on a war horse but on a donkey.

Luke 19:28-31

John 12:12-13

Luke 19:38

Luke 19:40

Two things you can consider when making a decision about following Jesus.

1st – Something is already sitting on the throne of your life. Any king besides Jesus makes a cruel master.

2nd – Jesus is a different and better kind of King.

Philippians 2:6-11 (NLT)

Week One – It’s Not What You Think

Jesus often began His lessons with an opposite statement as a way to highlight His challenge of common thought. By studying the teachings of Jesus, we’re sometimes confronted with the idea that what we think is the right thing is actually not. Could some of our preconceived ideas be wrong?

It’s not what you think.

Jesus is most famous for two things:

His Resurrection (Easter)
The things Jesus taught – Mark 1:22 (NLT)

One of the biggest areas of misunderstanding comes in the pursuit of peace in our lives.

Jesus dealt with pressure differently than we do.

John 13:38 (NLT)

John 18:15-27 (NLT) – How did Peter go from having courageous confidence to

cowering in fear?

John 14:27 (NLT)

Peace is a gift.
God’s peace is different than the world’s version of peace.

The peace God offers isn’t a thing to find. It’s a relationship to receive.

John 21:9, 15-17 (NLT)

John 14:27 (NLT)

Peace is found in the presence of God.

Peace isn’t the absence of pressures, pain and problems. It is the presence of God in it with you.

Peace is found in the promises of God.

Ephesians 2:14 (NLT)

Philippians 4:6-7 (NLT)

Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT)

Peace is found in the process of God.

John 18:18 (NLT)

John 21:9 (NLT)

2 Corinthians 5:19 (CEV)

Peace isn’t the absence of pressures, pain and problems. It is the presence of God in it with you.

What To Do When God Says…Go

Week Three

Sometimes, God responds to us in unexpected ways. What happens when we hear answers from God that we don’t want to hear? How do we respond and move forward? This week, we’ll address the question, “What do we do when God says go?”

What do we do when God says GO?

This is really a question about God’s will for our lives.

We start with “me,” but the Bible says we should start with God.

“We ask, ‘Where does God fit into the story of my life?’ when the real question

should be, ‘Where does my little life fit into the great story of God?’”

– Christopher Wright

We talk about finding the will of God, but it’s not really lost.

Acts 1:4-5

Acts 1:6

Acts 1:7-8a

Acts 1:8b-9

Acts 2:1-6

Acts 2:41-47

John 14:12

What do we do when God says GO?

If you have received the Holy Spirit, you’ve received a call to go.

“Put your yes on the table and let God put it on the map.” – Ed Stetzer

Week Two: Josh Howerton – Lakepointe Church in Dallas, Texas

Sometimes, God responds to us in unexpected ways. What happens when we hear answers from God that we don’t want to hear? How do we respond and move forward? This week, we’ll address the question, “What do we do when God says wait?”

What do we do when God says to wait?

Lamentations 3:26 (ESV)

When you wait, you’re in really good company.

Israel waited 40 years to get into the Promised Land.

Jesus waited 30 years to start His ministry.

Paul waited 17 years after Jesus appeared to him before he was appointed to ministry.

David waited 15 years between his consecration and his coronation.

Sarah waited 25 years for her son, Isaac, to be born after God promised her a son.

We think we need to be DISCOVERED. God thinks we need to be DEVELOPED.

What is God doing in the waiting? He is developing us.

A WAITING season is never a WASTED season. Just because God is SILENT does not mean that He is ABSENT.

When we understand that God is at work in the wait, it changes our definition of waiting.

Most people do three things when they are waiting on the Lord.

Wonder – “When, Lord, when?”
Worry – “How, Lord, how?”
Whine – “Why, Lord, why?”

The question should be, “What, Lord, what?” – “What are you doing in me? What part of my character are you trying to develop? What sin are you moving me to repent of? What wound are you trying to heal?”

Waiting does not equal passivity.

To wait means to serve.

God doesn’t just call us to have faith in His WHAT but faith in his WHEN.

The only thing harder than waiting on God is wishing you had.

Between the PROMISE and the PAYOFF, there’s a PROCESS.

What To Do When God Says…No

Week One

Sometimes, God responds to us in unexpected ways. What happens when we hear answers from God that we don’t want to hear? How do we respond and move forward? This week, we’ll address the question, “What do we do when God says no?”

God said “no” to many people in the Bible.

Genesis 17:19 God said “no” to Abraham.

God said “no” to many people throughout the Bible.

Moses

David

Paul

God has a different relationship with us than we often think.

We tend to treat God as if we’re in a performance-based relationship.

Matthew 7:7-8

Matthew 7:9-11

God treats us as His sons and daughters.

There are three main things that God says “no” to in our lives.

1st – God says “no” to sin.

Because God is my Father and He’s working for my joy, I will obey.

2nd – God says “no” to the area of comfort.

Luke 9:23

Romans 12:1

John 12:24

God, my Father, will use that little death to bring about life.

3rd – God sometimes says “no” to a dream.

Matthew 7:11

Big God. Big Church. – God of the Broken (Mark 5:1-20)

Jesus has always had a propensity toward brokenness.

– Disciples were broken individuals.

– James and John (fishermen)

– Matthew (tax collector)

– Peter (racist)

– Mary Magdalene (prostitute)

Mark 5:1-20

Three things that are true in this story that are also true in your story.

Jesus goes to him.

– Jesus comes to us.

Jesus heals him.

– Jesus heals us.

– James 5:16

Jesus uses him.

– Jesus uses us.

Dr. Derwin L. Gray – Transformation Church in Indian Land, South Carolina

In this series, we will hear from various pastors across the country as they encourage Hope Community Church by explaining how we are part of a bigger picture. We are not alone. Rather, we are in a movement of God that has been growing for thousands of years beyond ethnicity, beyond generation and beyond location.

Big God. Big Church.

Merciful people are happy people. People who lack mercy lack happiness.

Are you merciful? Mercy is God’s compassion on people.

Jesus tells us that we will have trouble in this world, but He has overcome this world. (John 16:33)

Matthew 5:7 (CSB)

The most significant times in our lives are often found at the footstools of someone giving us mercy.

Being a merciful person means: Loving God by loving people you are not supposed to love.

Luke 10:25-28 (CSB)

Being a merciful person means: That every human being is your neighbor.

Luke 10:29 (CSB)

Being a merciful person means: That you cross ethnic, cultural and religious barriers to help hurting people.

Luke 10:30-33 (CSB)

Where has the compassion of Christianity gone?

Treat people like Jesus died for them.

Hebrews 2:9 (CSB)

If Jesus tasted death for everyone, how dare we not love everyone?

Being a merciful person means: That you are willing to count the cost of loving your neighbor.

Luke 10:34-35 (CSB)

The work of the church is to be a multiethnic family going into the world to share about God’s grace. (Ephesians 2:13-16)

Luke 10:36-37 (CSB)

1 John 4:9-10 (CSB)

Merciful people are happy people.

Merciful people are the people who change the world.

Love people because God loves you.

In this series, we will hear from various pastors across the country as they encourage Hope Community Church by explaining how we are part of a bigger picture. We are not alone. Rather, we are in a movement of God that has been growing for thousands of years beyond ethnicity, beyond generation and beyond location.

Big God. Big Church.

“Humble Themselves” – God starts with His own people, which takes humility before moving to fix or heal the rest of the world.

2 Chronicles 7:14 (ESV)

If my people will…

humble themselves
pray
seek my face
turn from their wicked ways

THEN I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and heal their land.

2 Chronicles 7:14 (ESV)

“…humble themselves…”

No one can make us humble. Only we can humble ourselves.

Philippians 2:5-8 (ESV)

Jesus…

Let go of and emptied himself of his former power position. (form/equal to God)
Took on the new form of a human servant.
Chose to obey God to do what needed to be done without any limitations.

Jesus chose to let go of the past that had been his life up to that point.

Jesus chose to take hold of something new and unexpected by taking the form (posture) of a servant.

Jesus chose to obey what and where God was leading and directing him with no limitations or conditions.

Humble yourselves:

The obedient choice is to let go of the past in order to take hold of something

new and better in the future.

We come to God (pray) with a mindset of obediently choosing to let go of the past (known) in order to allow Him to do something new and better (unknown) in the future.

Romans 7:19 (NIV)

At the root of fear or not having control is PRIDE.

Pride says that I can fulfill my own needs.

Pride says that I can take care of myself.

Pride says that I can control outcomes.

Pride says that I don’t need help.

Pride is the refusal to humble oneself.

Pride results in “this is good enough, this is how it is, this is how it will always be.”

Pride is rigid, inflexible, stubborn, arrogant and unwilling to change or obey.

Pride will keep us from experiencing forgiveness, healing and something new and better that God desires to do in our lives.

If we are not humble, it is not because we CANNOT be but because we WILL NOT be.

Luke 5:37-39 (NIV)

No, new wine must be poured into new wineskins.

No, new wine must be poured into fresh wineskins.

Humble yourselves:

The obedient choice is to let go of the past in order to take hold of something

new and better in the future.

Pride:

Pride is rigid, inflexible, stubborn, arrogant and unwilling to change or obey.

Habakkuk 1:5 (NIV)

In this series, we will hear from various pastors across the country as they encourage Hope Community Church by explaining how we are part of a bigger picture. We are not alone. Rather, we are in a movement of God that has been growing for thousands of years beyond ethnicity, beyond generation and beyond location.

Big God. Big Church.

Being a 5 talent Church.

Matthew 25:14 (ESV)

Don’t pay so much attention on ‘the what’ is going to happen. Pay attention on ‘the who’ is returning.

Matthew 25:14 (ESV)

Matthew 25:15 (ESV)

Fairness is not a biblical value.

Delayed obedience is disobedience.

When we compare, we always lose.

Matthew 25:16-18 (ESV)

Matthew 25:19 (ESV)

Matthew 25:20 (ESV)

Matthew 25:21 (ESV)

Matthew 25:22-23 (ESV)

The Gospel is NOT ‘God is good; you are bad; try harder.’ The Gospel is that even when we were unworthy, God sent his Son to live the life we could not live, to die the death on the cross that we deserved, to pay the price for sin and death, to adopt us as sons and daughters and to invite us into the family.

Matthew 25:24-25 (ESV)

The opposite of faith is not doubt.

The opposite of faith is fear.

Matthew 25:26 (ESV)

We can often get busy with the comfortable so as to avoid the faithful.

Matthew 25:26-30 (ESV)

Use all the treasure that God gives to you to treasure Christ before all things.

Galatians 6:14 (ESV)

Léonce Crump – Senior Pastor of Redemption Church in Atlanta, GA

In this series, we will hear from various pastors across the country as they encourage Hope Community Church by explaining how we are part of a bigger picture. We are not alone. Rather, we are in a movement of God that has been growing for thousands of years beyond ethnicity, beyond generation and beyond location.

Introduction: Big God. Big Church.
Reimagine the Church.

Ephesians 3:1-13

We conceive of the Church as a (mostly) necessary afterthought.

God’s great dream is the Church.

Exposition
Ephesians 3:1

Ephesians 3:2

Ephesians 3:3-4

Paul has “written briefly” on this mystery previously.

Ephesians 3:5

Ephesians 3:6

Paul presents three compound adjectives: co-heirs, co-bodied and co-partners.

In Jesus, belonging to the family of God is no longer ethnically determined but determined by belief.

Ephesians 3:7

Ephesians 3:8

There is no end to the wealth of God’s grace.

Ephesians 3:9-10

What God is doing in the world is the Church!

Jon Stott said, “…the church is God’s new community…conceived in a past eternity, being worked out in history, and to be perfected in a future eternity…”

Ephesians 3:11-12

God’s church is the fulfillment of an eternal Dream for intimate people who

would reveal His wisdom even to heavenly hosts.

Ephesians 3:13

Why does this matter?
Reimagine the Church as God’s Great Dream.

We cannot say we love Jesus if we do not love His Church.

We cannot truly love God but despise His Dream.

A love for God necessitates that we build up His beloved Church.

Respond
Ask God to make your heart alive with His Divine Dream.
Ask God to help you reimagine His Church.
Ask God to give you a great love for His Church.
Ask God (with me) to forgive you for the ways you have despised, diminished or disregarded His Church.

Week Three – Church

Everyone needs certain things in life. People need hope. People need community, and people need church. We’ll look at our need for church by studying:

Where God is when things don’t go the way we want.
Seven signs of a healthy church.
What we need to watch out for.
Where is God when things don’t go the way we want?

Matthew 16:16-19 (NLT)

The definition of “church” according to the dictionary: (N) a building used for public Christian worship.

The biblical understanding of “church” is different. The Greek word “ekklesia” is defined as “an assembly” or “called-out ones.”

– a collection of people

– committed to a mission

– culture shaping

God is here. He is working through us and is represented by His Church. The Church is the hope of the world.

Acts 2:42-47 (NIV)

Community is where we experience hope. Church is where we express hope.

Here are seven signs of a healthy church.
Bold Teaching

Acts 19:8 (NIV)

Choose to Follow Jesus

Acts 19:9 (NIV)

Obstinate;…refuse to believe

Persistently Sharing the Gospel

Acts 19:10 (NIV)

I Corinthians 9:19-23 (MSG)

Biblical Unity

Acts 19:17 (NIV)

Spirit-Filled Worship

Acts 19:17 (NIV)

Life Change

Acts 19:18-19 (NIV)

The Church Created a Disturbance

Acts 19:20-23 (NIV)

There are things to watch out for as we move forward as the Church.

Warning: Missing Motive

Revelation 2:2-3 (NIV)

Revelation 2:4-5 (NIV)

Love Jesus.

Be the Church.

Community - Week Two

Everyone needs certain things in life. People need hope. People need community, and people need church. We’ll look at our need for community by studying:

What keeps us from having significant relationships.
How we love others like Jesus loved.
What life would look like if we adopted the mentality of Christ.
What keeps us from having significant relationships?

Ecclesiastes 4:8 (NIV)

Why don’t we have significant relationships?

Self-sufficient

Personality

Superficial

Fear

Busyness

Luke 19:1-9 (NLT)

How do we love others like Jesus loved Zacchaeus?

We go out of our way to build relationships.

Luke 19:1 (NLT)

We really get to know people.

Luke 19:5a (NLT)

We do life together.

Luke 19:5b (NLT)

Growth Challenge This is a 30-day journey to grow in mind, body and spirit.

Text CHALLENGE to 74121 if you’re interested in signing up!

Luke 19:7 (NLT)

Luke 19:10 (NLT)

Life would look different if we adopted Christ’s mentality for how we love people.

Acts 2:42-47 (NIV)

Community is where we experience hope. Church is where we express hope.

Three Words Everybody Needs - Week One: Hope

Everyone needs certain things in life. People need hope. People need community, and people need church. We’ll look at our need for hope by studying:

What the Bible says about hope.
A better place for our hope that will never disappoint.
The Bible speaks a lot about hope.

There are 180 verses in the Bible that have the word “hope” in them.

The object of our hope is what’s important.

Job 8:13-15

Psalm 62:9-10

Proverbs 11:7

Jeremiah 14:22

Isaiah 49:23

Psalm 42:5 (42:11, 43:5)

There is a better place for our hope that will never disappoint us, and it’s Jesus.

1 Peter 1:3

1 Peter 1:4

1 Peter 1:5

1 Peter 1:6

1 Peter 1:10-12

1 Peter 1:12

1 Peter 1:13

Christmas – Week One

Christmas is one of our most cherished holidays. But, what does it mean? What are the things we need to remember about Christmas? We’ll help answer these questions by studying:

The meaning of Christmas.
What is the theology of Christmas.
Two essential truths we need to believe about Christmas.
There is the meaning of the word, Christmas.

Christmas comes from two words, “Christ and mass.”

“Mass” is a Latin word that means, “celebration” or “festival.” This means that Christmas is the celebration or festival of Christ.

The theology of Christmas is important to understand.

Matthew 1:18-23

The arrival of Jesus was foretold by the Prophet Isaiah. (Isaiah 7:10-14)

Isaiah 7:12

Isaiah 7:14

There are two essential truths we need to believe about Christmas.

1st Essential Truth – Jesus was born of a virgin.

Matthew 1:18

Matthew 1:20

Immanuelmeans, “God with us.”

John 3:16

God came Himself to pay the penalty for our sin.

2nd Essential Truth – Jesus came in the flesh.

Matthew 16:16

John 1:1,14

1 John 4:2-3

2 John 1:7

Hebrews 2:14

One out of one people die!

Isaiah 9:6

Elijah – Week Five

As a prophet during a time of unbelievable idolatry and immorality, Elijah stood against the evil all around him. Could we stand with the same conviction? What happens when anxiety and depression enter our lives? We’ll help answer these questions by studying:

The reasons why Elijah was depressed.
What God did to bring Elijah out of his depression.
Some practical suggestions to develop relationships to get through tough times.
There were reasons why Elijah was depressed.

1 Kings 19:1-2

1 Kings 19:3

There were several reasons why Elijah got depressed:

1st reason – He was coming off an emotional high.

2nd reason – He isolated himself from his supporting relationships.

1 Kings 19:3-4

3rd reason – He was physically exhausted.

1 Kings 19:4

4th reason – He felt sorry for himself.

God did certain things to bring Elijah out of his depression.

1st – God offered Elijah rest and refreshment.

1 Kings 19:5-6

2nd – God offered the comfort of His word.

1 Kings 19:7-9

1 Kings 19:10

1 Kings 19:11-13

1 Kings 19:18

3rd – God gave Elijah a close personal friend to counteract his loneliness.

1 Kings 19:19

1 Kings 19:21

Mother Theresa said, “It’s easier to fill a hungry stomach than to fill an empty heart.”

There are some practical suggestions to develop those relationships that will help you through those tough times.

1st – Take some relational risks.

Proverbs 18:24

2nd – Learn to be hospitable.

1 Peter 4:9

3rd – Join a Small Group.

What would it be like if we developed these kinds of relationships?

1st – It would help us deal with our depression, disappointments.

2nd – It will put us all on the fast-track to spiritual maturity.

Elijah – Week Four

As a prophet during a time of unbelievable idolatry and immorality, Elijah stood against the evil all around him. Could we stand with the same conviction? Would we stand for God even if we’re alone? We’ll help answer these questions by studying:

The questions we ask when life is difficult.
What happened during Elijah’s stay in Zarephath.
The things Elijah demonstrated from which we can learn.
When life became difficult for Elijah, he faced many of the same questions we face in times of trouble.

1 Kings 17:4-6

Three questions we face in times of trouble:

1st “What’s happened?”

2nd “Why me?”

3rd “God, where are you?”

1 Kings 17:8-9

Elijah encountered events in Zarephath, which showed much about his character and his reliance on God.

Zarephath in Hebrew means, “to smelt, crucible.”

1 Kings 17:10-11

1 Kings 17:13

1 Kings 17:12

1 Kings 17:13

1 Kings 17:14

1 Kings 17:15-16

1 Kings 17:17

1 Kings 17:18

1 Kings 17:19

1 Kings 17:19-23

1 Kings 17:24

There were things Elijah demonstrated during his time at Zarephath, which are some lessons we can learn from him.

1st – There was calmness and contentment.

2nd – There was a gentleness and a self-control.

3rd – There was an undiminished faith.

4th – There was humility.

You have everything you need to do what God wants you to do.

John 14:16-17

Elijah – Week Three

As a prophet during a time of unbelievable idolatry and immorality, Elijah stood against the evil all around him. Could we stand with the same conviction? Would we stand for God even if we’re alone? We’ll help answer these questions by studying:

Two specific events in Elijah’s life.
There are two specific events in Elijah’s life that we can identify with and learn from to apply to our lives.

1 Kings 18:1-2

1 Kings 18:7-8

1 Kings 18:9

1 Kings 18:15-16

1 Kings 18:17

1 Kings 18:18-19

1 Kings 18:20

1 Kings 18:21

“How long will you waver between God and Baal?”

This addresses the first group of people, the Dancers.

This type of living harms our relationship with God.

You can’t have a close relationship with God in the present while you are planning to sin

in the future.

1 Kings 18:21b

1 Kings 18:22-24

1 Kings 18:24b, 26-29

1 Kings 18:30-39

1 Kings 18:40

The next group is the Decided.

The theme of perseverance is throughout Elijah’s story.

1 Kings 18:41-43

1 Kings 18:44-46

We must have perseverance. It’s a long obedience in the same direction.

Elijah – Week Two

As a prophet during a time of unbelievable idolatry and immorality, Elijah stood against the evil all around him. Could we stand with the same conviction? Would we stand for God even if we’re alone? We’ll help answer these questions by studying:

How Elijah had to go through difficulties.
The two reasons why God told Elijah to go and hide.
Some lessons we can learn from Elijah.
Elijah had to go through difficulties to become the man of God he needed to be.

1 Kings 17:1 Elijah pronounces to King Ahab that there would be a drought.

1 Kings 17:2-3 God tells Elijah to flee.

There are two reasons why God told Elijah to go and hide.

1st – To protect Elijah from Ahab.

2nd – There was a lesson that Elijah needed to learn.

1 Kings 17:4 God tells Elijah how he will survive, by depending on God.

1 Kings 17:5 Elijah did what God told him to do.

God provided for Elijah, but there were hardships. (1 Kings 17:6,7)

There are some lessons we can learn from Elijah.

1st – The God who gives the water has the right to take the water. (Isaiah 49:14-16)

2nd – God’s journey for your life includes God’s provision. (Matthew 6:34)

“You must live today, today.”

“You cannot live tomorrow, today.”

William Elliot: The reason why so many of us are so stressed out, tense, distracted and anxious is because we have never mastered the art of living one day at a time.

Physically we do live a day at a time—we can’t help ourselves. But mentally we live in all three tenses at once, and that will not work.

3rd – A dried up brook is often a sign of God’s pleasure, not God’s disappointment.

When God wants to drill a man,
And thrill a man, and skill a man,
When God wants to mold a man
To play the noblest part;

When He yearns with all His heart
To create so great and bold a man
That all the world shall be amazed,
Watch His methods, watch His ways!

How He ruthlessly perfects
Whom He royally elects!
How He hammers him and hurts him,
And with mighty blows converts him

Into trial shapes of clay which
Only God understands;
While his tortured heart is crying
And he lifts beseeching hands!

How He bends but never breaks
When his good He undertakes;
How He uses whom He chooses,
And which every purpose, fuses him;
By every act induces him
To try His splendor out-
God knows what He’s about – Anonymous

Elijah – Week One

As a prophet during a time of unbelievable idolatry and immorality, Elijah stood against the evil all around him. Could we stand with the same conviction? Would we stand for God even if we’re alone? We’ll help answer these questions by studying:

The history of Elijah’s time.
Who Elijah was.
Three lessons we can learn from the life of Elijah.
The history of Elijah’s time shows how courageous and extraordinary he was.

After Solomon died, there was a civil war that divided the country into the Northern Kingdom (Israel) and the Southern Kingdom (Judah).

There are 19 kings in the Israel and all were evil. There were 17 kings in Judah with 9 wicked and 8 good. Elijah lived in the days of the Northern Kingdom. (1 Kings 14:20, 15:25-26, 15:29,34, 16:25)

King Ahab, married to Jezebel, was the king in Israel during Elijah’s time. (1 Kings 16:31)

Ahab and Jezebel did incredible evil in the kingdom. (1 Kings 16:32-33)

Who was Elijah?

1 Kings 17:1 gives us three significant insights into Elijah.

1st – The name “Elijah” means “my God is Jehovah.” Even his name announced who he was and who he stood for.

2nd – Elijah was from Tishbe.

3rd – He stood before Ahab and made a declaration, which showed his courage and that he would have to stand alone. (just Elijah and God)

We will never take the risk to do great things until we believe that one person can make a difference.

We will never take the risk to do great things until we are comfortable standing alone.

There are three lessons we can learn from the life of Elijah that are extremely relevant today.

1st – God looks for special people at difficult times. (Ezekiel 22:23-30)

Learn to stand alone!

“Gradually the unthinkable becomes tolerable, then acceptable, then legal, then praised.”

2nd – God’s methods are often surprising.

3rd – First and foremost, we stand before God.

2 Chronicles 16:9

Reach The Triangle. Change The World.

Compassion

As Christians, is it enough to have compassion in our hearts? Or, do we need to do something more? We’ll answer these questions by studying:

The example of Jesus.
What we are doing.
Biblical commandments about being compassionate.
A final question about what we have done.
Jesus gives us a strong example of how to be compassionate.

Jesus came to earth not just to preach the gospel but to heal the brokenhearted and to set free those who were oppressed.

In John 14:12, Jesus told the disciples to follow His example. He commanded the church to follow Him.

From the very beginning, the Church was actively involved in ministering to a hurting world.

It’s our job as the Church to address the hurts and needs that confront and surround us daily.

What is our part?

What are you doing to be part of the solution?

If there is no compassion, there is no action.

Simply feeling compassion is not enough. True compassion requires that you get involved with real people.

The writers of the Bible give commandments about being compassionate, which are fundamental calls to action.

Leviticus 19:18

Matthew 22:34-36

Matthew 22:37-40

Leviticus 19:33

Leviticus 19:33-34

Leviticus 25:35

Leviticus 19:18 This means “to expend energy, give assistance.”

What provisions have we made to ensure that we are practicing compassion?

What really generates compassion in us and makes it real and effective and ongoing is a relationship.

The great challenge of compassion is to make sure that what we say is connected to what we really do.

Future Tense – Week Five

Fear seems to surround us at every turn: the pandemic, the election, education, physical security and financial stability. With all the chaos surrounding us, our spiritual questions and fears can grow and distort. This week, we’ll address the fear of the future by examining:

What God expects of us to finish strong.
Commitments on how to finish strong.
How Jesus encourages us to finish strong.
God expects us to finish strong.

Vows and commitments are important to God. (Numbers 30:2)

When we make a vow or commitment to God, He expects us to follow through.

2 Timothy 4:6-8 Paul speaks about how he fought the good fight and finished the race.

There are four commitments you can make so you can finish strong.

Commitment #1: Do a reality check.

Face the facts of your life realistically. (2 Timothy 4:6)

This is important because denial weakens determination.

Commitment #2: If you are going to finish strong, you’ll have to finish what you start.

2 Timothy 4:7 tells us three things about Paul’s commitment.

The fact that Paul refers to it as a fight shows that to finish strong isn’t easy.
You’ve got to have a plan. (Isaiah 55:8)
You’ve got to walk with God.

Commitment #3: When the present is tough, focus on the future.

