Hope Church (Dubuque)

In this message, Mark unpacks Jesus’ final words in Matthew 28—the Great Commission—as both a call and a promise. After exploring the life-changing invitation to follow Jesus, Mark challenges us to embrace the next step: making disciples. He reminds us that this command isn't just for the spiritually gifted, but for all who follow Christ. Mark identifies two common missteps—reversing the order of...

Today, Caleb, our Student Pastor, shares a powerful message on identity, walking us through Psalm 139 and reminding us that our true worth is found in Christ alone. Drawing from conversations with students and personal stories, Caleb challenges us to recognize how often we chase after false identities rooted in appearance, status, wealth, or skills—and how easily we let the world define us. Instea...

Ross’s Easter 2025 message invites us to experience the resurrection of Jesus not as a past event, but as a present reality that changes everything. He unpacks how the risen Christ gives us new life—a new position with God, a new perspective on the world, a new purpose for living, and new power through His Spirit. Through the lens of Scripture and real-life baptism, we’re reminded that this life t...

In this week’s message, Pastor Mark walks us through the story of the rich young ruler in Matthew 19, contrasting him with the unlikely team Jesus builds—fishermen, tax collectors, zealots, and outcasts. This man seems like the perfect candidate: wealthy, respected, and moral. Yet when Jesus invites him to follow, the cost—giving up his wealth—is too great. Mark unpacks the invitation through thre...

In this message, Marty continues the Easter series Follow Me by focusing on Jesus’ call to Matthew in Matthew 9:9. He reminds us that the same invitation extended to a despised tax collector thousands of years ago is still being offered to us today. Jesus—who holds power over creation, the spiritual realm, and sin—sees us in our brokenness and calls us to follow Him, not because of our worthiness...

In this Family Worship message, Ross opens a new series leading to Easter by unpacking the simple yet life-changing invitation of Jesus: “Follow Me.” Looking at Matthew 4:18–22, we see Jesus call His first disciples—ordinary fishermen—to respond in faith, rely on Him completely, and step into a new purpose: reaching the world. Ross challenges us to consider what it truly means to follow Jesus—not...

Ross concludes the Galatians series by walking us through Paul’s closing words in Galatians 6:11–18, where we’re invited to consider what we truly boast in—ourselves or the cross of Christ. In a world that often encourages us to find identity, comfort, and purpose in our own efforts, Paul makes a bold declaration: “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ross highlights th...

Mark’s sermon draws from Galatians 6:1-10, comparing Paul’s exhortation to a coach’s halftime speech—motivating, instructing, and calling believers to action. He highlights how true freedom in Christ is lived out by walking in step with the Holy Spirit, leading us to carry each other’s burdens with love and humility. Paul’s message is clear: believers are not lone pioneers but a team, responsible...

True freedom in Christ is not about indulging in sin but walking by the Spirit. In Galatians 5:13-26, Paul warns against two dangerous extremes—legalism and license—and calls us to a life led by the Holy Spirit. Freedom in Christ is not an excuse to follow our sinful desires but an invitation to be transformed by His grace. As we walk by the Spirit, we bear the fruit of God’s character—love, joy,...

Marty challenges us to consider the question, “What’s the big deal?” as he unpacks Paul’s passionate warning in Galatians 5. The Galatians had been led astray by false teaching, believing they needed to add religious works to their faith in Christ to be truly accepted by God. Paul makes it clear—if you add to faith in Jesus, you risk losing everything. Marty walks us through five powerful truths t...

Ross's sermon on Freedom in Christ: Galatians 4:8-5:1 calls us to stand firm in the gospel, rejecting any attempt to earn salvation through works. He emphasizes Paul's warning to the Galatians, who were turning back to legalism and idolatry instead of embracing the freedom found in Christ. Paul reminds them that salvation comes by faith alone, not by obeying the law. Using the story of Abraham, Ro...

Mark's sermon focuses on Paul’s message in Galatians 3:26–4:7, emphasizing our new identity in Christ. Through faith, we are no longer slaves to sin but have been adopted as children of God and made heirs to His promises. Paul highlights that the law once enslaved us, revealing our inability to meet God's standard on our own. But through Christ’s redemption, we are not just freed from sin—we are w...

Ross's sermon on Galatians 3:15-25 explores the relationship between God's promise to Abraham and the Law given through Moses, emphasizing that salvation comes by grace through faith, not by works. He explains how the law reveals our sin and points us to our need for a Savior, serving as a guide until Christ fulfilled it. Through vivid illustrations, he highlights God's unchanging promise, the law...

