The Voice of Hope

How does someone become spiritually delusional? In this episode, we turn to Revelation 3:14-22 and Jesus’ sobering message to the church in Laodicea. In this episode, we see a church trapped in a dangerous self-deception having turned away from the truth. They found comfort in materiel wealth and were in danger of rejecting Jesus. In this first part of the study on Laodicea, J. Mark reflects on Je...

Our study today comes from Revelation 3:7-13, Jesus’ message to the church in Philadelphia. Unlike most of the other churches in Revelation, Jesus offers no condemnation, only praise. Despite their small numbers and limited influence, the believers in Philadelphia were commended for keeping His word and remaining loyal to His name. This passage powerfully highlights the enduring importance of devo...

In this episode, J. Mark explores Jesus’ message to the church in Sardis from Revelation 3:1-6. He unpacks the historical and spiritual context of the church and explains what Jesus’ words would have meant to the believers there. Sardis was a wealthy city, and the church had a strong reputation for good works, but Jesus saw beyond the outward appearance and declared that the church was spiritually...

In this episode, J Mark examines Jesus’ letter to the church at Thyatira found in Revelation 2:18-29. Although this church was known for its love and perseverance, some believers had become captivated by deception and were drifting toward spiritual danger. Jesus addresses the seriousness of their compromise, warning them of judgment if they do not repent, while also encouraging those who remain fa...

Merry Christmas! During this special time of year, we worship God for sending his Son to live among us—”The word became flesh and dwelt among us.” In this episode, we celebrate the birth of the Savior with a variety of musical selections that focus on different aspects of His coming to earth as a baby. So, I invite you to sit back, worship, and ponder the meaning of the Incarnation. Transcript Bol...

In this sermon, we study the Scriptural warnings of Revelation 2:12-17 concerning the church in Pergamum and the dangers of compromise. Learn how Jesus, who identifies Himself as the one with the sharp two-edged sword representing the power of His Word, calls the congregation to repentance away from the teachings of the doctrine of Balaam and the Nicolaitans, promising the hidden manna and a white...

Persecution of those who are godly goes all the way back to Cain and Abel. While persecution of believers has ebbed and flowed throughout history, it has always been a constant reality. Our episode today, “The Church of Faithful Endurance,” focused on the text, Revelation 2:8-11. In this study, we come to the words of Jesus addressed to the suffering saints in the church at Smyrna. These words wer...

Small instances of neglect, disrespect, and a lack of meaningful communication can bring a marriage to a breaking point. What is true of marriage is also true in our relationship with Jesus. It takes daily care, attention, and discipline to develop a growing, lasting, life-giving connection. If we neglect these things, we will find the relationship withering on the vine. That’s what happened to th...

Jesus instructed John to “write the things which you have seen, the things which are, and the things which will take place after this.” In today’s section of Scripture, John sees Jesus manifested in several different ways—he sees Christ in glory. The glory of Christ is a main theme in the Book of Revelation, and it is the focus of today’s teaching. In Revelation 1:9-20, we are given a picture of “...

Take a moment to think about your possessions. What is the most enduring tangible thing you own? How long will it last? In 2 Peter 3:10, we’re told, “both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.” In contrast, the Psalmist stated, “Forever, O Lord, your word is settled in heaven.” That is the nature of God’s Word. As Christ-followers, we can have absolute confidence that we truly...

Thinking about the book of Revelation, God’s last book, reminds us that last words are often cherished words. As Believers, we revere Jesus’ final words after His resurrection but before He ascended to heaven. In the book of Revelation, we find the final words of Jesus, included in the canon of Holy Scripture. They are words given to us after His earthly ministry was completed and He had ascended...

With this episode of The Voice of Hope, we’re beginning a new series of study from the last book of the Bible, the Revelation of Jesus Christ. Some people are intrigued by the Book of Revelation; some are scared by it. Others, because they’re not sure what to do with it, ignore the book completely. In this episode, J Mark introduces Revelation, defines key terms, and discusses how many people inte...

This episode wraps up our study of Jonah, and the theme has been the hearts. We have reflected on the heart of God, the heart of the sailors, the heart of the Ninevites, and the heart of Jonah. Today, we turn our gaze inward and look at our own hearts. The author of this book does a fantastic job of grabbing the person reading and giving them a good shake. We look at the lessons that Jonah has for...