2 Timothy 4:8 tells us that there is a reward awaiting the faithful.

One of the best ways to focus on the future is through prayer because prayer always

emphasizes hope.

Commitment #4: If you want to finish strong, don’t do it alone.

2 Timothy 4:8 tells us that the reward will be for all those who have been in this same

fight/race.

Jesus encourages us to finish strong.

Jesus is Coming! (Look busy)

Jesus tells the story about a rich man going on a journey in a parable about the end.

Matthew 25:15

Matthew 25:19

Matthew 25:21

Matthew 25:26

Matthew 25:29

The greatest way to finish strong is to invite others into the greatest gift ever given.

Future Tense – Week Four

Fear seems to surround us at every turn: the pandemic, the election, education, physical security and financial stability. With all the chaos surrounding us, our spiritual questions and fears can grow and distort. This week, we’ll address the fear of the future by examining:

The question of how could a loving God send someone to hell.
The condition of mankind.
That God is a loving God, and He wants a relationship with His people.
“How could a loving God send someone to hell?”

God is a just God. (Jeremiah 9:23-24)

God will never give an unjust judgment to any person.

“Would God send someone to hell who has never heard the gospel?” (John 14:6)

Understanding the condition of mankind is necessary.

Romans 1:16-18 Paul speaks about the how the gospel is the power of God, and it’s for everyone.

Paul used two Greek words to describe the wrath of God:

“thumos” – “to breath violently – to pant with a temper, anger.”

“orga” – “God’s holy aversion to all that is evil.”

Romans 1:18 God considers people who see the truth of His existence and turn their backs on it as ungodly.

Romans 1:19 God makes this obvious to people and puts the evidence of His truth in the conscience of everyone.

Romans 1:20 The evidence of God is all around in nature, and people have no excuse not to believe in Him.

Psalm 19:1 The heavens and skies tell of God’s existence.

Every person who seeks God will find God. (Proverbs 8:17, Jeremiah 29:13, Acts 17:26-28)

God is a loving God, and He wants a relationship with His people.

This brings us back to the question, “How could a loving God send someone to hell?” (Matthew 25:41)

Have you ever been rejected?

For there to be an authentic relationship between man and God, God had to give mankind the freedom to choose or reject God.

When someone loves you who doesn’t have to love you, it’s meaningful.

You have a free will. You can choose to love God or you can choose to reject God.

So, why would God send someone to hell? People send themselves to hell.

You have a choice. You will choose your eternal destination, not God.

God chose everyone. (John 3:16, 2 Corinthians 5:19) People must choose Him back.

The hard question isn’t, “How could a loving God send someone to hell?” The tough question is, “How can anyone reject a loving God?”

Future Tense – Week Three

Fear seems to surround us at every turn: the pandemic, the election, education, physical security and financial stability. With all the chaos surrounding us, our spiritual questions and fears can grow and distort. This week, we’ll address the fear of the future by examining:

The statistics about hell.
What Jesus has to say about hell.
Four common misunderstandings about hell.
Two lessons to remember.
There are interesting statistics about the topic of hell.

The Bible talks about hell 167 times.

Many Christians do not believe in a literal hell and have been distancing themselves from it in recent years.

Jesus addresses the topic of hell 33 times in three years of ministry.

Jesus teaches about some aspects of hell.

Luke 16:19-21 – Jesus begins with two main characters: an unbelieving, rich man and a believing, poor man.

Luke 16:22-23, Luke 16:24-31

There are four common misunderstandings about hell.

1st – “Hell is just something that ministers use to scare people; when we die, we will feel and know nothing.”

Luke 16:23 – The rich man is able to see in his conscience state.

Luke 16:25, 27-28 – He remembers his life.

2nd – “If I go to hell, I’ll be there with all my buddies.”

Ephesians 4:8-9 – Jesus descended to the place where the Old Testament saints stayed

until His resurrection so that He could ascend with them.

3rd – “Hell will be a relief compared to the suffering I’ve endured on earth.”

The Greek word for torment appears four different times. (Luke 16:23, 24, 25, 28)

Torment has three meaning in Greek.

“acute pain from debilitating disease”
“an implement designed to torture”
“fire that’s hot enough to melt metals”

4th – “After I’ve served my time in hell, somebody will pray me out.”

Luke 16:26

Revelation 14:11

Luke 16:27, 29, 30, 31

There are two lessons we can learn and remember from this weekend.

1st – The Bible is the most important evidence a person can examine.

Sense and Nonsense about Heaven and Hell

2nd – We need to tell people about the reality of hell.

Romans 10:13-15

Future Tense – Week Two

Fear seems to surround us at every turn: the pandemic, the election, education, physical security and financial stability. With all the chaos surrounding us, our spiritual questions and fears can grow and distort. This week, we’ll address the fear of the future by examining:

One of the main questions we’re addressing in this series and a review of last week.
What the Bible says about heaven.
It’s important to think about some of the questions we’re addressing in this series and to remember last week’s message.

One main question we’re addressing is, “What if this is the end of the world?”

Other questions we address are: “What is it that we need to know?” and “What does the future look like?”

Last week, we discussed that there will be two judgements when Jesus returns.

1st – The Judgment Seat of Christ (for Christians) – Eternity in Heaven

2nd – The Great White Throne (for those who never responded to the gospel) – Eternity in Hell

Perspective changes everything.

When we face difficulties with the future, these topics have an entirely different impact than when life is easy.

“God whispers to us in our pleasure, but he shouts to us in our pain.” A.W. Tozer

The Bible speaks about some aspects of heaven.

The #1 question Mike gets asked the most by women about heaven is, “Will my pets be in heaven?”

The #1 question Mike gets asked the most by men about heaven is, “Will we have sex in heaven?”

Here are 10 facts about heaven:

Heaven is a real location. (John 14:2, Revelation 6:9-11)
We will have bodies in heaven. (1 Corinthians 15:47-49)
When we die, we go to heaven immediately. (2 Corinthians 5:8)
We will have emotions in heaven. (Luke 15:7, Revelation 21:4)
We will not know everything in heaven. (Revelation 6:10, Mark 13:32, 1 Corinthians 13:12, 1 John 3:2)
We will know what’s happening on earth. (Hebrews 12:1, Luke 15:7, Luke 15:10)
We will remember our lives on earth.
We will know other people in heaven. (1 Corinthians 13:12, Matthew 8:11)
Heaven will not be boring. (Revelation 21:1-3, Revelation 21:4)
Not everyone will go to heaven. (John 14:6, Matthew 7:22)

We must think seriously about heaven.

Future Tense – Week One

Fear seems to surround us at every turn: the pandemic, the election, education, physical security and financial stability. With all the chaos surrounding us, our spiritual questions and fears can grow and distort. This week, we’ll address the fear of the future by examining:

Reactions when it comes to how we handle our fear.
What Jesus said about the future and His return.
The ways in which we will be judged.
There are all kinds of reactions when it comes to how we handle our fear.

“Show me a man who doesn’t know the meaning of fear and I’ll show you an idiot that gets beat up a lot.” Dean Martin

2 Timothy 1:7 – The Holy Spirit doesn’t make us fearful but gives power, love and self-discipline.

“Fear not” appears 189 times in the Bible.

Jesus spoke and taught about the future and His return.

Matthew 24:3-8 – Jesus says that we will hear about wars, rumors of wars, pestilence, disease, famines and earthquakes. But, it doesn’t mean it’s the end.

Matthew 24:12-14, 36 – The end will not come until the gospel has been preached to the whole world, but the time will be unknown.

Can we speed up the return of Jesus?

2 Peter 3:10-12 – People should be living a holy life and trying to hasten the coming of the Lord.

The Greek word, “spuedo,” means “to cause something to happen soon; to hurry something up.” Don’t waste your time talking and worrying about how and when the end will come. You should focus on spreading the gospel.

The return of Jesus is mentioned more than 300 times in the New Testament.

“The trouble with the world is not people know too little, but that they know so many things that ain’t so.” Mark Twain

Jesus is Coming! This is the main thing to know and remember.

There are ways in which we will be judged.

After Jesus’ return, there will be a believer’s judgment, and there will be an unbeliever’s judgment. (Ecclesiastes 12:14, Revelation 20:13, 1 Peter 1:17, Matthew 16:27, Revelation 22:12)

“Can we work our way into a relationship with God based on doing good deeds? NO! (Ephesians 2:8-9)

We must distinguish between Belief and Behavior. Our belief determines where we spend eternity (heaven/hell). Our behavior determines how we spend eternity.

There will be two judgments. The Judgment Seat of Christ is for the believers, and The Great White Throne Judgment is for unbelievers.

1st – The Judgment Seat of Christ (for the believers/Christians)

2 Corinthians 5:10

1 Corinthians 3:11-15

Matthew 6:1-4

1 John 2:28

Matthew 6:19-20

If you are a Christian, you’re either laying up treasure on earth, or you’re laying up treasure in heaven.

Luke 19:11-21

Luke 19:24-26

As Christians, the more responsible you are on earth with what God has given you, the more responsibility you will have in heaven.

2nd – The Great White Throne Judgment (for the unbelievers)

Revelation 20:11-13

The unbeliever will be judged on his/her life and will go to hell, but there are degrees of punishment in hell.

Matthew 11:21-24

Even though this is our future, Jesus has given us the cure. We will all face judgment, but we can choose which judgment we attend. (Hebrews 9:27) Jesus is the answer.

Home – Week Three

This series is so necessary for us right now because of the upheaval and chaotic times in which we live. We face crises of health, race, economic concerns and political uncertainty. In this state, we long for the feeling and comfort of “home.” To better understand how to find that feeling, we’ll examine:

The four attitudes found in the Story of the Prodigal Son beginning with the Attitude of Rebellion.
The Attitude of Repentance.
The Attitude of Pride.
The Attitude of Redemption.
There are four attitudes found in the Story of the Prodigal Son beginning with the Attitude of Rebellion.

Luke 15:12-13 – The younger son wanted his inheritance and squandered it.

When you begin to plan sin, you are on your way to rebellion.

“You’ll never get away with sin.”

The attitude of entitlement is an attitude of rebellion.

When you feel like you’ve earned something, remember one thing. You haven’t earned anything. It all comes from God.

The second attitude is the Attitude of Repentance.

Luke 15:17-19 – After realizing his mistakes, the younger son wanted to return home and beg his father’s forgiveness.

When you make excuses for your sin, you’re not owning it.

Everyone gets caught.

When you sin, there are always consequences. (Luke 15:14)

The third attitude is the Attitude of Pride.

Luke 15:29 – The older brother was upset that his father easily forgave and celebrated the return of the younger son.

What is pride? Pride is when we look down on others who have made mistakes, and we see ourselves as better.

The root of pride is deception.

Avoid using the words “never” and “always.”

Luke 15:11-12

The fourth attitude is the Attitude of Redemption.

Luke 15:20 – The father had compassion for the younger son and forgave and welcomed him home.

God is merciful, and God is still just.

How can God be merciful to us and still be a just God?

God loves you.

Home – Week Two

This series is so necessary for us right now because of the upheaval and chaotic times in which we live. We face crises of health, race, economic concerns and political uncertainty. In this state, we long for the feeling and comfort of “home.” To better understand how to find that feeling, we’ll examine:

How God wants you to enjoy your life.
Three things that are keeping you from experiencing joy.
How you can strive for joy in life.
God wants you to enjoy your life; and if you’re not, there’s a blockage somewhere.

Paul wrote from prison that you can have joy even in hard times, persecution and suffering.

1 Peter 1:8 – Even without seeing, you believe and are filled with love and joy.

Ecclesiastes 3:12-13 – There is nothing better than to be happy, to do good and to find joy in hardship.

John 15:11 – Jesus wants the joy of God to remain in His people.

Galatians 5:22-23 – Joy is part of the fruit of the Spirit, which is from the Holy Spirit.

If we’re not experiencing joy, what’s preventing it?

1st – Actions

Acts 8:9-24 – The story of Simon, a man who practiced sorcery, teaches us how sin can

hold us captive and keep us from experiencing joy in our lives.

Acts 8:23 – Peter makes the statement that Simon is full of bitterness and captive to sin.

2 Corinthians 5:17 – We’ve become new creations in Jesus.

There are sins that might be holding you captive:

Outbursts of Anger
Severe Rejection
Irrational Fear
Sexual Sin
Pride
Lying

David is a great example of this. In a matter of days, he commits adultery and murder, which was totally out of his character. After his confession, he asks God to restore the joy of God’s salvation to him. (Psalm 51:12)

The opposite of joy is grief. The Holy Spirit is grieved because of our sin. (Ephesians 4:30)

When we sin, we need to repent. “Change your mind.”

Think differently; live differently! (Romans 12:2)

2nd – Attitude

Acts 8:23 – Peter could see that Simon from Samaria was full of bitterness.

When God blesses people in your life, how do you respond?

If we get upset when someone else is blessed, maybe that’s the reason we’re not blessed.

Acts 8:23 – The definition of bitter is “a sour taste.” Let the bitterness go so that you can be free and find joy.

3rd – Attacks (from the enemy)

“Is there an open door?” An action or attitude that you’re not dealing with is giving Satan an open door to attack you.

“It’s much more difficult to fight the enemy when he’s in the house than when he’s outside the house.”

Acts 8:24 – Simon asks for prayer because he has some bad stuff in his life, and he needs help.

You can strive for joy in your life.

Is there an open door for attacks in your life? Are you struggling with actions or attitudes you need to deal with?

You need to repent, ask for forgiveness and let it go.

Get the poison out so that the poison won’t kill the fruit of joy in your life.

Home – Week One

This series is so necessary for us right now because of the upheaval and chaotic times in which we live. We face crises of health, race, economic concerns and political uncertainty. In this state, we long for the feeling and comfort of “home.” To better understand how to find that feeling, we’ll examine:

How a Christian life should reflect the feeling of “home.”
Three environments where we can enjoy our relationship with God.
The role of the church in creating a “home” feeling.
A christian’s life should reflect the feeling of “home” to those around him/her.

That feeling of “home” should be in every aspect of the Christian life. God wants us to enjoy life. “Home is where the joy is!”

When it comes to our relationship with God, we should feel the joy of being at home.

Romans 8:15 – When we become Christians, we are adopted into the family of God. We should feel the security and joy of being His child.

There are three environments where we can enjoy our relationship with God in such a way that it feels natural (home).

1st – You can enjoy God when you are alone.

Genesis 28:16-17 – Jacob had an encounter with God.

God knows people make mistakes. But because He loves us, He wants to help us get

over those mistakes so we can have a one-on-one relationship with God.

2nd – You can enjoy God in a crowd.

Psalm 68:26 – Israel praised God in a great congregation.

Revelation 7:9 – A great multitude gathered before the throne and before Jesus.

Some of the most powerful times we can have with God is when we’re together for a weekend service.

3rd – You can enjoy God with a few.

Matthew 18:20 – God will be there when two or three gather in His name.

Acts 2:46 – The early Christians met everyday in the temple and broke bread in their

homes together.

The role of the church is pivotal in creating that “home” feeling.

“Who knows who you really are?”

Our mission at Hope is to love people where they are and encourage them to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ.This is what the local church is supposed to provide for people.

“Who am I going to do life with?”

James 5:16 – Confess your sins to other people and pray for healing. This verse continues with saying that “the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”

Hebrews 10:24-25 – Let’s figure out how we can help each other be better people.

Galatians 6:1-3 – Correct sin gently, watch for temptation and carry each other’s burdens.

“Who’s helping you carry the burden that’s causing the gap between what you want to be known for and what you really are?”

Romans 15:7 – Because Jesus accepted us, we need to accept others.

You will never influence anyone who doesn’t feel accepted by you. (Romans 8:1)

Here’s Mike’s question to you: “I know who you’re doing image management with, but who are you doing life with?”

Community message

This message is timely because of the upheaval and chaotic times in which we find ourselves living. We face health, racial, economic and political concerns. We need community now more than ever. This week, we’ll examine:

That we are created for community.
How community is difficult.
How community reveals.
How community redeems.
God created us to live in community with one another.

Genesis 1:26-27 – God said He created mankind in OUR image. The God of Christianity is different than any of the gods people have made up. God is community (Father, Son, Holy Spirit).

People were created in that image of community.

Genesis 2:18 – God said that it wasn’t good for man to be alone so He created Adam and Eve to live together.

One of the biggest effects of sin was the breakdown of community. We’ve lived with that breakdown ever since.

We live our lives chasing things that don’t matter. Social media might give us connections but not true community. It cheapens relationships.

“We are lonely, but fearful of intimacy. Digital connections may offer the illusion of companionship without the demands of friendship. Our networked lives allow us to hide from each other, even as we are tethered to each other. When technology engineers intimacy, relationships can be reduced to mere connections. And then, easy connection becomes redefined as intimacy.” Sherry Turkle, Alone Together

Ephesians 2:13-14 – Paul spoke about how Jesus and the gospel reconciled the Jews and Gentiles back into community with one another.

1 John 1:14 – The ability to love, serve, forgive, bear with and connect with other sinners like ourselves is a defining characteristic of what it means to be a Christ follower.

John 13:34-35 – Christ commanded us to love one another as He loved us. That love would show people we are Christ followers.

Hebrews 10:24-25 – Being in intentional community is good for every single human being especially Christ followers.

Community is difficult.

Sherry Turkle defines community. “Communities are constituted by physical proximity, shared concerns, real consequences, and common responsibilities.”

“Part of the very essence of Christianity is to be together in a concrete community, with all the real human faults that are there and the tensions that this will bring us. Spirituality, for a Christian, can never be an individualistic quest, the pursuit of God outside of community, family, and church. The God of the incarnation tells us that anyone who says he or she loves an invisible God in heaven and is unwilling to deal with a visible neighbor is a liar since no one can love a God who cannot be seen if he or she cannot love a neighbor who can be seen. Hence a Christian spirituality is always as much about dealing with each other as it is about dealing with God.” – Ronald Rolheiser

Jesus’ disciples were diverse and being together as a community would have been challenging. (Matthew 10:1-4)

“The person who loves their dream of community will destroy community, but the person who loves those around them will create community.” Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together

Community reveals.

Being a part of a community will eventually reveal who you really are. It is through those revelations that you can see your faults and work on them.

Community redeems.

Community heals us. It’s a big part of how God transforms us.

“Spiritual formation occurs primarily in the context of community. Longterm interpersonal relationships are the crucible of genuine progress in the Christian life. People who stay grow. People who leave do not grow. It is a simple but profound biblical reality that we both grow and thrive together or we do not grow that much at all. – C. Christopher Smith and John Pattison, Slow Church

Origin Story – Week Five

This is the third consecutive year that we’ve worked through the Bible, five books at a time. As we read the stories and learn about the history written in the Old Testament, we learn truths that we can apply to our own lives. In week five, we’ll examine:

The major characters in the book of Esther.
The story in the Book of Esther.
Principles and lessons to learn from Esther.
There are five major characters in the book of Esther.

1st – Xerxes, King of Persia

2nd – Vashti, Queen of Persia

3rd – Haman, the Villain

4th – Mordecai, the Good Guy

5th – Esther, the Hero

After the Babylonians were overthrown by the Persians, some of the Jews chose to remain in Persia when Xerxes allowed them to go back to their homeland.

The story in the Book of Esther reads like a Broadway play.

King Xerxes wanted to show off all his wealth and possessions including his beautiful wife, Queen Vashti. She refused and Xerxes became furious. (Esther 1:12)

All the men were concerned that other wives throughout the empire would follow the queen’s example so Xerxes decided to make an example of her by removing her as queen. He made a proclamation that every man should rule his own house. (Esther 1:17-18, 19-20, 22)

They began searching for a new queen throughout the land. Esther, who had not revealed her nationality, was one of the women chosen to be presented to the king. (Esther 2:8, 10)

The king favored Esther above all others and made her the new queen. (Esther 2:17)

Mordecai overheard a plot to kill the king, and Esther warned the king, which saved his life. (Esther 2:21-22)

Haman became an elevated official in Xerxes’ court, but Haman hated Mordecai because he wouldn’t bow down to Haman. (Esther 3:1, 2, 5-6)

Haman plotted to get the king to make a decree that would eventually destroy the Jewish people. (Esther 3:8-9)

Mordecai enlisted Esther’s help, but Esther knew she could be killed for entering the king’s presence without being summoned. (Esther 4:11)

Mordecai reminded Esther that she too would be killed and that she might be in her position “for such a time as this.” (Esther 4:12-14)

Esther asked for fasting and prayer from all the Jews and risked death to approach the king. (Esther 4:16)

Esther gained access to the king and invited him and Haman to a banquet. Then she invited them to another banquet. (Esther 5:1-2, 3-4, 5-8, 9-11)

Haman began setting up a execution pole for Mordecai. (5:14)

The king had overlooked that Mordecai had saved his life and decided to honor Mordecai. (Esther 6:2-3, 4-9, 10-11)

At the next banquet, Esther requested King Xerxes to save her life and her people’s lives. Haman was outed as the villain and died on the pole he had made for Mordecai. (Esther 7:1-4, 5-6, 9-10)

There are principles and lessons that can be learned from the Book of Esther.

We will never take the risk to do great things until we believe that one person can make a difference.

Refuse to settle for anything less than fulfilling God’s calling on your life.

When life doesn’t make sense, do you turn to God or away from Him?

Origin Story – Week Four

This is the third consecutive year that we’ve worked through the Bible, five books at a time. As we read the stories and learn about the history written in the Old Testament, we learn truths that we can apply to our own lives. In week four, we’ll examine:

The beginning section of Nehemiah, which showed the type of man he was.
The later sections of Nehemiah and the positions he held throughout his life.
Three lessons from the book of Nehemiah.
The beginning section of Nehemiah explained the type of person he was and what he wanted to accomplish in his life.

Nehemiah held a high position in the Persian King’s court as the cupbearer to the king. His heart was with his people back in Jerusalem because they had no wall of protection around the city. (Nehemiah 1:1-3)

Nehemiah 1:4 Nehemiah was devastated about the state of his homeland.

Nehemiah 1:11 He begged God for success with the king to able to go back to Jerusalem.

Nehemiah 2:1-2 The king noticed Nehemiah’s sadness.

Nehemiah 2:3-4 He told the king his plight. The king was moved because God moved his heart. (Proverbs 21:1)

Nehemiah 2:4-6 He asked the king for permission to return and help his homeland. He also asked for letters of protection to get there. (Nehemiah 2:7-10)

The next sections of Nehemiah started his work as a builder and politician.

Nehemiah 6:15 The wall was completed in 52 days.

Those 52 days were full of opposition. (Nehemiah 4:1-3, 4)

Nehemiah motivated the people to have faith in God and to fight for their families by building the wall even though there was opposition. (Nehemiah 4:14)

Nehemiah 4:16-17 He used half the men as soldiers to protect the other half who were working on building the wall.

There is nothing that will mute opposition like continued progress.

The opposition tried to meet with Nehemiah, but he refused. (Nehemiah 6:1-3, 4)

They tried writing a letter to question Nehemiah’s motives, but he dismissed them. (Nehemiah 6:5-7, 8-9)

They tried to threaten Nehemiah physically, but he wasn’t afraid. (Nehemiah 6:10, 11-12, 16)

The wall was finished and dedicated to God. The people rejoiced. (Nehemiah 12:43)

God is good; mankind isn’t. When the people went back to their evil ways, Nehemiah stopped it, sometimes brutally. (Nehemiah 13:25)

Here are three lessons from the book of Nehemiah.

1st – Fixing problems begins with honest observation.

“I have never heard of a longstanding wrong quickly and easily corrected.” Mike Lee

2nd – Correcting wrong demands fearless conviction.

3rd – Honest observation and fearless conviction must be tempered with authentic devotion to
God.

How’s your devotion to God?

You will become what you are passionate about.
If you want to become like Jesus, you will have to be passionate for Jesus.

Origin Story – Week Three

This is the third consecutive year that we’ve worked through the Bible, five books at a time. As we read the stories and learn about the history written in the Old Testament, we learn truths that we can apply to our own lives. In week three, we’ll examine:

The history of the times during the book of Ezra.
The breakdown of the parts of the book of Ezra, which highlight his objective in life.
Ezra’s objectives.
The history during the time of Ezra is a little complicated.

2 Chronicles 36:15 God looked on the nation of Israel with pity and compassion.

2 Chronicles 36:16 But eventually, God had had enough of their disobedience.

2 Chronicles 36:17-19 God gave them over to Babylon, and the temple was destroyed.

Jeremiah 29:1,10 The people had hope that they would be delivered from captivity after 70 years.

Jeremiah 29:11-13 God wanted His people to know Him; and so, He would bring them home.

2 Chronicles 36:22-23 The king of Persia set the Jews free to go back to their homeland and rebuild the temple. The people were overjoyed.

They returned in three waves under three different commanders over a 95 year period.

The 1st group under the command of Zerubbabel came to rebuild the temple.

The 2nd group under Ezra came to establish worship about 80 years later.

The 3rd group under Nehemiah came to rebuild the wall around Jerusalem about

12 years later.

There were different sections to the book of Ezra, which highlights Ezra’s objective in his life and makes us question our own.

Ezra 1-6 The main focus was the construction of the temple.

Ezra 7 This picked up the story of Ezra himself.

The hand of God was on Ezra (Ezra 7:6, 9, 27-28) because Ezra devoted himself to the study and the observance of God’s law. He also taught God’s decrees and laws. (Ezra 7:10)

The Hebrew word for “devoted” means “to set your heart, to be firm, to direct, to arrange something.”

What is your objective in life?

“Life has value only when it has something as its object.” Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hagel

“Who keeps one end in view makes all other things serve.” Robert Browning

“When you determine what you want, you have made the most important decision in your life.”

Dwight Pentecost

Your prayer should be, “God set my heart on the thing you have for me.”

Ezra lived his life with specific objectives.

1st Objective: To study the Law of God

The Hebrew word for “study” means “to seek, to resort to, to consult, to inquire.”

2nd Objective: To teach the Law of God

3rd Objective: To observe the Law of God (practice what it taught)

The goal of studying the Bible isn’t to have more knowledge; it’s to have your life changed.

Ezra 9:1-2 The people began intermarrying with other people who worshiped many gods.

Ezra despaired over this and chastised the people for breaking God’s law. (Ezra 9:3, 10:10-12)

Ezra taught the Word of God after the wall was built around Jerusalem. (Nehemiah 8:1, 4, 5, 8) It changed their lives.

The teaching of God’s Word (the Bible) always changes people when it touches their lives.

What is your objective in life?

Become an Ezra.

