Hope Alliance Bethlehem

Worship as Practice

"God is our refuge" and "Be still and know that I am God" are encouraging words of exhortation from Psalm 46 for times of struggle in our lives. But they are hard to live in to if we have not been living a life of worship during the "normal" days of our lives.What we learn from King Hezekiah is that worship as a way of life prepares us for the worst of life; that daily taking refuge in God paves the way for us to find God as our refuge in times of trouble. And ultimately, we find that Jesus...

Worship as Identity

In Psalm 24, we are faced with the challenging question, "who can ascend the mountain of God?" In relaying this question, the psalmist shows us the identity of God as Creator and our identity as creation. He is the one to be worshipped and we at our core are worshippers. And just as we are realizing the impossibility of climbing God's mountain, the psalm shifts to ask a different question, "will you open your gates?" The God of the mountain we cannot climb, descends the mountain to meet...

For Those Who Need Direction

In the book of Acts we find the dramatic account of Saul, the destroyer of the early church. He has an encounter with the risen Jesus that changes his direction in life and the course of history. What we learn from this is that when we have an encounter with Jesus today, it confirms or leads to new life, new purpose, and a new image for us.

For Those Who Need Restoration

As severe as Peter's three public denials of Jesus were, the resurrection of Jesus was far more powerful. And so Peter experienced a beautiful and complete restoration. Where there was distance, Jesus restored their relationship. Where there was toil, Jesus restored genuine life. And where there was shame, Jesus restored a true identity. All this, he offers to us as well.

For Those Who Doubt

In this message we look at the famous story of Thomas, a disciple of Jesus. Known for his doubt, he should also be known for his declaration of Jesus as his Lord/King and his God. We, too, can look to the resurrected Jesus as the proof that Jesus is truly King over all of the earth and God who offers us full life.

For Those Disappointed with God

When the resurrected Jesus appeared to the two disciples on their way to Emmaus, he showed his heart for those experiencing disappointment with God. The plans they had didn't go as they expected, but Jesus showed them how God was telling a far bigger and far better story for the whole world that culminated in the resurrected Jesus. Because of the resurrection, we can believe that God is truly working for the good of those who love him and are called according to his purpose.

For the Broken Hearted

When Mary Magdalene is the first to see Jesus after his resurrection, we are reminded that there is real hope for the broken and broken hearted. To a world and humanity who has been defined by its broken past, the resurrected Jesus offers a new and validated identity as children of God.

Real Peace

Even in the most challenging circumstances, we can experience real peace. This is possible because of the nearness of God in Jesus, not the absence of struggle. The greatness of our God is evident in his drawing near to us. And our experience of peace is found in our willingness to turn our mind and hearts to the One who experienced the loss of peace on the cross so we could draw near to God and find peace there.

Knowing Jesus by Dying to Self

In Philippians 3:12-4:1 we find Paul completing his thought that he started in the verses prior concerning the Gospel. We can sense his desire to know Jesus fully by joining in his suffering and triumph. Paul is challenging the Philippians and us to be steadfast as ones who will die to self and live the cruciform life. And by doing so, we come to know Jesus in a deep way and learn to expand the kingdom now rather than simply waiting for heaven.

The Traps of Religion

To many people, religion seems harmless. And yet both Jesus and Paul are very careful to warn about the traps of religion. Paul, who met Jesus in the midst of an impressive religious life, is determined to remind his readers that the only thing that matters is knowing Jesus. The rest amounts to nothing. In the gospel, we discover that hard as we try we can never rise high enough to meet God, but more importantly we find a God who loves us so much that he comes down to meet us.

Posture of Gratitude

Obedience is birthed from love. When Paul calls the church to obedience, he is reminding them of God's great rescue and our rightful response of a life of submission and gratitude. This life of worship is one of God's great means of demonstrating his renewal of all things to the world which labors in darkness. When we gain a posture and perspective of gratitude, we make space for obedience. And when we live in obedience to God, we demonstrate the hope of the gospel to an onlooking world.

Philippians 1:27-2:11

The Apostle Paul calls the church in Philippi to "next level humility" in light of the opposition that was surrounding them as well as a disagreement in their midst. But in classic Pauline theology it is based on understanding, and being motivated by, Jesus and the Gospel. And what we see is that humility is an act of faith that depends not so much on what we think of others, but what we think of God. Ultimately, we find that we are called to join Jesus in suffering and carrying our cross,...

Philippians 1:12-26

In Philippians 1:12-26 the apostle Paul encourages his Philippian friends and readers that, though the journey for him (and them) is difficult, the Gospel is advancing and that is cause to celebrate. And in one of the loftiest verses in the New Testament, Paul claims that "to live is Christ and to die is gain." Digging deeper it is clear that Paul can make this claim due to his purpose aligning with God's, his power coming from the Spirit, and his perspective that he has gained over the years.

Partnership in the Gospel

The Philippian church has a special place in Paul's heart because of their clear partnership in the gospel. This is evident from their radical hospitality, sincere faith and financial generosity. And Paul's prayer for them is that this love for and commitment to the gospel will increase even more and result in love that abounds.

