Hope Christian Fellowship

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,...

Time has a way of destroying things we hold dear. Pictures fade. Favorite songs are left un-played and unheard. Our first car is long gone. Even our bodies – after a certain age – start to deteriorate. One of the most precious gifts we ever hold is someone we love. Relationships are not immune to the damage of time and the reality of human fallibility. We make mistakes and those mistakes hurt the...

It seems like night driving has become increasingly difficult because, ironically, the trend of intensely bright headlights makes it harder for drivers to see. While the debate rages on about whether the authorities should or will do anything about this, there is no argument over whether or not it matters.  Seeing the road is vitally important – literally a matter of life and death. While it is ob...

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...

First responders are known for many things, but what is always amazing is that when crisis hits, they run TOWARDS the trouble.  Most of us hear an explosion or gunshot or whatever and we protect ourselves.  It is what comes naturally.  But these heroes are lauded for their willingness to do the exact opposite. Could it be that we are so deeply moved by this because it reflects Almighty God? He mov...

How tired are you? The real answer to that question may have more to do with the pace of your life than your sleep patterns. Most people live exhausted because they are doing all they can to carry all that they can, believing there is no other way. But what if our lives need a power beyond our own?  What if this power is available to anyone? We’re going to look at a story of the early church today...

What do you do often enough that it defines your life? Perhaps you go to some location most days or you have a daily exercise regimen. Anything that you do on that kind of a regular basis will have deep echoes into your life. The question is whether or not we notice what is becoming life-forming habits. If we want to be like Jesus and live as vibrant Christians, what kind of patterns should we int...

The holiday season is a special time of reflection for Christians. Leading up to Thanksgiving we set aside time to meditate on the things we are grateful for and give thanks to God, and then as Christmas rolls around we contemplate the greatest gift God has ever given in the birth of Jesus. Yet every one of us has experienced dark times when it feels difficult to see what good things God has for u...

We use titles today regularly without knowing where they came from or what they mean. For example, we often use the title “Mister” or “Mr.” in front of a man’s name without knowing that it originated as a title for men of higher social status. While it is frequently used, the meaning of the word has shifted to a simple use as a formal title for any man. Titles were also used in Biblical times. For...

Waiting for someone to keep their promise can be a frustrating experience. Depending on how well you know the person, you may have trouble waiting for a long time without doubting whether or not they are going to stay true to their word.  God made a promise to humanity back in the Garden of Eden – pretty much right after mankind rebelled and broke everything. That promise waited thousands of years...

Parents generally take naming their baby very seriously. While there are different reasons for everyone, most people put a lot of weight on ‘liking’ the name. Some options are eliminated because a person with ‘that name’ has a painful or bad history with one or both of the parents. Other options are eliminated because of personal taste (i.e. not liking how the name sounds or fits with the family n...

In our culture, it is understandable to say whatever you need to in order to get the results you want. Sometimes it means leaving out certain information to make sure that someone sees your point of view. Other times, it means actually being less than honest to protect yourself. From this mindset, the truth is less important than the results you desire.  Christians can find themselves following al...

In a world that loves attention, we should know who is worth ours. We have a limited amount of time, attention, and energy to give. Are we making choices about where to spend these precious resources like the world does? Those without Jesus tend to turn towards those with fame or money or personality. Christians – even in churches – can often do the same. Proverbs 4:23 tells us to guard our hearts...

To Seek and Save the Lost

When we’re kids, we think it will be great when we grow up and can be ‘the one in charge.’ Of course, when we arrive as adults, we find out that we’re not nearly as free to do what we want as we thought we’d be. It is normal to think that the person who has the power to decide is the one to be envied. Jealousies in jobs or churches or families often come from this mindset surrounding leadership an...

If you ever played a never-ending game of Monopoly as a kid, you know the emptiness of playing a game without a winner. It’s fun for a little while, but the norm is to play a game for competition. We all take that instinct with us into life. We want to keep score. Winners are those with the most. These ideas find traction in how people deal with money. The more you have, the more you’re a winner....