Origin Story – Week Two

This is the third consecutive year that we’ve worked through the Bible, five books at a time. As we read the stories and learn about the history written in the Old Testament, we learn truths that we can apply to our own lives. In week two, we’ll examine:

The principle 2 Kings revolves around.
The history found in 2 Kings.
Some relevant lessons to learn from 2 Kings.
2 Kings revolves around the principle that persistent sin may be forgiven; but often, the consequences can’t be erased.

Our sins may be washed away (forgiven); but often, we bear the consequences of those sins.

(Job 4:8, Galatians 6:7-8, Colossians 3:25)

The history of 2 Kings is filled with stories of the rise and fall of the kings, and the fall of the nations of Israel and Judah.

2 Kings 1:1-2 There was rebellion and Satan worship in the first two verses.

At the end of chapter 17, the northern kingdom (Israel) fell. In chapters 18-25, the southern kingdom (Judah) fell.

2 Kings 2:11-12 Elijah was taken to heaven in a chariot of fire, and the mantle passed to Elisha.

2 Kings 17:13-14 God warned Israel and Judah to turn from their wicked ways, but they didn’t.

2 Kings 17:17-18 They did such evil that God removed Israel from His presence.

2 Kings 16:1-3, 7-8, 20 Ahaz, one of the kings of Judah, did terrible evil even sacrificing his son in the fire. He gave the temple treasures as a bribe to another king. His son, Hezekiah succeeded him.

2 Kings 18:3-4 Hezekiah did what was right in God’s eyes. He was remarkable and had great faith in God. (2 Kings 19:19, 35)

2 Kings 20:1 Hezekiah became ill and was about to die, and he begged for his life. The prophet Isaiah spoke to him about God giving him 15 additional years to live. (Isaiah 38:4-5, 7-8)

Hezekiah did remarkable things with those added years:

He took on a project to preserve the Old Testament Scriptures.
He is associated with 10 ascent psalms.
He created a water source under the city of Jerusalem. (2 Chronicles 32:30)

2 Kings 20:21, 21:1-3, 10-11 Hezekiah died, and his son, Manasseh, did evil in the eyes of God.

2 Kings 25:7, 9, 11 The final king of Judah was Zedekiah. The Jews were taken into captivity by the Babylonians. (Psalm 137:1-4)

Disobedient Christians don’t sing (worship).

There are some incredibly relevant things to learn from this ancient book.

J. Sidlow Baxter said, “We cannot read 2 Kings without thinking of Solomon’s proverb, “The way of transgressors is hard.” Paul’s words, “The wages of sin is death,” is here demonstrated on a national scale in clearly declared terms of poetic justice for all to see and heed. Sinning, despite warning, brings ruin without remedy. Inexcusable wrong brings inescapable wrath. Abused privilege incurs increased penalty. The deeper the guilt, the heavier the stroke. Correction may be resisted, but retribution cannot be evaded. All these thoughts crowd in our mind when we read 2 Kings as we see the battered, broken tribes of Israel and Judah dragged behind the chariots of their heathen conquerors. We surely cannot fail to see the central message of the book, “Willful sin brings a willful end.”

Could we be modern day prophets warning our country to return to God?

If you are a Christian and you love your neighbor, you will wear a mask.
If you are a Christian and you love your neighbor, you will share the gospel.

Origin Story – Week One

This is the third consecutive year that we’ve worked through the Bible, five books at a time. As we read the stories and learn about the history written in the Old Testament, we learn truths that we can apply to our own lives. In week one, we’ll examine:

Why we’re doing this series.
The history found in 1 Kings.
Some relevant lessons to learn from 1 Kings.
A few words to parents.
Why are we doing this series?

You can’t really appreciate the New Covenant that Jesus ushered in unless you understand the harshness of the Old Testament Law that we’ve been saved from.

The history of 1 Kings is filled with stories of the rise and fall of the kings of Israel.

1 Kings 1:5-6 David’s home and children were falling apart despite all his success as a leader of Israel.

1 Kings 2:1-4 David gave Solomon advice right before his death.

1 Kings 2:10-12 David died, and Solomon began his rule when he was 20 years old.

God appeared to Solomon three times:

1 Kings 3:5-7,9 Solomon asked for wisdom to lead his people, and God gave him

wisdom and great knowledge. (1 Kings 4:29-30,32,33-34)

– Solomon built a temple and dedicated it to God. (1 Kings 5-8, 8:66)

1 Kings 9:1-3,5,6 God promised that David’s line would continue forever. But, Solomon had to stay with the Lord. Solomon was vulnerable to stray.

– When life is a bowl of cherries, you’re not aware of the pits.

– “The long, dull, monotonous years of middle-aged prosperity or middle-aged

adversity are excellent campaigning weather for the devil.” C.S. Lewis

– 1 Kings 9:6-7 God warned what would happen if they turned away from Him.

– 1 Kings 9:7-8 Israel would be ridiculed, and the temple would be destroyed.

– 1 Kings 9:10 After 20 years, Solomon hit a midlife crisis.

– 1 Kings 11:1-2,3 He had 700 wives and 300 concubines, and they led him astray.

– Berkeley Translation says that “They perverted his mind…”

1 Kings 11:9-10 God became angry with Solomon for worshipping other gods.

– 1 Kings 11:11 God said that He would tear the kingdom away from Solomon’s

descendants.

Kings Chart

The Kingdom of Israel divided into the North called Israel and the South called Judah. (1 Kings 15:1, 2-3)

Deuteronomy 5:9 God told His people that sins followed down the line to the 3rd and 4th generations.

1 Kings 16:29-30 The story of Ahab and Elijah began.

There are some incredibly relevant lessons from this ancient book.

We are most vulnerable when we least expect the temptation.

God always has the right person to match the hour.

When life seems especially dark, God comes especially close.

Unchecked sinful bents are passed from the parent to the child.

There are a few words for parents who have, like David, blown it (all of us).

1st – We are all imperfect…and that includes our kids.

2nd – We can’t change the past…and that includes the way we reared our children.

3rd – When we blow it as parents, we’re personally responsible…and that includes mistakes made in ignorance.

4th – Because of grace, we have the hope of healing…even when we fail as parents.

Obstacle Course – Week Four

When we begin to live life according to the path we believe God is leading us toward, we can face many obstacles along the way. We’ll discuss what God is teaching us through these obstacles by examining:

The last temptation of Jesus in the wilderness.
Two aspects of testing.
The characteristic of trust.
The last temptation of Jesus from His time in the wilderness involved testing God.

Luke 4:9-10 In this temptation, Satan tells Jesus to throw himself off the temple to see if the angels will save Jesus.

This would be a shortcut for Jesus to bring God’s Kingdom to earth without having to go through the agonies of the cross. It would be a huge spectacle and would amass a huge following.

Psalm 91:9-13,14 Satan twists Old Testament Scripture out of context.

Luke 4:12 Jesus responds by repeating the command to not put God to the test.

There are two aspects of testing we can see from this temptation.

1st – Expecting God to bless disobedience.

“Don’t expect the blessing of God if you disobey the principles of God.” Mike Lee

2nd – Don’t test God.

Deuteronomy 6:16 Jesus replies to Satan with Scripture to not test God.

Exodus 17:1-4 The Israelites bring a legal complaint against Moses where the punishment could be death.

Moses replies, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you put the Lord to the test?”

Exodus 17:5 God answers that Moses should take some elders and the staff and go.

At the end of the story we get a picture of how God is good.

Exodus 17:6-7 God is better than we could imagine. He took the punishment the

Israelites deserved and gave them what they didn’t deserve…water.

1 Corinthians 10:2-4 This story from Exodus was a foreshadowing of Christ.

The characteristic that God wants to develop in His followers is trust.

“Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.” Corrie Ten Boom

Luke 4:13 While successful in resisting this last temptation in the wilderness, it didn’t mean that Jesus wouldn’t face these temptations again. (Matthew 16)

Jesus’ victory is our victory.

Obstacle Course – Week Three

When we begin to live life according to the path we believe God is leading us toward, we can face many obstacles along the way. We’ll discuss what God is teaching us through these obstacles by examining:

A key principle in this series.
How there is more to temptation than we realize.
The story of Jesus’ second temptation.
A statement of trust.
There are key principles to learn from this series.

God’s primary means of expanding His Kingdom is you.

God uses obstacles as a way to prepare and grow us to make the biggest impact possible.

There is always more to temptation than what we consider in the moment.

In every temptation, there’s always more at stake:

– the choice between the immediate and the important,

– to do the right thing, in the wrong way or the wrong time.

What if we could develop a new habit to help us remember there is more at stake, avoid the shortcuts and remember that God can be trusted in the moment?

The second temptation Jesus faced revealed another truth we can learn.

Matthew 3:13-17 The baptism of Jesus proclaimed to the world who Jesus was, God’s Son.

Luke 4:1-2 Right after the baptism, Jesus is led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness where He was tempted for 40 days.

3 Truths about temptation

It’s not a sin to be tempted.
God doesn’t tempt you.
God may leave you in a place where you will be tempted.

Luke 4:2-4 This is the first temptation Jesus faced.

When you discover the truth about temptation, it will give you power over it. Jesus came to the world to die for your sins and to break the power of sin in your life.

Luke 4:5-6 Satan showed Jesus all the kingdoms of the world and offered Jesus authority over them.

When sin entered the world, man lost authority over everything. Jesus reclaimed all authority on earth through His death and resurrection. Matthew 28:18

If Jesus took the shortcut Satan offered, Jesus would not have had to suffer and die for our sins.

Luke 4:7 Satan wanted Jesus to worship him to set aside Jesus’ devotion to God temporarily. The lie was that it would only be for a moment.

“Temptation is always more than just a test of your self-control…it’s a test in your trust in God.” –Andy Stanley

Can you trust God? Satan used a similar pattern of tempting Eve with rewards by making her think it’s just a little compromise. Genesis 3:1-6

Luke 4:8 Jesus quoted the Bible in answer to the temptation. He said that He would worship God only. Deuteronomy 6:10-13

Jesus was able to resist temptation because He knew His identity, and He knew the truths He had from Scripture. Jesus showed us how to respond to temptation. Luke 4:8, Matthew 6:33

When tempted to take a shortcut, trust God and do the right thing the right way.

Obstacle Course – Week Two

When we begin to live life according to the path we believe God is leading us toward, we can face many obstacles along the way. We’ll discuss what God is teaching us through these obstacles by examining:

The temptation of Jesus and the characteristic of dependence.
The story of Gideon.
Where we struggle the most.
Jesus’ ministry began with His temptation where we learn about the characteristic of dependence.

James 1:13-14 This tells us that God doesn’t tempt anyone, but God can use temptations in our lives to teach us something or to grow us.

Venn diagram

The circumstances where God can prepare you the best are also the circumstances where Satan can tempt you the most.

Luke 4:1-2 God’s plan was for Jesus to go into the wilderness where He would be tempted.

– Jesus was hungry at the end of the 40 days. He is fully God and still fully human.

– Jesus was tempted over and over again for 40 days.

Luke 4:3 Satan is trying to get Jesus to question God, to doubt God’s goodness.

– Satan wants Jesus to provide for Himself and not depend on God.

– This is a tactic used on us all the time.

– This brings us to the characteristic of dependence and how we need to depend on God.

The story of Gideon shows us how the Israelites learned to depend on God.

Judges 7:1-3 God reduces the army of Israel by 22,000 until only 10,000 remain.

Judges 7:4-6 God reduces the army again until only 300 remained to fight a massive army.

God showed them how He would take care of them no matter the circumstances.

(Back to the temptation of Jesus)

Luke 4:4 Jesus knew that it didn’t matter how hungry or weak He was because He was depending on God.

Judges 7:17-21 Gideon and the Israelites won through no skill of their own. It was because God provided, and they depended on Him.

(Back to the temptation of Jesus)

Luke 4:14 Jesus returns to begin His ministry in the power of the Spirit.

– Through weakness, God provides strength. God accomplishes His plan through the dependence of His followers.

The areas in your life that you are struggling in the most are not the areas where you are too weak. They are the areas that you are still too strong.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 … “For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

Obstacle Course – Week One

When we begin to live life according to the path we believe God is leading us toward, we can face many obstacles along the way. We’ll discuss why this happens by examining:

Acts 19:8-10.
Truths about God and His plan for you.
How to prepare your mind to embrace obstacles.
A final question about why you might not believe in God.
Acts 19:8-10 speaks about how Paul shared the Gospel.

The Gospel was shared to all the Jews and Greeks living in the province of Asia.

The Word of the Lord is spread by believers, and we all play a part in that.

Here are some truths about God and His plan for you.
God’s primary means of expanding His Kingdom is you.

Ephesians 2:8-10 – God has an amazing purpose for your life.

“God’s plan for your life necessitates that you change.” (Galatians 2)

Between God’s promise and God’s payoff, there’s always a process.

The main way that God prepares us is through trials.

There are ways to ready your mind to embrace obstacles, which is how God prepares us for His Will.

James 1:1 Seasons of preparation can either create perseverance or anger, maturity or bitterness towards God.

James 1:2-4 God says to consider/count it joy (be thankful) to face obstacles or trials.

“What could God be achieving through this?”

James 1:3-4 James gives us a list of things that God is working in us.

A greater awareness of our faith (testing)
Perseverance
Maturity
Completeness
Gaining something we lack

Venn diagram

“God will allow evil only to the degree that it brings about the very opposite of what it intends.” — Tim Keller

James 1:5 Draw near to God to lay down your anger against Him.

James 1:5b God can handle your questions. He answers without hesitation over and over again.

2 Corinthians 4:16-17

Here’s a final question to ask yourself if you don’t believe.

Could it be that the very experiences you’ve used as proof that God doesn’t exist are actually the uncomfortable mercies of God trying to draw you into a relationship with Him?

Lessons From a Quarantine – Week Five

This has been a crazy few months for all us because of Covid-19, the quarantine and racial tensions. There are so many emotions and fears, which leave us with many questions. We’ll tackle some of these concerns by examining:

A recap of our series, “Lessons From A Quarantine.”
6 stages to rebuild after difficult times.
An application to rebuild.
Letting your difficulties be your opportunities to rebuild.
Here is a recap of the series, “Lessons From A Quarantine.”

Where is God in all of this chaos?

How do we deal with conflict?

How do you grow your faith in your fears?

How do we slow down in the busyness and stress and find real rest?

Let your difficulties be your opportunities to rebuild.

There are 6 stages to rebuild after difficult times.
Shock

Nehemiah 1:2-3

Sorrow

Nehemiah 1:4-6 (He mourned. He fasted. He prayed.)

Struggle

Nehemiah 2:1-2

Surrender

Nehemiah 2:2-5 (Then I prayed to the God of heaven and THEN I answered the king.)

Strategy

Nehemiah 2:6-8 (“And because the gracious hand of my God was on me, the king granted

my requests.”)

Surround Yourself

Nehemiah 2:11-18, Nehemiah 2:20

There is an application to rebuild, which is actually the 7th step.
Start
Let your difficulties be your opportunities to rebuild.

You can have a changed life, a changed family and a changed community.

Lessons From a Quarantine – Week Four

In America, we glorify busy. We sleep less, stress more and hurry through life. This week in ‘Lessons from a Quarantine’ we are going to talk through one of the things that has become apparent during this time at home, which is the crazy pace of our lives. We will look at this fast pace by evaluating:

The history of hurry.
The increase of stress.
The inability to rest.
How to slow the pace in our new normal.

Matthew 11:28-30

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Jesus said it’s okay to get some rest!

Does ‘weary and burdened’ describe you? Are you trying to earn the rest that Jesus said He will give to us as a gift? You don’t have to earn it.

Psalm 127:2

“It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones.”

God commands us to take one day a week where we stop all of the busyness and work and just rest and enjoy Him.

Genesis 1:3

And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.

Genesis 2:7

Then the Lord God formed a man[a] from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.

For six days, God was breathing out. On the seventh day, He breathed out and was refreshed. If God refreshes Himself, why don’t you?

Matthew 11:29

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

This verse is an invitation from Jesus to partner with Him and share our load.

Matthew 11:30

“…For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Jesus isn’t saying that life is easy; but when we are connected to Him, He carries the significant burdens.

An easy life isn’t an option; an easy yoke is.

Here are four practices to finding rest through your relationship with Jesus:

Set regular routines in your life.
Encouragement – Encourage five people every day.
Silence and solitude – Get alone with God in an intentional way.
Time – What do you need to say no to? What do you need to say yes to?

Lessons From a Quarantine – Week Three

This has been a crazy few months for all us because of Covid-19, the quarantine and racial tensions. There are so many emotions and fears, which leave us with many questions. We’ll tackle some of these concerns by examining:

What fear does to us.
Questions that fear causes us to ask.
Ways in which to grow your faith to withstand fear.
Fear does different things to us.

Fear robs us of our joy.

Fear clouds our judgment.

Fear breeds more fear.

There are some questions that fear causes us to ask.

Mark 4:35-37

Did God cause it? Following Jesus will put us in uncomfortable situations because He cares most about our character and becoming more like Him.

Mark 4:38-39

Does God care? Jesus does care. He is present and responds to our stress and anxiety.

Mark 4:40

Why are you so afraid? Jesus has the power to make a difference.

Do you still have no faith?

Mark 4:41

Who is this man? Jesus is awe-inspiring in His power.

Faith isn’t the absence of fear, it’s not forgetting who’s really in control.

There are some ways to grow your faith to withstand fear.

Faith is believing when I don’t see it.

Hebrews 11:1

Faith is obeying when I don’t understand it.

Hebrews 11:7

Faith is persisting when I don’t feel like it.

Hebrews 11:27

Faith is thanking God before I receive it.

Hebrews 11:30

Faith is trusting God even if I don’t get it.

Hebrews 11:38-40

Faith isn’t the absence of fear, it’s not forgetting who’s really in control.

Lessons From a Quarantine – Week Two

This has been a crazy few months for all us because of Covid-19, the quarantine and racial tensions. There are so many emotions and fears that leave us with many questions. We’ll tackle some of these concerns by examining:

The balance in a Christian life.
Some things about conflict that we all need to remember.
The conflict between Paul and Barnabas.
Applications for handling conflict.
Four principles from Ephesians 4 that will allow you to have a solution-driven conversation.
There has to be balance in a Christian’s life.

Jesus is loving, gentle and kind, but He was also the most controversial, confrontational person who ever walked this earth.

– Matthew 5:7

– Matthew 10:34

“The key to a healthy Christian life is balance.” Chuck Swindoll

There are some things about conflict that we all need to remember.

There are things about conflict we need to remember.

1st – Conflict is inevitable.

2nd – In every conflict there are two ingredients: There’s an issue and there are varying perspectives.

3rd – In many conflicts, each side is valid.

In David Augsburger’s book, Caring Enough to Confront, he says, “Conflict is neither right nor wrong – it just is, and you’ve got to deal with it.”

The Bible records the conflict between Paul and Barnabas.

– Acts 13:4-5

– Acts 13:13

– Acts 15:36-37

– Acts 15:38

– Acts 15:39

We get our English word, “paroxysm,” from the Greek word translated “disagreement.” It means, “a sudden attack, a convulsion, a violent emotion and action.”

This is what happened between Paul and Barnabas with good points on both sides. However, it says that they parted ways, and we never see them together on a missionary journey again.

There are applications to apply when handling conflict.

1st – When in conflict, work hard at seeing both sides, not just your own.

– Philippians 2:3-4

– Most of us suffer from ingrown eyeballs.

2nd – When both sides have good support, look for a wise compromise.

3rd – When the conflict persists, care enough to work it through.

– To resolve conflict, you have to have a solution-driven conversation.

There are four principles from Ephesians 4 that will allow you to have a solution-driven conversation.

1st – Communicate Truthfully.

– Ephesians 4:25

2nd – Communicate Tenderly.

– Ephesians 4:15

3rd – Communicate Timely.

– “When it comes to communication, timing is often more important than content.”

– Ephesians 4:26-27

4th – Communicate Tactfully.

– Ephesians 4:29

Stop Posting! Start Hosting!

Lessons From a Quarantine – Week One

This has been a crazy few months for all us because of Covid-19 and the quarantine. There are so many emotions and fears that leave us with many questions. We’ll tackle some of these concerns by examining:

Some questions about God.
The reasons why there is pain and suffering in the world.
That God is good; mankind isn’t.
There are some questions we usually ask about God during a crisis.

Where is God in all of this chaos?

– This leads to more questions wondering if God can or would fix a disaster.

– There’s something in us that wants to point a finger at God.

Who is God? That’s the question we should be asking.

Why is there pain and suffering in the world? In the midst of the creation story, God reminds us that we’re dealing with a good God.

– Genesis 1:1-4

– Genesis 1:9-10

– Genesis 1:12

– Genesis 1:21

– Genesis 1:24-25

– Genesis 1:26-27

– Genesis 1:31

There are reasons why there is pain and suffering in the world.

Reason #1: Pain and suffering are the result of original sin.

– Genesis 2:17

– Genesis 3:16 (God casts judgment on humanity)

– Genesis 3:17

– Genesis 3:18-19

Reason #2: Pain and suffering are the result of man’s freedom to choose to be evil.

– God gives people the freedom to choose to be in a relationship with Him so it can be an authentic relationship.

God is good; mankind isn’t.

God made a perfect environment and loved us enough to give us the freedom to mess it up.

God is good, and He’s so good that He judged sin the way sin needed to be judged. Humanity knows what it could be and should be, but we can’t get it to stay that way because of our sin and our knowledge of good and evil.

There is hope, and it is found in Jesus. He came to save us from our sin and to restore our relationship with God. It is a gift, freely given, if we choose to accept it.

Ten: Week Ten

The Tenth Commandment – Contentment

God gave us the Ten Commandments to teach us about relationships, relationships with Him and with other people. We’ll study this tenth commandment by examining:

The Principle of Contentment and the question of what is coveting.
Three suggestions to battle the temptation to covet.
The question of what’s the answer to being content.
In the Tenth Commandment, God gives us the Principle of Contentment, but what is coveting?

In Exodus 20:17, God warns us not to covet, which brings us to the Principle of Contentment. The only reason we covet what someone else has is because we’re not content with what we have.

What is coveting?

– Deuteronomy 5:21 restates the commandment not to covet and adds the phrase, “set your desire.” Covet means, “to strongly desire.”

– Here are some verses that warn against coveting:

In Luke 12:15, Jesus says to beware of coveting.
In 1 Corinthians 5:11, covetousness is listed in a group of some serious sins.
In Colossians 3:5, covetousness is equated with idolatry. When the desire for something or someone replaces God or is put above God, it’s idolatry.

– God isn’t saying it’s wrong to desire. He’s saying it’s wrong to strongly desire what belongs to someone else because it will become an idol.

Here are some suggestions that can help us battle the temptation to covet.
Learn to admire without the desire to acquire.

– Discontentment is an appetite that’s never fully satisfied.

Make a confession about your obsession.

– Paul tells us in 1 Timothy 6:8 to be content with all our blessings. More than anything, our blessings include forgiveness.

– In 1 Timothy 6:7, Paul reminds us that we start with zero, and we end with zero.

– Psalm 139:16 tells us that all our days have been ordained.

Turn your resentment into contentment.

– In Philippians 4:12, Paul tells us that he knows what it’s like to have plenty and to be in need. Regardless of the situation, Paul always found contentment.

What’s the answer to being content?

Psalm 37:4 tells us to delight in the Lord, and the Lord will give us the desires of our heart.

How do you get your desires right so you can delight?

– David refers to those who are evil or wicked 14 times in this Psalm. He explains that when it feels like evil is winning, you have to learn to trust God.

– In Psalm 37:3-4, David says that if you’ll learn to be content with what God has provided for you, you won’t focus on what’s going on around you.

Most people think Psalm 37:3-4 means that if you’ll follow Jesus, He’ll give you whatever you want, but that’s not correct. Rather, it’s that if you’ll follow Jesus, He will put the right desires in your heart.

If we passionately pursue God, we will be passionate about the right things.

Ten: Week NineThe Ninth Commandment – Honesty

God gave us the Ten Commandments to teach us about relationships, relationships with Him and with other people. We’ll study this ninth commandment by examining:

What the Ninth Commandment is and the Principle of Honesty.
Three simple ways to develop honesty in you life.
Four transformational truths.
In the Ninth Commandment, God tells us that “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor,” which brings us to the Principle of Honesty.

In Exodus 20:16, God warns us not to lie, but there are a few things we need to understand about this commandment.

1st – When the Bible talks about your neighbor, it’s not talking about the person living beside you. Jesus tells the story of the Good Samaritan and explains that your neighbor is anyone you come in contact with. (Luke 10:27, 29)

2nd – God gave these commandments to help the Israelites understand what a civilized society looked like. This is a society governed by moral laws, and morality is not subjective.

3rd – The Ninth Commandment is actually a legal commandment, “Don’t perjure yourself.”

The principle behind this commandment is the Principle of Honesty.

There are three simple ways to develop honesty in your life.
Learn to be honest with yourself.

– Dishonest people are dishonest.

– In John 8:32-33, Jesus explains that the truth will set you free.

– God cannot help you if you can’t be honest about yourself.

Learn to be honest with others.

– In James 5:16, God takes the idea of honesty beyond just Him to include confessing to others. There’s a humility and accountability that comes along with confession.

– Confession forces us to bring what we’re dealing with out of the darkness into the light.

– There are two types of people in life: Those who are wise and those who are foolish. A wise person takes correction. A foolish person makes excuses. (Proverbs 9:8)

– Start being honest with people.

Learn to be honest with God.

– In Psalm 32:1-5, David says, “Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven…” He explains how sin weighed him down, but forgiveness is freeing.

– When you’re dishonest, there’s deceit in your spirit. (Psalm 32:2)

– When you lie, you link or align yourself with Satan. (John 8:44) But in John 16:13, Jesus tells the disciples that the Holy Spirit will guide them into all truth.

Here are four transformational truths that can set your life free.

In John 8:32, Jesus says, “You will know the truth and the truth will set you free.”

We are all sinners.
One day our sins will be uncovered.
We will all face a forever. (heaven or hell)
It’s a personal decision.
It’s between you and God. It’s your choice to confess and believe that Jesus died for you to save you from your sins and to give you eternal life. (Romans 10:9, John 3:16)

Ten: Week Eight

The Eighth Commandment – Gratitude

God gave us the Ten Commandments to teach us about relationships, relationships with Him and with other people. We’ll study this eighth commandment by examining:

What the Eighth Commandment is and the Principle of Gratitude.
Some definitions of stealing.
Four words that will change your life.
How to be grateful for what God has given you and the life He’s chosen for you.
In the Eighth Commandment, God tells us that “You shall not steal,” which brings us to The Principle of Gratitude.

