Hopewell Baptist Church

What does it actually mean to follow Jesus—not just call yourself a Christian, but truly live as His disciple? In this episode, Pastor Brandon and Pastor Joel recap Sunday’s message from Mark 1 and talk about Jesus’ simple but life-changing call: “Follow Me.” They unpack why discipleship is more than attending a class, checking a box, or claiming a label. It is a daily life of obedience, growth, s...

In this message from Mark 1:16–20, we look at the moment Jesus called His first disciples along the Sea of Galilee. With just a few words—“Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men”—their lives were completely changed. This sermon explores what true discipleship really means. Following Jesus begins with His gracious call, leads to a new obedience, and results in a life filled with divine purpo...

Jesus began His public ministry with a bold proclamation: “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” (Mark 1:14–15) Before the miracles… before the crowds… before the cross… Jesus came preaching. In a world full of noise, opinions, and distractions, God chose the clear proclamation of the gospel to change lives. The King has come. The Light has sh...

In this episode, Joe sits down with Pastor Brandon to recap the sermon on Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness (Mark 1:12–13, with details from Matthew 4). They unpack why Jesus is the “drop-forged” Savior—fully tested under pressure, yet victorious—and how Satan’s strategy targets our identity, character, and obedience. You’ll hear why temptation often isn’t just about desire, but about avoiding t...

Temptation doesn’t just test your willpower — it targets your character. In “Facing the Battle With Temptation” (Pt. 2), we see Jesus as our “drop forged” Savior — tested in the fire, pressured in every way, yet without sin. Where Adam failed in a garden, Jesus triumphed in a wilderness. Where we fall, He stood firm. Satan tempts with provision, popularity, and power — but Jesus answers every lie...

Why does life feel like a constant battle—and does hardship mean God is disappointed with you? In this episode, Joe and Joel recap Sunday’s message from Mark 1 on the temptation of Jesus , exploring why the Spirit “drove” Jesus into the wilderness immediately after His baptism. They unpack the difference between trials and temptations , why pain isn’t always punishment (sometimes it’s formative di...

Why does life feel like a constant battle? In Mark 1:12-13, we see Jesus driven into the wilderness to face the enemy head-on. The temptation of Christ wasn’t just a moment in His story, it was a decisive victory for ours. Where Adam failed and Israel fell, Jesus stood firm and triumphed. This message is a reminder that temptation is real, the enemy is relentless, and the battle is coming. But the...

Hopewell is back in person—and with a packed Parent Commissioning and a growing next generation (52 babies this year!), Pastor Brandon and Pastor Joel jump into a powerful recap from Mark 1: the baptism of Jesus. If John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance… why would the sinless Son of God step into that line? In this conversation, they unpack the “layers” behind Jesus’ baptism: How Jesus identi...

Jesus didn’t begin His public ministry with fanfare. He stepped into the water and took His place among sinners. In Mark 1:9-11, we see a Savior who identifies with us. Though He had no sin to confess, Jesus was baptized to fulfill righteousness, to picture the rescue He came to accomplish, and to model the path of humble obedience for His followers. As He comes up from the Jordan, heaven opens, t...

In this first-ever Friday Rewind , Pastor Brandon and Joel recap Sunday’s message from Mark 1:1–8 and unpack why Mark opens his Gospel the way he does. Why start with John the Baptist instead of a Christmas story? What does Mark mean by “the beginning of the gospel”? And how do repentance, confession, and baptism fit together without turning baptism into a “work” that saves? They also discuss the...

What is the gospel? Mark doesn’t leave that question unanswered. From the very first verse, he announces the good news of Jesus Christ—the Son of God—and immediately shows us that this gospel begins with a voice in the wilderness: John the Baptist. In this message, we look at how John’s life and ministry prepared the way for Jesus. John reminds us that the gospel is not simply a moral example or a...

Pastor Joel is back from Honduras and shares highlights from a pastors’ family conference focused on encouragement, restoration, and purpose in ministry. Then we jump into the kickoff of our new study through the Gospel of Mark—an action-packed, “immediately” kind of Gospel written to strengthen believers under pressure. In this episode, we talk about: Why in-person worship matters (and what we mi...

