Blessed Hope Church: Recent Episodes
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In today’s episode, we continue to explore toxic thinking as we spend some time looking at our identity as parents as well as seasons of doubt.
Every person will have moments where they struggle with doubt. But doubt is not the enemy of faith. In fact, God can use our times of doubt to take our faith to levels it has never been before. The key is how we choose to approach our doubts.
Within every person is the need to know who they are, where they belong, and how they relate to the world. It comes down to knowing our identity. The crisis comes when we allow our thoughts to define our identity on anything other than Jesus. God longs for us to know who we are in […]
We’re back! In today’s episode, we dive deeper into our new sermon series, Toxic. We take some time to do our own toxic thinking audit and answer questions like, “Can Satan hear our thoughts?” and “What does it really mean to surrender?”. Resources: Get Out of Your Head by Jennie Allen Emotionally Healthy Spirituality by […]
There is a violent battle raging around us at all times. It is the battle for our minds, and this battle is vicious. It is unrelenting, it is intense, and it is unfair because our enemy does not fight fair because we are always with our thoughts. This battle cannot be ignored but it also […]
Israel has just crossed through the Jordan River by the power of God and is ready to start claiming the land of promise. God decided to have them start with one of the most fortified cities that they would come against. Before the conquest begins God makes sure that Joshua is in the correct position […]
The crossing of the Jordan River represents passing from one level of life to another. As Christians, God is always leading us to go deeper with Him and to do so requires us to live by faith. It takes faith to leave behind what we are familiar with, faith to step into a way that […]
A consistent truth of life is that change happens. Those shifts might be small or extremely significant, wanted or unwanted but no matter what change is part of life. The book of Joshua begins with a big change that has an impact on Joshua as an individual and for the entire nation of Israel. Within […]
In this episode, we continue in our summer series of testimonies…stories of how Jesus changes lives. Today, Nate Stalheim shares his story of faith.
We know Jesus is the only door to salvation; now we explore how we can show that we love and belong to Him and gain our Lord’s approval.
This Sunday we heard a message from one of our elders, Ryan Koehn. When we replace the old with the new, there is change taking place in our lives.
In this episode, we continue in our summer series of testimonies…stories of how Jesus changes lives. Today, Robb Cromer shares his story of faith.
As I prepare to leave Blessed Hope, I want to spend my last Sunday with you focused on 3 areas. I want to remind you of the true salvation that we all share. I want to admonish you to guard the true doctrine of the church. And finally, I want to encourage you to rest […]
As Job’s suffering continues – he wants answers from the God who is in control. He thinks he deserves them…but God thinks differently. Ultimately, God knows that Job’s questions (and ours) aren’t really about “why”…but “who.” We don’t need answers…we need God. And knowing God intimately will allow us the freedom to lament well.
In this episode, we continue in our summer series of testimonies…stories of how Jesus changes lives. Today, Shawna Kurth shares her story of faith.
In the middle of trials – many of us feel like our hope is fading. We wonder if these feelings will ever really go away or if circumstances will ever change. We can’t picture a reality where the hurt is less…so we wonder, why should we keep hoping? And why is God silent? Why won’t […]
While we know it’s true that no one is truly “good” – we still wonder why bad things happen to people who are trying to please God…or who are just minding their own business and trying to follow the rules? And what good is our faith in all of this? If our faith can’t spare […]
In this episode, we continue in our summer series of testimonies…stories of how Jesus changes lives. Today, Mike Dominick shares his story of faith.
The Holy Spirit descended on the believers in power and the Church was born. In the power of the Spirit, Peter stands to proclaim the Gospel to the city of Jerusalem and 3,000 people entered the family of God. Immediately God allows us to see how this new family cared and did life together. Our […]
Who is responsible for caring for the people of the Church? The pastor? The elders? Those in leadership? Just those that have the spiritual gift of caring for people? The answer is simple…we all are responsible when it comes to caring for one another. As we shift our thinking toward the Church back to what […]
In this episode, we kick off a summer series of testimonies…stories of how Jesus changes lives. Today, we flip the script as our host Malea Lee shares her story of faith.
What is the Church? There are a variety of answers that can be given to that question but at its core, the Church is a family. Not just any family though as it is the family of God made up of brothers and sisters who have been united by blood…the blood of Jesus. Before grasping […]
This Sunday we finish up our Sermon on the Mount series and celebrate all that God accomplished through Faith in Action! Over these last couple of months, we have worked through all the teachings Jesus gives and concludes by calling us to be wise builders who put His words into practice. Jesus has spoken with […]
In this episode, we talk pet peeves, level b roads, and library board meetings, as we wrap up our Sermon on the Mount series.
Am I really a Christian? How do I know? Are they? What’s the evidence? There are a lot of people out there that call themselves Christians…is that real? Who decides? In a community where even those who identify themselves as Christians can’t always agree on what the Bible is, who Jesus is, or how we […]
What does it really mean to love one another? How does it work? What does it look like? Refusing to act in a judgmental way is a good start…but it isn’t enough. Love is more than not treating someone poorly. Love is active and productive. It can be hard to do…so we ask God for […]
In this episode, we talk more about money, judging, and Matt’s favorite Pastor Appreciation gift.
The entire thrust of the Sermon on the Mount is to show the complete and total distinction between true religion and false religion…between spiritual truth and spiritual hypocrisy. And this is most clear with regards to how we relate to, disagree with, and correct others. Jesus is clear that acting in judgmental ways without love […]
People are naturally stuff oriented. We tend to be wrapped up in seeking, acquiring, enjoying and protecting our stuff. In this section of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus addresses both those who have plenty and those who don’t. He addresses those that stockpile for selfish reasons as well as those who strive daily for […]
In this episode, we look at giving, prayer, and fasting as we continue in our Sermon on the Mount series.
