Podcast by HOP Blairsville
On this Mother's Day, Larry Shreiner reflects on the significance of Mary, the mother of Jesus, emphasizing her humble beginnings and unique calling. He encourages mothers to embrace their roles and responsibilities with faith, supporting their children's journey as they grow into independence. The pastor highlights the importance of prayer, belief, and encouragement in nurturing a child's spiritual path, reminding everyone to appreciate their mothers for bringing them into the world. Concluding with a call to pray for mothers, Pastor Larry emphasizes the lasting impact of love and faith in family relationships.
Jesus finishes each of the Gospels with a commission to the disciples to take the Gospel to the world. The Good News changes lives, and we are to take what we have received and share it with the world. Main Scripture Passage: Mark 16:9-20
Jesus suffered horribly on his way to the cross, where he took the sin of the world, so that those who believe might have eternal life.
In the Garden, Jesus takes all of his burdens to God in prayer, setting the example for each of us to follow. Main Scripture Passage: Mark 14:32-65
Mike Holman emphasizes the importance of worshiping God in spirit and truth, highlighting that true worship begins with being born again and recognizing God's worth. He encourages congregants to actively participate in worship, bringing their personal experiences and spiritual blessings to the communal service. Reflecting on worship as a transformative practice, he urges us to consider how our worship aligns with our commitment to serve Christ and share the gospel.
Jesus speaks to the hypocrisy that he sees through his actions towards a fig tree and the activities taking place at the temple. A question for us to consider is whether we are simply going through the motions, or do our actions reflect a heart tender towards the Lord? Main Scripture passage: Mark 11:11-25
Jesus entered Jerusalem with a conquering king's welcome and celebration. A few days later, the same crowds called for his death. How are we to view Jesus? Main Scripture Passage: Mark 10:46-11:1
Jesus deals with a great question about life after death. What do I need to do to have eternal life? It's a question for everyone to deal with and we can be confident in the answer!
In this sermon, Pastor Jeff discusses what it means to be great in the kingdom of God, emphasizing that it involves humility and serving others rather than seeking personal glory. He addresses the topic of marriage and divorce, highlighting that Jesus taught marriage as a sacred union designed by God, intended to last for life and reflect His relationship with the Church. Pastor Jeff emphasizes that divorce, while culturally accepted, comes with significant pain and should be approached with serious consideration of God's ideals. Ultimately, he encourages believers to seek God's truth in their relationships and to honor marriage as Jesus did, while offering support for those facing challenges in their own marriages.
"Who is the G.O.A.T.?" That's a question that can be heard in all kinds of settings, from the locker room to the boardroom to the Oval Office. But for Christians, the answer is clear: It is not us, but God. We are not called to proclaim our own greatness, but the greatness of God. Main Scripture passage: Mark 9:30-50
Pastor Tom emphasizes the importance of companionship in achieving personal goals, drawing a parallel to the story of the transfiguration where Jesus reveals His glory to Peter, James, and John. He highlights the need for an inner circle, encouraging believers to seek out mentors and accountability partners for spiritual growth. Pastor Tom urges the congregation to not only have mountaintop experiences with God but also to return to their daily lives and share their faith with others. Ultimately, he calls for deeper connections within the church community, advocating for ongoing discipleship as a way to strengthen each other in their walk with Christ.
Advent is a time for sharing, but sharing of what exactly? Gifts? Coats? Warm blankets for the needy? Yes, certainly all of those things, but Simeon reminds us that it is also a time to share "salvation, which you prepared in sight of the nations, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel." There is this sacred gift that never tarnishes, never requires batteries, never becomes obsolete, and always, ALWAYS meets the needs of all mankind that you and I are invited to share--Jesus Christ and His salvation! Join us for our final Week 4 as we dig into the gift of sharing our Marvelous Savior!
Advent tells the tale of an unwed teenage mom who was informed her life would drastically change starting with an unexpected pregnancy. Her response was , "I am willing to be used of the Lord. Let it happen to me as you have said." Are you and I willing to follow Jesus' plan with this level of trust and surrender? It is a marvel that Jesus came to earth with this level of personal surrender. Week 3 invites us to full surrender of our own plans and to follow Jesus in His ultimate plan of redemption. Jump in with us!
Christmas is a time of anticipation, a time for greetings, gatherings, and gifts to be shared with family and friends. It is an exciting time of year. But it is more than that. Christmas is a time to celebrate the birth of Jesus, the Son of God, who came to earth to redeem us. The gift of Jesus is the gift of joy. Joy in Jesus sustains us through all circumstances. Experience the joy of Christ this Christmas season. Come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord!