In Exodus 20:15, God warns us to not to steal, and the principle behind this commandment is The Principle of Gratitude.

After 430 years of slavery and 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, Moses led the Israelites to the Promised Land. They were incredibly poor, and God knew they would face a desire to steal from each other.

Here are some definitions of stealing.

Anytime you improve your situation by taking someone else’s stuff, you’re stealing.

Anytime you deceive someone for personal gain, you’re stealing.

When you take what belongs to God, you’re stealing.

– Tithe means one-tenth, and the word ten represents a test all though the Bible.

Four words that can change your life: God owns it all!

God asks us to show our trust and gratitude by returning 10% to Him.

In Malachi 3:8, the Israelites were trying to rob God by not giving Him their tithe.

In 1 Chronicles 29:14, King David gives us two lessons.

We don’t realize that everything we have comes from God.
We don’t understand that God distributes to each of us as He decides.

If you miss those simple truths from David, you’ll never be grateful for what God has given you.

Are you grateful for all that God has given you and for the life that He’s chosen for you?

How do we cultivate a grateful heart? Here are three specific ways:

We need to learn to be grateful for imperfect gifts.

– If we wait for perfect gifts, we’ll never be grateful at all.

We need to learn to be grateful in times of anxiety and frustration.

– Gratitude often comes in the midst of pain and suffering, or it usually doesn’t come at all.

-C.S. Lewis wrote, “God whispers to us in our pleasure, but shouts in our pain.”

We need to develop the discipline of noticing.

– If you’ll take the time, you’ll discover that you have a lot more to be grateful for than you realize. Thank God for all these blessings.

The difference between people isn’t the circumstances we go through or what we have and don’t have. The difference between people is how we deal with where God takes us on this journey called life.

Ten: Week Seven

The Seventh Commandment – Intimacy

God gave us the Ten Commandments to teach us about relationships, relationships with Him and with other people. We’ll study this seventh commandment by examining:

What the Seventh Commandment is and The Principle of Intimacy.
How we get to adultery and how lust affects our lives.
Some suggestions to keep us from adultery and the Ten Commitments of Marriage.
In the Seventh Commandment, God tells us that “You shall not commit adultery,” which brings us to The Principle of Intimacy.

In Exodus 20:14, God warns us to not commit adultery, and the principle behind this commandment is The Principle of Intimacy, which helps us understand how to have intimacy with God and with our spouses.

God created sex as a way to enjoy the pleasure and intimacy of marriage.

Because of how sex can be abused, God warns us to flee from sexual immorality because it is a sin against ourselves. (1 Corinthians 6:18, Exodus 20:14)

There is a process in getting to adultery, and the impact of lust greatly affects our lives.

Lust precedes adultery.

The word for lust is also used in the Bible with the meaning, “to have a passion for other things.”

What are the negative impacts of lust in our lives?

1st – Lust affects your relationship with God.

The Bible uses different words for sin: transgression (action), iniquity (inward motivation).

2nd – Lust affects your relationships with the people in your life.

“If we love each other, and we’re going to get married anyway, what difference does a

piece of paper make?” It’s not the marriage license; it’s God’s blessing on your life that makes

the difference.

All sexual immorality opens the door to numerous sins (deception, manipulation, lying).

Looking precedes lust.

Don’t look at attractive people! (Genesis 39:6-7, Matthew 5:28, Job 31:1)

Here are some suggestions to keep us from adultery, and there are Ten Commitments of Marriage that are helpful to follow.

1st – Push the clock forward.

2nd – Recognize your times of vulnerability.

C.S. Lewis said, “The long, dull, monotonous years of middle-age prosperity are excellent campaigning weather for the devil.”

3rd – Continue to work on your marriage.

4th – Obey the Ten Commitments of Marriage.

The Ten Commitments of Marriage

You shall have no other human relationship before your spouse.
Remember to date and keep it fresh.
Remember your anniversary so your life may be long on the earth.
You shall not be apathetic toward your marriage.
You shall not search for old sweethearts on Social Media.
You shall not ride in a car alone with a member of the opposite sex.
You shall not eat alone with a member of the opposite sex.
You shall not have a trainer that’s a member of the opposite sex.
You shall not work late with members of the opposite sex.
You shall not share intimate details of your marriage with a member of the opposite sex.

To what degree are you willing to go to protect what is most important to you?

Why not be extreme now instead of finding yourself in a place where you wished you had been extreme? We either have extreme regret or extreme standards.

Ten: Week Six

The Sixth Commandment – Forgiveness

God gave us the Ten Commandments to teach us about relationships, relationships with Him and with other people. We’ll study this sixth commandment by examining:

What it means to murder and The Principle of Forgiveness.
The six stages that lead to murder.
How unconditional forgiveness breaks the progression to murder.
In the Sixth Commandment, God tells us that “You shall not murder,” and The Principle of Forgiveness will keep us from breaking this commandment.

We don’t have the right to take another person’s life.

The word “murder” in Hebrew means “a wrongful killing.” This is different from the Hebrew word “kill,” which is used in cases like capital punishment, war or self-defense.

This leads us to the relationship principle behind this commandment, which is The Principle of Forgiveness. The ability to forgive will keep us from breaking the Sixth Commandment.

There are six stages that lead to murder.

1st Stage: Unconditional Love

In John 13:34, Jesus tells us to love one another as He has loved us.
Jesus uses the word “agape,” which means “seeking the highest good of the other person.”
This is not an emotion; it’s a decision regardless of how you feel about a person.

2nd Stage: Unconditional Love often leads to Unmet Expectations

In Luke 7, John the Baptist (Jesus’ cousin) is in prison where he will stay until he’s beheaded.
In Luke 7:19, John questions Jesus because his feeling are hurt over his unmet expectations.

3rd Stage: Unmet Expectations often lead to Unresolved Offenses

In Luke 7:22-23, Jesus replies with a blessing on those who don’t get offended because of Him.
Unmet expectations create offenses in our relationships. With a spouse, employer or friend, we assume certain needs/wants will be met. When those expectations aren’t met, we get offended.

4th Stage: Unresolved Offenses often lead to Unbridled Anger

The first murder in the Bible was because of anger, which is the story of Cain and Abel. (Genesis 4:3-5,8)
It’s ok to feel angry, because we can’t control how we feel. But, it’s not ok to act on that anger because it can lead to sin. Our anger should never control us. (Ephesians 4:26)
In Ephesians 4:26, Paul tells us to deal with our anger in a timely manner.

5th Stage: Unbridled Anger often leads to Uncontrollable Hate

Genesis 37:4-5 tells the story of how Joseph’s brothers came to hate him.
In Genesis 37:17-18, we see how that hate turned murderous.

6th Stage: Uncontrollable Hate sometimes leads to Murder

Unconditional forgiveness stops the progressive stages to murder.

Hate can lead to murder, but forgiveness leads back to love. This is seen in the story of Jacob and Esau. (Genesis 27:41, Genesis 33:1, Genesis 33:4)

If you have a problem giving forgiveness, you have a problem receiving forgiveness. (Matthew 10:8)

If you feel like you have to earn forgiveness from God, you will make other people earn forgiveness from you.

In Matthew 5:21-22, Jesus tells us it goes beyond murder. He says that if anyone is angry with a brother or sister, he/she will be judged.

Do your part and forgive and God will do His part and heal you.

Ten: Week Five
The Fifth Commandment – Honor

God gave us the Ten Commandments to teach us about relationships, relationships with Him and with other people. We’ll study this fifth commandment by examining:

How the Fifth Commandment is a transitional commandment.
The principle of honor.
The benefits of honoring your parents.
Some suggestions of ways to honor your parents.
The Fifth Commandment is a transitional commandment.

The first 4 Commandments are vertical, which is having to do with God. The last 6 Commandments are horizontal directives dealing with our relationships with each other.

This helps us understand how our theology determines our ethics not the opposite.

Put God in the rightful position in your life, and your ethics and behavior will fall in line.

In Exodus 20:12, God chooses the parent-child relationship as a connective commandment bridging the first 4 Commandments (the relationship to God) and the last 6 Commandments (relationships with each other).

To understand the Fifth Commandment, we must understand the principle of honor.

In Exodus 20:12, the meaning of the word “honor” is much stronger than the word “respect.” To honor our parents, it should be reflected by our attitudes and our actions.

Are you honoring your parents? No matter how worthy they are of honor, are you honoring them?

There are benefits to honoring your parents.
Longevity – “…so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.” Exodus 20:12
Stability – “…so that you may live long and that it may go well with you…” Deuteronomy 5:16

– We are to be subject and obedient to authority. (Romans 13:1-2, Luke 2:51-52)

Sensibility – It’s just common sense. (Ephesians 6:1)
Tranquility – There’s inner peace when you do life God’s way. (Colossians 3:20)
Here are some suggestions of ways to honor your parents.
You can honor your parents by loving them. It’s a demonstration. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)
You honor your parents by cooperating with them or choosing to live under their authority. (Romans 13)
You honor your parents by valuing them. (Your parents are smarter than you are.)
You honor your parents by appreciating them.

– Meet their needs.

– Include them in special days.

– Give them gifts.

You can honor dishonorable people by forgiving them so that you can be set free from the hurt and anger. (Ephesians 4:26-7) Forgiving someone is a decision not an emotion. It’s for you not the person who hurt you because you’ll be free.

The weekend of Easter is the most important of our faith. We will learn about why Easter is the defining moment for christianity by examining:

The historical worldview and implications.
The various theories given for the question, “If Jesus didn’t rise from the dead, how do I explain everything that’s happened?”
How this impacts your life.
How you take the next step.
The historical perspective from a non-biblical worldview is frequently taught.

Around 25 AD during political turmoil in Jerusalem, a teacher named Jesus of Nazareth came on the scene, gathered followers, stirred up the people and was put to death for treason by Rome.

After Jesus’ death, several followers continued to spread His teachings.

If that was it, how do you explain that over half of the world’s population believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

This perspective doesn’t explain what happened historically, and it doesn’t explain what continues to happen for believers. (Acts 2)

There are various theories given for the question, “If Jesus didn’t rise from the dead, how do I explain everything that’s happened?”

Someone stole the body (Matthew 27:62-65)

Roman officials assigned soldiers, under penalty of death, to guard the tomb and seal the tomb. Matthew 28:1-15
Would you die for a hoax? Jesus’ disciples died for their belief that Jesus rose from the dead.
There was no reason for a Jewish leader or a Roman official to steal the body and create a bigger problem for themselves.
There were ten specific appearances by Jesus after the resurrection.

The Hallucination Theory

Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:6 that 500 people saw Jesus alive at one time. Most of those people were still living at the time of his writing and could verify his statement.

The Swoon Theory – Jesus didn’t really die but was just unconscious.

Jesus could have never rolled away a two-ton stone after His ordeal of beatings and crucifixion.

The Twin Brother Theory – It takes more faith to believe that than the resurrection.

The implications of Jesus’ resurrection impacts your life.

The fact that Jesus rose from the dead changed the world at the time of His resurrection, and it continues to change the lives of believers today.

The implications of whether or not Jesus did rise from the dead changes how we live our lives. There has to be a response. If you’re at the “Something happened; what happened?” stage, take the next step and investigate.

How do you take the next step?

Find the Gospel of John and just start reading it. Get to know the story of Jesus. There’s not much to lose but a whole lot to gain.

The Week Before Easter

The final weekend before Easter is called Palm Sunday. We will learn about this time leading up to Easter by examining:

The sequence of events during that last week.
How Pilate tried to substitute Barabbas for Jesus.
The interruption by Pilate’s wife.
How God treated Jesus like Barabbas so He could treat Barabbas like Jesus.
The week before Easter was a purposeful sequence of events.

Matthew 21:9 describes the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem where the crowd cheered Him as the King who would free them from Rome. Rather, He came to free them from sin.

On Monday, Jesus wept over the brokenness of the people and cleansed the temple.

On Tuesday, Jesus did some teaching and Judas began his betrayal.

On Thursday, Jesus celebrated the last supper and went to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray.

On Friday, Jesus was crucified, died and was buried.

Pilate tried to substitute Barabbas for Jesus.

In Matthew 27:11-18, Pilate tries to gain Jesus’ freedom by having the people choose Jesus, an innocent man, to be released.

Pilate offered a man named Jesus-Barabbas, which means “son of the father” in comparison to Jesus the Messiah who is the “Son of God.”

Mark 15:7 shows how Barabbas was a known criminal deserving of punishment.

Pilate’s wife tried to warn her husband to not hurt Jesus, an innocent man.

In Matthew 27:19, Pilate’s wife tries to get her husband to have nothing to do with Jesus’ persecution because of a dream she had.

There is a big contrast between the Jewish leaders who are wanting Jesus’ death and a Gentile woman who believes that Jesus is truly innocent.

God sent a warning through Pilate’s wife, but he didn’t listen.

God treated Jesus like Barabbas so He could treat Barabbas like Jesus.

In Matthew 27:20-23, the chief priests and elders persuade the crowd to ask for the release of Barabbas instead of Jesus. (Luke 23:16)

In Matthew 27:24-26, Pilate washes his hands of the responsibility. Instead of doing what was right, he releases Barabbas and gives Jesus to the leaders to be flogged and crucified.

John Stott says, “For the essence of sin is man substituting himself for God, while the essence of salvation is God substituting himself for man. Man asserts himself against God and puts himself where only God deserves to be; God sacrifices himself for man and puts himself where only man deserves to be.”

We can substitute our names into the equation. For God so loved _______ (John 3:16)

God treated Jesus like _______ (our names) so He could treat _______ (our names) like Jesus.

Ten: Week Four

The Fourth Commandment - Rest

God gave us the 10 Commandments to teach us about relationships, relationships with Him and with other people. We’ll study this fourth commandment by examining:

How resting gives God the opportunity to provide for us supernaturally.
How resting gives us the opportunity to be refreshed.
That there are consequences when we don’t trust.
That there are blessings when we do rest.
Resting gives God the opportunity to provide for us supernaturally.

Exodus 20:8 says, “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.”

Sabbath is a Saturday, but Christians worship on Sunday because Jesus rose from the dead on the 1st day of the week.

Exodus 20:8-11, which is the longest commandment, teaches the Principle of Rest.

We don’t keep the 10 Commandments to be saved. (Ephesians 2:8-9) But, there are blessings if we keep them.

In Exodus 16:23-30, God showed how He would provide for the Israelites day by day as long as they trusted in Him.

The Jewish people were to remember and observe the Sabbath day. (Deuteronomy 7:12)

While in slavery, the Israelites were never given rest, but God loved and rescued them. (Deuteronomy 7:8)

Resting gives us the opportunity to be refreshed.

The Sabbath was a great sign to the world because no other nation before Israel rested one day a week. (Exodus 31:14-17)

On the seventh day after creating everything, God breathed in, and He rested and was refreshed. (Exodus 31:17, Genesis 1:3, Genesis 2:7)

If God refreshes Himself, why don’t you?

There are consequences when we don’t rest.

In Numbers 15:32-36, a man was sentenced to death for breaking the Sabbath. Four things in the Old Testament incurred the death penalty: murder, not keeping the Sabbath, adultery and rebellious children.

Is it possible that you’re killing yourself by not resting one day a week?

In 2 Chronicles 36:20-21, the Israelites went 490 years without letting the land rest every seventh year. This added up to 70 missed Sabbaths, which is how long they were in captivity, 70 years.

There are blessings when we do rest.

In Mark 2:23-27, Jesus explains that the Sabbath was made for man not as a legalistic rule with God.

There’s an old Jewish saying, “More than Israel has kept Shabbat, Shabbat has kept Israel.”

If you don’t rest one day a week, you’re not trusting God, and the principle of rest is a gift from God.

Ten: Week Three

The Third Commandment - Humility

God gave us the 10 Commandments to teach us about relationships, relationships with Him and with other people. We’ll study this third commandment by examining:

Why God would be so concerned that we don’t misuse His name.
Three ways that we sometimes misuse God’s name.
How we can use God’s name in a positive way and how it comes back to grace.
Why would God be so concerned that we don’t misuse His name?

Exodus 20:7 says, “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.”

God’s name is His character. It’s who He is. The name of God is synonymous with the person and character of God.

In the Lord’s prayer, “hallowed be Thy name” means “to be set apart, holy.”

“Yahweh” is used almost 7,000 times in the Old Testament and means, “He who caused existence; He who has always existed.”

Israel went into exile in 586 B.C. after they misused and profaned God’s name.

(Ezekiel 36:20-23)

“Misuse” means “lift up or carry.” God is saying in the third commandment that “You shall not carry my name in a vain, empty, worthless or prideful way,” which teaches the principle of humility.”

We need to make sure we carry the name of “Christian” with humility by honoring what that name means.

The name of God is interchangeable for the person of God throughout the Bible.

(Proverbs 18:10, Psalm 20:7, Romans 10:13)

We misuse God’s name in three common ways.
We misuse God’s name when we pray with the wrong motive. (James 4:3)
We misuse God’s name when we speak for God.(Leviticus 19:12, Jeremiah 23:25, Ezekiel 22:28)
We misuse God’s name when the use of His name doesn’t honor Him.
We can use God’s name in a positive way, and it all comes back to grace.

We can praise God’s name and give Him gratitude. (Psalm 44:8, Psalm 100:4, Psalm 113:3)

In the second part of the third commandment, God says that He will not leave anyone “guiltless” or “unpunished” who misuses His name.

We’ve all misused God’s name before, but it’s important to remember how holy and reverent God’s name is.

Jesus took on our sin and took our punishment for us. (2 Corinthians 5:21)

The Ten Commandments are all about grace because God is such a God of grace.

The Second Commandment - Purity

God gave us the 10 Commandments to teach us about relationships, relationships with Him and with other people. We’ll study this second commandment by examining:

The Israelites’ new home and how it affected their relationship to God.
The principle behind the second commandment, which is purity.
The blessings of purity.
The Israelites left slavery to enter a pagan land, and God instructed His people to distance themselves from that.

In Mark 12:30-31, Jesus answered the religious leaders when asked about how to sum up the Old Testament. He said to love God more than anything, which is the point of the first four commandments. He also said to “love your neighbor as yourself,” which is the point of the last six commandments.

In Deuteronomy 18:9-15, God told the Israelites to not follow the pagan rituals and beliefs of their new homeland in Canaan. God would raise up a prophet for them.

Psalm 106:37 describes how the Canaanites sacrificed their sons and daughters to false gods.
Acts 3:22 says that Jesus is the fulfillment of this prophecy found in Deuteronomy 18:14-15.

God created His people to be in relationship with Him.

The relationship principle behind the 2nd Commandment is “The principle of Purity.”

Exodus 20:4 says, “You shall not make for yourself an image (idol) in the form of anything in heaven above or on earth below.”

Israel was the only nation on the planet at that time in history who didn’t worship images of their God. He was the invisible God, and Jesus is the embodiment of that (Colossians 1:15).

The Israelites were tempted by their environment and began making idols and worshiping other gods (Judges 3:7 and 1 Kings 18:19).

Satan tempted and deceived people into thinking an image could have power by the fact that God made man in His image with His Spirit in man (Genesis 1:26). You are the image of God on Earth, and God puts His Spirit in you.

When you begin to imagine yourself in a situation other than what God has provided for you, you have an idol, and you’re never content as a result.

Exodus 20:5 says, “You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God am a jealous God, punishing (visiting) the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me…”

The Hebrew word for “punishing” can be translated as “visiting” throughout the Old Testament. The sin of the parents would affect the lives of children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, etc. in multigenerational homes.

A good “jealous” is when you love someone so much that you don’t want anything bad to happen to him/her.

In Ezekiel 18:13-17, God says that a son will no longer die for the sins of his father.

There are blessings from living a life of purity.

The ending of Exodus 20:5-6 says, “…but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.”

Deuteronomy 7:9 says that God is showing His love to a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep His commandments.

We often read the Old Testament and only see judgement, law and rules, but it’s all for relationship.

God wants to have a pure relationship with us.

The First Commandment

God gave us the 10 Commandments to teach us about relationships, relationships with Him and with other people. We’ll study this first commandment by examining:

How the 10 Commandments are about relationships.
Why the Israelites (us) try and keep a distance with God.
The Principle of Priority.
God gave us the 10 Commandments to teach us about relationships.

In Mark 12:30-31, Jesus answered the religious leaders when asked about how to sum up the Old Testament. He said to love God more than anything, which is the point of the first four commandments. He also said to “love your neighbor as yourself,” which is the point of the last six commandments.

In Exodus 20:1-3, God reminded the Israelites that He is their Lord, and He brought them out of Egypt. He freed them from slavery.

Paul says that Jesus frees us from being slaves to sin in Romans 6:6.

In Exodus 20:18-20, the Israelites kept their distance while Moses approached God.

Moses and the Israelites wanted to have a deeper relationship with God, but the Israelites wanted that relationship through Moses not themselves.

The people were afraid that they would die in God’s Presence (Exodus 20:19). Our “old self” always dies in the Presence of God.

When the “old self” dies, Jesus can live through us.

Moses not only knew what God did but why He did it (Psalm 103:7), which can only happen through relationship.

The relationship principle behind the 1st Commandment is “The principle of Priority.”

Exodus 20:3 says, “You shall have no other gods before Me.” God is not saying that you can have other gods but just make Him first. The word “before” can be translated as “besides” (Isaiah 45:5). It could say, “There is no god besides Me.”

When we put others first, we put God first.

This principle runs throughout Scripture. The Israelites gave their first and their best to God.

In the story of Cain and Able (Genesis 4:3-5), Cain gave some of his fruits for offering while Able gave his first and his best to God.

Jesus speaks of this principle in Matthew 6:31-33 when He tells us to seek first God’s kingdom and His righteousness.

When we put God first, the rest falls into place. In 1 Kings 17:12-17, God provided for the woman who put Him first. We can share in that same blessing if we put Him first in our lives.

God has given us timeless traditions and elements to practice that bring us into a closer relationship with Him. Being God-centered or having trust is the last in this series. We will study this truth through questions and key points.

What would my life look like if God was the center?
In Luke 5:1-11, Jesus teaches His disciples a valuable lesson about trust.
God will never take anything from us that He doesn’t replace with something better.
Life can only be experienced to the fullest when we trust in God.
What would my life look like if God was at the center of every area of my life?

Instead of letting God be the center, we often argue with God rather than just trusting Him.

Sometimes, we get so focused on the risk that we miss the goodness and faithfulness of God.

What do you want out of life? Who’s smarter? Who fulfills those needs better?

Jesus said in John 10:10, “I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.”

In Luke 5:1-11, Jesus proved His trustworthiness and called His disciples to a different life.

Jesus performed a miracle by nearly sinking the boats of the fishermen with such a large catch after they had fished all night with nothing to show for it.

This is God’s pattern for our lives:

Jesus gives us evidence of His trustworthiness.
Then, He asks us to trust in Him.
We weigh the risks and choose to trust Him or not.

When God asks us to trust Him, the only thing we’re sure of is what’s in our hand. But, trust is making the leap without knowing the results.

God will never take anything from us that He doesn’t replace with something better.

God waits for us to trust Him and make the first move.

It’s really not about our stuff or the substitutes we acquire to try and bring fulfillment to our lives; it’s about whether we believe God is trustworthy.

Life can only be experienced to the fullest when we trust in God.

You have a loving Heavenly Father who has your best interest in mind.

To be obedient and follow Him will cost you, but not to obey and follow will cost you far, far more.

When you choose to trust, your fear will intersect with God’s faithfulness, and you’ll experience God like never before.

God has given us timeless traditions and elements to practice that bring us into a closer relationship with Him. In this fourth week of our series, we’ll look at stewardship and generosity by studying:

The difference between member vs mission
The parable of the mina in Luke 19
The Mina Project for our community
At Hope, we want to be on mission instead of just being members.

A question for a member is, “What are they doing for me?”

A question for someone on mission is, “What am I doing or giving to others?”

Ephesians 3:20 “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us…”

God has given us three ways to invest in His Kingdom:

Time – spending our time wisely
Talents – the ways in which God has gifted each individual
Money – handling what God has entrusted to you because it ultimately belongs to Him (Job 41:11, Exodus 19:5, Psalm 24:1)
In Luke 19:11-15, Jesus shares the story of the parable of the mina.

There were five elements to the story:

There’s a man of noble birth.
There’s a group of servants.
There’s a certain money given to the servants.
There are specific instructions given.
There’s accountability for the servants. (The servant who hid the mina away was declared wicked when what he did was measured against what he could have done.)

There are a couple lessons in this parable as it relates to us as stewards of what we’ve been given.

- When we invest in God’s Kingdom, it’s an investment of His resources not ours.
- We will ultimately give an account to God for how we manage His resources.

(1 Timothy 6:17-19)

The Mina Project is an initiative where Hope invests resources in our community through our people.

Every person over 18 gets an envelope with money inside to invest it, grow it and cultivate it. Grow it and return it on the weekend of April 18 & 19.

In John 17, Jesus gives us the Lord’s Prayer in which He prayed for three things:

Jesus prays for Himself.
Jesus prays for His disciples.
Jesus prays for us.
To Reach the Triangle and Change the World, all gospel-centered churches must be unified around the gospel.
Our goal is to make sure that every man, woman and child have multiple opportunities to see, hear and respond to the gospel.

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God has given us timeless traditions and elements to practice that bring us into a closer relationship with Him. In this third week of our series, we’ll study the church service by examining:

How society views church service
What the Bible says about church service
How we should approach church service
Society’s views of church service have changed dramatically over recent years.

The statistics are sobering: 49% of Baby Boomers, 46% of Generation X, 35% of Millennials attend church twice a month.

Outside of Northern America and Europe where christianity is often oppressed, church service is thriving.

As an American Christian, we are deeply affected by a distrust of man-made institutions and by consumerism.

The Bible explains the meaning and significance of church service.

In Hebrews 10:19-25, the author helps us understand through two phrases he repeats three times each: “we have” and “let us.”

“We have”

“…we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place…”
“…we have a great priest over the house of God…”
“…having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water…”

“Let us”

“…let us draw near to God…”
“…let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess…”
“…let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together…”

In Ephesians 4:14-16, Paul tells us how to grow so that we aren’t immature infants in our faith.

Without intentional faith-building togetherness, it’s nearly impossible to live and progress in our spiritual walk.

There are things we can do to be intentional in our approach to church service.

Show up early.

