Psalm 46:1-3
1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, 3 though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah
Hope,
While we are physically apart due to COVID-19, we invite you to gather in your home at 10:45 a.m. on Sunday (or anytime!). In this Hope at Home video, Pastor Rob Cupp and I will encourage and guide you and anyone else in your household through a time of prayer, worship, ministry of God’s Word and an invitation to continue cultivating our 4 core habits: gather (creatively), grow, give and go. We look forward to once again gathering face-to-face in the days ahead!
Love,
Dean
Dean Wertz
Lead Pastor | Hope Community Church
We pray “Thy kingdom come” and we are instructed to participate in the answer to our prayer by showing others what life with King Jesus looks like on earth as it is in heaven. Did you know that we also get to participate in the answer to this prayer by talking about God’s kingdom in our everyday conversations? In this message we consider reasons why it is not only faithful but fun to have conversations in line with David’s forecast in Psalm 145:11, “They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom.”
Have you noticed how busy life has become? On this first Sunday of Lent we observe in Psalm 63 that it is possible and beneficial to seek God earnestly everyday, especially when things seem to be spinning out of control. And, we consider habits to help us do so through Lent and beyond.
David has a stressful life. He had every reason to be down, give up and not move forward. Yet, something about him had strength, hope and confidence. He kept seeking and looking to his True Stronghold, God Himself. As he did this, his strength was renewed and he was able to see what God saw in David and in the World. May we all seek, wait and hope on God like this!
Their jaws dropped in astonishment at what Jesus said! They were blown away by what they were hearing because it rang so true and was said with the Power of Heaven behind it…There truly was another way to live life here on earth. The initial response to Jesus’ Kingdom Manifesto on the Mount was a crowd of people astonished at its powerful truth that was going to set them free.
Whether we realize it or not, experiencing life with God is the hunger of every human soul. Though there are a variety of ways people throughout time have sought to connect with God, in this section of Jesus’ discourse on the hill, Jesus clarifies that intimacy with Him precedes ministry for Him when it comes to stepping in to life with God now and for eternity.
Just as a current can pull a swimmer off course so there are forces that can distract those who are accompanying Jesus in our walk with Him. In this section of the Sermon on the Mount Jesus warns His followers about impressive and persuasive people who will enter our lives and, if we are not prepared, will pull us from our pure, simple, child-like walk with Christ our King.
Life is intended to be lived with God while apprenticing with Jesus to live by the Golden Rule. So, how do we begin this walk with our Lord? In this message we look at the first of 4 contrasting pictures that bring the Sermon on the Mount to a close. In this first one, Jesus shows us how to step into life with God forever.