Prayer can be a little confusing. At our core – we know that prayer matters. But how? None of us can really comprehend exactly how prayer works within the infinite mind of God. The Bible teaches us that prayer is important…but what’s the right way to do it? As we continue digging into the Sermon […]
In the heart reframes of chapter 5 (murder, adultery, divorce, oaths, revenge, and love) Jesus is focusing on our internal righteousness. As we shift into chapter 6, Jesus will start to shift the focus to our religious activity. But even that comes with a stern heart warning against hypocrisy. If we want to receive the […]
Today we are celebrating our 100th episode with special guest (and B-Side founder!) Vincent Derr!
We live in a world that is obsessed with our rights. And from a human perspective it makes perfect sense. The only way to be sure that everyone is protected is to focus on our rights – especially when it comes to people who have hurt or wronged us. When our rights are violated we […]
The most significant moment in all human history took place on an early Sunday morning in a tomb where everything changed for all eternity. Many attempt to call it a myth but when the evidence is presented no person can stay neutral. The choice to deny or believe must be made. This Easter Sunday let […]
We’ve all been guilty of it to a degree – saying things we don’t really mean. Whether it’s a “little white lie,” an exaggeration to prove a point, something to make us look better, or just an outright untruth – we’ve all been down that road. As Jesus continues in the sermon on the mount, […]
As Jesus continues to help us see sin for what it is – a matter of the heart – he reframes the issue of lust, sexual sin, and divorce. These sins take root in the heart and it’s only when we understand their origin that we can hope to cut them out of our lives […]
In this episode, we dig further into Matthew 5:17-26, discussing both Old Testament ceremonial laws & sinful/unsinful anger.
Jesus ended the last chunk of Scripture with the clear call for our righteousness to surpass the Pharisees and teachers of the law…and that if it didn’t, we would not enter the Kingdom of God. Why not? Because the righteousness that God requires is first and foremost a matter of the heart. And the lesson […]
Many Christians struggle with the line between faith and works. Following God’s law as a way of being “OK” with Him vs. trusting God’s grace. But the truth is that the most basic question, “How much do we need to do to make sure we are really saved?” shows us that we don’t really understand […]
As we see in The Beatitudes – we are called to the blessed life – which is a life that is surrendered to Christ and is completely countercultural to how the world lives. So by our nature – Christians are called to live a different…and effective kind of life. The Bible describes that as Salt […]
In the Beatitudes Jesus tells us that the only blessed life is found in Him and through the Gospel. The power of the Gospel is not just to save us but the power to radically transform our lives in every way possible. With the rest of the Beatitudes, Jesus reveals how we are changed after […]
The blessed life…everyone wants it and there are countless opinions on how to get it. But Jesus begins the most significant sermon ever given by clearly establishing where the blessed life comes from. These are not isolated statements made by Jesus but the roadmap to the blessed life through Him by a surrendered life to […]
Disobedience is a powerful thing that we constantly underestimate. For some inexplicable reason, we never assume that small disobedience today will lead to bigger problems tomorrow. But, as we see with Israel during the time of the Judges, little disobediences often ultimately lead to destruction. It’s the natural consequence of doing whatever seems right in […]
Without an absolute standard of authority – morality will always be a moving target. And the reason is simple – because when there is nobody “over” me…then I’m the one who gets to decide what’s right for me – and nobody gets to tell me that what I think is right is really wrong! So […]
It’s a simple truth that we teach our kids – there is a difference between being sorry…and being sorry that you got caught. As Christians, we know that God is so gracious and that he forgives us freely when we make mistakes. Unfortunately, too many of us have gotten in the habit of abusing God’s […]
In this episode, we take a closer look at a few of the judges that God raised up to deliver Israel.
Every single one of us struggles with sin. There are areas of our lives where we know what God requires…but we decide to go our own way anyway. And of course, instead of making us happy – things begin to get worse and eventually the choices or things that we swore would make us happy […]
In this episode, we lay the foundation for the book of Judges and look ahead at the sermon series. ApologetiX “Welcome to the Judges” parody.
The parents from the previous generation didn’t do the best they could do…they did the best they would do. They neglected God’s commands and in doing so, they introduced their children to idols. And they can’t be shocked that the idols they refused to get rid of in their lives became the idols that their […]
The book of Judges begins in the middle of Israel taking control of the Promised Land which God has informed them again that it was theirs for the taking. The issue? The first chapter sets up the rest of the book because they left the project unfinished, and we discover the consequences of their actions.
In this episode, we share our favorite books, podcasts, & resources of the year, & just reflect on 2021. Resources: Matt’s Book picks: Recovering Redemption – Matt Chandler The Secular Creed – Rebecca McLaughlin Didn’t See It Coming – Carey Nieuwhof Cherish – Gary Thomas Gospel Driven Church – Jared Wilson Matt’s Podcast picks: The […]
Have you ever wondered, as the young ruler in Luke 18:18 “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” Guest speaker Nate Stalheim helps us explore what God has to say to us in His holy scriptures in answer to this question and what that looks like put into practice in our daily living.
How do we view jealousy? God’s jealousy is good and protective for us. The question that I have is: Are we influencing others or are they influencing us in view of God’s jealousy for us?
There are so many details that are not included in the story of Jesus’ birth, and this is especially true when it comes to these mysterious wise men that show up. Who are these guys? Why did they show up? What star were they following? What was Joseph and Mary’s reaction? How much gold are […]
In this episode, we talk Christmas, December birthdays, and wrap up our look at Ephesians.