The Christmas season is a time of anticipation, a time for greetings, gatherings, and gifts to be shared with family and friends. It is a hopeful time of year. This Christmas season, let's turn our eyes towards Jesus, the true giver of hope. He is the reason for the season. He is the one who brings us hope. He is the one who makes all things new. This Christmas season, let's turn our eyes toward Jesus, the true giver of hope!
Luke 1:37 records the angel's to Mary, "Nothing shall be impossible with God." Do you and I believe that fully? Advent is an invitation to live out of a full persuasion that God is everything He claims to be. That kind of belief changes everything and is a result of taking time to marvel at who our Messiah truly claims to be. Dive into Week 2 with us as we look at what it means to truly believe nothing is impossible with our Savior!
Jesus calls us to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow him. This is a call to have the mind of Christ. It is a call to say no to self and experience true life in Christ. Denying ourselves means saying no to our selfish desires and ambitions and saying yes to God's will for our lives. It means trusting God to provide for our needs and to give us the strength to carry our cross. When we deny ourselves, we are saying that we trust God more than ourselves. Taking up our cross means following Jesus's example of humility, obedience, and service. It means being willing to suffer for the sake of others and to give up our own desires and ambitions for the sake of God's kingdom. When we take up our cross, we are saying that we are willing to follow Jesus no matter what the cost. Following Jesus means walking in his footsteps and living according to his teachings. It means obeying his commandments and living in love and service to others. When we follow Jesus, we are saying that we trust him to lead us to eternal life. Main Scripture Passage: Mark 8:27-38
Pastor Jeff shares a message centered on the question, "Who is Jesus?" He emphasizes the importance of understanding Jesus not only as a historical figure but as the Messiah and Son of God. Through scripture, he illustrates how both the disciples and the Pharisees struggled to fully grasp Jesus' identity, drawing parallels to our own understanding today. Ultimately, Pastor Jeff stresses the significance of believing in Jesus for salvation, urging listeners to recognize Him as their Savior and the key to eternal life.
Pastor Jeff discusses Jesus' ministry in Gentile regions as highlighted in Mark 7, emphasizing the persistent faith of a Syrophoenician woman who begs Jesus to heal her daughter. He reflects on the attitude of Jesus towards people, noting how compassion drives him to heal individuals, encouraging listeners to see others through Jesus' perspective. Pastor Jeff urges us to take opportunities to love and serve those around them, just as Jesus did, and to be persistent in prayer. Ultimately, he calls for a commitment to loving not only friends and church members but also the wider community, embodying the compassion of Christ.
In this sermon, Pastor Jeff emphasizes the importance of aligning our hearts with God's truth rather than following the popular notion of "following your heart." He underscores that true defilement comes from within, as expressed by Jesus in Mark 7, where the heart is the core source of sin, not external influences. By referencing Scripture, he highlights the need to be guided by God's Word, maintain vigilance against worldly temptations, and walk in love as Christ did. Ultimately, he calls on listeners to acknowledge their need for Christ's righteousness and daily strive to embody His teachings. Main Scripture Passage: Mark 7:9-23
Pastor Jeff discusses Mark chapter seven, focusing on the conflict between Jesus and the Pharisees regarding their traditions of ritual hand washing. He emphasizes that the Pharisees' adherence to these traditions often overshadowed the heart of worship and obedience to God. Pastor Jeff challenges the congregation to reflect on their own lives, questioning whether their behaviors align with their professed beliefs, particularly in light of the upcoming election. He encourages a Biblical approach to both personal and political actions, urging believers to prioritize God's word in their decision-making to avoid hypocrisy.
Jesus consistently gathered crowds, even facing rejection from his hometown and religious leaders. In Mark chapter six, after a day of miracles, Jesus sent his disciples ahead by boat while he went to pray, observing their struggle against the wind from a distance. When the disciples encountered fear thinking he was a ghost, Jesus reassured them that he was there, calming the storm once he joined them. Pastor Jeff emphasizes the importance of spending time with God, recognizing our struggles as opportunities for growth, and maintaining a tender heart towards others, reminding us that with Jesus, there is no need for fear.
Sin can creep into our lives and cause destruction, sometimes before we are even aware of it. What can we do to stop sin from causing destruction in our lives?
