HopeUC Nashville Word of the Week

Join us in this episode as Pastor Dustin Smith, Pastor Tom Trout, and Jordan Smith sit down together to talk about "Generations" and how God weaves old men's dreams and young people's visions into one burning flame. Walking through Joel 2 / Acts 2 and the story of Elijah and Elisha, they explore how God is not just the God of your lifetime but the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—a 500‑year God yo...

Join us in this episode as Pastor Dustin Smith unpacks "keys of the kingdom" and how they unlock God's rule and reign in our everyday lives. Walking through Peter's revelation of Jesus in Matthew 16, Pastor Dustin shows how seeing Jesus clearly always comes before carrying real authority—and how God entrusts keys to those who truly know the King. You'll explore ten practical keys—revelation, faith...

In this episode, Shane Willard takes us into the Jewish world of Jesus to show Him as a real first‑century rabbi—and what it means to actually live under His yoke today. Shane explains how rare the title "rabbi" was, what a "yoke" is (a way of interpreting and living Scripture), and why Jesus was recognized as a rabbi "with authority" (s'mikah). With that authority, Jesus could offer His own yoke—...

In this episode, Pastor Dustin shares a passionate, practical message on faith as a "key to the kingdom" in a culture of comfort, convenience, and quitting when it gets hard. Preaching from Hebrews 11–12, he reminds us that faith isn't just what we believe but what we *do*—a real, costly substance. It's impossible to please God without faith, yet many of us try to follow Jesus at "safe speed," cli...

In this episode, Pastor Rick shares a honest, practical message on endurance as a "key to the kingdom" in a world obsessed with ease, speed, and instant results. Preaching from Hebrews 12, James 1, and Galatians 6, he unpacks the Greek word *hypomone*—to "stay under pressure without collapsing"—the same word used for Jesus enduring the cross. Life, Rick reminds us, is more like a marathon than a s...

In this episode, Pastor Dustin shares a bold, practical message on the Beatitudes and what it truly means to be "blessed" in a world that celebrates strength, success, and self-sufficiency. On a hillside under Roman rule, Jesus shocks His listeners by blessing the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, the hungry, the merciful, the pure, the peacemakers, and the persecuted. Brad shows how this...

In this episode, Brad shares a practical, story-driven message on living aware of God's presence in everyday life—not just in church services or "spiritual highs," but in family chaos, travel, work, and uncertainty. Through funny and honest stories about awkward Christmas gifts, a Lego monorail with his grandfather, and a trip to Uganda with young kids where everything seemed to go wrong, he shows...

In this episode, Autumn shares a deeply personal and powerfully hope-filled message on what it means to live as people of hope in the middle of real pain, loss, and delay. Tracing her story from childhood trauma and teen pregnancy to suicidal depression, radical encounter with God's presence, and years of heartbreaking miscarriages and infant loss, she shows that biblical hope is not naïve optimis...

In this episode, we welcome special guest J. John, who brings a clear and compelling message on what Christianity really is—not a vague label or a religious system, but a personal invitation from God Himself. Using John 3 and the famous words "For God so loved the world…," J. John shows how the Christian faith can be summed up in three core gifts: forgiveness from the past, new life today, and a s...

In this episode, we explore how worship becomes the place where God quietly builds something in us that can hold when life falls apart. Through Kat Huskey's story of walking through infertility, the loss of her mom, and the sudden death of her husband Austin in a plane crash, we see communion with God not as a concept, but as a lifeline. The hidden, ordinary moments of choosing Jesus in worship tu...

In this episode, we explore what it means to live in the "power of all" in a culture that disciples us to do faith as individuals. Starting in Ecclesiastes 4, we look at God's original design for people to walk, fight, and stand together, then trace that design through the story of Azusa Street, the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11, and the early church in Acts, where unity wasn't a buzzword but a sup...

In this episode, we look at what it really means for God's people to be a "house of prayer" in a culture that treats prayer as a last resort. Starting in Mark 11 and Isaiah 56, we see Jesus cleanse the temple and declare, "My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations," then follow that thread into the New Testament where *we*—the gathered people of God—are now His living temple. We un...