In this passage of Jonah, we see the prophet furious that God forgave the Ninevites. In contrast, we see God respond with patience and compassion toward Jonah. What was going on in Jonah’s heart in Jonah 4:1-11 ? It seems Jonah believed he had been forgiven only a little. Like Jonah, we tend towards self-justification. But the truth is that our sins are great, and we have all been forgiven much. T...

Have you ever found yourself wondering if God hears? This is a question that reaches to the core of who we are. Does God hear? Nineveh, a wicked city, gets God’s attention, and He hears. They cried out to God, and He showed them His incredible, life-changing mercy. What did the Ninevites do to get God’s attention? As we look at Jonah 3:1-10, I see four things they did which we still need to do tod...

Are you in a pit? We all go through hard times, and being in a pit is challenging. These seasons test our faith and prompt us to wrestle with profound questions about God and ourselves. In Jonah 1:17-3:1, Jonah is in the belly of the fish—his pit. He is at his lowest point, physically and spiritually. He chose a path away from God. The good news is that God’s heart is for all people, and he wasn’t...

Throughout Jonah 1:5-16, we see how the prophet Jonah said one thing but lived another. However, the pagan sailors, who did not know God, were sensitive to Him and worshipped him genuinely. On this episode, “The Heart of the Sailors,” we see how the sailors’ response to their fears shows Jonah who He should be. It challenges us to be authentic and to ask ourselves the question, “Who really am I?”...

As we study the timeless book of Jonah, we discover a revelation of the very heart of God. Our mission today is to unpack what the book of Jonah shows us about God’s heart, especially looking at Jonah 1:1-4. Understanding God’s heart matters deeply because we are becoming what we worship. Seeing God for who He is will challenge our common misconceptions and invite us to grow in our understanding o...

The Bible is a captivating book, and high on the list is the incredible account of a man getting swallowed by a fish and living to talk about it. You already know I am talking about Jonah and what happened to him is one of the most popular stories in the Bible. However, the main emphasis isn’t a man getting swallowed by a fish. The real point of Jonah isn’t the fish, or the storm, or Nineveh, or e...

If you have been with us for this series of study, you know our title was “Jesus, the Suffering Servant.” From our perspective, suffering doesn’t appear to be the pathway to victory. In Mark, we can see from Jesus’ teaching and actions how His suffering culminated in His ultimate triumph. Today is our final episode in this series, titled “The Triumph of the Servant.” In this episode studying Mark...

Mark 16:1-8  For Christ-followers, the resurrection of Jesus is not a debatable issue. By faith, we accept the Bible record as accurate and authoritative. We have embraced Romans 10:9, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” ESV. We believe Jesus is alive today!  But many in our world today deny the resurrec...

Mark 15:42-47  When you die, where do you want to be buried? In Brunswick, New Jersey, in the 1790s, Mary Ellis fell in love with a sea captain. As he was leaving on a voyage, he left his favorite horse with her and promised to return to her as soon as he could.   Every day, Mary awaited his return at the same spot where he gave her his horse. Years passed, and in 1813, Mary purchased a plot of la...

Mark 15:33-41  Have you ever considered the remarkable gift bestowed upon us by God in our human voice? It is one of the likenesses of being made in His image. We use our voices to speak or to sing. With the same voice, we can both bless God and curse men, as James 3:9 reminds us.  Our human voice is a unique characteristic that each of us possesses. It provides insight into our condition or perso...

Mark 15:16-32  Do you know how many Messianic prophecies Jesus fulfilled during His earthly ministry? Mathematician Peter Stoner counted the probability of one person fulfilling “just” 48 of the prophecies found in the Tanakh (Old Testament) would be one in (10 followed by 157 zeros)! Yet, Jesus (Yeshua) fulfilled not just the 48 specifically Messianic prophecies. He fulfilled more than 300 indivi...

Mark 15:1-15 Thank you, Tony, for reading this sad and painful portion of Scripture. Yes, we know Jesus needed to suffer and die, but to see the callous disregard for truth and the lack of respect for human dignity should be painful for us. Let us reflect together on the text titled “The King of the Jews.” Observing the REACTIONS of the participants in this scene from Jesus before Pilate, we are m...