Show up often.

Show up to the same service.

Show up with a plan.

Show up expecting.

God has given us timeless traditions and elements to practice that bring us into a closer relationship with Him. This week we’re studying baptism, which includes:

The truths that baptism symbolize

a. We are forgiven of sin

b. The old self has died

c. We are a new creation

The tension between what God says is true and our lived reality
The battle to believe and the weapon of baptism
- In Romans 6, Paul explains what baptism is all about and what it symbolizes.

Some people think that being saved lets them go on sinning because they have been forgiven in the past, present and future. Paul emphatically says the opposite.

Romans 6:1-11 When we believe in Jesus, we give our lives to Him, and the following three things happens:

All of our sins, mess-ups and mistakes are fully forgiven.
Our old, sinful self dies, and our connection to sin is severed.
We become a new creation in Christ.

2 Cor. 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”

Baptism symbolizes our death to sin when we go down into the water, and it symbolizes our new life as a new creation when we come up out of the water.

- The tension between what God says is true and the reality we live can seem to be in conflict. (Romans 8)

God has killed our old, sinful nature and made us a new creation in Him.

Our old self seems to have power over us trying to bring us back to our sinful desires, but it’s dead. It just doesn’t know it yet.

- Our battle to believe follows us throughout our new lives and baptism is a weapon to help in this fight.

The parts of ourselves that want to go on sinning even though we are new creations make it feel like a battle of belief is being waged.

In this battle, we radically overestimate the power of sin and radically underestimate the power of the Spirit.

We can choose to believe that God can and will free us from our sin when we live in faith.

1 John 3:5-9 “But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin. No one who lives in him keeps on sinning… No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed (or Spirit) remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God.”

This means that God is actively changing us, and we don’t have to live in habitual sin forever.
These promises give us Hope.

Philippians 1:6 “I am confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

We are commanded to be baptized because it is a powerful weapon in the battle of belief.

Baptism grounds us as a reminder of how we died to sin and arose a new creation in Christ.

If you are ready to take your next step and be baptized, click here to sign up to talk to an area pastor. Our next baptism weekend is on Feb. 22 & 23.

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Communion: Luke 22

God has given us timeless traditions and elements to practice that bring us into a closer relationship with Him. The first we’ll study is communion by examining:

The historical beginnings of communion
The symbolic meaning of communion
The significance of communion in our lives
In Luke 22:14-18, Jesus began the practice of communion with his disciples based on the Jewish Passover meal.

The Passover meal was a yearly celebration that all the Israelites did in remembrance of their captivity and escape from slavery in Egypt.

God sent Moses to free His people from slavery by unleashing ten plagues.

The last was the plague of the firstborn where the angel of death struck down every firstborn male whether animal or human.

The Israelites escaped this by putting the blood of a lamb on their doorposts so the angel would pass over and spare them.

In Luke 22:19-20, Jesus gave us the two symbolic elements of communion, the bread and the wine.

The Bread

The bread is a symbol representing his body that He sacrificed for us.

As we take the bread, we are to remember Jesus’ suffering when He died for us.

The Wine

God established a covenant with Israel sealed in the blood of sacrificial animals.

Exodus 24:3-8

The people couldn’t live up to the commandments of the covenant so Jesus came to live a sinless life as the ultimate sacrifice.

The wine signifies how Jesus shed His blood and established a new covenant for us by becoming the perfect sacrifice.

Communion carries significance in our lives by reminding us of what Jesus did for us and what we have in Him.

God used the two elements we need to survive, bread and water, as the symbols of His saving grace.

They are given to us just as God’s grace is given, not to be earned by works but by faith.

We have freedom because we have been forgiven from sin, and we don’t have to live a life of shame any longer.

Communion reminds us that Jesus came to give us life, an abundant life, so we take it in remembrance of Him and what He did for us.

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Three gifts that the Father gives each one of us as His children:

A robe
A ring
Sandals
God has given us a robe to put on every day. (Isaiah 61:10)

The robe the Father has given us is a robe of righteousness. (Zechariah 3:3-4, Isaiah 64:6)

God removes our sin and covers us with a robe of righteousness.

Through Jesus’ death on the cross, God not only removes my sin, but He also covers my shame. (Isaiah 61:10)

Are you wearing your robe the Father gave you? (Colossians 3:12-14)

The Father gave the son a ring. (Genesis 41:42-43)

The ring represents authority in the Bible.

We don’t have authority on our own; we have authority because God gave us authority. (Matthew 21: 23-31)

Why do we need authority? (Matthew 28:18-19)

If we are going to “Reach the Triangle and change the world," it will require us to live and operate under the same authority.

We also need authority because there is a spiritual battle going on, but God has given us authority over satan and his demons.(James 4:7, 1 John 4:4, 1 Peter 5:9)

How do you stand firm in your faith?

You learn to apply God’s Word and you live out what you learn.
You spend time in prayer.
You get into a small group.

You’ve been given the authority to resist satan’s power, but you have to wear the ring of authority that the Father gave you.

The Father gave the son shoes (Ruth 4:7, Deuteronomy 25:8-10)

Taking off your shoes means you’re giving up your rights.

What are the benefits of putting on shoes?

Shoes protect us. (Ephesians 6:13-15)
Shoes give us confidence.
Shoes give us freedom.

When Jesus died for our sins, it was His way of saying, “Welcome home - this is where you belong.”

The story of the Prodigal Son is a story about two sons, both with issues and it’s also the story about a father who loved them both unconditionally. (Luke 15:1-3, 21-25, and 29-30)

Three affects of Older Brother Syndrome:

It affects how we see ourselves (Luke 15:29 and Luke 18:9-14)
It affects how we see others (Luke 7:36-43, 47 and James 2:10)
It affects how we see the Father (Luke 15:11-12 and Luke 15:31, Galatians 1:1, 1 Corinthians 15:9, Ephesians 3:8, 1 Timothy 1:15 and 1 Corinthians 2:2)

Symptoms of Older Brother Syndrome:

You’d rather judge people than help people
You’re disappointed when people don’t get what you think they deserve
You’re angry when it appears that God blesses others more than you
You often say, “I would never do that,” even though, deep down inside you’d like to

If you don’t think you’re as bad as others, you’re not going to be as grateful as others.

Our mission at Hope is to love people where they are and encourage them to grow in their relationship with Jesus. Let’s work hard at extending our arms to the broken people around us.

We began last week addressing the question, “Why would we, as Christians, ever leave home, go prodigal?”

Phases on going prodigal:

The Delirious Phase (Luke 15:13)
The Destructive Phase ( Luke 15:14-17)
The Decision Phase (Luke 15:18)

After going prodigal, how do we return home?

If you want to return home, you have to come clean with the Father. (Luke 15:17-20)
No matter how much you screw up, the Father never runs out of grace, forgiveness and love for you!

After returning home, how do we stay home?

If you want to stay home, you have to come clean with yourself.
Is there an area in your life where you’re giving Satan an opening?

There are openings in our lives where we allow Satan to roam free and lure us down from the cross:

Secrets -(John 12:4-6, Malachi 3:8)
- If you have a secret, the best thing you can do is shed light on it and get it out into the open.
- When you shed light on your secret, you close that opening in your life for Satan to work. (James 5:16)
Sin – (Luke 15:13)
- If you have sin in your life that you are not tolerating, it’s an opening
  - Do you have sin in your life that you’re tolerating?
Shame (Hebrews 12:2)

You have a choice to make:

Ignore your secrets, sin and shame or go before God and say:

1 – God, I’m coming clean with You about what I did wrong and I claim Your forgiveness and by your grace, mercy it won’t happen again.

2 – I’m coming clean with myself. I’m closing the openings that have allowed the enemy to roam freely in my life. Claim the promise of Romans 8:1.

The only alternative is a defeated, prodigal life.

Mike Lee shares the first message in our series entitled Lost & Found at Hope Community Church on Jan. 4 & 5.

Pastor Mike Lee shared the fifth message in our series entitled Life Lessons at Hope Community Church on Dec. 14 & Dec. 15.

Over the course of King David’s long, crazy life, he made plenty of mistakes—many of which ended in disaster. But by the end of his life, he finally learned to trust God, no matter what the circumstances.

In this series, we’re taking a look at a few different episodes from David’s life, including some lesser known stories, in order to examine that process of developing wisdom.

Pastor Mike Lee shared the fourth message in our series entitled Life Lessons at Hope Community Church on Dec. 7 & Dec. 8.

Over the course of King David’s long, crazy life, he made plenty of mistakes—many of which ended in disaster. But by the end of his life, he finally learned to trust God, no matter what the circumstances.

In this series, we’re taking a look at a few different episodes from David’s life, including some lesser known stories, in order to examine that process of developing wisdom.

Pastor Mike Lee shared the third message in our series entitled Life Lessons at Hope Community Church on Nov. 30 & Dec. 1.

Over the course of King David’s long, crazy life, he made plenty of mistakes—many of which ended in disaster. But by the end of his life, he finally learned to trust God, no matter what the circumstances.

In this series, we’re taking a look at a few different episodes from David’s life, including some lesser known stories, in order to examine that process of developing wisdom.

Pastor Mike Lee shared the second message in our series entitled Life Lessons at Hope Community Church on Nov. 23 & 24.

Over the course of King David’s long, crazy life, he made plenty of mistakes—many of which ended in disaster. But by the end of his life, he finally learned to trust God, no matter what the circumstances.

In this series, we’re taking a look at a few different episodes from David’s life, including some lesser known stories, in order to examine that process of developing wisdom.

Pastor Mike Lee shared the first message in our series entitled Fear at Hope Community Church on Nov. 16 & 17.

Over the course of King David’s long, crazy life, he made plenty of mistakes—many of which ended in disaster. But by the end of his life, he finally learned to trust God, no matter what the circumstances.

In this series, we’re taking a look at a few different episodes from David’s life, including some lesser known stories, in order to examine that process of developing wisdom.

Pastor Donnie Peters shared the third and final message in our series entitled Fear at Hope Community Church on Nov. 9 & 10.

How often does fear hold you back? Does it prevent you from trying new things or feeling comfortable in your own life?

Fear can be powerful, but it doesn’t have to control you.

Join us for our new series and learn how to recognize when fear is getting in your way, as well as how you can rise above it to live a fuller, more joyful life.

Pastor Donnie Peters shared the first message in our series entitled Fear at Hope Community Church on Nov. 2 & 3.

How often does fear hold you back? Does it prevent you from trying new things or feeling comfortable in your own life?

Fear can be powerful, but it doesn’t have to control you.

Join us for our new series and learn how to recognize when fear is getting in your way, as well as how you can rise above it to live a fuller, more joyful life.

Pastor Donnie Peters shared the first message in our series entitled Fear at Hope Community Church on Oct. 26 & 27.

How often does fear hold you back? Does it prevent you from trying new things or feeling comfortable in your own life?

Fear can be powerful, but it doesn’t have to control you.

Join us for our new series and learn how to recognize when fear is getting in your way, as well as how you can rise above it to live a fuller, more joyful life.

Pastor Mike Lee shared the seventh message in our series entitled House of Cards at Hope Community Church on Oct. 19 & 20.

Most of us want our public image to look as successful as possible—fun job, exciting social life, comfortable marriage, etc. But, behind the scenes, our lives can be messy and as fragile as a house of cards. One wrong move, and the illusion of that persona falls apart.

How do we stop worrying about our image? How do we start feeling comfortable in our real lives? Join us for our series, House of Cards, as we shine a light on the illusions we create and learn how to leave them behind.

Pastor Mike Lee shared the sixth message in our series entitled House of Cards at Hope Community Church on Oct. 12 & 13.

Most of us want our public image to look as successful as possible—fun job, exciting social life, comfortable marriage, etc. But, behind the scenes, our lives can be messy and as fragile as a house of cards. One wrong move, and the illusion of that persona falls apart.

How do we stop worrying about our image? How do we start feeling comfortable in our real lives? Join us for our series, House of Cards, as we shine a light on the illusions we create and learn how to leave them behind.

Pastor Mike Lee shared the fifth message in our series entitled House of Cards at Hope Community Church on Oct. 5 & 6.

Most of us want our public image to look as successful as possible—fun job, exciting social life, comfortable marriage, etc. But, behind the scenes, our lives can be messy and as fragile as a house of cards. One wrong move, and the illusion of that persona falls apart.

How do we stop worrying about our image? How do we start feeling comfortable in our real lives? Join us for our series, House of Cards, as we shine a light on the illusions we create and learn how to leave them behind.

Pastors Donnie Peters and Heather Sullivan shared the fourth message in our series entitled House of Cards at Hope Community Church on Sept. 28 & 29.

Most of us want our public image to look as successful as possible—fun job, exciting social life, comfortable marriage, etc. But, behind the scenes, our lives can be messy and as fragile as a house of cards. One wrong move, and the illusion of that persona falls apart.

How do we stop worrying about our image? How do we start feeling comfortable in our real lives? Join us for our series, House of Cards, as we shine a light on the illusions we create and learn how to leave them behind.

Pastor Mike Lee shared the third message in our series entitled House of Cards at Hope Community Church on Sept. 21 & 22.

Most of us want our public image to look as successful as possible—fun job, exciting social life, comfortable marriage, etc. But, behind the scenes, our lives can be messy and as fragile as a house of cards. One wrong move, and the illusion of that persona falls apart.

How do we stop worrying about our image? How do we start feeling comfortable in our real lives? Join us for our series, House of Cards, as we shine a light on the illusions we create and learn how to leave them behind.

Pastor Mike Lee shared the second message in our series entitled House of Cards at Hope Community Church on Sept. 14 & Sept. 15.

Most of us want our public image to look as successful as possible—fun job, exciting social life, comfortable marriage, etc. But, behind the scenes, our lives can be messy and as fragile as a house of cards. One wrong move, and the illusion of that persona falls apart.

How do we stop worrying about our image? How do we start feeling comfortable in our real lives? Join us for our series, House of Cards, as we shine a light on the illusions we create and learn how to leave them behind.

Pastor Mike Lee shared the first message in our series entitled House of Cards at Hope Community Church on Sept. 7 & Sept. 8.

Most of us want our public image to look as successful as possible—fun job, exciting social life, comfortable marriage, etc. But, behind the scenes, our lives can be messy and as fragile as a house of cards. One wrong move, and the illusion of that persona falls apart.

How do we stop worrying about our image? How do we start feeling comfortable in our real lives? Join us for our series, House of Cards, as we shine a light on the illusions we create and learn how to leave them behind.

Pastor Chase Gardner shared the eighth and final message in our series entitled Why, How & What at Hope Community Church on Aug. 31 & Sept. 1.

Hope has grown a lot over the last 25 years, but have you ever wondered where it all began?

In our “Why, How & What” series, let’s examine how the mission and vision of Hope originated. And what better way to do it than by going to someone who was there from the beginning—Hope’s founding pastor.

Pastor Mike Lee shared the seventh and final message in our series entitled Why, How & What at Hope Community Church on Aug. 24 & 25.

Hope has grown a lot over the last 25 years, but have you ever wondered where it all began?

In our “Why, How & What” series, let’s examine how the mission and vision of Hope originated. And what better way to do it than by going to someone who was there from the beginning—Hope’s founding pastor.

Pastor Mike Lee shared the sixth message in our series entitled Why, How & What at Hope Community Church on Aug. 17 & 18.

Hope has grown a lot over the last 25 years, but have you ever wondered where it all began?

In our “Why, How & What” series, let’s examine how the mission and vision of Hope originated. And what better way to do it than by going to someone who was there from the beginning—Hope’s founding pastor.

Pastor Mike Lee shares the fifth message in our series Why, How & What at Hope Community Church on Aug. 10 and 11, 2019.

Hope has grown a lot over the last 25 years, but have you ever wondered where it all began?

In our “Why, How & What” series, let’s examine how the mission and vision of Hope originated. And what better way to do it than by going to someone who was there from the beginning—Hope’s founding pastor.

Pastor Mike Lee shares the fourth message in our series Why, How & What at Hope Community Church on Aug. 3 and 4, 2019.

Hope has grown a lot over the last 25 years, but have you ever wondered where it all began?

In our “Why, How & What” series, let’s examine how the mission and vision of Hope originated. And what better way to do it than by going to someone who was there from the beginning—Hope’s founding pastor.

Lead Pastor Mike Lee shares the third message in our series Why, How & What at Hope Community Church on July 27 and 28, 2019.

Hope has grown a lot over the last 25 years, but have you ever wondered where it all began?

In our “Why, How & What” series, let’s examine how the mission and vision of Hope originated. And what better way to do it than by going to someone who was there from the beginning—Hope’s founding pastor.

Pastor Donnie Peters shares the second message in our series Why, How & What at Hope Community Church on July 20 and 21, 2019.

Hope has grown a lot over the last 25 years, but have you ever wondered where it all began?

In our “Why, How & What” series, let’s examine how the mission and vision of Hope originated. And what better way to do it than by going to someone who was there from the beginning—Hope’s founding pastor.

Pastor Chase Gardner shares the first message in our series Why, How & What at Hope Community Church on July 13 and 14, 2019.

Hope has grown a lot over the last 25 years, but have you ever wondered where it all began?

In our “Why, How & What” series, let’s examine how the mission and vision of Hope originated. And what better way to do it than by going to someone who was there from the beginning—Hope’s founding pastor.

Pastor Mike Lee shares the fifth message in our series Origin Story: Welcome to the Promised Land at Hope Community Church on June 29 and 30, 2019.

Last year, we began a journey through the beginning of the Bible called Origin Story where we laid the foundation of our faith. In Season Two, we dive right back into the lives and events of God’s people. Only by learning biblical history can we comprehend the continued faithfulness and provision God made for His followers. Our lives are not small and insignificant because we get to be part of this amazing and epic story.

Pastor Mike Lee shares the fourth message in our series Origin Story: Welcome to the Promised Land at Hope Community Church on June 22 and 23, 2019.

Last year, we began a journey through the beginning of the Bible called Origin Story where we laid the foundation of our faith. In Season Two, we dive right back into the lives and events of God’s people. Only by learning biblical history can we comprehend the continued faithfulness and provision God made for His followers. Our lives are not small and insignificant because we get to be part of this amazing and epic story.

Pastor Mike Lee shares the third message in our series Origin Story: Welcome to the Promised Land at Hope Community Church on June 15 and 16, 2019.

Last year, we began a journey through the beginning of the Bible called Origin Story where we laid the foundation of our faith. In Season Two, we dive right back into the lives and events of God’s people. Only by learning biblical history can we comprehend the continued faithfulness and provision God made for His followers. Our lives are not small and insignificant because we get to be part of this amazing and epic story.

Pastor Mike Lee shares the first message in our series Origin Story: Welcome to the Promised Land at Hope Community Church on June 1 and 2, 2019.

Last year, we began a journey through the beginning of the Bible called Origin Story where we laid the foundation of our faith. In Season Two, we dive right back into the lives and events of God’s people. Only by learning biblical history can we comprehend the continued faithfulness and provision God made for His followers. Our lives are not small and insignificant because we get to be part of this amazing and epic story.

Pastor Mike Lee shares the second message in our series Origin Story: Welcome to the Promised Land at Hope Community Church on June 8 and 9, 2019.

Last year, we began a journey through the beginning of the Bible called Origin Story where we laid the foundation of our faith. In Season Two, we dive right back into the lives and events of God’s people. Only by learning biblical history can we comprehend the continued faithfulness and provision God made for His followers. Our lives are not small and insignificant because we get to be part of this amazing and epic story.

Pastor Chase Gardner shares the fifth and final message in our series Help Us at Hope Community Church on May 25 and 26, 2019.

Sometimes our days can feel endless. A million errands, in-laws coming to town, a messy house, reckless drivers on the road, ungrateful children and the silent disapproval of an angry spouse. Conflict and opposition surround us. How do we function with all the stress? We need help! In our next series, Help Us, we’ll learn five different keys that will help restore our relationships and bring peace to our lives.

Pastor Mike Lee shares the fourth message in our series Help Us at Hope Community Church on May 18 and 19, 2019.

Sometimes our days can feel endless. A million errands, in-laws coming to town, a messy house, reckless drivers on the road, ungrateful children and the silent disapproval of an angry spouse. Conflict and opposition surround us. How do we function with all the stress? We need help! In our next series, Help Us, we’ll learn five different keys that will help restore our relationships and bring peace to our lives.

Pastor Chase Gardner shares the third message in our series Help Us at Hope Community Church on May 11 and 12, 2019.

Sometimes our days can feel endless. A million errands, in-laws coming to town, a messy house, reckless drivers on the road, ungrateful children and the silent disapproval of an angry spouse. Conflict and opposition surround us. How do we function with all the stress? We need help! In our next series, Help Us, we’ll learn five different keys that will help restore our relationships and bring peace to our lives.

Pastor Donnie Peters shares the second message in our series Help Us at Hope Community Church on May 4 and 5, 2019.

Sometimes our days can feel endless. A million errands, in-laws coming to town, a messy house, reckless drivers on the road, ungrateful children and the silent disapproval of an angry spouse. Conflict and opposition surround us. How do we function with all the stress? We need help! In our next series, Help Us, we’ll learn five different keys that will help restore our relationships and bring peace to our lives.

Pastor Mike Lee shares the first message in our series Help Us at Hope Community Church on April 27 and 28, 2019.

Sometimes our days can feel endless. A million errands, in-laws coming to town, a messy house, reckless drivers on the road, ungrateful children and the silent disapproval of an angry spouse. Conflict and opposition surround us. How do we function with all the stress? We need help! In our next series, Help Us, we’ll learn five different keys that will help restore our relationships and bring peace to our lives.

Jesus died 2,000 years ago, but He’s still our living hope. He’s actively involved in our lives, and He wants to guide our steps. But is that enough to start a relationship with Him, or to keep it moving forward? What can we do to help the process? This Easter, we’ll explore what Jesus has done for us, how He changes our lives and how we participate in that process.

Pastor Mike Lee shares the Palm Sunday message at Hope Community Church on April 13 and 14, 2019.

This week, Pastor Mike takes us through what Jesus did on the day of the very first Easter!

Pastor Mike Lee shares the fourth message in our series Finding God at Hope Community Church on April 6 and 7, 2019.

How do you start a relationship with God? How do you keep it moving? In a culture of easy distractions and broken relationships, it can be difficult to know if you're headed in the right direction. In our new series, Finding God, you'll learn how to make your relationship with God personal...and how to keep it growing.

Pastor Mike Lee shares the second message in our series Finding God at Hope Community Church on Mar. 30 & 31, 2019.

How do you start a relationship with God? How do you keep it moving? In a culture of easy distractions and broken relationships, it can be difficult to know if you're headed in the right direction. In our new series, Finding God, you'll learn how to make your relationship with God personal...and how to keep it growing.

Pastor Chase Gardner shares the second message in our series Finding God at Hope Community Church on Mar. 23 & 24, 2019.

How do you start a relationship with God? How do you keep it moving? In a culture of easy distractions and broken relationships, it can be difficult to know if you're headed in the right direction. In our new series, Finding God, you'll learn how to make your relationship with God personal...and how to keep it growing.

Pastor Mike Lee shares the first message in our series Finding God at Hope Community Church on Mar. 16 & 17, 2019.

How do you start a relationship with God? How do you keep it moving? In a culture of easy distractions and broken relationships, it can be difficult to know if you're headed in the right direction. In our new series, Finding God, you'll learn how to make your relationship with God personal...and how to keep it growing.

Pastor Donnie Peters shares the third message in our series Best Life at Hope Community Church on Mar. 10 & 11, 2019.

When we come to the end of our lives, nobody wants to be full of regrets for missed opportunities and chances never taken. Our time on this earth is limited so how do we make the right choices to create a lifetime of fulfillment? God has given us a promise to help us set goals, hear His voice and the ability to choose the right path. Join us as we learn to live our best lives for ourselves, our families and our future.

Pastor Donnie Peters shares the second message in our series Best Life at Hope Community Church on Mar. 2 & 3, 2019.

When we come to the end of our lives, nobody wants to be full of regrets for missed opportunities and chances never taken. Our time on this earth is limited so how do we make the right choices to create a lifetime of fulfillment? God has given us a promise to help us set goals, hear His voice and the ability to choose the right path. Join us as we learn to live our best lives for ourselves, our families and our future.

Pastor Donnie Peters shares the first message in our series Best Life at Hope Community Church on Feb. 23 & 24, 2019.

When we come to the end of our lives, nobody wants to be full of regrets for missed opportunities and chances never taken. Our time on this earth is limited so how do we make the right choices to create a lifetime of fulfillment? God has given us a promise to help us set goals, hear His voice and the ability to choose the right path. Join us as we learn to live our best lives for ourselves, our families and our future.

Pastor Mike Lee shares the seventh message in our series The Seven at Hope Community Church on Feb. 16 & 17, 2019.

What makes pride, greed, lust, envy, sloth, gluttony and wrath so powerful that we call them the seven deadly sins? Each one is a corruption of a major area in our lives. What God intended for good, we can distort and abuse. Eventually, we just end up damaging ourselves and those around us. Each sermon in our new series focuses on a different deadly sin and how to expose it within ourselves. Join us as we discover how Jesus guides us through even our most difficult internal struggles.

Pastor Mike Lee shares the sixth message in our series The Seven at Hope Community Church on Feb. 9 & 10, 2019.

What makes pride, greed, lust, envy, sloth, gluttony and wrath so powerful that we call them the seven deadly sins? Each one is a corruption of a major area in our lives. What God intended for good, we can distort and abuse. Eventually, we just end up damaging ourselves and those around us. Each sermon in our new series focuses on a different deadly sin and how to expose it within ourselves. Join us as we discover how Jesus guides us through even our most difficult internal struggles.

Pastor Mike Lee shares the fifth message in our series The Seven at Hope Community Church on Feb. 2 & 3, 2019.

What makes pride, greed, lust, envy, sloth, gluttony and wrath so powerful that we call them the seven deadly sins? Each one is a corruption of a major area in our lives. What God intended for good, we can distort and abuse. Eventually, we just end up damaging ourselves and those around us. Each sermon in our new series focuses on a different deadly sin and how to expose it within ourselves. Join us as we discover how Jesus guides us through even our most difficult internal struggles.

Pastor Mike Lee shares the fourth message in our series The Seven at Hope Community Church on Jan. 26 & 27, 2019.

What makes pride, greed, lust, envy, sloth, gluttony and wrath so powerful that we call them the seven deadly sins? Each one is a corruption of a major area in our lives. What God intended for good, we can distort and abuse. Eventually, we just end up damaging ourselves and those around us. Each sermon in our new series focuses on a different deadly sin and how to expose it within ourselves. Join us as we discover how Jesus guides us through even our most difficult internal struggles.