What does true greatness really look like? In a world that celebrates status, power, and being served, Jesus turns everything upside down. Mark’s Gospel introduces us to the Servant King—the Son of God who did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many. This message launches our study through the Gospel of Mark by looking at both the messenger and the message. W...

Pastor Brandon wrapped up his “Foundations” series with Colossians 4 and discovered something surprising: the “names at the end” aren’t filler—they’re a powerful picture of how the gospel moves forward through ordinary people serving together . In this episode, Pastor Brandon and Pastor Matt talk about: Why Colossians is ultimately about the sufficiency of Jesus (not Jesus + extra rules, experienc...

Together in the Trenches closes our study of Colossians with something we’re often tempted to skip: a list of names. But those names tell a powerful story—God advances His work through faithful friends, behind-the-scenes servants, restored lives, burden-bearers, prayer warriors, and everyday believers who simply show up. In this message from Colossians 4:7–18, we’re reminded that Christianity is n...

Pastor Brandon is back from Israel—and the trip only deepened his desire to lead the church into the Gospel of Mark next. But first, the guys return to the closing section of Colossians to highlight what Paul calls believers to prioritize: small, daily practices that carry massive spiritual weight. In this episode, they unpack Colossians 4:2–6 and talk about why “flashy” Christianity can’t replace...

As we bring our study in Colossians to a close, the apostle Paul draws our attention to things that often seem small, ordinary, and easily overlooked—but are eternally significant. In Colossians 4:2–6, we are reminded that a faithful Christian life is not built only on big moments, but on daily devotion, wise conduct, redeemed time, and gracious words. Throughout Colossians, Paul has shown us that...

What would make someone willingly give up their freedom—forever? In this powerful New Year devotion, we unpack a surprising Old Testament ceremony and discover a deeper question: What kind of Master is worth being “sold out” for? As resolutions fade and commitments waver, Scripture points us to a better way of living—total devotion to Christ. From Deuteronomy 15, we see a servant who freely choose...

The Christmas story isn’t just sentimental—it’s a showdown of worship. In Matthew 2, we meet wise men who search, a king who resists, and a Savior who deserves everything. These Magi weren’t Jews—they were Gentiles—showing from the very beginning that Jesus is the King for every nation, every class, every kind of person. In this message, we follow their journey and ask the question that still conf...

In a world full of uncertainty, God gives His people sure things. In this message from 1 John 5:11–21 (KJV), Pastor Dale Brooks walks through the closing verses of 1 John and reminds us that the Christian life is marked by confidence rooted in God’s Word, not in feelings or circumstances. Sermon Highlights: Assurance of Salvation – Believers can know they have eternal life because God Himself has...

In this Rewind episode, Pastor Brandon and Pastor Joel talk through Sunday’s message, “Divine Grace in the Daily Grind,” and how the gospel transforms the way we see our work—whether you’re in a shop, an office, a classroom, or full-time ministry. They unpack the idea that our label comes before our labor: who we are in Christ matters more than what we do for a living. From there, they dig into so...

Work isn’t just a paycheck—it’s worship. In this message, we explore how the gospel transforms the way we show up on Mondays: our assignment, abilities, attitude, and accountability. From Eden to the empty tomb, Scripture reframes vocation: God gives us our label before our labor, and Christ redeems our work from futility, fatigue, and frailty. Whether you lead a company, teach a class, stock shel...

Parenting is holy work—and hard work. In this message, we explore God’s blueprint for shaping a child’s heart: children obeying “in the Lord” and parents nurturing without provoking, bringing kids up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. You’ll see why family health is tied to cultural health, how obedience protects and honors, and how moms and dads can guide with both boundaries and grac...

When God designed the home, He started with a marriage. In this message, we look at how Christ reshapes the husband–wife relationship—moving it from self-centered to Spirit-led. From Genesis to Ephesians, Scripture shows marriage as a covenant where wives honor Christ by supporting godly leadership and husbands reflect Christ by loving sacrificially. This isn’t about power plays—it’s about purpose...

Pastor Brandon and Pastor Joel sit down on a Monday morning to rewind Sunday’s message, “The Christian’s New Wardrobe,” from Colossians 3:12–17. They unpack what it really means to “put on” the character of Christ—compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, forgiveness, and love—and how our identity in Christ is meant to shape every relationship and every corner of our lives. Along the way...