Downtown Hope

In the last few weeks, we have been walking through the first two chapters of Galatians, where Paul is insistent that the good news of Jesus is that there are no good works or religious activities that can render us righteous before God.  Join us this Sunday as Joey walks us through Galatians 3.26-29 to explore one of the most astonishing implications of the truth of the gospel for how we interact...

Join us this Sunday as we delve into a critical question sparked by Paul's examination of the Galatians' faith journey. Together, we'll reflect on our own experiences and celebrate God’s gracious invitation to us. grace + peace, David Learn more about Downtown Hope + get connected by visiting our  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  or filling out our online  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠connect card⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

One of our deepest desires of the human heart is to live a justified life.  Deep down we want to live a righteous life; a life that matters. In part, this desire is motivated by the nagging suspicion that no matter how hard we try or how hard we work, we never quite measure up.  If we’re not careful, we end up going through life burdened by the pressure to perform and bought into the belief that i...

As physical beings, our tendency is to believe that the things we can physically measure or control, like the following of rules, are the things that have the power to justify our existence in the world.  For a group in Galatia that depended on following rules for their justification, the message of the gospel that Paul proclaimed was unnerving.  This group distorted Paul's message and was tro...

Amidst the complexities of a changing world and the search for identity, the book of Galatians stands as a beacon, its core message revolving around the profound concept of justification by faith. Paul writes this letter to the churches in Galatia, tackling a specific concern of its time – the danger of adopting a legalistic approach to faith. The historical context of the first-century Roman Empi...

In Isaiah 40:27-31, the prophet reminds us that in weariness and doubt, God's understanding is beyond measure, and His strength knows no bounds. This truth lies in the word "wait,” unveiling the profound invitation for us to renew our trust in the Lord, knowing that those who wait upon Him will find renewed strength. Learn more about Downtown Hope + get connected by visiting our  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

In this sermon, we approach the topic of joy from a slightly different angle. Christian joy is powerful, not based on circumstances but on a relationship with God; but what does it mean to live in a relationship with a joyful God? Learn more about Downtown Hope + get connected by visiting our  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  or filling out our online  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠connect card⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ .

Joy. On some level, everyone wants it. Everyone is looking for it. And our world is filled with voices that promise it. We have all experienced moments of joy–where everything seemed to be in perfect harmony. Even in times like this, we have an acute sense that the season will not last forever; it is only a matter of time before something sabotages our joy.  Is there anyone who can deliver joy in...

In a season where we tend to feel pressure to be happy, many of us are working and walking through the traumas of life- the effects of sin in the world.  Here our prevailing culture doesn't have a resource to negotiate the space between "putting on a happy face" and "acknowledging the ache of the world".  Yet in Isaiah 9.1-7 we find people accessing a resource that has the...

As we enter the Advent season, we embark on a journey of anticipation and reflection. In the midst of the hustle and bustle, the message of Christmas stands as a beacon of joy for all. This Advent, we invite you to join us in exploring the profound words spoken by the angel in Luke 2:10, unlocking the transformative power of the good news that brings joy for all. This is a journey that leads us to...

In this sermon, Joey wraps up our journey through the book of Ephesians by exploring the mystery of the cosmic battle. Learn more about Downtown Hope + get connected by visiting our  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  or filling out our online  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠connect card⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ .

How we spend our time ends up becoming how we spend our lives. Over a lifetime, the average person will spend nearly one-third of their time in a work environment.  More than ever, workplaces are filled with people who are increasingly discontent, stressed, actively looking for a new job, or quiet quitting. Is there any way out of the epidemic of our discontentment with work and the people we work...

In this sermon, we discover the profound wisdom found in Ephesians 6:1-4. This passage emphasizes the significance of children honoring their parents and the duty of parents to nurture and guide their children lovingly. Together, we will unpack these enduring principles, strengthening our families and celebrating the precious gift of children, culminating in child dedication. Learn more about Down...

In considering how we relate to one another Ephesians 5.21-33 highlights a particular posture that might be confusing to our 21st-century imaginations: submission.  Throughout the centuries this word has, without doubt, been wrongly applied to justify abuse in relationships and marriages.  Yet this passage describes submission as one of the basic ways we are to live in relationship to one another....

In this message, we explore the profound mystery of transformation described in Ephesians 4:17-24.  Learn more about Downtown Hope + get connected by visiting our  ⁠⁠website⁠⁠  or filling out our online  ⁠⁠connect card⁠⁠ .

Nations at war, political polarization, divisions in the church, conflicts within our own relationships, and the pressures of life reveal deep tears and the relational fabric of humanity. There’s an intensity to the disunity we experience that makes the notion of unity seem irrational. Despite this, Ephesians 4 proposes that unity across the most diverse lines of humanity is a reality we can exper...

In this week's sermon, we dive into Ephesians 3.1-13 to further contemplate the mystery of the gospel as the only resource charged with the possibility of bringing enemies, even Jewish and non-Jewish neighboring cultures, and our own relational fractures, together into a peaceful new humanity. Learn more about Downtown Hope + get connected by visiting our  website  or filling out our online  c...

In this sermon, we explore Ephesians 2:11-22, where we see God's plan to unite all things in Christ, dismantling the dividing lines of hostility we often experience. This passage will help us discover the mystery of the new humanity that God is at work forming and how we can embody God-honoring unity. Learn more about Downtown Hope + get connected by visiting our  website  or filling out our o...

As we continue our series through the book of Ephesians, we focus on verses 1:14-23 to discover how we can pray for one another. Learn more about Downtown Hope + get connected by visiting our  website  or filling out our online  connect card .

There is something more to this life, a mystery that, when discovered, has implications for how we live and view reality. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians is an invitation to rediscover and reawaken our sense of awe at the spiritual realities and hidden truths that shape our lives.  We will explore the revelation of truths that challenge our understanding of the world around us. We will navigate thr...

We are physically, emotionally, and spiritually hardwired for deep community with others. Even though we have a deep need for community, it's also the source of some of our deepest pain and frustration. All of us are part of some kind of community and we've learned that it's only a matter of time before someone is hurt, offended, or upset about something. There seems to be "someth...

Humans beget humans and so from our conception, we are bound together. From this anthropological reality arises a deep and mysterious desire (literally) innate to all people: to be in a relationship with other people. In an individualistic culture, we especially feel this need to be connected but it is also something we must resist. Why? Because it inconveniences us, it costs us something, it stea...

In chapter 4, Boaz demonstrates what it means to be a kinsman redeemer through his actions. As we wrap up our series in Ruth, we will look at the way one's actions help to define who the person is. Learn more about Downtown Hope + get connected by visiting our  website  or filling out our online  connect card .

Ruth chapter 3 opens with the suggestion of scandal.  Through it, we'll discover that the way Ruth and Boaz relate to each other carries the potential to reshape culture. Learn more about Downtown Hope + get connected by visiting our  website  or filling out our online  connect card .

Ruth 2 introduces us to a man named Boaz, who is described as a worthy man. We will examine his kind actions toward Ruth and by extension, toward his kin Naomi. Were these acts done just out of obligation to the Law of God? Did he do them for selfish reasons, expecting something in return for his good deeds? Is generosity a spiritual gift one is born with or is it a trait or behavior one should st...