In this episode, we unpack what it means to live as a promise‑carrying family in a world where every home has fractures, pressure, and pain. Starting from Psalm 68:6 and Deuteronomy 6, we look at how God places the lonely in families, calls us to pass on His ways "when you sit at home and when you walk along the road," and invites us to build houses shaped more by His promises than by our problems...

In this episode, we unpack what it means to live "function before title" in a culture obsessed with platforms, visibility, and influence. Starting from Luke 16:10, we look at Jesus' insistence that faithfulness in little things always comes before greater responsibility—and how, in the kingdom, God forms our character long before He hands us a microphone or a ministry. Using real stories and bibli...

In this episode, we explore what it means to stop seeing people as distractions to our "real calling" and recognize that people are the calling. Using Jesus' parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10, we look at how the priest and Levite weren't evil—they were busy, on their way to do ministry—and how easily we, too, can cross the road to avoid other people's pain in the name of serving God. Drawin...

In this episode, we explore what it means to stop "reading God phonetically"—seeing some things technically right but interpreting them wrong—and step into the way of the table. Using Peter's words in 1 Peter 4 about being "finished with sin," living in the last days, and practicing deep love and hospitality, we look at how the early church didn't grow through platforms but through tables, homes,...

In this episode, we kick off our Culture series by asking a hard but necessary question: are we just putting on good services, or are we actually becoming a people formed by Kingdom culture? Drawing from Jesus' prayer in John 17, Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 13 and Philippians 2, and the warning in Ephesians 4 about losing sensitivity to the Spirit, we unpack what culture really is—what we celebr...

In this episode, we explore what it means to become a true carrier of God's glory. Moving from being a passive audience to an active outpost of His presence everywhere we go. Tracing the story from Genesis to Acts, we look at how the Spirit of God has always brought order out of chaos, rested on God's people for purpose, and now lives in us to release peace, healing, and freedom into the world. Th...

In this episode, we unpack God's original design for humanity to live as an outpost of heaven on earth, carrying His authority without seizing His throne. Through personal stories, biblical insight, and practical coaching, we look at how "mission drift" happens—when we start making "tacos in a Chick-fil-A" instead of staying true to God's blueprint—and how the Holy Spirit is our essential upgrade...

In this episode, we explore the dynamic mission of believers as lights in the world, tasked with shining the kingdom's truth into darkness. Through inspiring accounts and heartfelt reflections, we learn how submission to God's mission and the power of personal testimony shape our spiritual journey and influence those around us. With stories of salvation and transformation, this message encourages...

In this episode, we explore the profound concept of the Kingdom of God as a divine monarchy rather than a democracy. Through insightful biblical analysis, we learn how Jesus's call to 'repent' invites us to shift our allegiance to this transformative Kingdom. We'll delve into powerful stories, such as the martyrdom of Perpetua and Felicitas, illustrating how God's Kingdom transforms perceived fail...

Join us in this episode as we explore how faith is formed in quiet obedience and strengthened through meaningful community. We reflect on how fear, isolation, and performance-based faith can distract us from what truly matters, and how living faithfully in the unseen moments prepares us to endure and grow. Discover why obedience over outcomes, connection over isolation, and hope over panic shape a...

In this episode, join us as we explore the profound truths of the kingdom of God with Pastor Dustin. Dive into the heart of what it means to live under the reign and rule of God, where the kingdom isn't merely a future escape plan, but a present reality impacting our daily lives.  For more insights and resources, visit www.hopeucnashville.com or download the HopeUC Nashville app.

Join us in this episode as we explore the profound message of Ecclesiastes Chapter 3, delving into the divine seasons of life. Understand how perception and spiritual maturity can align us with God's cosmic timetable. Discover the importance of recognizing your current season to shape your actions and growth, preparing you for what's next. For more resources and sermons, visit our website or downl...

Join us as Pastor Dustin Smith unpacks the transformative power of joy and its role in our lives. Discover how joy, rooted in the arrival of Jesus, offers strength and defies despair. Learn how choosing joy is a bold step toward faith and trust, inviting us into a deeper connection with Jesus amid life's challenges. For more stories and resources, visit www.hopeucnashville.com or download the Hope...