The purpose of prayer is to help stay connected to the God of the Universe, to help us advance His agenda and His kingdom in this place. As we put on the full armor of God so that we can stand firm against the attacks of the enemy – it is essential that we are […]
Satan looks for unguarded areas where he can find a foothold in our life – but when we put on the armor and take up our weapons as Paul commands, we can stand firm by faith.
In this episode, we look closer at Ephesians 6:1-13 and discuss both the biblical context of bondservice & spiritual warfare.
As Christians, we know that we are going to face pressures, temptations, and persecutions in this life…and that the devil is always against us. But, God has not left us to do deal with the devil on our own. As we walk in the power of the Holy Spirit, putting on the armor of God […]
As Paul continues to encourage the church to imitate God and walk in a manner worthy of our calling – he turns his attention from marriage relationships to other household and work relationships.
In today’s episode, we look closer at Ephesians 5 and talk about love languages and how we can be filled with the Spirit.
As Paul has shown us over the past few weeks in Ephesians – the way to imitate God and walk in a manner worthy of our calling is to live in the power of the Holy Spirit…and that is never more true than in our marriage relationships.
In today’s bonus episode, we’re discussing the difference between Reformed theology and Arminianism when it comes to predestination and the idea of “once saved, always saved.” Let’s get ready to rumble.
If we are children of God, then we also ought to imitating our father. That is the basis for the encouragements of Paul in chapter 5. God is love, light, and truth…so we are to walk in love, light and wisdom. As we imitate God in this way, we will excel in walking in purity.
In today’s episode, we spend our time in Ephesians 4, talking about walking in the newness of Christ & being equipped for the work of the ministry.
Paul motivates us as we leave behind our old life, and embrace all that God has accomplished with our new life in Him.
In this chunk of Scripture, Paul outlines for the Ephesians how it is necessary for them to walk in unity.
In today’s episode, we look closer at Ephesians 3 and discuss why our approach to prayer matters.
Paul pleads with believers to understand and respond well to God’s sovereign provision.
Paul reminds the Ephesians that the great mystery of God (salvation by grace through faith in Jesus) has been revealed in them – and the result is the unified church.
In this episode, we are back after our summer break taking a closer look at Ephesians 1 and 2.
Paul addresses the make-up of the church – specifically, how it is made up of people from different backgrounds. Those different backgrounds used to keep us isolated and divided…but now we are all brought together by the blood of Jesus. That means that we are united in Christ and part of the same body.
Hands down…the most dramatic rescue in the history of the world happened on the cross of Christ. That was where the wrath of God met the grace of God and He made a way for all people to be saved. The abundant life that Christ offers must begin at the foot of the cross.
You have been chosen for the life of abundance in Jesus and together we will journey to not only know this truth but to live in it!
Jesus clearly did teach that we are not to judge but did He really mean what many have come to conclude from that teaching? Many have used it to assume nobody has the right to point out right and wrong especially when it comes to addressing sin in someone’s life.
We have probably all heard it at some point and some of us have possibly even said it…you just need to have more faith. This is usually said with sincerity, but it can be a frustrating thing to hear. But while we know of the necessity of faith there are times that we can still […]
In this series we will process through a series of statements by Jesus where He challenges us to go deeper in what it means to be disciples.
As we wrap up this series, we look specifically at how we have been empowered to overcome every temptation that is sent against us.
Our enemy is crafty and it is important to know that he is also predictable…and through the interaction of tempting Jesus, we can learn the schemes that he attempts to use against us.
Today we begin working through the temptation of Jesus by first unmasking the reality of temptation and the victory Jesus gives us.
One of the most common ways that He speaks to us is through promptings. Promptings are urges to do something extra, generous, or different – often times outside of your normal – and often times they come from God.
Depending on your church background, the idea of someone speaking to you on behalf of God may feel a little out there. But the truth is that God uses other people to speak into our lives all of the time. It could be to confirm something…possibly to confront something…and oftentimes it’s to give perspective.
Last week’s message was simple and lays the foundational framework for the rest of the series. If you want to hear the voice of God – then you need to spend dedicated, consistent time in the Bible. There is no substitute. However, when we are actively pursuing our relationship with God through His Word, we […]
In today’s episode we wrap up and do some reflecting on our six month sermon series through 1 Corinthians. We also spend some time discussing our new series, How to Hear God’s Voice, and why the Bible is at the foundation.
God speaks to us in many potential ways – from signs and desires to people and even our dreams. But first and foremost – He speaks to us through the Bible – His Word! The same Spirit who inspired the ancient writers of the Bible is the same Spirit who inspires us as we read […]
As we get to the end of Paul’s letter to the church in Corinth – he pulls back the curtain on his travel plans and gives final instructions to the church. He encourages them to receive and submit to their spiritual leaders, to be strong in the faith, to stand firm and to do all […]
As Paul gets ready to wrap up his letter to the church in Corinth – he shifts from readiness and hope for eternity to practically living a life of faith here on earth. Because of our hope in the resurrection and the future – Paul encourages us to live faithfully. And part of that is […]
All too often Christians are unrecognizable from everyone else in the community they live. It’s like they’re hiding. Their faith may be real and they may believe some different things in their hearts…but they tend to keep it private. But that isn’t God’s intention. His plan is for His followers to be known and to […]
In today’s episode, we continue our discussion on the resurrection, as we wrap up chapter 15 of Paul’s letter to the Corinthians. We also look ahead expectantly to our 5th annual Faith in Action event this weekend.
Raised from perishable to imperishable. That is the promise of the resurrection. The bodily resurrection of believers is more than just a detail to be considered. It is the clearest indicator of Jesus’ final and total victory over sin and death.
