Downtown Hope

James starts the next section in our series "Mirror" with a question:  Why do we fight? (4.1).  His answer is both surprising and unsettling.  Join us this Sunday as Joey walks us through James 4.1-10 to discover the source of our strife and the grace God gives to become a people who live at peace with one another.  Grace + peace Downtown Hope Learn more about Downtown Hope + get connect...

There’s something every war, conflict, argument, fight, breakup, and downfall of entire nations has in common.  They all started with something someone said, posted or commented. We’re living in an age of clickbait, comment wars, and increasing outrage; all driven by a war of words.  Words are at the center of every relationship and everything we do. They have the power to make or break us and the...

In Chapter 2 of James, Jesus' half-brother pens one of the most evocative statements in the New Testament- that faith without works has no life in it- is effectively dead. Join us this Sunday as Joey walks us through one of the most contested passages in the New Testament to discover the significant relationship between our faith and our actions. Learn more about Downtown Hope + get connected...

James 1:1-18 explores the universal struggle of questioning God's goodness in adversity and learning to embrace trials as opportunities for growth and maturity. We’ll discover the importance of seeking wisdom from God and taking responsibility for our responses to temptation. Rejoice in the unchanging nature of God's goodness, providing a steadfast foundation amidst life's uncertaintie...

Join us this Sunday as we conclude our Easter Sermon Series. We'll meet two disciples on the Road to Emmaus where we will discover the transformative power of encountering the risen Christ in our daily journey. As the two disciples walked discouraged, Jesus joined them, opening their eyes to the scriptures and revealing Himself in the breaking of bread, illustrating that Christ walks with us e...

Fractures in relationships, unresolved conflict, polarizing politics, tragedies, terminal illnesses, wars, injustice, economic crises are making it harder and harder to see any glimmer of hope.  Not only are we anxious about the future, we’re growing more acutely aware of the darkness that hovers over all of creation.  This growing sense of the darkness around us has a deep impact inside us.  Is t...

“You first, but after me” is the prevailing relational ordering in the human condition- a Darwinian vision of the world at play in the milk aisle when there is one gallon left.  The week before the trial leading to his death,  Jesus entered the city of Jerusalem, offering an astonishing and counterintuitive vision of relational ordering.  Join us this Palm Sunday as Joey walks us through Luke’s ac...

Relationships are vital to our well-being–they have the power to make or break us. If we’re going to make it through the complexities, challenges, and conflicts we experience in our relationships, it’s critical that we understand why they tend to fracture and how to repair them.  Galatians 5:25-26 and 6:1,14 offer us a guide for understanding the source of conflict in our relationships and how the...

Join us this Sunday as we explore the profound wisdom of Galatians 6:2, where we're reminded to "Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." We’ll uncover how we can lighten our burdens and find comfort in community. Come prepared to confront your burdens and discover the strength in vulnerability. Grace + peace, David Learn more about Downtown Hope + get conne...

There are character and behavior patterns in all of us, that those closest to us suffer through, that we have not been willing to acknowledge or address.  Maybe we don't even know what they are.  These patterns, whether direct or indirect, overt or hidden, can inhibit intimacy in our relationships, kill productivity at work, hinder thriving in our homes, and for some of us, have been a signifi...

This week we turn our attention to a fascinating passage of scripture with deep Old Testament roots, Galatians 4:21-31. In this passage, Paul argues that Christians are like Abraham’s son, Isaac, born into freedom and not slavery. Join us as we clarify Paul’s argument and wrestle through what the nature of this freedom is. Grace + peace, John Learn more about Downtown Hope + get connected by visit...

Join us this Sunday as we explore the profound promise God extends to His children, freeing us from the burden of restlessness. This passage reaffirms our identity in Christ, emphasizing that we are God's children and heirs to His promises. Let's celebrate the richness of this truth and embrace the freedom it brings. Grace + peace, David Learn more about Downtown Hope + get connected by vi...