Ross’s sermon, “Freedom in Christ: Galatians | Galatians 3:1-14 | Relying on the Gospel,” underscores that our salvation is secured solely through faith in Jesus and not by our own works, yet genuine faith naturally produces good works as a response to Christ’s redemptive sacrifice. Drawing on Paul’s urgent rebuke to the Galatians for turning to the law, Ross emphasizes that relying on human effor...

In this message, Hope attendee Travis Holtan (Apex Ministries) challenges us to embrace God's calling in our lives with faith and obedience. He encourages us to trust in God's plan, even when the path ahead feels uncertain. Saying 'yes' to God requires courage and a heart surrendered to His will, but it leads to transformation and purpose. Let this sermon remind us to take bold steps of faith, tru...

Marty’s sermon, "Keeping Jesus in the Center," draws a vivid parallel between life and a merry-go-round: the farther you are from the center, the harder it is to hold on. Through the lens of Galatians 2, Marty emphasizes that keeping Jesus at the center of our faith, compassion, relationships, and lives is essential. He explains the struggles of the early church to grasp the inclusion of Gentiles...

Mark’s sermon highlights our universal need for God’s grace, using Paul’s life as an example. Paul was both "too bad" in his sins and "too good" in his self-righteousness, yet neither disqualified nor earned his salvation—it was God’s grace alone. Paul’s response to grace was a life of obedience and mission, showing that grace isn’t about comparison or merit but surrender. Mark urges us to remain...

Pastor Ross opens the Freedom in Christ series with a reminder that there is only one true gospel—salvation through Christ alone by grace through faith. In Galatians 1, Paul warns against false teachings that add requirements to the gospel, such as religious rituals or works. These distortions enslave rather than set us free. The heart of the true gospel is that Jesus gave Himself to rescue us fro...

Student Pastor, Caleb Driggers teaches on true biblical love, rooted in 1 Corinthians 13. He emphasizes that love—not gifts or actions—is the true measure of faith, challenging us to reflect on how we embody Christ’s selfless and sacrificial love. Using personal stories and examples from Jesus’ life, Caleb encourages everyone to memorize scripture, grow in one attribute of love, and commit to lovi...

Ross's sermon, "Because of Christmas… I Surrender My Life (Jesus)," highlights the transformative power of surrender in light of Jesus' birth. He explains that the Christmas story teaches us to surrender doubts, status, plans, and possessions to fully experience God's presence. Drawing from the lives of Zechariah, Joseph, Mary, and the Magi, Ross shows how trusting God over worldly concerns leads...

Marty's sermon examines three responses to the gift of Jesus in Matthew 2:1-12. Herod reacts with unwelcoming hostility, driven by a desire to maintain power and control. The religious leaders show indifferent neglect, possessing knowledge of the Messiah but failing to act or seek Him. In contrast, the Magi demonstrate worshipful surrender, traveling great distances, sacrificing their comfort, and...

Ross’s sermon, "Because of Christmas… I Surrender My Plans," based on Luke 1:26–38, emphasizes the necessity of surrendering our personal plans to God’s greater purpose. Reflecting on Mary’s response to the angel Gabriel, Ross draws a parallel between his own journey of transitioning to senior pastor—a role he hadn’t planned for—and Mary’s surrender of her life’s expectations to God’s will. Mary’s...

In his sermon "Because of Christmas: I Surrender My Status" (Matthew 1:18–25), Ross highlights Joseph's example of surrendering his worldly status to obey God. Joseph faced a choice: follow the world's opinions or trust God's command to take Mary as his wife despite the societal disgrace. Through Joseph's journey, we learn three key steps: recognizing the reality of our new identity in Christ, res...

As we prepare our hearts to celebrate Jesus's birth, we journey through the stories of those surrounding the nativity, beginning with Zechariah, a priest called to surrender his doubts to God's extraordinary plan. Through Zechariah’s story, we learn that doubt is normal, but faith requires us to trust God even when circumstances seem impossible. Step by step obedience allows us to experience the m...

Ross's sermon, "Nehemiah: Rebuilding for God’s Glory | 1 Peter 2:4-10," draws a powerful connection between the story of Nehemiah and the call to live as people rebuilt for God's glory today. He emphasizes how God’s work in Nehemiah’s time wasn’t just about physical walls but a spiritual renewal, pointing ultimately to Jesus as the cornerstone of faith. By focusing on three realities—coming to Jes...