Hope Fellowship Teaching Podcast

It's Hope's 25th Birthday - and we have so much to be thankful for! This weekend, we took a look back on where Hope started, reflected on all that God has done over the past 25 years, and now we look forward to all that God has for us. From the beginning, we have trusted that God has a plan, and His plan is good - and we are continuing to raise our hands, saying, "Here I am. Send me!"

In this sermon, we reflect on our spiritual journey and the importance of self-examination. Inspired by Paul's letters to the Corinthians, we explore themes of faith, spiritual growth, and personal introspection as we enter a new year. As we start this year, let's test our faith and determine where we are spiritually and where we want to be.

In this week’s message, we talked about the significance of the Lord's Supper. As we remember Jesus' sacrifice, we can reflect on our own lives, renew our unity in the body of Christ, and look forward to our eternal reward. Communion is a time of remembrance, reflection, renewal, and anticipation of future blessings.

During our special Christmas Eve services, we talked about the Christmas story of Jesus’ birth. Despite being born in humble circumstances in Bethlehem, Jesus was a light in the darkness, offering peace and guidance amidst life's challenges. Jesus is our guiding light, and he is inviting us to return to him, where love and grace abound.

This week's Advent focus is on the Magi, who embarked on a journey to worship Jesus, symbolizing a spiritual journey of discovery and surrender. Through this story, we see that worship is a lifestyle that requires offering our lives fully to God and aligning personal plans with His will. As we walk through the journey of worship - in discovery, treasure, and humility—we can engage deeply and humbly in worship. 

During our second week of Advent, we read in Luke Chapter 2 about how the shepherds in the field were the first to hear about the birth of Jesus from angels. Ordinary, marginalized people were chosen to be the first to receive the news of the Messiah's arrival in Bethlehem. As we talked about the wonder and awe that the shepherds must have experienced, we were challenged to share the joy and wonder of our faith with others through personal stories, the way we live, and inviting others to experience the good news.

In this sermon, we kick off the Advent season with a message that focuses on the concept of being "willing." Pastor John highlights the story of Mary and Joseph as examples of having hearts sensitive to God's call and willing to do difficult things. He walks us through three key points: willingness is birthed from a heart sensitive toward the Lord, believers can do difficult things when following God's plan, and obedience is required to fulfill God's purpose.

To wrap up our Upside Down series, Pastor Zach explores the concept of "strength in weakness" through the apostle Paul's writings, arguing that acknowledging and surrendering our weaknesses to God can lead to true strength. He shares his personal story, emphasizing that admitting we are not enough allows God's power to work through us, which is a key principle of the "upside-down" kingdom of God.

In this message, Pastor John teaches about how generosity is a fundamental aspect of Christian living that often goes against our natural human tendencies. He explains that generosity is important for three main reasons: it guards our hearts from materialism, it helps people in need, and it makes the Great Commission possible. He emphasizes that in the New Testament, giving should come from a cheerful heart and a place of "want to" rather than "have to."

In this message, Pastor Eric emphasizes that true happiness comes from recognizing our spiritual poverty and complete dependence on God, not from our circumstances or possessions. We are encouraged to embrace our need for God daily and to put Jesus' teachings into practice, as this is the foundation for experiencing the abundant life He offers.