Hope Christian Fellowship

It probably comes as no surprise to you that people in our country and culture are struggling more than ever with the feeling of loneliness. Some long for connection with others but cannot seem to find it. Others wall themselves off from connection after experiencing some of the harsh wounds that can come from connection. But what may not seem as obvious are the spiritual implications of lonelines...

Money is always a huge issue, and it tends to make people feel uncomfortable when churches talk about it. But Paul didn’t have any hesitation instructing the Corinthians on this topic, challenging them to give faithfully and sacrificially. These challenges are for us today as well. As we finish up the two chapters on the topic, we will see that giving is actually worship. And that worship is tied...

Guest Speaker Psalm 120, 109:1-5; 1 Peter 3:9, 15-17; Matt 5:10-12

People often give to church because of guilt. And churches often use emotional manipulation to motivate people to give. But this is not the way Paul describes the motivation behind a believer’s giving. Instead, he points to the reality that we see the value in what God is doing, so we naturally want to give to His work. That enables us to be faithful and not give up. Not everyone gives the same am...

Some churches talk way too much about money. Our church tends not to talk about it enough. But we’re walking through the second letter to the Corinthians in the New Testament, and Paul takes a significant amount of space to teach them about giving. What Paul tells us in these verses is how giving is a key part of growing in our faith and living as mature believers. If those connections are hard fo...

We’ve had an amazing week together as a church during this year’s Vacation Bible School. This morning, we celebrate together all of the fun, the people, and the lessons. Our kids will take the stage to share their songs and the truth they’ve learned. Then, we’ll talk about how what seems so simple can be so life-giving and powerful. No matter what our age is, we all are looking for answers in this...

Every summer, Hope comes together to pour our hearts into Vacation Bible School. We see dozens of workers and scores of kids come out each morning and night to learn about Jesus. What is it that makes this week worth it? Why would a church spend their time, resources, and energy to put on a huge program like this? This morning, as we kickoff VBS, we’re going to read one of Paul’s accounts about hi...

Turn on the news, scroll through social media, or phone a friend and before you know it you will be given some kind of advice, tip, or life hack. Everyone is trying to explain how this can be done quicker, how you can do that for less money, or how you can avoid this chore. Everyone thinks that they are an expert, except of course the experts, who get drowned out in the noise or simply ignored for...

In our faith journey, it’s easy to try to stay in a comfortable place since life gives us our fair share of bumps and bruises. But we have a shared calling as children of God to share what the Lord has done in our lives. This week we will look at the calling that Jesus gave to some of the original disciples to see how we can apply it to our lives today.

Does it feel to you like the world keeps creating new and unique reasons that we should be afraid? Maybe there is no such deliberate force at work, but it can feel like every day is a struggle to steer clear of fear. God’s people are called to be ‘strong and courageous’ (Josh. 1:9). How do we actually do that? We celebrate fatherhood and our fathers on this day. In that vein, we’ll take a look at...

If you find yourself going the wrong way, you have a choice to make. You can keep going a way that you now know will not take you to your destination. Or you can double-down on your mistake in some kind of pride and refuse to admit your mistake. But the second response doesn’t actually save you. You still wind up missing your destination. Refusing to admit that you were wrong seems foolish and poi...

When cold season hits, many people become more conscious about cleaning surfaces and making sure they do everything possible to keep away from touching what could make them sick. Parents of little ones feel a little hopeless during this time because kids seem to be magnets for all kinds of viruses and even the most vigilant parenting does not seem to keep them away from catching whatever is out th...

When you’re applying for job, it can feel like all you’re doing is bragging about yourself. In order to advocate for your ability to be considered for the job, you have to rehearse all the reasons you would be a good hire. That can feel self-focused and certainly self-promoting. As a Christian, we’re supposed to be humble. Is it possible to be humble while reminding those who need it of the reason...

We gather on Sundays to worship our Savior. And we gather on this Sunday to honor our mothers. Being a mom is reported to be one of the greatest joys in life. But many mothers find the reality to be significantly more challenging and complicated than a simply joy-filled experience. Just like anything a Christian is called to do, the Lord invites us to FIND joy in all of it. How can we do that? Tod...

Most people probably believe that marriage is one of the great blessings of life. But so many moments in marriage can be taken for granted. Sometimes, people even destroy this great blessing by their choices of action (or inaction). Humans have often treated other great blessings from God in similar ways, wasting talent or time or freedom or any number of HIs priceless gifts. Paul urges the Corint...

When a relationship has been broken, it takes real work to see it restored. Whether words have been spoken that leave lasting emotional damage, or actions have been taken that have brought about significant damage, putting things back together isn’t quick or easy. In the same way, mankind’s fractured relationship with our Creator is not easily fixed. But by a miracle of God’s grace through the cro...

People regularly use leverage, manipulation, deception and all kinds of other tricks to get other people to do what they want them to do. Family dynamics can be a hotbed for this kind of controlling behavior. Advertising and commerce jump right into this arena to maximize profits. Religious institutions often use fear and shame to push people into actions deemed ‘right and good’. But Paul uses a d...

As you get older, you may notice that your body doesn't work like it used to. This shouldn't be surprising, but it often very much IS! The deterioration of our physical bodies is a given for every single person who ever lived. And often, that causes people to yearn for youth or to try to find a way to feel young again. However, Paul takes a different approach to this reality. In fact, he p...

What gets you discouraged? Your story is unique and so are the factors that make you feel like life isn’t working and that you’re not getting anywhere. But everyone knows what it feels like to be frustrated and deflated. Most of the time, the feeling comes from the circumstances of our lives and how we see them. Paul teaches us today that we have choices we can make about how we face even the hard...

In 1989, a Philadelphian went to a flea market in Adamstown, PA and bought a picture because he wanted the frame. The picture itself was torn and damaged, so he only paid $4. When he got home and took out the picture so that he could frame what he wanted instead, he found something behind it. It was a copy of the Declaration of Independence that later was sold for over $2.4 million dollars. The lo...

As a Christian, you actually have a different way of seeing the world. When you turn on the news or listen to the conversations around you in this world, it should seem weird to you.  Paul says they act this way because they don’t see… they have been blinded! Satan does not want people to see well enough that they turn to the hope found in Jesus. He wants to keep them in the dark. But God shines a...

If you wear glasses – even sunglasses – you may notice from time to time that you can’t see as well as you need to because the lenses have become dirty. It is ironic that something that is specifically supposed to help improve your vision can become the very reason that your vision is diminished. Paul talks about the same idea spiritually as he continues to compare the New Covenant with the Old. I...

Have you ever looked back on some of the things you thought were a big deal when you were a kid? Maybe there was a certain toy that seemed to be the ultimate prize. Or there was a specific type of clothing that you absolutely needed. In retrospect, it probably isn’t hard to see that those things weren’t as ‘glorious’ as they seemed at the time. Paul uses the example of Moses’ shining face to compa...

A first-time parent is flooded with suggestions, advice, and even criticism. The experience can be intimidating and deflating because someone who is just starting out on their parenting journey does not really feel qualified to be a parent! It is hard to put a large enough value on having a supportive and helpful community in times like this. But parenting is not the only place we face this kind o...

Life is full of twists and turns. We face unexpected and even unwanted change all the time. In response, some of us live in anxiety and fear, while others work hard to control as much as possible. But what if the uncontrollable and unpredictable nature of life carries an important message for us? Paul says that his life is a reflection of the fact that he is not in charge of his own life. Instead,...