Paul stressed two absolute certainties when it comes to the resurrection. First, is that Jesus has been resurrected and because of that we, as believers in Him, will one day be physically resurrected. As followers of Jesus this truth should be of significant encouragement for us and motivation as we long for the culmination of […]
In today’s episode we look closer at chapter 15 of Paul’s letter to the Corinthians with the resurrection of Jesus.
We live in a world of bold claims and extreme positions…where everyone is sure that their opinion is right and their way of seeing things is the correct way. It can sometimes be really hard to know what news is real and what news is fake – and as a result, many people have become […]
Paul gets into what proper procedure and order might look like. This is the nuts and bolts of using gifts within the context of corporate worship.
In today’s episode, we’re joined by special guest Pastor Bryan Lund from Harvest 365. He adds helpful insight to a follow-up conversation on understanding spiritual gifts & we discuss how our churches may look different when it comes to making space for the sign gift of tongues.
As Paul continues in his letter to the church in Corinth he specifically deals with the important gifts of tongues and prophecy. Most importantly – how they are used and what they are for.
This week, we get into 1 Corinthians 13 – “the love chapter” – which we’ve most likely heard at every wedding we’ve ever been at. And while that’s great…the truth is that this text isn’t meant for couples, but for the church. In the church, we are to be known for the quality of our […]
In this episode, we take a closer look at the difference between spiritual gifts & natural talents. Are they the same thing or something altogether different?
Paul was clear in his writing that the effectiveness of the Church was dependent on the working of the Holy Spirit and the necessity of each disciple doing their part. Spiritual gifts are something every believer is given through grace by the working of the Holy Spirit in our lives at the moment of our […]
Different churches will participate in Communion or the Lord’s Supper in different ways…but at its core…the message is the same and it is clear. When we eat the bread and drink the cup we are reminded of Jesus’ willing sacrifice – his broken body and his spilt blood.
In this episode, guest Bethany Gates joins us as we discuss the role of women in the church.
Whenever the Bible talks about headship and authority there is a strong possibility for negative feelings to emerge. Often times, however, those feelings come from our human lenses about headship and not from what God actually has to say.
One of the fundamental truths of the Christian life is that if you follow Jesus – then you are not what you once were. Plain and simple. You are new…you are different. The grace of God that comes through the person of Jesus Christ has moved us from who we were to who we are […]
As Paul continues his letter to the Corinthian church, he shifts to a history lesson – reminding the church of the Israelites and their continual struggle of being bogged down by idols. Paul implores the church to stand firm in the face of temptation and idolatry rather than getting sucked in.
In chapter 9, Paul continues with addressing our rights by giving insight into a personal sacrifice that he is making in his own life in order that nothing gets in the way of people knowing Jesus. While the rights that we have are precious they are not what is most important. As disciples of Jesus, […]
In today’s episode, Pastor Matt explains further the difference between following our conscience and following our heart.
One of the great truths of the Christian faith is that in Christ, we are free from religious rules and regulations. Since we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus – we have religious liberty! But while liberty is a wonderful and precious thing – we must always be careful that in the use […]
Being a Christian is hard. Being married is hard. And being single is hard. As it turns out – no matter what situation we find ourselves in…life can be just hard! So no matter what position we find ourselves in…we are all in need of some guidance to help us navigate the various issues of […]
In this episode, Pastor Matt lays the ground work for his upcoming sermon through 1 Cor. 7, Marriage & Singleness. Marriage & Singleness book resources: Spiritual Mismatch, by Lee & Leslie Strobel Waiting on God: What to Do When God Does Nothing, by Wayne Stiles 7 Myths About Singleness, by Sam Allberry The Mingling of […]
Of all the sins that the church has to deal with – sexual sins seem to be among the most difficult – for a couple of reasons. First…they are more common than people care to admit. Second…when the church addresses them, the culture tends to label us as narrow minded, bigoted, and controlling. But even […]
As Paul continues to talk to the Corinthians about immorality in the church he turns his attention to the way that they handle disagreements. Their internal pettiness not only betrays a misunderstanding of their standing as believers, but it risks the reputation of the church.
In this episode, we dig deeper into Sunday’s sermon and continue the conversation on discipline in the church.
As Paul continues his letter he deals with the uncomfortable topic of immorality and church discipline.
As the divisions gained momentum and the people lived within their immaturity of the flesh, they were experiencing the result which was a breakdown in humility. Instead, they were experiencing an attitude of arrogance where they lived in judgement toward one another, questioning motives and even doubting the calling of people in leadership. Paul knew […]
In this episode, we welcome Pastor David back and look at what sabbatical is and isn’t.
As followers of Christ – we all have work to do which God assigned for us long ago (Eph 2:10). That work is done in the power of the Holy Spirit and the foundation of that work has always been and will always be the gospel of Jesus Christ. If we are sure to keep […]
When we are born we are born physically small…and then as nature has it’s way we grow. That’s just the way it’s supposed to work. Time equals growth. Unfortunately, many Christians approach their spiritual lives the same way – they assume that over time – they will grow. But the truth is – we don’t […]
In today’s episode we discuss helpful Bible reading habits, resources, and encouragement.
Wisdom and folly exist at opposite ends of the spectrum…and it should be clear which end is which. But it isn’t obvious to everyone. Why? Because God chose what is foolish to shame the wise…and human wisdom isn’t really wisdom at all.
With all of the corrections that Paul has to discuss with the church in Corinth – he begins with this all important one – they have become divided over silly issues. To be sure – they feel important in the moment. But ultimately, they are foolish. And the antidote is obvious – seeking unity.