Pastor Mike Lee shares the third message in our series The Seven at Hope Community Church on Jan. 19 & 20, 2019.

What makes pride, greed, lust, envy, sloth, gluttony and wrath so powerful that we call them the seven deadly sins? Each one is a corruption of a major area in our lives. What God intended for good, we can distort and abuse. Eventually, we just end up damaging ourselves and those around us. Each sermon in our new series focuses on a different deadly sin and how to expose it within ourselves. Join us as we discover how Jesus guides us through even our most difficult internal struggles.

Pastor Donnie Peters shares the second message in our series The Seven at Hope Community Church on Jan. 12 & 13, 2019.

What makes pride, greed, lust, envy, sloth, gluttony and wrath so powerful that we call them the seven deadly sins? Each one is a corruption of a major area in our lives. What God intended for good, we can distort and abuse. Eventually, we just end up damaging ourselves and those around us. Each sermon in our new series focuses on a different deadly sin and how to expose it within ourselves. Join us as we discover how Jesus guides us through even our most difficult internal struggles.

Pastor Mike Lee shares the first message in our series The Seven at Hope Community Church on Jan. 5 & 6, 2019.

What makes pride, greed, lust, envy, sloth, gluttony and wrath so powerful that we call them the seven deadly sins? Each one is a corruption of a major area in our lives. What God intended for good, we can distort and abuse. Eventually, we just end up damaging ourselves and those around us. Each sermon in our new series focuses on a different deadly sin and how to expose it within ourselves. Join us as we discover how Jesus guides us through even our most difficult internal struggles.

Pastor Mike Lee shares the fifth message in our series on Psalm 23 at Hope Community Church on Dec. 15 & 16, 2018.

It may only be six verses - but it's one of the most recited and well-known chapters in the entire Bible. Psalm 23 is all about how God, our good Shepherd, wants to take care of us. In our fall series on Psalm 23, learn how live in the goodness of God.

Pastor Mike Lee shares the fourth message in our series on Psalm 23 at Hope Community Church on Dec. 8 & 9, 2018.

It may only be six verses - but it's one of the most recited and well-known chapters in the entire Bible. Psalm 23 is all about how God, our good Shepherd, wants to take care of us. In our fall series on Psalm 23, learn how live in the goodness of God.

Standalone message from Pastor Donnie Peters at Hope Community Church on Dec. 1 & 2, 2018.

Pastor Mike Lee shares the third message in our series on Psalm 23 at Hope Community Church on Nov. 24 & 25, 2018.

It may only be six verses - but it's one of the most recited and well-known chapters in the entire Bible. Psalm 23 is all about how God, our good Shepherd, wants to take care of us. In our fall series on Psalm 23, learn how live in the goodness of God.

Pastor Mike Lee shares the second message in our series on Psalm 23 at Hope Community Church on Nov. 17 & 18, 2018.

It may only be six verses - but it's one of the most recited and well-known chapters in the entire Bible. Psalm 23 is all about how God, our good Shepherd, wants to take care of us. In our fall series on Psalm 23, learn how live in the goodness of God.

Pastor Mike Lee shares the first message in our series on Psalm 23 at Hope Community Church on Nov. 10 & 11, 2018.

It may only be six verses - but it's one of the most recited and well-known chapters in the entire Bible. Psalm 23 is all about how God, our good Shepherd, wants to take care of us. In our fall series on Psalm 23, learn how live in the goodness of God.

Donnie Peters shares the eighth and final message in the Your Choice Your Voice series about the power of the words "I Forgive You" in the weekend services at Hope Community Church on Nov. 3 & 4, 2018.

Our words can bring life or they can bring death. They can bring comfort or they can bring pain. They can lift you up or they can you tear down. But, it’s up to you. It’s your choice. Your voice.

Donnie Peters shares the seventh message in the Your Choice Your Voice series about the power of the words "Thank You" in the weekend services at Hope Community Church on October 27/28, 2018.

Our words can bring life or they can bring death. They can bring comfort or they can bring pain. They can lift you up or they can you tear down. But, it’s up to you. It’s your choice. Your voice.

The sixth message in the Your Choice Your Voice series with Pastor Donnie Peters at Hope Community Church on October 20/21, 2018.

Our words can bring life or they can bring death. They can bring comfort or they can bring pain. They can lift you up or they can tear you down. But, it’s up to you. It’s your choice. Your voice.

The fifth message in the Your Choice Your Voice series with Pastor Mike Lee at Hope Community Church on October 13/14, 2018.

Our words can bring life or they can bring death. They can bring comfort or they can bring pain. They can lift you up or they can tear you down. But, it’s up to you. It’s your choice. Your voice.

The fourth message in the series at Hope Community Church with Founding Pastor, Mike Lee on October 6/7, 2018.

Our words can bring life or they can bring death. They can bring comfort or they can bring pain. They can lift you up or they can tear you down. But, it’s up to you. It’s your choice. Your voice.

The third weekend in the Your Choice Your Voice series with Mike Lee at Hope Community Church on September 29/30, 2018.

Our words can bring life or they can bring death. They can bring comfort or they can bring pain. They can lift you up or they can you tear down. But, it’s up to you. It’s your choice. Your voice.

The second weekend in the Your Choice Your Voice series at Hope Community Church with Mike Lee on September 22/23, 2018.

Our words can bring life or they can bring death. They can bring comfort or they can bring pain. They can lift you up or they can tear you down. But, it's up to you. It's your choice. Your voice.

Week one of our new series, Your Choice. Your Voice. with Mike Lee at Hope Community Church on Sept. 9, 2018.

Our words can bring life or they can bring death. They can bring comfort or they can bring pain. They can lift you up or they can you tear down. But, it’s up to you. It’s your choice. Your voice.

The fourth and final message in the Answer series with Donnie Peters at Hope Community Church on September 1/2, 2018.

Every day brings about new questions. Should I hit snooze? What should I wear? Should I take this job? We all want to feel like we have the right answers. We also have deeper questions. Why am I here? Am I good enough? Can Jesus really be the answer to all of our questions – big and small? Find out in our series – The Answer.

The third weekend in the Answer series with Donnie Peters at Hope Community Church. This weekend's topic: worry.

Every day brings about new questions. Should I hit snooze? What should I wear? Should I take this job? We all want to feel like we have the right answers. We also have deeper questions. Why am I here? Am I good enough? Can Jesus really be the answer to all of our questions – big and small? Find out in our series – The Answer.

The second message in "The Answer" series with Donnie Peters at Hope Community Church on August 19, 2018.

Every day brings about new questions. Should I hit snooze? What should I wear? Should I take this job? We all want to feel like we have the right answers. We also have deeper questions. Why am I here? Am I good enough? Can Jesus really be the answer to all of our questions – big and small?

The first message in "The Answer" series with Donnie Peters at Hope Community Church on August 12, 2018.

Every day brings about new questions. Should I hit snooze? What should I wear? Should I take this job? We all want to feel like we have the right answers. We also have deeper questions. Why am I here? Am I good enough? Can Jesus really be the answer to all of our questions – big and small?

The second and final message in the #Amen series with Mike Lee at Hope Community Church.

How do we talk to God? How do we pray? What do I say? Sometimes we make it more difficult than it actually is. Prayer can change lives. In our new two-part series, #amen, discover how to pray effectively and why it’s important to pray.

Week one in our new series #amen with Pastor Mike Lee at Hope Community Church on July 28, 2018.

How do we talk to God? How do we pray? What do I say? Sometimes we make it more difficult than it actually is. Prayer can change lives. In our new two-part series, #amen, discover how to pray effectively and why it’s important to pray.

The fifth and final message in the Origin Story about the book of Deuteronomy with Pastor Mike Lee at Hope Community Church.

You are part of an epic story. God is the Author. This world is His story. We are His characters. God created you and accepts you no matter what you have ever done or failed to do. Join us for our new series, Origin Story, and discover the intentions of our loving God from the very beginning.

The fourth message in the Origin Story series and the book of Numbers with Mike Lee at Hope Community Church.

You are part of an epic story. God is the Author. This world is His story. We are His characters. God created you and accepts you no matter what you have ever done or failed to do. Join us for our new series, Origin Story, and discover the intentions of our loving God from the very beginning.

The third weekend in the series with Mike Lee, Founding Pastor at Hope Community Church on June 31/ July 1, 2018.

You are part of an epic story. God is the Author. This world is His story. We are His characters. God created you and accepts you no matter what you have ever done or failed to do. Join us for our new series, Origin Story, and discover the intentions of our loving God from the very beginning.

The second weekend in the Origin Story series with Mike Lee at Hope Community Church on June 24, 2018.

You are part of an epic story. God is the Author. This world is His story. We are His characters. God created you and accepts you no matter what you have ever done or failed to do. Join us for our new series, Origin Story, and discover the intentions of our loving God from the very beginning.

Mike Lee, founding pastor of Hope Community Church talks about the top three needs of men in this 2018 Father's Day message.

The first weekend in the Origin Story series with Mike Lee at Hope Community Church on June 9. 2018.

You are part of an epic story. God is the Author. This world is His story. We are His characters. God created you and accepts you no matter what you have ever done or failed to do. Join us for our new series, Origin Story, and discover the intentions of our loving God from the very beginning.

The third and final weekend in the self:less series with Donnie Peters at Hope Community Church on June 3, 2018.

We all go through experiences in life. Successes and failures. Highs and lows. But the greatest experience will be when God uses you to impact the life of someone else. Join us for our new series, self:less, and discover how you can live a legacy of significance.

The second weekend in the self:less series with Donnie Peters at Hope Community Church.

We all go through experiences in life. Successes and failures. Highs and lows. But the greatest experience will be when God uses you to impact the life of someone else. Join us for our new series, self:less, and discover how you can live a legacy of significance.

Week one of our new series, "self:less" with Donnie Peters at Hope Community Church on May 20, 2018.

We all go through experiences in life. Successes and failures. Highs and lows. But the greatest experience will be when God uses you to impact the life of someone else. Join us for, self:less, and discover how you can live a legacy of significance.

The final week of our series, "Explore God: Can I know God personally?" with Mike Lee at Hope Community Church on May 6, 2018.

Explore God is a safe and creative place to seek answers to the questions we all have about God, faith, religion and more. Over 50 churches from all denominations in the Triangle area are participating in the Explore God initiative for five-weeks. We are exploring five big questions in a sermon series each weekend and in public discussion groups in the Triangle.

Week four of our series, "Explore God: Is the Bible reliable?" with guest pastor Donnie Williams at Hope Community Church on April 29, 2018.

Explore God is a safe and creative place to seek answers to the questions we all have about God, faith, religion and more. Over 50 churches from all denominations in the Triangle area are participating in the Explore God initiative for five-weeks. We are exploring five big questions in a sermon series each weekend and in public discussion groups in the Triangle.

Week three of our new series, "Explore God: Is Christianity too narrow?" with Pastor Donnie Peters at Hope Community Church on April 22, 2018.

Explore God is a safe and creative place to seek answers to the questions we all have about God, faith, religion and more. Over 50 churches from all denominations in the Triangle area are participating in the Explore God initiative for five-weeks. We are exploring five big questions in a sermon series each weekend and in public discussion groups in the Triangle.

Week two of our new series, "Explore God: Why does God allow pain & suffering?" with Pastor Mike Lee at Hope Community Church on April 15, 2018.

Explore God is a safe and creative place to seek answers to the questions we all have about God, faith, religion and more. Over 50 churches from all denominations in the Triangle area are participating in the Explore God initiative for five-weeks. We are exploring five big questions in a sermon series each weekend and in public discussion groups in the Triangle.

Week one of our new series, "Explore God: Is there a God" with Pastor Mike Lee at Hope Community Church on April 8, 2018.

Explore God is a safe and creative place to seek answers to the questions we all have about God, faith, religion and more. Over 50 churches from all denominations in the Triangle area are participating in the Explore God initiative for five-weeks. We are exploring five big questions in a sermon series each weekend and in public discussion groups in the Triangle.

Is There a God? Why Does God Allow Pain and Suffering? Is Christianity Too Narrow? Is the Bible Reliable? Can I Know God Personally?

Week two of our three-part Easter series, "Unstoppable" with Pastor Mike Lee at Hope Community Church on March 25, 2018.

Our existence is defined by resistance, but this world can be overcome. It’s been done before by a man who overcame death and changed time itself. His love for you is relentless, powerful, unending and unstoppable. That love is the very heart and message of Easter.

Week one of our three-part Easter series, "Unstoppable" with Pastor Mike Lee at Hope Community Church on March 18, 2018.

Our existence is defined by resistance, but this world can be overcome. It’s been done before by a man who overcame death and changed time itself. His love for you is relentless, powerful, unending and unstoppable. That love is the very heart and message of Easter.

The fourth and final message in the Free to be me series at Hope Community Church on March 10/11, 2018 with Donnie Peters.

We all want to be free. Freedom isn’t just something that we value as a nation; it is an essential aspect of being a follower of Jesus. To really be free, we can’t worry about what others think or say about us, or even what we believe about ourselves. To truly be free, we need to know who God says we are.

The third message in the Free to be me series at Hope Community Church on March 3/4, 2018 with Donnie Peters.

We all want to be free. Freedom isn’t just something that we value as a nation; it is an essential aspect of being a follower of Jesus. To really be free, we can’t worry about what others think or say about us, or even what we believe about ourselves. To truly be free, we need to know who God says we are.

The second week in the Free to be Me series at Hope Community Church on the weekend of February 24/25, 2018 with Donnie Peters.

We all want to be free. Freedom isn’t just something that we value as a nation; it is an essential aspect of being a follower of Jesus. To really be free, we can’t worry about what others think or say about us, or even what we believe about ourselves. To truly be free, we need to know who God says we are.

Week one of our series, Free To Be Me, with Pastor Donnie Peters at Hope Community Church on February 18, 2018.

We all want to be free. Freedom isn’t just something that we value as a nation; it is an essential aspect of being a follower of Jesus. To really be free, we can’t worry about what others think or say about us, or even what we believe about ourselves. To truly be free, we need to know who God says we are.

The sixth and final weekend in the BattleTested series at Hope Community Church with Mike Lee on Feb. 11, 2018.

There is an invisible war being fought in our minds – where real battles are lost or won. It’s a war where no one wears a uniform. We need to be prepared – but how? In our new series, BattleTested, you will learn how to experience freedom and stand your ground in any situation.

The fifth weekend in the BattleTested series at Hope Community Church with Mike Lee.

There is an invisible war being fought in our minds – where real battles are lost or won. It’s a war where no one wears a uniform. We need to be prepared – but how? In our new series, BattleTested, you will learn how to experience freedom and stand your ground in any situation.

The fourth Weekend in the BattleTested series at Hope Community Church with Mike Lee.

There is an invisible war being fought in our minds – where real battles are lost or won. It’s a war where no one wears a uniform. We need to be prepared – but how? In our new series, BattleTested, you will learn how to experience freedom and stand your ground in any situation.

The third weekend in the BattleTested series at Hope Community Church with Mike Lee.

There is an invisible war being fought in our minds – where real battles are lost or won. It’s a war where no one wears a uniform. We need to be prepared – but how? In our new series, BattleTested, you will learn how to experience freedom and stand your ground in any situation.

The second weekend in the BattleTested series at Hope Community Church with Mike Lee on January 13/14, 2018.

There is an invisible war being fought in our minds – where real battles are lost or won. It’s a war where no one wears a uniform. We need to be prepared – but how? In our new series, BattleTested, you will learn how to experience freedom and stand your ground in any situation.

Week one of our new series, BattleTested, with Pastor Mike Lee at Hope Community Church on Jan. 7, 2018.

There is an invisible war being fought in our minds – where real battles are lost or won. It’s a war where no one wears a uniform. We need to be prepared – but how? In our new series, BattleTested, you will learn how to experience freedom and stand your ground in any situation.

The eighth and final message in the Journey series at Hope Community Church with Mike Lee on the weekend of December 16/17, 2017.

Life is a journey. It’s never about the destination. Abraham is a great example of a man who left the comfort of all he knew for the adventure of the journey. Are you looking for adventure? Find it in our series, “The Journey: Lessons from the Life of Abraham.”

The seventh message in the Journey series at Hope Community Church with Mike Lee on the weekend of December 9/10, 2017.

Life is a journey. It’s never about the destination. Abraham is a great example of a man who left the comfort of all he knew for the adventure of the journey. Are you looking for adventure? Find it in our series, “The Journey: Lessons from the Life of Abraham.”

The sixth message in The Journey series with Donnie Peters on Dec. 3, 2017.

Life is a journey. It's never about the destination. Abraham is a great example of a man who left the comfort of all he knew for the adventure of the journey. Are you looking for adventure? Find it in our new series, "The Journey: Lessons from the Life of Abraham."

The fifth and special "Thanksgiving" message in The Journey series with Donnie Peters on November 26, 2017.

Life is a journey. It's never about the destination. Abraham is a great example of a man who left the comfort of all he knew for the adventure of the journey. Are you looking for adventure? Find it in our new series, "The Journey: Lessons from the Life of Abraham."

The fourth week of our series, The Journey: Lessons from the Life of Abraham at Hope Community Church on Nov. 18/19, 2017 with Mike Lee.

The third week of our series, The Journey: Lessons from the Life of Abraham at Hope Community Church on Nov. 11/12, 2017 with Donnie Peters.

The second week of our new series, The Journey: Lessons from the Life of Abraham at Hope Community Church on Nov. 4/5, 2017 with Donnie Peters.

Obstacles and opposition are opportunities for obedience.

Obedience always leads to growth.

The first week of our new series, The Journey: Lessons from the Life of Abraham at Hope Community Church on October 28/29, 2017 with Mike Lee.

Four things we can learn from Abraham's life of faith:

We need to hold everything loosely. We need to see the goodness of God. We built altars. We acknowledge our brokenness.

God's great longing is to bless the world, all the people and all the families of the earth.

One of the reasons Abraham is able to trust God for the journey is because he's convinced that God is a God of blessing.

God is looking for people who are honest about where they are and willing to start from that point on the journey.

Life's major pursuit isn't the journey to knowing one's self - it's the journey to knowing God.

You'll never really begin the process of coming to know yourself until you begin the journey of coming to know God.

Taking Flight: Week seven As we’re set free by the truth of God’s word – our lives are transformed.

Thought life: Colossians 3:2-4

Consequence of sin: James 1:15-16

Honesty: Colossians 3:9-10

Forgiveness: Ephesians 4:32-5:2

Pride: Jeremiah 9:23-24

Change: Romans 12:2

Anger/Revenge: James 1:19-20

Speech: Ephesians 4:29

Selfishness: Philippians 2:3

Materialism: Proverbs 30:8-9

Authority: Romans 13:1-2

Relationships: Proverbs 13:20

Speak the truth Personalize these truths Pray the truths Meditate on these truths

The sixth week in the Taking Flight series at Hope Community Church on October 15/16, 2017 with Mike Lee.

Gravity. It pulls us down, keeping us tethered to the earth. It’s a law of nature, one that we are forced to understand and accept from the beginning. But our souls long to fly. To soar. To overcome. In our new series, Taking Flight, discover how our lives can be changed for the better when we lean into the spiritual laws God has placed into motion.

Week five of our current series Taking Flight with Pastor Donnie Peters on Oct. 8, 2017.

Accountability causes you to choose between your cravings and your character.

Week four of our current series Taking Flight with Pastor Mike Lee on Oct. 1, 2017.

God's goal is for our lives to be brought into alignment with the image and character of Jesus.

Our beliefs shape our attitudes and our actions.

Three things that will help you identify the lies you believe: Examine the excuses you tell yourself to justify the wrong behavior. Examine the areas in your life where you tend to over react. Examine the temptations to which you are most susceptible. The truth sets us free from sin, lies enslave us to sin.

God is at work in you and His goal is to renew you.

The kind of change God wants to bring about in your life doesn’t happen through self-will and determination.

If our lives are going to change and remain that way, we must be involved in the process of renewing our minds.

Renewal doesn’t begin with the rededication of our will – it begins with the renewal of our minds.

Renewal breaks down our resistance to God’s rule in our lives and it allows God to have greater influence over our wills.

A renewed mind results in a transformed life.

The second weekend in the Taking Flight series at Hope Community Church with Mike Lee on Sept. 16/17, 2017.

Gravity. It pulls us down, keeping us tethered to the earth. It’s a law of nature, one that we are forced to understand and accept from the beginning. But our souls long to fly. To soar. To overcome. In our new series, Taking Flight, discover how our lives can be changed for the better when we lean into the spiritual laws God has placed into motion.

The first weekend in the Taking Flight series with Mike Lee at Hope Community Church on September 9/10, 2017.

Gravity. It pulls us down, keeping us tethered to the earth. It’s a law of nature, one that we are forced to understand and accept from the beginning. But our souls long to fly. To soar. To overcome. In our new series, Taking Flight, discover how our lives can be changed for the better when we lean into the spiritual laws God has placed into motion.

The fifth and final weekend in the Greater Than series with Donnie Peters on Sept. 3, 2017 at Hope Community Church.

Let’s face it, we live in a selfie world. Most days it feels like we’re supposed to be obsessed with looking out for number one. But, living that way can get pretty exhausting. Maybe we need to flip the camera around and look at our lives from a new angle. Join us as we explore the way God has designed you and me to live a life that matters. A greater-than kind of life.

Let’s face it, we live in a selfie world. Most days it feels like we’re supposed to be obsessed with looking out for number one. But, living that way can get pretty exhausting. Maybe we need to flip the camera around and look at our lives from a new angle. Join us as we explore the way God has designed you and me to live a life that matters. A greater-than kind of life.

The third weekend in the Greater Than series with Donnie Peters on August 19/20, 2017 at Hope Community Church.

Let’s face it, we live in a selfie world. Most days it feels like we’re supposed to be obsessed with looking out for number one. But, living that way can get pretty exhausting. Maybe we need to flip the camera around and look at our lives from a new angle. Join us as we explore the way God has designed you and me to live a life that matters. A greater-than kind of life.

Week one in the "Greater Than" series with Donnie Peters at Hope Community Church on Aug. 12/13. God's will > My will.

Let’s face it, we live in a selfie world. Most days it feels like we’re supposed to be obsessed with looking out for number one. But, living that way can get pretty exhausting. Maybe we need to flip the camera around and look at our lives from a new angle. Join us as we explore the way God has designed you and me to live a life that matters. A greater-than kind of life.

Week one in the "Greater Than" series with Doug Stride at Hope Community Church on Aug. 5/6.

Let’s face it, we live in a selfie world. Most days it feels like we’re supposed to be obsessed with looking out for number one. But, living that way can get pretty exhausting. Maybe we need to flip the camera around and look at our lives from a new angle. Join us as we explore the way God has designed you and me to live a life that matters. A greater-than kind of life.

The final weekend in the "Multiply" series with Mike Lee at Hope Community Church on July 29/30, 2017.

The sixth weekend in the "Multiply" series with Mike Lee at Hope Community Church on July 22/23, 2017.

Be rich towards God, be rich towards yourself and live on the rest.

The fifth weekend in the "Multiply" series with Mike Lee at Hope Community Church on July 16/17, 2017.

This weekend was about learning how to handle our money the way God wants us to handle our money.

Pastor Chris Jones of our Ship of Zion campus speaking at Hope Community Church on July 9. 2017.

Three ways to be reminded of your faith: Obey God when you don't know where you are going Offer up to God what He asks of you Refuse to be called the son of the world (always be a child of God)

The fourth weekend in the Multiply series at Hope Community Church with Mike Lee on June 18, 2017.

There are some things in this world we can’t change, no matter how hard we try. Rules like 6+6=12. Pretty simple and straightforward right!? But, when God’s at work, simple addition can become multiplication. Join us as we explore the power of generosity during our series “Multiply.”

The third weekend in the Multiply series at Hope Community Church with Mike Lee on June 18, 2017.

There are some things in this world we can’t change, no matter how hard we try. Rules like 6+6=12. Pretty simple and straightforward right!? But, when God’s at work, simple addition can become multiplication. Join us as we explore the power of generosity during our series “Multiply.”

Week two of our Multiply series at Hope Community Church on June 11, 2017 with Pastor Mike Lee.

There are some things in this world we can’t change, no matter how hard we try. Rules like 6+6=12. Pretty simple and straightforward right!? But, when God’s at work, simple addition can become multiplication. Join us as we explore the power of generosity during our series “Multiply.”

Week one of our Multiply series at Hope Community Church on June 4, 2017 with Pastor Mike Lee.

There are some things in this world we can’t change, no matter how hard we try. Rules like 6+6=12. Pretty simple and straightforward right!? But, when God’s at work, simple addition can become multiplication. Join us as we explore the power of generosity during our series “Multiply.”

The sixth and final weekend of our I Can Relate series at Hope Community Church on May 28, 2017 with Pastor Donnie Peters.

No sleep? Dirty dishes? Messy house? Complicated carpool? We can all relate. In this six-week series, I Can Relate, we look at what it means to have healthy relationships in today’s world – no matter what age.

The fifth weekend of our I Can Relate series at Hope Community Church on May 21, 2017 with Pastor Mike Lee.

No sleep? Dirty dishes? Messy house? Complicated carpool? We can all relate. In this six-week series, I Can Relate, we look at what it means to have healthy relationships in today’s world – no matter what age.

The fourth weekend of our I Can Relate series at Hope Community Church on May 14, 2017 with Pastor Mike Lee.

No sleep? Dirty dishes? Messy house? Complicated carpool? We can all relate. In this six-week series, I Can Relate, we look at what it means to have healthy relationships in today’s world – no matter what age.

The third weekend of our I Can Relate series at Hope Community Church on May 6, 2017 with guest speaker Andy Thompson from World Overcomers Christian Church.

No sleep? Dirty dishes? Messy house? Complicated carpool? We can all relate. In this six-week series, I Can Relate, we look at what it means to have healthy relationships in today’s world – no matter what age.

The second weekend of our I Can Relate series s at Hope Community Church on April 30, 2017 with Mike Lee.

No sleep? Dirty dishes? Messy house? Complicated carpool? We can all relate. In this six-week series, I Can Relate, we look at what it means to have healthy relationships in today’s world – no matter what age.

The first weekend of our I Can Relate series s at Hope Community Church on April 23, 2017 with Mike Lee.

