New Hope Chapel

According to Jesus' 'greatest commandments,' we need to be occupied with love for God and love for others. Love is an important theme of the New Testament. John writes that God is love. Not that God is loving, or God has love. Since God is love, when we encounter him and get to know him, we can't help but be affected by that love. Have you ever thought about the ways God's...

New Hope Chapel has had women teachers for a long time, and about five years ago, New Hope also began recognizing women as elders. Around the same time, we decided to phase out the language of deacons and elders and move into the language of a pastoral team and a teaching team. We know there are many examples of women as disciples in the New Testament--Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Susanna, Martha and M...

Has it ever felt that God has let you down? Maybe it was unanswered prayer—a plea for His help, or claiming a promise He made but did not fulfill it. This week, Julie Coleman shares her message on 'The Unexpected God'. Listen and see how He works in unexpected ways--more often than we think!

The Bible says that we have freedom as Christians. The question is freedom to do what? Using the book of Galatians, we will explore what freedom in Christ means and the surprising ways our lives can be different. Listen to look at a new way to live. Steve Coleman

Have you ever felt that your life is spinning out of control, and everything is out of your hands? Maybe there is a personal circumstance like an illness or tragedy that made you feel absolutely helpless. Or maybe it is in looking at our country’s current problems or scary world events. Julie Coleman tells a story where the powerless became the powerful (Judges 3:15-30). What happened then can hap...

Have you ever been reading scripture and wondered, “That seems weird,” or “I wonder what that means”? I know I have more than once stumbled over certain verses. Right after Jesus taught the crowd the parable of the sower, his disciples asked Him why he taught that way. In his response, Jesus says something that seems strange or, to some, even harsh. Jesus said that those who have more will be give...

Many of today’s Christian attempts to foresee the future move against the grain of the early Christian’s patient life of faith, supernaturally empowered by the ferment of the Holy Spirit. Believers in the first three centuries of the Church leaned into gifts of grace to be freely shared, with the sober recognition of Jesus’s command to care for the world.  The earliest Christians lived into "...

Steve says, "Jesus' teachings were full of stories. Listen and hear about one of the more unusual parables of Jesus--the Parable of the Barren Fig Tree. It will provide encouragement for times when the Lord feels far off.

Dr. Bill says, "Curiosity saved the cat. Yes, sometimes curiosity is beneficial, and sometimes not. This week, we see how curiosity led to disastrous results for some biblical figures and great blessings for others, such as Zacchaeus. As you continue in your faith, you’ll find that developing a habit of curiosity in the things of the Lord will accelerate your growth.” Dr. Bill Smith

Tabitha was her Jewish name, but she was also known as Dorcas, a Greek name that carried the same meaning as the Hebrew indicated. She was a dear, and a deer. She was known for her good deeds, and she is the only woman in the entire Christian testament who is actually named as a disciple. Her seemingly untimely death rocked her Christian community to its core. Her ministry, her presence, her gener...

The phrase "getting back to basics" generally means returning to the essential elements of something, stripping away complexity, distractions, or extraneous additions. What would be the value of returning to the "basics" of the Christian life? What would those basics be? Listen as we explore what the Bible has to say about essential Christian living. Steve Coleman

The Bible does not varnish the truth about Rahab, she was a woman of her day and of her culture. Both the Hebrew and Greek words for her mean “harlot,” though there is evidence she was also an innkeeper, a merchant, and very possibly a brewer. Canaanites were also idolaters, whose morals and lifestyle went entirely against the grain of God's ways as given to the Hebrews. Now, God was going to...

On the Road to Damascus, Jesus tells Paul that "it is hard for you to kick against the goads." What did he mean? When an oxen did it, he only succeeded in hurting himself. How do we fight to keep from making Paul's mistake? Listen as Julie Coleman explores this issue and more!

Some people in scripture encountered God and refused to change. Judas is a prime example. If you are uncomfortable with change, we will explore ways to avoid it. On the other hand, if you are tired or bored with the same life experience, we will also dig into a transformation process using Abram as an example.  Bill Smith

Deep down, do you wonder why you, personally, are here, and what is it that makes you special, if anything? I certainly have wondered that about myself. That question has to do with destiny, and with purpose, does my life have meaning? We know from Paul that God did raise you and me up to new life for good works God prepared in advance. But how do we find out what those things are? Perhaps Lydia w...

This week, we will see how Palm Sunday fits right in with the “Changed” series, as we will hear how the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem began a week that changed everything! While not everyone is a big fan of change, when we live our life in Christ, there will be times when he causes us to change or grow into the person He always designed us to be. We will touch on the importance of being...

Are you a perfectionist? How is that going for you? This week, Julie Coleman will take us into the strengths, potential, and failures of the closet perfectionist, Peter. We will see how God transformed this complex man from mere potential to successful apostle. Many of us feel we can relate to Peter. Spoiler alert: your life may be even closer to Peter's than you might think!

This week in the Changed series we are going to talk about one of the most unusual characters that experienced God's transforming power. Listen and hear about Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, and why God was interested in this man. Steve Coleman

We all put hope in the fact that God is not finished with us yet. He continues the process of transformation throughout our lives, molding and conforming us into the image of Christ. There are many examples in Scripture that demonstrate that process. "Changed" will examine the lives of those transformed: the before, the after, and the catalyst God used to make a positive, permanent chang...

We all put hope in the fact that God is not finished with us yet. He continues the process of transformation throughout our lives, molding and conforming us into the image of Christ. There are many examples in Scripture that demonstrate that process. "Changed" will examine the lives of those transformed: the before, the after, and the catalyst God used to make a positive, permanent chang...

When you read Matthew 7:21-23, where Jesus said, "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of God... I will declare to them 'I never knew you,'" does it cause you concern? This verse is often taught as a dire warning to believers. But is it? Come along with Julie Coleman as she clarifies exactly whom Jesus was addressing, and what His statemen...

This section of the Sermon on the Mount includes three of the more famous statements Jesus made and is known for: “ask…seek…knock”, “do unto others…” and “enter by the narrow gate”. Listen as Steve Coleman reflects on the decisions Jesus highlights in this passage.

Have you ever been told to mind your own business? Have you heard someone say, “Judge not!”. This is probably the most quoted and misquoted scripture used by nonbelievers and sometimes even by some believers. What we are going to dig into this week in Matthew 7 is how this opening passage is actually encouraging us to judge and even telling us how to judge one another. We will learn four things: W...

This week's passage, Matthew 6:25-34, sure seems a lot like singing with Bobby McFerrin, "Don't Worry Be Happy," which is easier said than done (amiright?). So there must be more to it than that. Towards the end of this passage comes one of Jesus's famous sayings, "Seek first the kingdom of God and God's righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as...

Jesus instructed His disciples to have a "good eye" and not a "bad" one. What was he talking about? He is using what would have been familiar language to His first listeners. They knew exactly what He meant. Listen and find out for yourself! You may be pretty surprised. Julie Coleman