In this episode, Pastor Matt & Malea share their favorite books, podcasts & studies of the year, & just reflect on 2020. Resources: Matt’s Book picks: The Gospel According to Satan – Jared Wilson Holiness, Truth & The Presence of God – Francis Frangipane The Bait of Satan – John Bevere Deep Discipleship – JT […]
As he kicks off his letter to the church in Corinth, Paul encourages the Corinthians by reminding them that they have been called and enriched by God. He reminds them that as a church they are not lacking in any necessary thing and that because God is faithful – he will sustain them until the […]
We welcomed Elder Loel Fink to the pulpit today as he shared about the secondary doctrine of spiritual warfare.
And then suddenly – we find ourselves at the end of the story. We don’t know when it’s coming…but we can know for sure what it will be like. Jesus will return to establish his rule. There will be final judgment. And those in Christ will be invited to the most glorious celebration in the […]
It is impossible to number all the ways that creation makes us pause in wonder of how awesome God is. Sometimes though we can overlook one of the most significant creations of God, which is the Church. Have you ever been in awe of the Church?
In today’s episode we share our favorite Jesus stories of the New Testament and look ahead to the last two weeks of Advent.
Jesus Christ – God’s one and only son – came into the world…not to condemn it…but to save it. While his birth paints a great picture of humility..and his life serves as a model to be followed – the full purpose of his coming is found in his sacrificial death and resurrection. God’s love and […]
In today’s episode we spend some time looking at three of Israel’s kings and Pastor Matt tells us his favorite trash-talking Bible story.
The Old Testament closes with the words of the prophet Malachi – that a prophet, like Elijah, will come and turn the hearts of the people. And then is biblical silence – for 400 years. But God remembers his promise – and at just the right time – by the power of the Holy Spirit, […]
Throughout their history, God has spoken to the nation of Israel through prophets. Prophets are individuals who are called by God to share messages of encouragement, correction, judgment and restoration. As the prophets shared messages from God – they laid the foundation for understanding the coming Messiah and all of the things still to come.
To be a kingdom requires there to be a king and that King was always meant to be God. Israel called out to have a king, missing the truth that they had a King all along. Rejecting God as their King sent Israel on a path that would eventually cause them to be driven from […]
In today’s episode we dive deeper into the book of Judges, elaborating on signpost #8 in our sermon series “Long Story Short.” In this book, Ehud stabs King Eglon in his bathroom, Sisera dies by tent peg via a brave woman, and Samson’s eyes are gouged out…Welcome to the Judges.
Unfortunately, we all know the simple truth that history seems to repeat itself. For Israel – there was an unfaithful generation that rebelled against God and died in the wilderness. Their children learned…obeyed God…and reaped the benefits of their covenant relationship with God. But after a generation of blessing…with a new generation leading the nation […]
We pushed pause on our “Long Story Short” series on Sunday, and spent some time looking at the story of Bartimaeus in the book of Mark. What are we asking Jesus to do for us?
In episode 68 we dive deeper into the Wandering & Conquering sign post in our sermon series, “Long Story Short.”
After rescuing his chosen people…and entering into a covenant with them – God brings the Israelites to the land they have been promised. With God’s help – they will conquer it. But they don’t trust him…they rebel – and he disciplines them in the wilderness. A generation later they find themselves in the same position […]
God has saved the Israelites from slavery. God is taking them to the place where he will meet with them at Mount Sinai. But they’re not interested in meeting God. They want Moses to go for them, so God gives Moses the Ten Commandments and the law. God had saved his people and had set […]
Today in episode 67 we walk through some of the important stories and highlights in Genesis that we haven’t been able to pull apart and address more deeply during our sermon series, “Long Story Short.”
God is never the supporting role but always holds the main role and the exodus is no different. While a lot of attention is given to Moses, Israel, Pharaoh and the Egyptians they all are just extras in God’s amazing story. In the Exodus, God clearly shows that He is the One True God that […]
God created us and the world perfectly. We were intended to live in paradise while walking with Him. But it all went wrong. Adam and Eve disobeyed God – sin entered the world – and everything was broken. But…out of His love, grace and mercy – God did not leave us in our sin…but instead […]
The creation story tells us that we all have a destiny – as men and women who are made in the image of God we were created to rule over His creation while walking in lockstep with him. It was supposed to be this meaningful, purposeful, wonderfully harmonious existence. But obviously, something went wrong. Rather […]
What we think about creation matters and informs how we value life, how we view our relationships with one-another, how we understand our standing before God and where we find purpose and meaning in life. It’s a big deal!
After a short break, we are back! In this episode we ask, “Can we trust the Bible?” and answer a question from the congregation about the sovereignty of God.
What would you have if you concentrated the Bible? If you boiled it down to its essence? It wouldn’t be rules or regulations…traditions or tenets…animal sacrifices or elaborate rituals. It isn’t about holidays that remind of past events or point to future ones. No…none of those are what the Bible is about…at it’s core. Instead […]
Jesus calls us to enter the room that supernaturally links us to the throne. To utter our prayers of faith that extend to the ever-present ear of our Father.
As we close up the series – we’ll take a deeper look at these examples of Jesus and see how following them with the help of the Holy Spirit puts us in a position to live free from the hurt of our wounds.
Within the Church we use some incredibly significant words like love, forgiveness, mercy and grace. These are all wonderful blessings that God has poured out into our lives that should cause us to rejoice but they are also expectations that He has placed on us as His children. They must not be empty phrases that […]
Wounds happen and we must be brave by bringing those wounds into the light. Why? Because we are called to live and walk in the light. Jesus calls us to follow Him and never walk in darkness so when we are wounded, we have victory by pulling that wound into the light of Jesus so […]
If you’ve been in the church for any length of time, you most likely carry wounds…or at least scars from past church hurts. At it’s core, the church is a collection of broken people. We are a collection of broken people who wrestle against sin every day. And in that wrestle…we unfortunately hurt one another. […]
In today’s episode we sit down with Tracy & Maria Davis to talk about marriage & blended families. They pull back the curtain into their own 13-year marriage and share how having a blended family has impacted how they handle conflict, money, and parenting.