No sleep? Dirty dishes? Messy house? Complicated carpool? We can all relate. In this six-week series, I Can Relate, we look at what it means to have healthy relationships in today’s world – no matter what age.

Have you ever wished starting over was simple? That you could change your life like you change your clothes? Maybe the person you're created to be needs to be revealed.

The final weekend in the Book of John series at Hope Community Church on April 9, 2017 with Donnie Peters.

At the cross - we trade guilt for grace.

The fifth weekend in the Book of John series at Hope Community Church on April 2, 2017 with Donnie Peters.

Fear will lead you to either deny or depend on God.

The fourth weekend in the Book of John series at Hope Community Church on March 26, 2017 with Mike Lee.

If you could have anyone in the world pray for you who would it be? What if we told you that someone way more important already did? Learn what He prayed for and why it’s significant this weekend.

The third weekend in the Book of John series at Hope Community Church on March 19, 2017 with Mike Lee.

Sometimes hand-me-downs are good. Antique furniture. Vintage clothing. Your cousin Ralph’s awesome vinyl collection. But no one wants to be hated — especially hate that belongs to someone else. Jesus says it’s unavoidable you’re going to follow Him. Come hear more this weekend.

The second weekend in the Book of John series at Hope Community Church on March 12, 2017 with Donnie Peters.

It’s inevitable; Life gets messy. What happens when fear, regret, worry and doubt steal your peace? Who do you turn to when life gets rough? Join us this week and learn what John says is the antidote to a troubled heart.

The first week in our Book of John series with Donnie Peters on March 5, 2017 at Hope Community Church.

Loving others is easy when life is sunshine and roses. But what about when people hurt you? Or when life hands you a heaping pile of disappointment? Not so easy then, is it? Learn how to lean into the One who loves us, even when we’re unlovable and pay it forward.

The final week in the Unlocking the Music Vault series with Mike Lee on February 26, 2017 at Hope Community Church.

I’m special. You’re special. We’re all special. Right? Well, yes and no. When it comes to pride the Bible has a lot to say and it’s not always what you think. Join us as we unpack some truths from scripture.

The seventh week in the Unlocking the Music Vault series with Mike Lee at Hope Community Church on February 19,. 2017.

You don’t have to look far to see its effects; broken marriages, sex addiction, human trafficking. Devastating, right? But there’s hope. Lust doesn’t have to hold us in its grip and it’s not a battle anyone should fight alone.

Week six of the Unlocking the Music Vault series with Mike Lee on February 12, 2017.

Thomas Edison reportedly said “I didn’t fail, I just found 10,000 ways that didn’t work.” While it makes for a great motivational poster, putting this kind of attitude into practice isn’t as easy as it sounds. Join us as we look at what our culture — and the Bible — have to say about failure.

The fifth week in the Unlocking the Music Vault series at Hope Community Church on February 5, 2017 with Donnie Peters.

It’s not technically a sin, but if we linger just a little too long in the realm of temptation, we quickly find ourselves doing things we might regret. But the problem is, it’s everywhere. How can we protect ourselves from falling prey to the allure of temptation? Find out more this week.

The fourth weekend in the Unlocking the Music Vault series at Hope Community Church with Mike Lee on January 29, 2017.

Keeping up with the Joneses is a great American pastime. but the Bible is clear — greed is wrong. But if greed is the poison, what’s the antidote? Going against the flow. Learn how this weekend.

The third weekend in the Unlocking the Music Vault series at Hope Community Church on January 22, 2017 with Mike Lee.

Someone cuts you off when you’re driving. A coworker makes an unkind remark. You’re on your way to being late — again. Be honest, what’s your response? In an age where everyone has a bullhorn, maybe there’s another way.

The second message in the "Unlocking the Music Vault" series at Hope Community Church with Mike Lee on January 15, 2016.

It’s as old as the fall of the world — a desire to label, categorize and separate based on race and skin color. But no matter what we call it, God says it’s wrong. What can we do to help heal relationships in our community and in our world? Learn more this weekend.

The first message in the "Unlocking the Music Vault" series at Hope Community Church on January 7/8, 2017 with Mike Lee.

Everyone gets the blues now and then. But what happens when it’s something more? Is it even possible to walk from depression to joy? The answer is yes. It’s not always easy, but it’s always worth it.

The third weekend in the "Christmas at the Movies" series at Hope Community Church on December 11, 2016 with Donnie Peters.

Presents play a huge part in the American Christmas celebration — we love to get them, we love to give them. But if we’re not careful, we can let “stuff” overshadow the greatest gift of all.

The second week of the Christmas at the Movies series at Hope Community Church on December 5, 2016 with Mike Lee.

The traditional Christmas portrait — kids around the tree, mom, dad and a giant turkey — isn’t everyone’s reality. For some it’s not all joy and family — it’s loneliness and isolation.

The first message in the series called Christmas at the Movies at Hope Community Church with Donnie Peters on November 27, 2016.

If we’re honest, we’re all a little bit crazy this time of year. In the middle of all the drama, chaos and search for perfection, it can be easy to miss the point of Christmas. This year, take some time to slow down and reset your expectations.

A unique weekend experience at Hope on November 20, 2016 with songs, films and speaking.

In the midst of the mundane and the daily grind, staying focused on God’s faithfulness cultivates an attitude of gratitude. Learn how to stay thankful, no matter your situation.

The tenth and final message in the "Hope Where You Are" series at Hope Community Church with Mike Lee on November 13, 2016.

Faith is more than a warm, fuzzy feeling. It’s an action item. One of the best ways to live it out is to support the work being done by the church here and abroad. This week, learn more about your role in building a legacy.

The ninth weekend in the "Hope Where You Are" series at Hope Community Church on November 6, 2016 with Mike Lee.

Being the Church is a lot more involved than coming to church. Learn how to take what you know and use it to transform your world — one relationship at a time.

The eight week in the "Hope Where You Are" series with Pastor Mike Lee on October 30, 2016.

Being the Church is a lot more involved than coming to church. Learn how to take what you know and use it to transform your world — one relationship at a time.

The seventh week in the "Hope Where You Are" series with Pastor Mike Lee on October 22, 2016. The launch weekend of the Mina Project 2016.

Your time, money and talents are limited. But in the hands of a limitless God, the possibilities are great. Learn how to take whatever you have and multiply back to the One who owns it all.

Let’s talk about Ehud. He was considered deformed. He was a liar. And yet — God used him to defeat an enemy king. The truth is, God can use anyone, regardless of your background, circumstances or defects.

The fourth week in the "Hope Where You Are" series with Donnie Peters at Hope Community Church on October 2, 2016.

Elisha was an ordinary man, but when God called him to do great things, he didn’t ask questions. He simply did what was asked. As a result he became a worker of miracles, bringer of peace and spokesman for God. What is God calling you to do?

The third week in the "Hope Where You Are" series at Hope Community Church with Mike Lee on September 25, 2016.

In an “I-did-it-my-way” kind of culture, obedience doesn’t come naturally. But even though it doesn’t always make sense, when we trust God to do what’s best it’s easier to step out and do what He wants.

Week two of our current series Hope Where You Are at Hope Community Church with Mike Lee on Sept. 18, 2016.

So you made a mistake. Or two. And now you think you’ve missed your chance to go big for God. Might as well give up, right? Wrong. Learn how your mistakes might be a part of your past, but they don’t define your future.

The third and final message in the "Uprising" series at Hope Community Church with Doug Stride on August 4, 2016.

If the idea of discipling another person sounds overwhelming, it’s important to remember you’re not alone. The One who encourages you to reach others is also the One will help you to do it.

The second message in the "Uprising" series at Hope Community Church with Mike Lee on August 28, 2016.

The real work of the church doesn’t happen in a building. It happens when one person reaches one person who reaches another person. Learn more this weekend as we unpack the heart of discipleship.

The first message in the "Uprising" series at Hope Community Church with Mike Lee on August 21, 2016.

Sometimes we get so busy trying to manage our image, we forget that healthy relationships begin with honesty. Learn how to take risks that really matter and begin building relationships that impact the world.

The sixth and final message in the "#Winning" series with Donnie Peters at Hope Community Church on August 14, 2016.

God gave you everything. What are you giving back? Learn why money issues are really heart issues and why generosity is a key part of growing in a relationship with Jesus.

The fifth week in our "#Winning" series at Hope Community Church on August 7, 2016 with Donnie Peters.

You’ve got the answer to some of life’s most pressing problems. Don’t hide it! By sharing your story you encourage others. Reach your sphere of influence and the world around you changes.

The fourth message in the "#Winning" series with Donnie Peters at Hope Community Church on July 31, 2016.

You’ve got talents. You’ve got gifts. You’ve got resources. But in reality, they all belong to God. What does He want you to do with them? Find out more this weekend.

The third weekend in the summer series "#Winning" at Hope Community Church with Jason Gore on July 24, 2016.

It’s been said that no man is an island. What the heck does that mean? It means no doing life on your own. You need others and they need you. Find out how to plug in and live life in community.

The second week in the summer 2016 series at Hope Community Church called "#winning" with Bryan Cheney.

The first step to knowing God is knowing Jesus. But we can only do this by reading the Words He left for us and putting them into practice. Easy, right? Learn how to be more intentional about living obediently.

The first week of the #winning series at Hope Community Church with Donnie Peters.

There are fans and then there are followers. What’s the difference? Find out this weekend and learn why it matters.

The fifth week in the "Meet the Gospel" series on June 26, 2016 with Mike Lee at Hope Community Church.

It’s easy to confuse happiness with joy, but in reality they’re not quite the same. Is it possible to experience joy even when things aren’t going so great? The answer is “yes!”

The fourth week in the "Meet the Gospel" series on June 19, 2016 with Mike Lee at Hope Community Church.

Propitiation. Regeneration. Sovereign. Don’t let the big words scare you. Simply put, they’re all parts of God’s character — separating authentic righteousness from the counterfeit.

The third week in the "Meet the Gospel" series at Hope Community Church with Mike Lee on June 12, 2016.

Finger-pointing. Comparing. Judging. Blaming. All natural outcomes of man’s self-righteousness. But the truth is, apart from God, we’ve got no reason to be prideful.

The second week in the "Meet the Gospel" series at Hope Community Church with Mike Lee on May 5, 2016.

The first step to getting help is knowing you need it. Fortunately, nothing surprises God. Learn how He loves us right where we are and makes a way for genuine relationship.

The first weekend of the "Meet the Gospel" series at Hope Community Church with Mike Lee on May 30, 2016.

Left to our own devices, man is a mess-making machine. We lie. We cheat. We’re generally unlikeable and unsavable. Good thing we have someone to help.

The Church is more than a building. It’s a life-changing organism dedicated to reaching the world with God’s story. Where do you fit in? Come hear how you can be a powerful part of reaching the Triangle and changing the world – today and in years to come.

The final message in the "Relationship Series" at Hope Community Church with Mike Lee on May 15, 2016.

Chosen, forgiven, rescued, redeemed. Is this how you see yourself? If not, you could be sabotaging your relationships without even knowing it. Once you define yourself by God’s love, not by your choices, you’ll begin to see others in a whole new light.

The sixth message in the "Relationship Series" at Hope Community Church on Mother's Day weekend, May 8, 2016 with Mike Lee.

Jesus never said life would be easy. Difficult situations — and difficult people — are a fact of life. But following a few simple steps can make conflict and confrontation a healthier process.

The fifth message in the "Relationship Series" at Hope Community Church with Mike Lee on May 1, 2016.

It’s easier to turn our backs on a problem when situations get unpleasant. This week meet a man who understood heartache but chose love over resentment.

The fourth message in the "Relationship Series" at Hope Community Church with Mike Lee on April 24, 2016.

Forgiveness is only the beginning. The real work begins when we choose to love those who hurt us. At the end of the day, the command wasn’t forgive your enemy it was love your enemy.

The third weekend in the "Relationship Series" at Hope Community Church with Donnie Peters.

Withholding forgiveness hurts you, not the person who offended you. Step one is making the choice. The rest? It’s a process.

The second week in the "Relationship Series" with Donnie Peters on April 10, 2016 at Hope Community Church.

Acceptance is a universal human need. But the acceptance we crave can be difficult to extend. When you take your cues from the One who receives you just as you are, we can live differently.

The launch of the new Relationship Series at Hope Community Church with Mike Lee on April 3, 2016.

I demand my rights, you demand yours. That’s just the way it is. Or is it? Let’s take a look at what Jesus says about interpersonal relationships — we might just be surprised.

2016 Easter service at Hope Community Church.

The final Level in the "Level Up" series at Hope Community Church with Donnie Peters on March 20, 2016.

Hey, it’s all good. If it feels good do it. It’s my life anyway. Sometimes these slogans can seem tempting. But being a Christ-follower often means going against the flow.

The fifth message in the "Level Up" series at Hope Community Church with Donnie Peters.

Simply put, faithfulness is staying the course even when you can’t see the end. What does that look like in our lives today? Come hear what the Bible has to say about faithfulness in a sometimes faithless world.

The fourth sermon in the "Level Up" series at Hope Community Church with Mike Lee on March 6, 2016.

From caustic social media posts to arrogant politicians, you don’t have to look too far to see that kindness and goodness are becoming lost arts. But in God’s economy, kindness never goes out of style.

The third part in the "Level Up" series at Hope Community Church on February 28, 2016 with Pastor Mike Lee.

You’re late for work. Traffic’s horrible. And just as you’re taking a drink of your coffee, the person in the car in front of you slams on their brakes. What happens next? Most of us probably wouldn’t want to share our answers. Learn why patience truly is a virtue.

Part two of our "Level Up" series at Hope Community Church on February 21, 2016 with Donnie Peters.

It’s easy to think joy and peace are happy outcomes of pleasant situations. But God promises to provide them even when things aren’t so great. How is this possible? Maybe it all comes down to trust in the One who knows what’s best for us — despite how things might look.

The launch of the "Level Up" series at Hope Community Church on February 14, 2016 with Donnie Peters.

We love our family. We love our favorite sports teams. And we love everything in between. But what is love really? And why does it matter so much to God? Learn how knowing the answer to this important question helps you grow in love for others.

The fourth and final message in the "What's Next?" series at Hope Community Church on February 8, 2016 with Mike Lee.

Trumpets blasting. Horses on clouds. What’s up with that? Learn why, even if we don’t know the time or the day, the Bible gives clues to what we can expect at the Second Coming of Christ.

Part three of the "What's Next?" series at Hope Community Church with Mike Lee on January 31, 2016.

God has always given us the ability to choose, both in life — and beyond. Learn why hell is more a matter of our decisions than His.

The second message in the "What's Next?" series at Hope Community Church with Mike Lee on January 17, 2016.

Is hell a literal place or a just a scary myth? We’ll look at key passages in the Bible and take a closer look at what Jesus had to say.

The first message in the "What's Next?" series at Hope Community Church with Mike Lee on January 10, 2016.

Streets of gold. Angels. Harps. Maybe you’ve heard these to describe Heaven. But what is Heaven really like and can we even know? Let’s take a look at what the Bible has to say.

Resolutions can be awesome. Who doesn’t want to eat better, get fit or find more hours in the day? But all these things are temporary. Join us as we learn about God’s plan for our lives and how to focus on what really matters.

The final part of the 2015 Christmas series at Hope Community Church with Mike Lee on December 20th.

She pulled off one of the most daring rescues in Bible history, saving her family from certain death. Yet how is she remembered? As Rahab the harlot. Just goes to show – no matter your title, Jesus can do great things through you.

The second message in the "Guess who's coming to Christmas?" series at Hope Community Church with Mike Lee on December 13, 2015.

Judah and his brothers made bad decision after bad decision. But choosing to deal with the consequences rather than continue the manipulation, he finally said “enough.” It’s never too late to reverse course.

The first part of the 2015 Christmas Series named "Guess Who's Coming to Christmas" with Mike Lee at Hope Community Church on December 6, 2015.

The second and final message in the "Thankful" series at Hope Community Church with Mike Lee on November 29, 2015. This special service contains a moving message, five stories and two songs.

Forgiveness. Restoration. Healing. When we bump up against the incredible goodness of God, the result is thankfulness. Walk with us through one of the Psalms and get a glimpse at worship and gratitude.

The first part in a two part Thanksgiving series called "Thankful" at Hope Community Church with Donnie Peters on November 22, 2015.

In the midst of the mundane and the daily grind, staying focused on God’s faithfulness cultivates an attitude of gratitude. Learn practical steps to keep you thankful, no matter your situation.

The final message in the "Life as we know it" series with Mike Lee from Hope Community Church on November 15, 2015.

Where will your story take you in the days to come? What would you like to see in your concluding chapter?

The third message in the "Life as we know it" series at Hope Community Church on November 8, 2015 with Lead Pastor, Mike Lee.

Who or what gives you hope? Where did you story take a turn for the better?

The second sermon in the "Life as we know it" series at Hope Community Church with Donnie Peters on November 1, 2015.

What difficulties have you faced? Were there dark twists and turns in your story?

The first message in the "Life as We Know It" series at Hope Community Church with Mike Lee on October 25, 2015.

What do your opening pages hold? Where did it start? What characters played a part in setting the stage for your life?

The final message in the "Unconditional Family" series with Mike Lee at Hope Community Church on October 18, 2015.

Your story matters to you, but if you’re a Christ-follower it could mean a whole lot more to someone else. When you share your life with others, you have the opportunity to bring hope to your friends, your neighbors and even your family.

The "Unconditional Family" series continues at Hope Community Church with Pastor Mike Lee on October 11, 2015.

Mine, mine, mine – it’s been the mantra of human beings since the beginning of time. Truth is? Everything we have is given to us by the One who created us – not for our benefit, but for the benefit of others. Learn why an open hand leads to an open heart.

The sixth part of the "Unconditional Family" series at Hope with Donnie Peters on October 4, 2015.

t’s been said the typical American family spends just five minutes a week engaged in meaningful conversation. Not exactly heartening is it? Intentional connections take time – but they’re always worth the effort.

The fifth part of the "Unconditional Family" series at Hope Community Church with Mike Lee on September 27, 2015.

In our ego-driven world, “service” can be seen as a dirty word. Learn why you’re never closer to the heart of Jesus than when you’re serving and how laying down our rights can actually be the strongest thing we can do.

The fourth part of the "Unconditional Family" series at Hope Community Church with special guests Gary and Marilyn Skinner, founders of Watoto Church in Uganda, Africa on September 20, 2015.

Being obedient starts with a heart of trust. Discover why trust is never misplaced when we follow the One who’s truly trustworthy.

The third message in the "Unconditional Family" series with Mike Lee at Hope Community Church on September 13, 2015.

Being obedient starts with a heart of trust. Discover why trust is never misplaced when we follow the One who’s truly trustworthy.

The second part of the "Unconditional Family" series at Hope Community Church with Raleigh Campus Pastor, Donnie Peters, on September 6, 2015.

The launch of the "Unconditional Family" series at Hope Community Church on August 30, 2015 with Mike Lee.

If “everyone for himself” was a family rule, it wouldn’t take long for the family to fall apart. Any group of people — especially a family — is never stronger than when they work together.

The seventh and final part in the "Profiler" series at Hope Community Church with College Pastor Wes Jones on August 23, 2015.

One day everything will come to an end. What happens next? Come hear about Jesus - the great Judge, but also our defender. Spoiler alert: that's great news for those of us who have a relationship with Him.

The sixth part of the "Profiler" series at Hope Community Church with Lead Teaching Pastor Mike Lee on August 16, 2015.

In this message we see how faith is about relationship and not religion. Nothing can separate us from that kind of love.

The fifth message in the "Profiler" series at Hope Community Church with Mike Lee on August 8, 2015.

In a country with more than a quarter of the entire world’s wealth, keeping up with the Jones’ is no easy feat. But Jesus doesn’t want us to keep up with anyone. Learn why the heart of a King is a heart of service.

The fourth part of the "Profiler" series at Hope Community Church with Mike Lee on August 2, 2015.

What happens when you have a true encounter with Jesus? You’ll never be the same again. Learn how a relationship Jesus results in real life-change.

The 3 sermon in the "Profiler" series at Hope Community Church with Mike Lee.

Great leaders are worth following, but you can’t follow effectively if you’re too busy paying attention to what other people are doing and saying. Learn why a healthy relationship with Jesus takes a lot of listening and a lot of trust.

The second part of the "Profiler" series at Hope Community Church with Mike Lee on July 19, 2015.

The Bible calls Jesus the Chief Cornerstone - or the most important part of the church. What does this mean? How can we know it's true? Learn what Jesus said about our future and how it relates to us today.

The launch of the "Profiler" series at Hope Community Church with Ryan Paige on July 12, 2015.

Even when we think we have it all together, the Bible says without Jesus we’re all lost and in need of a relationship with God. Fortunately, Jesus is looking for you. Learn about this pursuit and the big decision you need to make.

Part three of the "good idea/bad idea" series at Hope Community Church with guest speaker and author Tim Downs on June 27, 2015.

Part two of the "Good idea/bad idea" series at Hope Community Church with guest speaker and author Tim Downs.

Part one of the "Good idea / bad idea" series at Hope Community Church with guest speaker and author Tim Downs on June 14, 2015.

Believe it or not, sharing your faith is not as intimidating as it seems. Learn how to engage the culture and impact the lives around you. Try it.

The final message in the "On the road" series at Hope Community Church with Lead/Teaching Pastor Mike Lee on June 7, 2015.

Despised by his brothers, sold into slavery, wrongfully imprisoned. If anybody could have played the victim, it was Joseph. Instead, he chose to believe God was in control. Your present circumstances do not define you – like Joseph, you can choose between victor or victim.

Part eight of the "On the road" series at Hope Community Church with Lead/Teaching Pastor Mike Lee on May 30, 2015.

What could your life be if you let go of your plans and trusted God for His? Being comfortable in the passenger seat is essential to living a God-centered life.

The seventh part of the "On the road" series with Morrisville Campus Pastor, Bryan Cheney on May 24, 2015.

Sometimes God strips us of our own strength so He can fill us with His. The plan? To do some seriously amazing stuff. Are you empty enough so that God can use you on the road ahead?

The sixth part of the "On the road" series at Hope Community Church with Mike Lee on May 17, 2015.

When the rubber hits the road, a God-centered life isn’t always easy. As we step into serving Him, it’s important to work from a place of absolute trust. Once we learn to focus on our relationship with God, our life-mission will be less likely to get derailed – even when life gets messy.

The fifth part of the "On the road" series at Hope Community Church with Mike Lee on May 10, 2015.

Just because things don’t always turn out the way you plan, doesn’t mean God isn’t up to something good. Sometimes, incredibly painful circumstances can serve as a catalyst for times of intense spiritual growth. God may be speaking, are you listening?

Part four of the "On the road" series at Hope Community Church with Mike Lee on May 2/3, 2015.

What is the point of prayer? Should I really fast? Jesus’ teachings may be hard to understand or look different than our culture, but that doesn’t make them irrelevant to life today. Walk with us as we look at spiritual disciplines and what they mean for you now.

The third part of the "On the road" series at Hope Community Church with guest speaker and author Tim Downs on April 25/26, 2015.

Peer pressure. It’s not just for kids. In fact, your friends can have a profound influence on the direction of your life – and your destiny. Hear timeless lessons from the friendship of David and Jonathan, and gives us practical tips for nurturing the relationships around us.

The second part of the "On the road" series at Hope Community Church with Mike Lee on April 19, 2015.

Human beings are good at complicating things. We justify, rationalize and downright make excuses. Jesus said it doesn’t have to be this way. True obedience to the teachings of Jesus doesn’t cause chaos – it brings clarity.

Part one of the "On the road" series at Hope Community Church with Mike Lee on April 12, 2015.

What is the essence of faith? It’s a question that can seem a little overwhelming. But when you come right down to it, faith merely trusts that God can and will do what He says. Take a lesson from a Centurion hundreds of years ago and learn how to live a God-centered life.

Easter 2015 at Hope Community Church with Lead/Teaching Pastor, Mike Lee.

We all want to chart our own course. To set our own destiny. But eventually, our lives will be confronted by something out of our control. We’re faced with a choice. It’s not a question of if, but when.

The final part of the "Marriage 2.0" series at Hope Community Church with Mike Lee on March 29, 2015.

Turns out the same principles that apply to a successful marriage also apply to other relationships. This message has something for everyone — whether you’re about to be married, newly married, married for years or single, learn why love and respect are truly universal.

Pastor Mike delivers part five of the "Marriage 2.0" series at Hope Community Church on March 22, 2015.

The fourth part in the "Marriage 2.0" series with guest speaker and author Tim Downs on March 15, 2015.

It’s not a secret — men and women approach communication differently. But what if instead of seeing those differences as challenges to overcome, we could see them as opportunities to make our marriages better? Join us for an entertaining, enlightening message on communication strategies that work. This is one message you don’t want to miss!

The third part of the "Marriage 2.0" series at Hope Community Church with Mike Lee on March 8, 2014.

Has traditional marriage become obsolete? With the divorce rate hovering at around 50 percent, it can sometimes look that way. Once we understand why divorce is not an option, we can begin to see healthy marriages never go out of style.

The second week in the "Marriage 2.0" series at Hope Community Church on March 1, 2015.

The Church and the Bible seem to be out of step with modern attitudes toward homosexuality and same-sex attraction. Come hear Sam Allberry, author of “Is God Anti-Gay?” be interviewed by Mike Lee about the biblical stance, and how to lovingly approach the topic with others.

Part one of the "Marriage 2.0" series at Hope Community Church with Lead Pastor Mike Lee on February 22, 2015.

There’s a lot of confusion out there about what marriage is and isn’t. But God is not confused. Find out what God’s design is for marriage.

The final part of the "Family 2.0" series at Hope Community Church on February 8, 2015 with Lead Pastor Mike Lee.

Each year more than a million innocent lives are cut short in abortion. The numbers are staggering but there is hope.

Lead Pastor Mike Lee shares the fifth part in the "Family 2.0" series at Hope Community Church on February 1, 2015.

Women often feel pressure to conform to societal or even religious pressure. But ladies, a husband, two kids and a dog might not be God’s plan for you, or maybe it is. Celebrate your life, no matter where God has you.

Part four of the "Family 2.0" series at Hope Community Church with Lead Pastor, Mike Lee on January 25, 2015.

These days, men don’t even have to go looking for trouble – often it finds them. Safeguard your heart – and your marriage – before problems start and learn how to find hope and healing if you think it’s too late.

The third part in the "Family 2.0" series at Hope Community Church with Lead Pastor, Mike Lee on January 18, 2015.