Sent

As followers of Jesus, we are sent as ambassadors. People who are entrusted with the good news of true life found in Jesus. At Hope, we are committed to living into this reality by living with intentionality in our spheres of influence and by launching a network of churches that will be able to represent Christ in communities across the Lehigh Valley.

Equipped

The main role of the leadership of the church is to equip the people so the church can be built up. We are called to be equipped to maturity in the gospel so that we can withstand the winds of this world. And we are called to be equipped for ministry so each one can do his or her part to see the church grow.

Empowered

The Bible reminds us that we are powerless to live the life that we were created for. Yet through the work of Jesus for us, we are now empowered to live that very life. Two of the most significant ways to tap into that power are through a devotion to prayer and a desire to be full of the Spirit.

Formed

We are a church formed by a provident God through a gracious gospel. And therefore we desire to be a gospel outpost and a gospel family. A place and people who are defined by God's love and undeniably joined together for his glory.

An Unexpected Nativity Scene

Who would you expect to be present at the grand arrival of God to earth? Certainly not the people who make up the nativity story. And yet, in this upside story we find a God who has come for those who need him and calls people personally to himself. And we find those who have responded to his calls with faith.

Love's Pure Light

The true beauty of Christmas is the realization that the light of God has invaded the darkness of our world. In so doing, we are called out of the darkness through the incarnation of Jesus to be sons and daughters of God, children of light. ** This teaching includes personal stories of light coming into darkness from our Hope family. Thanks to Regina, Maura, Jesse and Michelle for sharing your stories!

Change

Growth can be slow and gradual or happen in spurts. But when it happens, it is the Spirit's work of changing us to be more like Jesus. Even though this is true, the Bible still calls us to cooperate with the Spirit's work. We cannot do this personal improvement projects where we stop doing wrong things and start doing right things. We have to get to the foundation of our behavior and bring the gospel to bear on our belief.

Doubt

Doubt is a common and universal reality. In fact, our call to faith implies the presence of doubt. Rather than turning away from God in pride or stuffing our doubt deep inside to be more religious, God receives those who humbly and honestly acknowledge their doubts to him. And in so doing, we actually find more of him.

Mission

For followers of Jesus, mission is something that is meant to intentionally define as aspects of our lives. No matter what we are doing, we believe God has providentially placed us there is order to reflect his image and his gospel to those around us. And so it becomes critical for us to become aware and active in the spheres of influence.

Love

Loving others is foundational to Christian faith, yet difficult to live out. In this talk we look at the origin of Christian love and some practical ways to try and grow this character trait in partnership with the Holy Spirit working in us.

Generosity

God is generous. And he calls his people to be generous people. True generosity is found in the gospel and in a life lived in response to the gospel. We are called to a radical, sacrificial generosity because we are made in the image of a radically and sacrificially generous God.

Prayer

Prayer was never meant to be some religious activity for the spiritual elites. It is actually one of God's means of welcoming us into his loving arms. In prayer, we reflect on who God is and what he has done. And in light of those realities, we speak honestly with him about our lives and trust in his goodness. Rather than trying to prove ourselves as spiritual people, we come to God in prayer simply to be with him and to acknowledge our helplessness without him.

Holy Spirit

In this talk we look at how the Holy Spirit works in both dynamic and subtle ways to make us "Heaven and Earth" people that reveal God to the world around us. This was God's intent as prophesied in Ezekiel 36 and 37 (among other places) and fulfilled in Acts 2. Furthermore, the Spirit also fills us and transforms us as we see in Ephesians and Galatians 5.

Bible

The Bible, inspired by God, is a gracious gift that provides for us the wisdom that leads to salvation. In other words, it faithfully and authoritatively tells God's story. So, engaging with the Bible should be a regular part of the rhythm of our life. As the Bible helps us find our place within God's story and we meditate deeply on those realities and implications, we see our lives continue to be transformed.

Faith

Faith is not just a set of beliefs or an internal feeling. More than anything it is action. Action on the basis of hope. When Scripture calls us to faith, it is calling us to act on the hope we have in God's love for and divine rescue of us. When we find our identity in this story, we take holy risks - big and small - living into what it means to live by faith.

Long Story Short - New Creation

God's story will conclude just as it began - God dwelling with his people in his perfection creation. God will fulfill his promise to make all things new. This is both a great hope to believers living in a broken world today and a call to live new creation lives now rather than thinking escapist thoughts. Maranatha!

Long Story Short - Church

The resurrection of Jesus was a world-altering event. It gave rise to a new gathering of the people of God called the church and unleashed the kingdom of God into the world. As followers of Jesus, the church then and now is called to experience the kingdom (already and not yet), embody the kingdom in the way they live and extend the kingdom by making disciples.

Long Story Short - Jesus

Jesus shows up to an Israel still very much defined by exile. And in Jesus we see God make good on his covenant by rescuing humanity. As a new Adam, Jesus demonstrates his trust in God. As a new Moses, he announces a new exodus in his baptism. As a new David, he unleashes his kingdom ministry against the greater enemy of sin. And as a new Abraham, Jesus calls a people around himself through his death and resurrection. In response to this good news, we are called to change our life's ori...