Anytime we talk seriously about marriage – we are forced to take a hard look at the topic of divorce. While it’s true that divorce has become all too common in our world…and that there is grace for those who have experienced divorce – the fact is that it is not God’s plan…and he hates […]
Having a strong marriage does not mean that it will be free of conflict. Every marriage will have moments of disagreements and arguments. A healthy marriage will enter these moments determined that it does not cause division or hurts. Learning to address conflict the way God calls us will actually strengthen our marriages and bond […]
Whenever we talk about marriage – it’s important that we talk about marital intimacy – and that includes sex! Sex inside of marriage is not a bad thing, but rather it helps to provide a deep and rewarding connection between a husband and a wife. God created sex…and he did it for our pleasure.
In today’s episode we sit down with Kevin & Deb Hesson to talk about marriage. They pull back the curtain into their own 40-year marriage and offer practical advice on conflict, money, and parenting.
Often times in marriage, we end up thinking that things would be better if we could just “fix” the other person. But maybe the key isn’t found in fixing them…but rather in figuring them out. As husbands and wives – it’s on us to be experts in our spouses. That means striving to figure out […]
As Christians – we know that marriage matters. God’s intention for marriage is that it mirror His image, provide a picture of his relationship with the church, and that it provide companionship and legacy for humanity. Marriage is important. And if we know anything about Satan, it’s that he loves to attack and frustrate God’s […]
In this episode we discuss the regathering of in-person church and why community is critical to the Christian life.
We welcomed Phillip Close to the pulpit again as we celebrated Father’s day! As parents, we’re called to lead in faith and nurture our children to grow closer to God through us as their example. The Bible has a lot of text for parents, and especially men as they lead. Our goal is to lead our […]
One of the most important themes of Revelation is for us to be ready. Jesus instructed us to know the signs of His return and to make sure we were ready for the moment He puts everything in motion for His eventual comeback. Revelation ends with Jesus once again proclaiming that He is coming soon […]
King Solomon proclaimed that God “has set eternity in the human heart” (Ecclesiastes 3:11) which means that in every human soul there is the awareness that there is something more than just this world. That something else is the Kingdom of God which Jesus calls us to pray and long for with eager expectation. Jesus […]
At the end of tribulation, once Jesus has triumphantly returned, it is finally time for him to establish his earthly kingdom. This is the moment that Israel has been waiting for since the time of David and is the last act before the new heavens and new earth.
As we continue looking at the future judgment of the world – through the eyes of John – we see the rise of Satan’s unholy Trinity and his schemes to destroy Israel and the church. And we see the final judgments that God pours out on the world before Jesus returns as the conquering king. […]
In episode 60, we discuss what reopening of our physical church building and Sunday in-person worship will look like.
We don’t have to look around very much to see that in this world, evil seems to be winning. No matter where you look – tragedy, pain and suffering seem to be lurking around the corner. But – that isn’t what God created – instead it is a byproduct of sin in the world. And […]
As we continue with our series in Revelation – we follow John as he is given a glimpse into the heavenly realm. Here, we see God on his throne and witness him giving Jesus the scroll that when opened will usher in the judgment of the world. This is a moment that will absolutely come […]
This week we are going to dig into these letters that were sent to 7 actual churches and the messages that still apply for us today that we must not ignore. We will look at the praise and warning that Jesus gives for the church that He loves.
Many people approach Revelation with the intention of discovering how the end will happen. I still remember my own fascination with this final book of the Bible through reading the Left Behind book series and digging into as many different explanations of what this vision really means. While the book of Revelation has the important […]
Easter changes everything. Nothing changes that. No matter how strange things might feel this year…no matter what’s happening in the world. Easter. Changes. Everything. It’s the truth of the gospel. Jesus’ resurrection is God’s answer to suffering, pain and death…and it makes all the difference.
What we call someone tells us a whole lot about the relationship that we have with that person. What you call God reflects how well you know him…and those that know God well, know that he is good, loving, and just. Those who know God’s name trust him – even in difficult times.
We continue to face unprecedented times and it has been a significant shock to our way of life. There is not a single person that has not been impacted by what is happening. People are facing a lot of uncertainty, hardships and questions that might not have any answers right now. Through it all, it […]
This week – as we have our first Sunday of virtual church – we’re going to take a break from our Hebrews series and dig in…a little bit…about what the Christian response to Covid-19 should be. The Bible tells us that as Christians, we should live lives of faith – and that should make us […]
The Old Covenant was a gift of God’s grace…but it wasn’t the fullness of God’s grace. It had faults. It was like driving on a spare donut tire. It’ll do the trick for awhile – but it was never meant to be permanent. It was always meant to be a reflection of something better.
Living the Christian life is not easy, but it is definitely worth it. So far in Hebrews we have discovered the promises that Jesus is superior, that He is our Prophet and He is our High Priest. The Christian life is not just about knowing these promises but it is about living them. We are […]
In this episode, we continue to dive deeper into our Hebrews series, looking at chapters 3-5:10.
A simple truth of the Jewish faith has always been this – redemption and forgiveness requires a sacrifice. A blood sacrifice. And as it was taught in the Mosaic Covenant – that sacrifice could only be offered by a priest. But, then came Jesus. And through his sacrifice…and his priesthood – he changed everything!