In the last few weeks, we have been walking through the first two chapters of Galatians, where Paul is insistent that the good news of Jesus is that there are no good works or religious activities that can render us righteous before God.  Join us this Sunday as Joey walks us through Galatians 3.26-29 to explore one of the most astonishing implications of the truth of the gospel for how we interact...

Join us this Sunday as we delve into a critical question sparked by Paul's examination of the Galatians' faith journey. Together, we'll reflect on our own experiences and celebrate God’s gracious invitation to us. grace + peace, David Learn more about Downtown Hope + get connected by visiting our  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  or filling out our online  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠connect card⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

One of our deepest desires of the human heart is to live a justified life.  Deep down we want to live a righteous life; a life that matters. In part, this desire is motivated by the nagging suspicion that no matter how hard we try or how hard we work, we never quite measure up.  If we’re not careful, we end up going through life burdened by the pressure to perform and bought into the belief that i...

As physical beings, our tendency is to believe that the things we can physically measure or control, like the following of rules, are the things that have the power to justify our existence in the world.  For a group in Galatia that depended on following rules for their justification, the message of the gospel that Paul proclaimed was unnerving.  This group distorted Paul's message and was tro...

Amidst the complexities of a changing world and the search for identity, the book of Galatians stands as a beacon, its core message revolving around the profound concept of justification by faith. Paul writes this letter to the churches in Galatia, tackling a specific concern of its time – the danger of adopting a legalistic approach to faith. The historical context of the first-century Roman Empi...

In Isaiah 40:27-31, the prophet reminds us that in weariness and doubt, God's understanding is beyond measure, and His strength knows no bounds. This truth lies in the word "wait,” unveiling the profound invitation for us to renew our trust in the Lord, knowing that those who wait upon Him will find renewed strength. Learn more about Downtown Hope + get connected by visiting our  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

In this sermon, we approach the topic of joy from a slightly different angle. Christian joy is powerful, not based on circumstances but on a relationship with God; but what does it mean to live in a relationship with a joyful God? Learn more about Downtown Hope + get connected by visiting our  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  or filling out our online  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠connect card⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ .

Joy. On some level, everyone wants it. Everyone is looking for it. And our world is filled with voices that promise it. We have all experienced moments of joy–where everything seemed to be in perfect harmony. Even in times like this, we have an acute sense that the season will not last forever; it is only a matter of time before something sabotages our joy.  Is there anyone who can deliver joy in...

In a season where we tend to feel pressure to be happy, many of us are working and walking through the traumas of life- the effects of sin in the world.  Here our prevailing culture doesn't have a resource to negotiate the space between "putting on a happy face" and "acknowledging the ache of the world".  Yet in Isaiah 9.1-7 we find people accessing a resource that has the...

As we enter the Advent season, we embark on a journey of anticipation and reflection. In the midst of the hustle and bustle, the message of Christmas stands as a beacon of joy for all. This Advent, we invite you to join us in exploring the profound words spoken by the angel in Luke 2:10, unlocking the transformative power of the good news that brings joy for all. This is a journey that leads us to...

In this sermon, Joey wraps up our journey through the book of Ephesians by exploring the mystery of the cosmic battle. Learn more about Downtown Hope + get connected by visiting our  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  or filling out our online  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠connect card⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ .

How we spend our time ends up becoming how we spend our lives. Over a lifetime, the average person will spend nearly one-third of their time in a work environment.  More than ever, workplaces are filled with people who are increasingly discontent, stressed, actively looking for a new job, or quiet quitting. Is there any way out of the epidemic of our discontentment with work and the people we work...

In this sermon, we discover the profound wisdom found in Ephesians 6:1-4. This passage emphasizes the significance of children honoring their parents and the duty of parents to nurture and guide their children lovingly. Together, we will unpack these enduring principles, strengthening our families and celebrating the precious gift of children, culminating in child dedication. Learn more about Down...