Long Story Short - Covenant

How will God deal with the ever growing pervasiveness of evil outside the garden? He moves to bring the world back to himself through a man and ultimately a nation. He promises to bless them and calls them to be a blessing to the world and draw them to God. Humanity's continued pull toward autonomy disables their ability to live into this covenant relationship. And yet, we continue to see the love of God for our broken world in his willingness to remain faithful to the covenant even when ...

Long Story Short - Fall

How could an apple bring about the interruption of a perfection creation? The truth is that the problem lies much deeper. Humanity's prideful pursuit of autonomy has traumatized all of our relationships within creation. And yet, in response to our rebellion, we again see a God who is defined by love.

Long Story Short - Creation

The story of God starts off in a compelling way by sharing the story of creation. While people tend to be consumed with the "how" question of creation. The storyteller is far more concerned with the "who" and the "why" questions. In this first part of the story we see a big God who comes close to his creation because of his love for it.

Hebrews - Jesus and Suffering

In Hebrews 12, the author is reaching the conclusion and purpose of the letter: to encourage the readers to endure the suffering they are going through.Today, nearly 2000 years later the call to endure still stands, as does the reality of suffering in all of our lives. Though God is a mystery and His ways are not our ways, we find hope to endure suffering by looking to what God has done in the past, who He is currently, and what the future holds for those who follow Jesus.

Hebrews - Jesus, Our Motivator

Jesus, and all he has accomplished on our behalf, calls us to be a family on mission. We are not alone, neither in isolation nor in our responsibility to one another. We are, instead, called to encourage one another, to spend time together, and to worship God as part of a long line of faithful followers of God.

Hebrews - Jesus, Our Perfect Sacrifice

The Old Testament system of worship called for sacrifices to cover the sin of the people. But now through Jesus work on the cross, God himself has provided a perfect and final sacrifice. When we place our faith in this perfect sacrifice we find the security we long for in this life.

Hebrews - Jesus, Our Peace

Genuine peace doesn't come from conjuring up an emotion. Genuine peace is found only in the person of Jesus who has not only paid a debt that we could not, but has also given us access to the full blessing of God through a new and better covenant.

Hebrews - Jesus, Our Anchor

Hebrews - Jesus, Our Intercessor

In Jesus, we have a high priest who has finished our atonement, but continues his advocacy for us. He can sympathize with our earthly struggles and is ready to offer grace and mercy to those who seek it. Therefore, we can have confidence and persistence in the midst of life's struggles.

Hebrews - Jesus, Our Rest

Often times are thoughts are consumed with our current circumstances. This usually leads to a life of grumbling. Jesus offers us a better way. If we exercise our faith by moving our thoughts from our circumstances to who he is and what he has done, grumbling is replaced with genuine rest.

Hebrews - Jesus, Our Confidence

God’s story in Jesus is the story that frames all other stories. When we make our story more important than Jesus’ story, or we make ourselves the hero of the story instead of Jesus, we will not experience the love that Jesus has for us as our brother and we will not experience the grace and mercy God wants to give us from His throne of grace.

Hebrews - Jesus Only

In this first talk in the book of Hebrews we look at the author's warnings against drifting away from our belief in "Jesus Only". In comparing our journey of faith to the journey of the Israelites, we find a common trend: that drifting from belief is a human tendency. So we must take action to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus and his Gospel lest we drift away.

Snapshots of Hope: Community

In the final message in our Shapshots of Hope series we look at why we love Community at Hope Alliance. In summary, we love community because community shows God's kingdom to the world, it shows God's care for us, and it grows us. But Jesus shows us in John 13 that community is truly a blessing to us when we learn to serve like he did.

Snapshots of Hope: Mission

At Hope Alliance we are sent people; sent to do what Jesus did. Based on passages in John 7, John 20, and Luke 4, we look at what Jesus did and how we are to join him in being living waters to the world around us.

Snapshots of Hope: Children

Children have a critical role to play in the church now. And just like Jesus, we should never keep the disconnected from the church, but rather see them as a crucial part of God's kingdom. It is our communal responsibility to impart the gospel to them and to be inspired by their speech, conduct, love, faith and purity.

Snapshots of Hope: Genuine

Too much in our world is artificial! And this reality starts with ourselves. The gospel calls us to be genuine people who love God and others genuinely. As genuine people, we are honest about who we are, failures and all! And we aim to love God an others in a real and honest way, without masks.

Snapshots of Hope: Jesus

At Hope, we have defined our identity by the statement "Simply Jesus." For us Jesus if first and everything else is second. Its that simple! The story of the transfiguration is a compelling glimpse into why this identity is so important to us and to what it means to be a Christian. (**Our apologies for the poor audio quality**)

Free to Rest

The resurrection of Jesus gives us the freedom to rest. Not just from our external work, but more importantly from our internal desire to find approval in our work and life. Finding space for sabbath in life is a chance to be redefined as new creation and a means to escape the constant urgency, stress and pressure the world places on our shoulders.