In this bonus episode, Malea & Pastor Matt speak frankly about what Lent is & what it isn’t. We answer common questions about fasting & whether or not we should participate. Looking for a place to start? Try a Weekly Fast: Week 1: Food Week 2: Social Media Week 3: Television and Movies Week 4: Caffeine […]
The God of the Universe is always calling to His creation. He calls us to life…to hope…and to rest. And honestly, some people listen…and some people don’t. Unfortunately, the risk of hearing God…and “hardening your heart” in response is a very real danger and it’s something that God warns us about in His Word….because the […]
In this episode we walk through the first two chapters of Hebrews, diving deeper into our current sermon series.
In the second chapter of Hebrews, the author announces the significance of Jesus’ humanity. In order to be our High Priest that makes the final atonement for our sins Jesus had to be one of us. Jesus was willing to submit to flesh in order to bring God to us and bring us to God.
Jesus. No matter who you are…his name necessarily illicits some kind of a response. Whether we think rightly or wrongly about him…there is something inside all of us that inherently seems to understand that what we think about Jesus…and his life and his mission…matters!
In this episode, we wrap our political sermon series, “Divided” by answering some follow-up questions.
As we come to the end of this political series – looking at truths about God and government, the truth of our heavenly citizenship, the trappings of morality, and how to discern how to honor God with our votes – we have seen that it is critical for our Christian faith to inform our political […]
President Ronald Reagan stated, “if we ever forget that we are One Nation Under God, then we will be a nation gone under.” Many see the condition of our nation and feel that morality is in decline which causes fear on what that means for our future. Our response can then become to fight for […]
In this episode the staff digs deeper into our politcal sermon series, “Divided” and answers some questions from the congregation.
As Americans, we are blessed to live in a country full of freedom and privilege. We experience a level of freedom, protection, security, safety and comfort that most of the world can only dream of. And it’s awesome! But as Christians, we must remember that our true citizenship is not from the United States, but […]
In this politically charged climate that we live in – it becomes increasingly necessary for Christians to understand our role in the political process. What does the Bible say about the government? Did God really ordain it? What does that mean when we disagree?
In this episode, BHCC staff shares their favorite books, podcasts, & studies of 2019. Matt’s picks: Podcasts: Rainer on Leadership, The Excellent Pastor, The CareyNieuwhof Leadership Podcast, Ask Me Anything – JD Greear Books: Gospel Reset – Ken Ham, Letters to the Church – Francis Chan, The Unsaved Christian – Dean Inserra, The Power of a […]
When Jesus sends out the disciples in Luke 9, he told them they “must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me”. As followers of Christ, we are called to the same. We need to go out in the world daily, spreading the love of Christ and the gospel to people who […]
There are 59 “one another” statements in the New Testament. Through these God has given us clear instructions on how we are to do life together as people that have been rescued by Jesus. As we live out the rescued life by following these “one anothers” we become a community of faith that God desires […]
Retired pastor Loel Fink opens God’s word for us and brings fresh teaching to our hearts!
Part of the core value of being on a rescue mission is understanding that people need to be saved…and that they are worth everything it costs to save them. That’s why Paul said so much clarity in 1 Corinthians 9 that he becomes all things to all people so that he might save some. It’s […]
“The Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.” In Luke 19, Jesus makes clear his mission…he has come for those who are lost. His goal is to glorify his Father by bringing salvation to those in need. In short – he was on a “rescue mission” – that’s what Christmas […]
The word “stewardship” isn’t common for us today. Here’s what it means – it’s the job of supervising or taking care of something. In short – being a steward is to serve as a caretaker for something that was never really yours in the first place. It’s an important definition for us to understand because […]
Back when I was in graduate school for my counseling degree – I was taught a counseling philosophy called “responsible hedonism.” This perspective basically says that a person’s ultimate joy (and therefore the goal of their life) is to do what brings them the most pleasure…as long as it doesn’t hurt somebody else. It sounds […]
In this episode we talk about tithing and tackle some common questions (do we tithe our gross income or net?!) and offer some practical ways to grow in our generosity.
At the beginning of this series, we were told that as Christians, it is important that we understand the world around us in a way that aligns us with God…but that is much easier said than done because our culture has worked to hijack the way we process the world around us. Why is that? […]
“I am not religious, but I am spiritual”. We’ve probably all heard this statement in some way and some of us might have even said it ourselves. Anymore many see religion as a negative thing that needs to be rejected. Many are rejecting the idea of organized religion and even many professing Christians are moving […]
In this episode we wrap up Pastor Appreciation month by learning a little more about Pastor Matt & Pastor David. They talk about their family, how they met their spouses, who helped shape their faith, & when they knew they were being called to vocational ministry. We end our time with a game, The Last […]
Universalism teaches that there are many ways to get to Heaven. And it makes sense – because sincerity matters. If people disagree on who God is…but are sincere in that belief…then they will ultimately be OK. BUT as appealing as that is – if the Bible is true – then we simply cannot believe that […]
For Christians, it is important that we understand the world around us in a way that aligns us with God…but that is much easier said than done because our culture has worked to hijack the way we process the world around us.
In episode 45, BHCC staff sets up our next sermon series, “Hijacked” where we will tackle popular, culturally driven worldviews.
