Hope Christian Fellowship

Your mobile phone most likely keeps you constantly aware of the need for a good connection. Having signal so that you can text or call is a basic necessity. Of course, now we’re also dependent on a data connection to keep up to date on all that’s happening on social media and in the world. The quality of your connection has everything to do with how well your phone works. Likewise, people need qua...

If you had siblings growing up, you probably know the meaning of the word “provoked”. It often carries a very negative feeling of irritating someone into doing something they shouldn’t do. However, the Bible tells us that Christians should naturally be provoking one another – but not in a bad way. We’re going to look at this passage in Hebrews and see part of the reason we should faithfully be in...

In science, heat is naturally and reliably transferred from something that has a lot of heat to something that has very little heat. It's just how nature works. If you put a cold pot of water over a fire, the pot and water get hot. We use this principle in everything from power plants to automobiles. In the church, since love is the operating principle, there is a similar natural flow that we...

When the power goes out , life gets very difficult very quickly. If your at home and its dark, you suddenly are on a search for a flashlight and candles. If you're at work, everything seems to come to a halt because most of what we do requires power. We are very used to having power on demand , and very aware of the lack whenever we lose it. But are we as sensitive and aware of power loss in o...

Topics: Celebration , church family , Communication , connections , devotion , freedom , Generosity , Love , sacrifice , Serving , Teaching , zeal

Who Needs the Church? Obviously everyone. But we’re going to talk about the word “need”. Are church and its people absolutely necessary in your life, or are they optional? Luxuries or necessities? Many of you already think of Sunday morning as ‘can’t miss’. Some are ‘hit and miss’. What does God think about church? And is one hour a week on Sunday enough for what He wants to do in you through the...

Last week Jim Jefferson gave us a call to action. We each have an individual responsibility to answer that call, but Jesus ultimately wants us to work together. Over the last few years in youth group we’ve put an emphasis on coming together as the body of Christ. Today several of our youth will share their experiences in forming relationships, serving others, and serving together. Topics: Serving

Taking a look at how we are called to minister, who we are called to minister, and what happens if we don’t answer the call. Topics: Eternal Life , freedom , Serving

THE WORDS OF JESUS SERIES – (A Study from Luke) Because we trust and follow Jesus, we thought it would be a great idea to take a walk through the gospel of Luke and dig into the words of Jesus Himself. We’ll find them challenging and full of insight. And with open hearts, we’ll allow the Spirit to instruct us on how we should walk as Christians in this world. SUNDAY MORNING MESSAGE – Forgiven Much...

Life can be confusing. Just when you think you have one problem solved, three more crop up. There are moments when it feels like you’re juggling so much already, and life throws one more thing into the mix. Some people say God has a plan for your life. Could that be true? And what would be His plan with all that seems so chaotic and out of place. One of Jesus’ closest friends while He lived on ear...

Each year, we give it everything we have. We want this week of Vacation Bible School to be the most fun, the best experience, and some of the greatest memories our kids every have. But all of that is because of our purpose – as believers, as a church, and certainly as we pour out our energy this week. We want our kids (and everyone else) to know Jesus. We want homes to be changed by His power. We...

Because we trust and follow Jesus, we thought it would be a great idea to take a walk through the gospel of Luke and dig into the words of Jesus Himself. We’ll find them challenging and full of insight. And with open hearts, we’ll allow the Spirit to instruct us on how we should walk as Christians in this world. The Temptation of Jesus ( Luke 4:1-13 ) The biggest mistakes we make are usually drive...

Competition is everywhere in our lives. Our kids join various teams and compete against one another. As we grow up, we find many different playing fields, from social to academic to career. We talk about political races and our culture seems obsessed with sports. Since we’re all well acquainted with trying to come out on top, we all understand the discussion that the disciples have with Jesus. The...

This is going to be a very special Sunday. Our entire service is going to be built around the words of Jesus as He gives us the Lord's Supper. Over the centuries, Christians have used these symbols to remember Jesus. Our morning will be filled with music and reflection and we'll share communion together. How are you doing at Jesus admonition to remember Him and His sacrifice? Has it shown...

Do you remember what it’s like to be a kid? Everything is an adventure. Every day is an opportunity to learn something new, forming hopes and dreams. Think about how the unfolding of your childhood effected the outcome of your adulthood. Dr. Tim Kimmel says having children is like “being handed a piece of history in advance – a gracious gift you send to a time you will not see – and you play the b...

Have you ever thought about the ‘power of Dad’? Certainly both parents are vital to God’s design for home, but there’s something unique about Dad’s voice. When it is time to discipline the kids, what Dad has to say makes a large difference. And statistics show the undeniable spiritual impact that Dad has on his children – both positive and negative. So it isn’t surprising that God is presented as...

Have you ever loaned out something you really value? If you trust the one you’ve given it to, you can rest easy unless you receive some kind of news of trouble. But if you don’t know or trust that person, you will not have a moment’s peace until you have your valuable back in your hands again. It would be a huge problem if those to whom you’ve loaned decided to think and act like they were in fact...

Have you ever been asked to watch a friend’s pet while they are away? Depending on the pet, it can be a minor effort or a major one! The friend trusts you enough to ask you to take on their role in caring for their pet and ensuring that their home isn’t wrecked while they are away. Knowing that they will come home is the filter through which you see your role. You know it isn’t permanent and that...

Wednesday Bible Study – 1 Corinthians

High school social circles generally include groups of people who are ‘popular’. You know the type; everyone wants to be around them and they are always in demand. Of course, that also means there are other people who are less desirable. These kids are on the outside looking in. The difference is probably something to do with appearance or athletic skill. It could also be based in social skills. B...

One story line that we see over and over again is the situation where a king or someone in great power is disguised as just a regular person. Movies have had ‘hidden kings’ as part of the narrative, and there has been a recent TV series based on the boss working alongside regular employees. The surprise factor embedded in this situation is a great tool for storytelling. Jesus uses a similar techni...

Wednesday Night Bible Study Topics: God's Plan , Our Plans , Spirit Leading

Have you ever felt completely overwhelmed as a parent? Maybe you found yourself in a dark moment where you were convinced that you are a failure as a parent. But if you put that ‘feeling’ aside for a moment, what would you use to measure the success or failure of your parenting? The Bible contains many different passages that touch on parenting. Some are direct and others are implied. Today, we wa...

Have you ever heard of a Brazilian steakhouse? There are a few different ones in the area and they vary in quality, but the point is the same at all of them. They are basically meat buffets with the added bonus of the food being brought to you instead of you having to get up and get it. Basically, the things dreams are made of. I had the luxury of eating at one of these establishments several year...

Why does it seem that keys are always lost just when you’re about to leave? Whether you’re already running late or have given yourself extra time, it is a deflating and frustrating experience to be ready to go but find yourself unable. TV remotes seem to have a similar talent for hiding. So what do we do when we lose something we need or really want? We go looking for it. Jesus uses this natural r...