A good builder knows that a quality home starts with a firm foundation. So does a healthy family. Learn the steps you can take to improve your marriage and build it from the foundation up.

The second part of the "Family 2.0" series at Hope Community Church with Mike Lee on January 11, 2015.

Joseph was abused by his brothers, sold in to slavery and then thrown into jail for a crime he didn’t commit. Fortunately, his past didn’t determine his future, and neither does yours.

Pastor Mike Lee shares the first part in the "Family 2.0" series at Hope Community Church on January 4, 2015.

In the beginning life was designed to be perfect. Then man got his hands on it and just look at us now. Blame, shame and a need for fame. Is there an antidote? It might not be what you’re thinking.

The conclusion of the "12 days of crazy" series at Hope Community Church with Lead/Teaching Pastor, Mike Lee on December 21, 2014.

King David’s family endured murders, rebellion, adultery, and more. But God’s promises to David didn’t depend on David’s goodness — they depended on His. This week, learn why God’s grace toward this king from Bethlehem is good news for you today.

Mike Lee shares the second part in the "12 Days of Crazy" series at Hope Community Church on December 14, 2014.

Real or fake, white lights or colored, a Christmas tree is more than just a beautiful decoration and a cool place for your presents. If we’re paying attention, the tree can point us to some pretty significant truths about Jesus.

Raleigh Campus Pastor Jason Gore shares the first part in the "12 days of Crazy"series at Hope Community Church on December 7, 2014.

More than 2,000 years ago, in a simple little stable, a baby boy was born. This week, let’s reflect on the gift that is Christ and start our Christmas season determined not to miss the point.

College Pastor, Wes Jones shares a Thanksgiving message with Hope Community Church on November 30, 2014.

Sometimes you can have it all and not really know it. Learn why an open heart starts with open eyes.

The final message in the “Unleashed” series at Hope Community Church with Lead Pastor, Mike Lee on November 23, 2014.

By nature we want to control how things turn out, but in reality, trusting God for the outcome is the best plan of action.

The fifth part of the “Unleashed” series at Hope Community Church with lead Pastor, Mike Lee on November 16, 2014.

What are we really saying when we give a present that costs us nothing? This week learn about three people in the Bible who gave from their hearts and went down in history.

The third part of the "Simple Life" series at Hope Community Church with Morrisville Campus Pastor Bryan Cheney on May 10, 2014.

The fourth part of the "Unleashed" series at Hope Community Church with Lead Pastor Mike Lee on November 9, 2014.

When we realize that everything we have ultimately belongs to God, we start to see things differently. As we continue through the Unleashed series, we’ll look at what the Bible has to say about how we use our resources.

The third message in the "Unleashed" series at Hope Community Church on November 2, 2014 by Founding Pastor, Mike Lee.

What are you doing to live up to your God-given potential? Are you living each of your 84,600 seconds a day to the fullest, or languishing in a never-ending to-do list? This week, learn why God is actively seeking good investors.

The second part of the "Unleashed" series at Hope Community Church with Lead Pastor, Mike Lee on October 26, 2014.

What could God do with us if we would simply make ourselves available? Who might we impact if we were willing to serve? Come ready to be challenged to “be the change.”

Mike Lee shares a message called "Live Obediently" to open the Unleashed series at Hope Community Church on October 19, 2014.

Sometimes have trouble taking a stand for something you believe in? You’re not alone. Taking a stand can cost you something – obedience to God has a price. This week, hear why obedience is worth it, no matter what the cost.

The final message in the "Epic" series at Hope Community Church with Mike Lee on October 5, 2014.

As sinners, our natural tendency is to run from God when we sin against Him. But all too often we forget that He is in pursuit of us even when we fall short. Join us this weekend as we learn why we should seek God even when we blow it.

When we’re on the fence, we often question if we’ll be missing out on life when we follow Jesus. In reality, we’re missing out on God’s greatest gift. Join us this weekend as Pastor Mike unwraps this unique gift.

The opening message in the "Epic" series at Hope Community Church with Lead/Teaching Pastor Mike Lee on September 14, 2014.

The Bible is God’s love story, but we don’t truly know how it unfolds until we seek a relationship with Him. Join us this weekend as Pastor Mike explores what happens when you fully let God in your life.

The sixth and final part of the "Too Busy To Listen" series at Hope Community Church with Pastor Mike Lee on September 7, 2014.

Why do we, the local church, do the things we do? How do we stay relevant? As a church we strive to love people where they are and encourage them to grow in their relationship with Jesus, but what does that look like in today’s world?

The third and final part of the "Literally: Taking God at His Word" series at Hope Community Church in Raleigh North Carolina with Doug Stride on July 27, 2014.

Is the Bible a sufficient guide for all we need to know about living a godly life? Is it enough for your life today? Join us this weekend as we wrap up our Literally series.

The 5th and final message in the "Too Busy to Listen" series at Hope Community Church with Pastor Mike Lee on August 31, 2014.

Last week we learned how we can re-prioritize our values to defeat busyness and say "yes" to God. Join us this week as we learn how we can share our story with the people God has placed in our lives.

The fourth part of the "Too Busy To Listen" series at Hope Community Church with Pastor Mike Lee on August 24, 2014

Now that you know you're too busy--and how dangerous that can be--how do you fix your busyness problem?

The first message in the "Too Busy To Listen" series at Hope Community Church with Pastor Mike Lee on August 3, 2014.

God is the creator of communication, and communication is a 2-way street. Most of us are pretty good at talking at God but not at listening. Join us this weekend as we discuss how to hear God above the clamor of our busy lives.

The second part of the "Too Busy To Listen" series with Mike Lee at Hope Community Church on August 10, 2014.

We all spend our lives trying to hear from God, but what if we’ve been doing it all wrong? Join us this weekend as we discuss how we can use the Bible as a tool through which God can speak to us.

Lead Teaching Pastor Mike Lee shares the third part of the "Too Busy to Listen" series at Hope Community Church on August 17, 2014.

You're busy. Too busy. When was the last time you threw your To-Do list out the window and just stopped? To sit. To listen. To spend time with Jesus. Join us this weekend as we unpack how to get less busy in this crazy life.

Part one of the "Literally" series at Hope Community Church with Raleigh Campus Pastor, Jason Gore on July 13, 2014.

What does it take to know God and His Word? Is He even knowable? Join us this weekend as we unpack keys to knowing God and His word.

The final message in the "Summer Blockbusters" series at Hope Community Church on July 6, 2014 with Raleigh Campus Pastor Jason Gore. #HopeBlockbusters

You’ve heard the story of David and Goliath. Little guy. Big giant. This weekend we’ll take a fresh look at the story—and discover how we are a lot less like David than we think.

Part two of the "Literally" series at Hope Community Church with Morrisville Campus Pastor, Bryan Cheney on July 20, 2014.

Is the Bible necessary for your everyday life? Is it relevant no matter where you are in your spiritual journey? Join us this weekend to find out.

The second part in the "Summer Blockbusters" series with Bryan Cheney on June 14, 2014 at Hope Community Church.

What does Biblical faith look like? How can you live a life of faith? Join us this weekend as we explore the life of Abraham and see how to live with faith like his.

The third part of the "Summer Blockbusters" series at Hope Community Church on June 21/22, 2014 with Jason Gore.

God’s plan for your life is bigger than what you’ve dreamed of for yourself. What’s keeping you from living the life He’s called you to? This weekend we’ll uncover how our past, our excuses and our opposition can’t stop God’s great plan for us.

The fourth part of the "Summer Blockbusters" series at Hope Community Church on June 21/22, 2014 with Doug Stride.

The first part of the "Summer Blockbusters" series at Hope Community Church on June 8, 2014 with Raleigh Campus Pastor, Jason Gore.

Carefully placed fig leaves and dark trees couldn’t hide Adam after he disobeyed God. Join us this weekend as we explore God's surprising response to Adam's sin and discover how this scenario plays out in your life today.

The 5th part of the "Simple Life" series with Lead/Teaching Pastor Mike Lee from Hope Community Church on the weekend of May 24/25, 2014.

Discouragement is a thief, stealing hope, joy and happiness. What if we understood how to encourage others to persevere and move forward in spite of it? And what if that helped our own discouragement in the process?

The final message in the "Simple Life" series at Hope Community Church with Lead/Teaching Pastor Mike Lee on June 1, 2014.

We spend a lot of time pleasing people, puffing up our egos, and building our resumes just to impress others, overlooking the rest and strength to be found in the biblical pursuit of self-forgetfulness.

The second part of the "Simple Life" series at Hope Community Church with Lead/Teaching Pastor Mike Lee on May 4, 2014.

Forgiving is simple but not easy. To help with this, God models a game plan that helps us get out of the debt collection business, leave the past behind, and live fully in the present.

The fourth part of the "Simple Life" series at Hope Community Church with Lead/Teaching Pastor Mike Lee on May 17/18 2014.

What’s the key to our own self-worth and emotional well-being? It’s knowing how to give the gift of unconditional love and acceptance to others. Challenging? Usually. A biblical mandate? Always.

The first part of the "Simple Life: Relationships for Dummies" series at Hope Community Church with Lead/Teaching Pastor, Mike Lee on April 27,2014.

God has invited us into a relationship with Him. Once we accept His invitation, He sets about teaching us what this relationship should look like, both with Him and with others.

The third part of the "Broken" series at Hope Community Church with Lead/Teaching Pastor Mike Lee on the weekend of April 5/6, 2014.

It was a good day for Barabbas, the rebel; he missed his cross and the death meant for him. Though rebels through and through, because of Jesus, we miss our cross too.

It was the day that changed the world. On the first day, He was dead. On the third, He was alive again.

What do you do with that? What do you do with Him?

Watch Easter at Hope 2014.

The fourth part of the "Broken" series at Hope Community Church with Lead/Teaching Pastor Mike Lee on April 13, 2014.

Hanging on a cross on either side of Jesus, one thief chose Him, the other, in anger, rejected Him. What’s keeping you from choosing Jesus?

The second part of the Broken series (#broken) at Hope Community Church with Lead/Teaching Pastor Mike Lee on March 30,2014.

Judas’ manipulation of the truth and his betrayal of Jesus had dire consequences. Like Judas, try as we might, we can’t bargain with God. In mercy God forgives, but in justice we’re responsible for the consequences of our sin.

The first part of the "Broken" series leading up to Easter with Mike Lee from Hope Community Church on March 22/23, 2014.

Caiaphas, high priest in Jerusalem, went to great lengths to keep anyone — including Jesus — from threatening what he had built. We’re not so different when it comes to holding on to what is ours.

Pastor Mike Lee's message from Hope Community Church on March 15/16, 2014.

Community is a fundamental life search. As terms like neighbor, family and congregation are being redefined in the 21st century, people still crave face-to-face relationships. So how do we experience belonging as well as believing?

Week 8 of the "Apply as Directed" series at Hope Community Church with Lead Pastor Mike Lee on February 23, 2014.

How, in a world of suffering, can we call God good? Something about this life is so broken that only God can fix it, so why doesn’t He? And where is He when life seems at its darkest?

"Word to the Wise" - Week 9 of Hope Community Church's series "Apply as Directed" with campus pastor Bryan Cheney

The final message in the "Apply as Directed" series with Chase Gardner at the Raleigh Campus on March 8/9 2014.

As this series wraps up, we are reminded that standing still is not an option in our relationship with God. Growing in Christ means we’re on the move, learning to walk into greater spiritual maturity.

The sixth part of the "Apply as Directed" series at Hope Community Church in Raleigh NC with Mike Lee on February 9, 2014.

It’s not my fault. He did it first. I’ll stop if she will. We have a hard time owning up to our part in disagreements. But resentment is a self-inflicted wound. What if we could learn how to get over ourselves?

The 7th part of the "Apply as Directed" series with Lead Pastor Mike Lee at Hope Community Church on February 15/16, 2014.

We don’t think we’re rich, we think we’re only average. We feel we don’t really “have enough.” But what if it’s not about how much we have, but what we do with what we have?

The 5th part of the series "Apply as Directed" from the book of James by Lead/Teaching Pastor Mike Lee at Hope Community Church on the weekend of February 1/2 2014.

Our tongues, like a small spark, can start an uncontrollable wildfire in our lives and the lives of others. We need wisdom for when to speak up and when to shut up.

The third part of the series "Apply as Directed" by Lead Pastor Mike Lee at Hope Community Church on the weekend of January 18-19, 2014.

There comes a time to stop standing still, to do something more than just listen, receive and get. At some point, we must do something different.

The second week of the Apply as Directed series at Hope Community Church with Pastor Mike Lee from January 11/12 2014.

The hardships of life do not shape us; how we respond to them does. A biblical view of responding to disappointments can safeguard us from spiritual disillusionment when—not if— difficulties surface in our lives.

The fourth part of the "Apply as Directed" series at Hope Community Church with Mike Lee.

We all do it. We like to think we don’t, but we do. And we’ll probably need God’s help to stop doing it. It’s our dirty little secret about what, and who, we value.

The fourth and final part of the "Presence" series at Hope Community Church with Lead/Teaching Pastor, Mike Lee.

The third part of Hope's "Presence" series at the Holly Springs Campus with Chris Cockerham.

What kind of faith did it take for a young Jewish girl to remain clinging to her God in the midst of pain, persecution and doubt? What kind would help us do the same?

The first part of the "Apply As Directed" series at Hope Community Church with Lead/Teaching Pastor, Mike Lee.

The fourth and final part of the #ThisIsWorship series with Mike Lee at Hope Community Church.

What better way to wrap up a series on worship than to spend time together as a church family in praise and worship, especially this weekend before Thanksgiving. And whether times have been good or difficult, we all have much to be thankful for. Join us for this special celebration.

The first part of a three part Christmas series called "Presence" at Hope Community Church with Mike Lee.

No one in all of history has ever given up more or gone to such lengths for the sake of love. Talk about loving differently. So what was the first Christmas really all about and why does it matter so much?

The second part of a three part Christmas series called "Presence" at Hope Community Church with Mike Lee.

The first Christmas brought with it scandal, controversy, massacres, and mystery. Yet the Bible proclaims the birth of Jesus good news. This weekend discover why that is as we unwrap just how good the good news really is.

Doug Stride talks about worship in the first message in the #ThisIsWorship series.

Is worship a noun or a verb? Do we do it only at church? Do we do it only when we sing? And whenever and wherever we do it, does it really change everything?

Mike Lee speaks to Hope Community Church in the third message in the #ThisIsWorship series.

Worship can be dangerous when it wakes you up to God and His purposes in the world, and it often takes spiritual courage to see that kind of worship through.

Every weekend people all over the world look up at a screen, open a hymnal, or simply take a breath, and...sing. Is it simply because it's part of a church service, or does it signify something greater?

The 8th part of the series "Love Different" from Hope Community Church with Mike Lee.

It's easier to judge. It's easier to require people to change first. It's easier to withhold grace and mercy until it's earned. But Jesus tells us to be different, to love different, and to work diligently toward relationship restoration.

The tenth part of the series "Love Different" from Hope Community Church with Mike Lee on October 26/27 2013.

We often bristle at the biblical mandate to submit to one another. Why do we have to? What happens when do, and what happens when we don't? And is that what it takes for us to experience the healthy, thriving relationships we so long for?

http://gethope.net

The 9th part of the series "Love Different" from Hope Community Church with Mike Lee from the weekend of October 19/20, 2013.

When do we walk away, and when do we stay and engage? When do we push for resolve and restoration, and when should we allow time for space between us? It's all part of learning to love different.

http://gethope.net

The sixth part of the series "Love Different" from Hope Community Church with Mike Lee.

Love asks that we sometimes compromise our personal desires and preferences for the sake of someone else. Without sacrificing truth and principles, how and when should we compromise on our practices?

The fifth part of the series "Love Different" from Hope Community Church with Jason Gore.

Loneliness and disconnection are epidemics in our world, but we were never created to live this way. How can we find the reconnections we so desperately need and were designed for?

The seventh part of the series "Love Different" from Hope Community Church with Mike Lee.

Forgiveness is hard for most of us, especially if the wrong done against us was deeply painful or the person who hurt us is not repentant. So how do we do it? And why is it so important that we do?

The second part of the series "Love Different" from Hope Community Church with Mike Lee.

What’s your story? The one about what God did for you when you didn’t deserve it. The story that makes it possible for you to love others even when you don’t feel like it or think you can.

The fourth part of the series "Love Different" from Hope Community Church with Mike Lee.

What does it really mean to be created in the image of God? And how should our understanding of this be reflected in our relationships with others?

The third part of the series "Love Different" from Hope Community Church with Mike Lee.

We control, convince and manipulate our relationships to get where we want to go. By serving, submitting and sacrificing, Jesus got where He needed to go and emerged victorious. What if we tried it His way?

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The fifth part of a series called "Big Questions, Honest Answers" with Chris Cockerham at Hope Community Church's Raleigh Campus.

At one point or another most of us ask if who we are and what we're doing really matters. We want to be on a road to a life packed with purpose. But what if we're unsatisfied with our journey? What's the secret to getting on the right path and leaving a legacy that truly matters?

The first part of the series "Love Different" from Hope Community Church with Mike Lee.

We know what the Bible says; love your enemies, love those who persecute you, love your neighbor as yourself. But how? And why?

Mike Lee, Lead Pastor of Hope Community Church shares a message on the weekend of August 17th/18th at the Raleigh Campus.

Time for a vision check-up. Pastor Mike shares a "state of the church" address. We'll see more clearly the vision, mission, and future plans of Hope Community Church.

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The fourth part of a series called "Big Questions, Honest Answers" with Doug Stride at Hope Community Church's Raleigh Campus.

Heartbreak. Disappointment. Confusion. Loss. Where is God in the midst of it? How do we hang on while going through it? And can we truly find hope and healing through belief in a loving God?

The third part of a series called "Big Questions, Honest Answers" with Chris Cockerham at Hope Community Church's Holly Springs Campus.

We're all too good at it. Making mistakes. Blowing it. Failing. And sometimes the consequences seem too great to bear. Is there any hope for it? For us? Is there a way to make things right and tame our wayward hearts?

The third part of a series called "Big Questions, Honest Answers" with Chase Gardner at Hope Community Church.

We're all too good at it. Making mistakes. Blowing it. Failing. And sometimes the consequences seem too great to bear. Is there any hope for it? For us? Is there a way to make things right and tame our wayward hearts?

The first message in a series called "Big Questions, Honest Answers" by Campus Pastor, Chris Cockerham from Hope Community Church's Holly Springs Campus.

We all want to live a successful life but the truth is, many of us are not. And some of us only think we are. In fact, we might be surprised to discover there are only two options for living the life we want.

The second part of a series called "Big Questions, Honest Answers" at Hope Community Church in Holly Springs, NC. Message by Chris Cockerham on July 20/21 2013.

We live our lives in constant pursuit of. . .something. As soon as we think we’ve found what we’re looking for, there’s always something better and brighter just outside our reach. In short, we can find nothing that truly satisfies our insatiable need for contentment. Or can we?

The second part of a series called "Big Questions, Honest Answers" at Hope Community Church in Raleigh, NC. Message by Chase Gardner, Pastor of adult learning on July 20/21 2013.

We live our lives in constant pursuit of. . .something. As soon as we think we’ve found what we’re looking for, there’s always something better and brighter just outside our reach. In short, we can find nothing that truly satisfies our insatiable need for contentment. Or can we?

The sixth and final message in the Close Encounters series from Hope Community Church and Pastor Mike Lee.

What’s more important? Doing a good and needed work on Jesus’ behalf or choosing to sit at His feet and worship Him? Jesus clarified the priorities for Mary and Martha, and He’ll clarify ours too.

The first part of a series called "Big Questions, Honest Answers" at Hope Community Church in Raleigh, NC. Message by Chase Gardner, Pastor of adult learning on July 13/14 2013.

We all want to live a successful life but the truth is, many of us are not. And some of us only think we are. In fact, we might be surprised to discover there are only two options for living the life we want.

We don’t deserve grace. We don’t deserve forgiveness. We don’t deserve another chance. Yet Jesus sho

The third part of the "Close Encounters" series at Hope Community Church with Donnie Peters from the weekend of June 15/16.

Sometimes it all seems so unfair. Why them and not us? Why you and not me? When Jesus came face to face with this man and miraculously met his need, others were left pondering the very same questions.

Part two in the Close Encounters message series at Hope Community Church with Lead Pastor, Mike Lee.

Shunned. Avoided. Isolated. And the one thing you never did was touch them. Yet not only did Jesus heal him, He touched him. What does an encounter with God offer? Compassion. Kindness. Inclusion.

Join Pastor Mike Lee from Hope Community Church in Raleigh NC as he launches a new series called Close Encounters. Ordinary people in ordinary moments experiencing extraordinary encounters with Jesus.

Part one of the series focuses on Jesus and the Widow. So busy looking for Jesus in expected places and spaces, we often overlook when He shows up in our everyday, ordinary routines. And when He does, He’s more than aware of our attitudes, motives and heart’s desires.

In the third and final message in the 3 part "Habits that can change your life series", Doug Stride shares about the power of relationships.

Want your life to tell a better story? Then connect and live in relationships which challenge and help you live out a better story.

Part one of the Message Series "Habits that can change your life" by Pastor Mike Lee on May 11/12 of 2013 at Hope Community Church.

Jesus redefined greatness as servanthood and lived out the powerful life-changing results. What would happen if you and I also lived outside of ourselves?

The second part of the "Habits that Can Change Your Life" series at Hope Community Church on May 18/19th.

Who knew adopting the habit of generosity could be so life changing? Jesus did. He showed us how it not only radically improves our life, but the lives of those we pour into.

A tremendous conflict occurs between men and women when unfulfilled expectations become demands. What would happen if we better understood what men think, fear, want, and need, and if we truly understood the purpose God has given men?

The 5th and final message in the He Said, She Said, God Said series at with KidCity Director, Bryan Cheney from Hope Community Church.

You might not guess the one thing that will help you as a parent leverage extraordinary influence in your children's lives. It’s a solid cause and effect strategy not for “he said” or “she said,” but for “they said.”

The fourth message in the series She Said, He Said, God Said with Pastor Mike Lee from Hope Community Church.

When a man follows the principles of biblical manhood, those around him benefit from his leadership and care. So how can men be empowered and encouraged to exercise the God-given leadership they were created for?

The second message in the series She Said, He Said, God Said with Pastor Mike Lee from Hope Community Church.

The Bible’s pretty clear about the honorable way men should treat women. So what are the consequences for not doing so? And what are the blessings when men do?

Ever have a hard time believing a dead man actually came back to life? You’re not the only one. His own followers couldn’t quite grasp it either. So what made them change their minds? What would change yours?

Since we know men and women are different, why then do we constantly expect the same actions and feelings from them? What would/could happen if we understood and embraced God’s intended purpose for the differences?

The fifth message in the "You @ Work" series from Mike Lee at Hope Community Church on March 9-10th.

Is your life compartmentalized? Here's work and over there is your personal life? What if God were allowed to be an active part of both?

Message from Mike Lee, Pastor of Hope Community Church from the weekend of March 23/24 2013.

The week began with palm branches and celebration, but it didn’t end that way. And as we prepare for the triumph of Easter, we must first each take our own solitary journey to the cross.

The sixth and final message in the "You @ Work" series from Mike Lee at Hope Community Church on March 16/17th.

In an age when ethics are being stretched to the limit, doing the right thing isn't always easy. What do we do when our work conflicts with our principles?

The third message in the "You @ Work" series from Mike Lee at Hope Community Church on Feb 23-24th.

What do great bosses know that make them so good? What God-honoring principles line up with a Christ-following leader?

The second message in the "You @ Work" series from Mike Lee at Hope Community Church on Feb 16/17.

In a world of extremes, balancing the professional and personal callings on our life is challenging. How do we navigate these responsibilities and make choices that reflect our relationship with Christ?

The first message in the "You @ Work" series from Mike Lee at Hope Community Church on Feb 9-10th.

Given that God's Word is clear on this matter, why do we find it so difficult to respect those in authority over us? Why do we find rebellion against authority so natural and easy? How can we turn that around?

This weekend we'll celebrate how Hope has been helping to change the world both near and far. Celebrate with us as we share stories of triumph, life change and the living out of Acts 1:8.

The fourth message in the "You @ Work" series from Mike Lee at Hope Community Church on March 2/3.

Given that God's Word is clear on this matter, why do we find it so difficult to respect those in authority over us? Why do we find rebellion against authority so natural and easy? How can we turn that around?

You're more than a sidekick and your story matters. It can even help change the world. Are you sharing it?

God has poured out His blessings on Hope Community Church, but with His blessings come great responsibilities. It's time to fully grasp and activate our superpower.

Jesus said "...go into all the world and preach the good news to everyone." It's not about missions, it's about being on mission.

Because the characteristics described in the Beatitudes flagrantly counter the world's way of doing things, conflict with those who identify with Christ is inevitable.

Purity of heart holds a mirror to our deepest motivations, purposes and desires, and determines what we'll do about them.

As we hunger after God, we'll become more like Him by giving grace to the undeserving and mercy to the miserable.

When we have truly mourned our sin, we gladly take the next step of submitting our will to God's.

We like seeing all the cards before we make a move but God tells us to lay them down and trust Him.

When God tells us to trust Him, what risk are we willing to take to do so?

Why is it we often tend to view God only as a stern, unhappy deity overseeing all we do? Jesus tackles that head on when his first message on earth tells how and why God wants us to be happy.

God is great, God is good. It’s a short prayer we dutifully recite. But do our lives really reflect our thankfulness? What moments and methods find us displaying thankful hearts to a gracious Savior? Join us for this special Thanksgiving message.

Recognizing our need for God leads to mourning in our hearts over our sinful condition that separates us from Him.

Being poor in spirit means recognizing our spiritual need for God.

Whether joyful memories abound or the lows were too many to count in 2012, it's in the past. Move forward with us this weekend and learn how to make 2013 your best year ever.

We’ve recited the Christmas story with such familiarity for so long that it’s easy to overlook one very important promise within it. Come this weekend and unwrap the gift you might be missing.

If we knew how things would turn out, we’d be all in. However God tells us to be all in because we trust Him.

Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Skype. We can instantly connect with one another online. Why then do we feel lonely? Maybe because the illusion of connecting can't take the place of actually connecting one on one and face to face.

Being the church instead of just going to church is God's design for how we are to live interdependently with one another.

To love people where they are and encourage them to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ requires that we establish an authentic church culture of true community.

We live in a culture promoting isolation, autonomy and inauthenticity. We desperately need the authentic relationships Jesus had in mind when he prayed that His followers would be one.