The conclusion of this series is not the end but it is the beginning. Part of this journey is to address ways that we can care for ourselves when it comes to mental health. We are beautiful masterpieces created by God and He has provided for us important ways that we can take care of […]
We live in a country and a time when we have so many advantages…so many blessings…so much going for us. But it’s weird – while those advantages seem like they should bring us confidence and joy…more often than not we end up feeling anxious and panicked. In fact, some form of anxiety seems to be […]
In this episode our staff is back together again to discuss the Celebrate Recovery ministry and answer many FAQ’s. Learn more about this ministry here: https://blessedhope-vinton.org/celebrate-recovery/
There is very little in our world that is as tragic as trauma. It wounds…cuts…and scars deeply. Often times, trauma happens because we are stuck in the middle of a broken world (we see this in war and the loss of loved ones)…but far too often, trauma happens because of abuse. And often times, abuse […]
Too many people that deal with depression do so in isolation and in silence. Most people would never know from the outside that inwardly a person is struggling to even function. In addition, there are many who are fighting with depression without really understanding that is the battle that they are in. Depression then becomes […]
In this episode we dive deeper into our mental health sermon series, “Unspoken.” We are joined by guests Lisa Marter & Elise Healzer as we talk a little more practically about navigating mental illness both for ourselves and those in our direct sphere of influence.
One of the most frustrating things about living as a Christian with mental illness is the struggle of thinking that if we just tried harder, we could overcome what troubles us. But it’s just not that simple. As human beings we are complex creatures and therefore mental illness is a complex illness.
It seems that mental illness is a taboo subject in the church. Why? Most likely because we just don’t understand what mental illness really is – and because the longer we’ve been in church – there is a good chance that we’ve adopted the 3 unspoken church rules about it: 1 – Don’t talk about […]
This week we’re joined by three volunteers from our youth ministry – Stacie Marzen, Greg Svoboda, & Tim Kurth. We chat about why this ministry is important, strategies for reaching youth, & for fun – what they would tell their middle school selves if they could.
God knew that along with our relationship with Him there is great joy that comes through our relationships with each other. While this is true we also live in a fallen world where the beautiful design of God has been distorted and our relationship with each other marred.
We have the privilege of communicating directly with God which is a blessing beyond measure and should be the wellspring of joy in our lives. When we live with that kind of joy in our lives – it should be contagious!
In this episode, Adult Discipleship leader Haley Close joins us to talk about our fall small group semester and why biblical community matters.
Living with joy is often times harder than we realize…for a lot of different reasons. But the truth of the matter is that when we simplify it – we might find that living with joy is a little easier than we thought. How do we simplify it? By looking at Jesus and all that he […]
As we run to keep up with Jesus we will do so with ridiculous joy. This is the second core value that we have established as Blessed Hope Community Church. As followers of Jesus we are promised to be filled with an “inexpressible and glorious joy” (1 Peter 1:8) which means we will be a […]
The staff is back together this week for episode 40 where we discuss spiritual disciplines and why they are so critical to following Jesus.
We were sinners but Christ died for us…and the Holy Spirit seals us as children of God. It’s a beautiful truth! And too often we quit there. We claim our salvation in Christ and then we live lives that are largely unchanged. BUT…Christians are to grow to be more and more like Jesus.
Guest speaker Mark Moyer of Heartland Youth for Christ shares that we are not just saved but are also being transformed to reflect Jesus to the world.
In this episode we discuss all things 2 services related – why we’re excited, why it matters, and even what we are nervous about.
Through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross our sins are atoned for and we can find salvation, forgiveness and justification.
Paul makes this declaration at the beginning of his letter to the Church of Rome and then spends the rest of the time writing to these believers explaining exactly what the gospel is, why it matters, what it accomplishes and how we must respond as followers of Jesus.
In this episode, we discuss corporate worship and Pastor David gives us 3 ways we can posture our hearts for Sunday morning.
When we are running to keep up with Jesus – the one we are depending on is the creator and sustainer of the entire universe…and he is able to do so much more than we can even imagine.
Change is fact of life…and even more so in the church. Simply put – change is hard…but Jesus is worth it!
In this episode, we have the opportunity to chat with missionary Matt about his experiences in ministry overseas.
Jesus calls us to follow him which causes us to trust Him especially when He expects us to step out of our comfort zone. These are the moments when our faith and flesh find themselves in conflict. It is in these moments that we must live by faith and persevere in running to keep up […]
This week we kick off our new core values sermon series – where we take a look at BHCC’s first core value, Running to Keep Up with Jesus.
On this episode we officially welcome our new Director of Children & Student Ministries, Shawna Kurth, & learn more about why she’s excited for her new role.
We focus on the question of “when do I love?” That can be a complicated question…but the easy answer is “ALWAYS!” The best use of our time is always to allow the Holy Spirit to use us to reach people.
Within the pages of Scripture, we are called to live within His love and we are called to be conduits of His love. This love is not one of emotion but one of action. As the people of God, we have taken hold of God’s love for us and are expected to extend that love […]
In this episode, Jim Mayhew joins the staff to talk about our upcoming in-town mission trip, Faith in Action! As we embark on year 4, we look back at what’s surprised us over the years and how we are growing and expanding.
As Christians, we know that we’re called to love our neighbors…but knowing it and doing it can be 2 totally separate things. Sometimes we just don’t seem to have the capacity or drive to love well. Why not? The truth is that our willingness and ability to care for others will grow naturally out of […]
God has given us 3 strategies for reaching our wandering children (some of which may still be living at home!).
In this episode, we talk more in-depth about what the goal of discipline is & some biblical strategies to doing that well.
Ultimately, biblical discipline is correction that is driven by love. And parents must take that responsibility seriously because children will learn to obey and honor God based on how they learn to obey and honor parents.
In this bonus episode, we say goodbye to Vince & he shares with us some of his favorite memories of his time at BHCC.
We look to God for the parenting principles we need to fulfill our priority as parents.
While we have a lot of goals for our kids (and that’s a good thing) – there is one that should always be the absolute measure of success and that simply is this – “as parents who love Jesus, we want to raise our children to love Jesus more than they love anything else.”