Sermons - Hope Christian Church

Nahum of Elkosh

Nahum 1:1-8 (ESV) An oracle concerning Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum of Elkosh. The Lord is a jealous and avenging God;    the Lord is avenging and wrathful;the Lord takes vengeance on his adversaries    and keeps wrath for his enemies.The Lord is slow to anger and great in power,    and the Lord will by no means clear the guilty.His way is in whirlwind and storm,    and the clouds are the dust of his feet.He rebukes the sea and makes it dry;    he dries […]

Micah of Moresheth

Who is a God Like You? Micah 7:7-9 (ESV) But as for me, I will look to the Lord;    I will wait for the God of my salvation;    my God will hear me. Rejoice not over me, O my enemy;    when I fall, I shall rise;when I sit in darkness,    the Lord will be a light to me.I will bear the indignation of the Lord    because I have sinned against him,until he pleads my cause    and executes judgment for me.He will bring me out to the […]

Amos – The Shepherd of Tekoa

Return to Me that You May Live Amos 4 English Standard Version (ESV) “Hear this word, you cows of Bashan,    who are on the mountain of Samaria,who oppress the poor, who crush the needy,    who say to your husbands, ‘Bring, that we may drink!’The Lord God has sworn by his holiness    that, behold, the days are coming upon you,when they shall take you away with hooks,    even the last of you with fishhooks.And you shall go out through the breaches,    each one straight ahead;    and you […]

The Dependency of the Son Upon the Father

John 5:19-24 (ESV) 19 So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel. 21 For as the Father raises the dead and gives […]

The Smartphone & the Power of Words

James 3:1-12 English Standard Version (ESV) Taming the Tongue 3 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. 2 For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. 3 If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as […]

The Smartphone & the Prevalence of Pornography

1 Thessalonians 4:1-8 (ESV) 4 Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more. 2 For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; 4 that each one of you know how to control his […]

The Smartphone & What We “Like”

Romans 1:18-25 English Standard Version (ESV) God’s Wrath on Unrighteousness 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world,[a] in the things that have been made. […]

The Smartphone & the Appeal of Approval

John 5:36-47 (ESV) 36 But the testimony that I have is greater than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, bear witness about me that the Father has sent me. 37 And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen, 38 and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do […]

The Smartphone and the Love of Neighbor

Luke 10:25-37 English Standard Version (ESV) The Parable of the Good Samaritan 25 And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” 27 And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your […]

Pondering the Presence of the Smartphone

Proverbs 4:20-27 (ESV) 20 My son, be attentive to my words;    incline your ear to my sayings.21 Let them not escape from your sight;    keep them within your heart.22 For they are life to those who find them,    and healing to all their flesh.23 Keep your heart with all vigilance,    for from it flow the springs of life.24 Put away from you crooked speech,    and put devious talk far from you.25 Let your eyes look directly forward,    and your gaze be straight before you.26 Ponder the path o...

Spirit Provoked & Culture Engaged

Acts 17:16-34 (ESV) Paul in Athens 16 Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols. 17 So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there. 18 Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also conversed with him. And some said, “What does this babbler wish to say?” Others said, […]

A Meditation on the Motherhood of Mary

Birth of Jesus Foretold 26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” 29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 30 And […]

Walking With The Lord In Step With The Spirit

My Tears Have Been My Food Day and Night

Psalm 42 (ESV) Book Two Why Are You Cast Down, O My Soul? To the choirmaster. A Maskil[a] of the Sons of Korah. 42 As a deer pants for flowing streams,    so pants my soul for you, O God.2 My soul thirsts for God,    for the living God.When shall I come and appear before God?[b]3 My tears have been my food    day and night,while they say to me all the day long,    “Where is your God?”4 These things I remember,    as I pour out my soul:how I would go […]

If There Was No Resurrection, Then There Would Be No Indwelling Spirit

If There Was No Resurrection, Then There Is No Justice

Romans 3:21-26 (ESV) The Righteousness of God Through Faith 21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom […]

How Do I Know I Am Truly Clean?

John 13:1-17 (ESV) Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2 During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him, 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from […]

If There Was No Resurrection, There Would Be No Sympathetic High Priest

Hebrews 2:14-18 (ESV) 14 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. 16 For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. 17 Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, […]

If There Was No Resurrection, There is No Freedom From Sin

Romans 6:1-11 (ESV) Dead to Sin, Alive to God 6 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by […]

Paul’s Letter to the Colossians: A Summary

Colossians 1-4 (ESV) Greeting 1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, 2 To the saints and faithful brothers[a] in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father. Thanksgiving and Prayer 3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, 5 because of the […]

Grace Be With You

Colossians 4:16-18 (ESV) 16 And when this letter has been read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you also read the letter from Laodicea. 17 And say to Archippus, “See that you fulfill the ministry that you have received in the Lord.” 18 I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.

Beloved Brothers, Sisters, and Faithful Friends

Colossians 4:7-15 (ESV) 7 Tychicus will tell you all about my activities. He is a beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. 8 I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are and that he may encourage your hearts, 9 and with him Onesimus, our faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you of everything that has taken place here. 10 Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, […]

Make the Best use of the Time

Colossians 4:5-6 (ESV) 5 Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. 6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

Pray That God Will Open a Door for the Word

Colossians 4:2-4 (ESV) 2 Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. 3 At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— 4 that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.

Do Everything in the Name of the Lord Jesus

Colossians 3:17-4:1 (ESV) 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Rules for Christian Households 18 Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them. 20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. 21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. 22 Bondservants, obey in everything those...

As God’s Chosen Ones, Let the Word of Christ Dwell In You Richly

Colossians 3:12-16 (ESV) 12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And […]

A People Yet Unborn

Psalm 102:18 (ESV) 18 Let this be recorded for a generation to come,    so that a people yet to be created may praise the Lord:

Put Off the Old Self: Part 2

Colossians 3:5-11 English Standard Version (ESV) 5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you:[a] sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming.[b] 7 In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old […]

Put Off the Old Self: Part 1

Colossians 3:5-11  (ESV) 5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you:[a] sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming.[b] 7 In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self[c] with its […]

A Poem of Presence

The Days of Proclamation

Luke 2:8-20 (ESV) The Shepherds and the Angels 8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you […]

The Days of Pregnancy

Luke 1:26-56 (ESV) Birth of Jesus Foretold 26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” 29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this […]

The Days of Perparation

John 1:6-8 (ESV) 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.

The Days of Prophecy

Seek the Things Above

Colossians 3:1-4 (ESV) Put On the New Self 3 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your[a] life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Let Go of Legalism, Cling to Christ

Colossians 2:16-23  (ESV) 16 Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. 17 These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. 18 Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions,[a] puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, 19 and not holding fast to the Head, from whom […]

Be Rooted & Built Up In Christ

Colossians 2:6-15 Alive in Christ 6 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. 8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits[a] of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, 10 and you have […]

All the Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge

Colossians 2:1-5 (ESV) For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, 2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 I say this in order that […]