Religious liberty is a gift we enjoy in most countries around the world. So, why did Jesus say that His followers should expect to be persecuted for His name? What did He mean and how is this relevant for us who can worship and follow Jesus freely in the 21st century? In this second message from the life and death of Abel, we discover a reality about opposition that all who walk with God must know, remember and embrace as we seek to live and die in union with God.
Some lives are brief. Too brief. Way too brief. It was this way for Abel. Though his life was cut short, he lived carefree with God and as an inspiration to all who desire to walk moment by moment in the presence of God.
As we learned last week, Noah listened to God and did what God commanded. In the New Testament, we learn that Noah “became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.” How do we become heirs of that righteousness? And what are the implications to our world when we receive and live that righteousness?
Noah was born with a purpose. His biological father wanted him to help in the family business, but God had other plans for him. Throughout his life, Noah demonstrated that he walked with God and followed God before anyone or anything else, even when it meant breaking from others he loved and cared for.
Does God prefer that we walk with Him or work for Him? A fuller look at Enoch’s life points us toward God’s thoughts on this all important question.
What does God expect of me in 2021? Am I doing enough to please Him? Isn’t there something else I could do to make my life matter for God glory and the good of the world? In this ancient genealogy we discover that maybe doing one thing is enough. “Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him.” Maybe walking with God is enough.
Have you ever used poor judgement and then found yourself in trouble? If so, you can probably relate with Adam and Eve who hid in fear after eating forbidden fruit. In God’s response to our ancestors, we discover good news! God loves you and comes not to shame you but to walk again alongside of you!
Christmas Eve 2020 brings an amazing opportunity for celebration of our Lord Jesus’ birth. Enjoy this worship service that was offered by Hope in the sanctuary, on-site Livestream, at home viewing and followed by an outside time of carols and candle lighting!
For the 4th Sunday of Advent, we are continuing our focus on the character of Jesus Christ that was prophesied in Isaiah 9:6. The final characteristic of the this passage for us to focus on is Wonderful Counselor. Jesus is the Wonderful Counselor. His advice and plans for us are beyond human explanation. His solutions for our problems may not make sense to us, but when He enacts them our response has to be praise because only He could make something like that happen.
In this series of advent, we take a look at the prophetic names of Christ given in Isaiah, including the name “Everlasting Father”. We explore what it means for God to be our Dad, and how He longs to care for us in the past, present, and future of eternity. The birth of Christ changed our relationship with Him forever and made it so we can truly be adopted as sons and daughters.