Hope+: Hope Community Church Podcast

In this episode, Pastors Dave and Jonathan sit down with two members from our church, Avesh and James, to discuss our church's identity of being a multicultural church. This conversation stems from a multicultural cohort that Jonathan took part in. This learning cohort was shared with other Christian Reformed Churches in Canada, to share stories and encourage one another from our experiences w...

Exodus 1:6-16; 6:6-8 This week, Pastor Dave continues our series on the story of the Bible from Exodus. Just like God's people in the book of Exodus, we face the challenges of slavery to our own idols and sins. The good news is that through the merciful love of God, we are gifted freedom to live in the way of blessing that God intended from the beginning.

Genesis 12:1-3 & 15 This week Pastor Dave shares the good news of God's redemptive plan through the blessing of Abraham. Jesus is our ultimate blessing and this grace is worked through humans out of the goodness of God's plans.

Genesis 3:1-7 & 11:4 This week Pastor Jonathan continues our sermon series on the whole story of the Bible. From a good creation comes the brokenness that our Bible calls "Sin." Humans back then and now rebel against a good, loving creator, which leads to our death and chaos. But the good news is that as far as the curse of sin is found, the grace of Jesus is found all the more.

Happy New Year! For our first episode of the year 2025, Pastor Dave sits down with Valerie, Misha and Jonathan to talk about the new year. We talk about resolutions, things coming up in ministry, and some of our goals and thoughts.   Time stamp: 0:00~9:28 New Year's Resolutions 9:29~12:54 What are some things you are looking forward to this year? 12:55~26:17 Ministry goals for this year? 26:18~34:...

Genesis 1:1-4; 26-28; 31 As we start this new year, Pastor Dave leads us through our new series "Long Story Short." For the next 18 weeks, up to Easter, we will be speaking through the story of the Old Testament through to the life of Jesus. For this week, Pastor Dave witnesses from God's Word the beginning of the whole world, how a good, loving God made a good world and what humans made in his im...

Luke 22:54-62 For our last Sunday of the year, special guest Dr. Ed Gerber (Trinity Western University Chaplain and member of our church) brings us God's Word from the gospel of Luke. Real love from Jesus himself has the power to transform. We are then also called to reflect this real love for those around us.

In this final episode of 2024, we sit down to discuss the important topic of grieving and suffering. The Christmas season is not all cheerful and full of joy for everyone and so Pastor Dave sits down to share in the stories of suffering that Randy, Sandy, and Sandee have gone through in their lives. This conversation is in continuation of the lament service that we held recently at our church name...

Isaiah 55:6-13 This week, Pastor Jonathan brings us the advent good news of finding joy in the Lord. We humans, made in the image of God, all crave joy and happiness. But real joy is found in God our maker. The more we are align with him and his ways, the more we may be able to glimpse that real joy, even in the hardships of our day to day lives.

Isaiah 9:2-7 This week, Pastor Sid brings us the advent gospel message of how Jesus is our source of peace. In a world that continues to struggle and wrestle with anxiety, fear, and not so much peace, our calling is to surrender to our Savior, the Prince of Peace. It's not just an absence of conflict, but it's also the presence of Jesus our Lord.

Isaiah 40:27-31 This week, Pastor Dave starts our advent series on the "Words of Waiting." In this series, we explore the significance of the words Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love and how that relates to the coming of the Messiah. This week, Pastors Dave preaches on the word "Hope." We have hope because of what God has done and what he will continue to do for the restoration of all creation, including...

Jude 17-23 This week, Pastor Jonathan concludes our series on the book of Jude. Jude, as the caring pastoral leader ends his letter to his congregation with a word of encouragement. He encourages the church to stand firm in our faith journeys, but to do this together with all God's people, resting in the ultimate shepherd, our Lord Jesus Christ.

Jude 3-19 This week, Pastor Sid brings to us the encouragement and challenge in facing false teaching in the church. Who we follow matters and the call for us as a church community is to always be discerning good and faithful leaders.

Jude 1:1-4 This week, Pastor Dave begins our mini-series on the book of Jude. This book may be a strange book and some may wonder why it's even in the Bible, but Pastor Dave guides and invites us to see the message of Jude, which challenges us today as well.

"We are called to love our city so deeply that we stand against its idols" (Lesslie Newbigin, paraphrased ). In this episode, Misha sits down with the 3 pastors of our church, Sid, Dave, and Jonathan. These pastors share their reflections and how this sermon series has ministered to the life of our church.

Hebrews 10:19-25 This week Pastor Dave reflects on the importance of community for us to grow in our life in Christ.

1 Corinthians 6:12-20 This week, Pastor Dave explores the importance of the body and what it means for us to follow Jesus with our sexuality.

On March 20, 1988, Hope Community Church was officially planted. In this episode, Pastors Sid and Dave sit down with Pastor Steve Elzinga, the first pastor of Hope Community Church. They discuss the vision and some of the behind the scenes of this original church plant back in the late 80s! Pastor Steve Elzinga currently serves and resides in Grand Rapids, Michigan with his wife. Time Stamp: 0:00~...

Mark 11:15-18 This week, Pastor Jonathan brings us the good news from the Gospel of Mark. Jesus displays for us the heart of the Father, which is to live justly, love mercy, and to walk humbly with Him. Just like Jesus, we strive to reflect real justice, right-relationship and shalom, which is the will of the Father.

Matthew 6:19-25 This week, Pastor Dave brings us the good news of being a contrast community of generosity for this Thanksgiving Sunday. Through the practice of gratitude, generosity, and cultivating relationships, we witness to God's Kingdom for a world that still wrestle against its master of money, greed, and possessions.

In this episode Pastor Dave sits down with Brittany, Audrey, Lydia, Joyce to discuss the topic of hospitality. Over the summer, some ladies at our church met up to discuss the importance of hospitality. This conversation was inspired by the book that these ladies read together: "The Gospel Comes with a House Key." Time Stamp: 0:00~1:54 Introduction 1:55~7:50 Memories of experiencing good hospitali...

John 13:34-35 This week, Pastor Sid brings to us the good news about our calling to be a community of peace and reliance on God in a culture where fear, anxiety define the present moment.

What does it mean to be "political"? What does it mean to be Christian in politics? In this episode, Valerie sits down with Dr. Leanne Smythe to have a live conversation about faith and politics. This episode is a recording of a live All of Life event held at our church. Dr. Leanne Smythe is the Assistant Professor of Political Studies at Trinity Western University. Time Stamp: 0:00~2:01 Introduct...

Genesis 2:2 & Exodus 20:8-11 This week, Pastor Dave brings us the good news of our calling as a contrast community. A part of our calling as Christians is to embody and live out the command to rest, to have sabbath as part of our lives. We reflect God's image as our God also rested and embraced creation with joy. In the same way, we witness to the world of what it means to flourish and live as...

Matthew 20:20-28 This week, Pastor Dave starts our new sermon series called "Contrast Community." In this series, we want to reflect on our calling to be counter-cultural, to name and resist the idols we have in our culture today. In Matthew 20, we read of a story of 2 disciples that sought greatness, but Jesus calls them to a way of humility and serving with our gifts. This is the upsid...