We all encounter storms in life from time to time. How we respond depends on who we trust. When we place our trust in God, we can be confident that He will see us through the storm. Main Scripture passage: Mark 4:35-41
09/01/24 - Peter Kough: Having Joy In Fellowship With God by HOP Blairsville
The Bible says that Jesus is the light of the world, and we are supposed to be like him. We are supposed to be a light in the darkness, to speak the truth of God's Word and live by it. Main Scripture passage: Mark 4:21-34
The parable of the sower is very familiar. The sower sows the same seed everywhere, yet it is received very differently. What does this say about the condition of our hearts? Main Scripture passage: Mark 4:1-20
Jesus' family thought he was crazy. The religious leaders accused him of being demon possessed. Jesus claimed to be the Son of God and the Savior of the world. Who do you say he is? Main Scripture passage: Mark 3:20-30
In today's message, Pastor Jeff reflects on God's work in the life of our church and celebrates what He has done and is doing. All glory and praise to God! Scripture Passages: Psalm 105:1-6 Psalm 106:1-2 2 Corinthians 5:17-20 Psalm 117
There were many responses to Jesus during his time of ministry on earth. In this message from Pastor Jeff, we see three groups of people developing. Jesus had foes, Jesus had fans, Jesus had followers. How do you you relate to Jesus? Main Scripture Passage: Mark 3:6-19
Jesus has a run-in with the Pharisees on two occasions on the Sabbath. Do we act like Jesus today or are we acting like Pharisees? Main Scripture passage: Mark 2:23-3:6
The role of the elder/pastor/shepherd in the church comes with great responsibility. In this message, Pastor Jeff looks at a few aspects of shepherding God's children.
In Mark 2, we find Jesus challenging the Pharisees' way of thinking and their religious practices. Jesus came offering something new - not more rules, but a relationship. The Pharisees were all about following the law, but Jesus was all about loving God and loving others. He showed us that we don't have to follow a bunch of rules to be close to God. We just need to have a relationship with Him. That's what Jesus came to offer us, and it's still what He offers us today.
The healing of the paralytic man is a familiar story taught in Sunday School, VBS, and children's church. We will look at this familiar account and be reminded that the paralytic man's greatest need was not to walk, but to be right with God. Main Scripture passage: Mark 2:1-12
Join John Spaulding as he explains our role in helping those around us grow spiritually.
In a world that tells us that we set our own course and no one can tell us what to do, the power and authority of Jesus Christ must be properly acknowledged. In Mark 1, we see Jesus' power and authority on display. He heals the sick, casts out demons, and raises the dead. These actions demonstrate that Jesus is the Son of God, who has come to redeem us from sin and death. Main Scripture passage: Mark 1:12-34
The Gospel of Mark begins with the baptism of Jesus. Today we will discuss baptism and the main reasons for believer's baptism by immersion. Main Scripture Passage: Mark 1:1-11
Consider your posture when you go before the Lord. Are you prideful or humble in your walk with Him? Are you willing to adjust your life, embrace weakness, and have grace revealed to you? Main Scripture Passage: 1 Peter 5:5-7
The importance of Mothers cannot be overstated. In this message, we see that a godly mother is biblically ethical, an example, and an encouragement. Be sure to love the mothers in your life and be an encouragement to them today.
Follow Jesus outside the camp. Leave behind the pleasures, possessions and plans that are a distraction, in order to fully follow Jesus. Main Scripture passage: Hebrews 13:11-25
Practical ways of exemplifying a changed life in Christ
We are reminded one last time of the superiority of Christ in Hebrews 12. The comparison is between Mount Sinai where the Law was given and Mount Zion where Jerusalem was built. Do we come to God through our own goodness and ability to live up to His standard or through Jesus? Main Scripture passage: Hebrews 12:18-29
Understanding the discipline of God is of utmost important. It's often misunderstood. God disciples not for punishment but for training and correction, to make us more like his Son. Main Scripture passage: Hebrews 12:3-17
Sometimes we need to stop, evaluate, and make adjustments in life. That's the call in the opening verses of Hebrews chapter 12. The quick conclusion is that we need to fix our eyes on Jesus. Our faith doesn't just begin and end with him, he sets the example for us in life. Main Scripture passage: Hebrews 12:1-4
Easter changes everything! Christ's death and resurrection is a game changer for those who believe. Let's look together at what Christ has done for us. Main Scripture passage: Matthew 28:1-10, 2 Peter 1:3-9
Who is Jesus to you? It's a question that we need to consider. There are many ways this question can be answered. The Bible reveals that he is the awaited Messiah who came to offer redemption to a world that desperately needed and still needs a Savior.
The call to have faith in the Scriptures is specific. We are to have faith in God. Faith that He is who He says He is and that He does what He says He will do. It applies to all areas of life. This is the final of three messages on faith from Hebrews 11. Main Scripture Passage: Hebrews 11:23-40
We are called to live by faith. The patriarchs are commended for their faith, even if not all of their lives are commendable. We have lots to learn from them!
We live by faith every day in all aspects of life. The call for a follower of Christ is to live by faith in God. Hebrews 11 encourages us to live by faith and gives examples of those who have gone before, living by faith. Main Scripture passage: Hebrews 11:1-16
This passage has a very strong warning against knowing the truth and rejecting it. The call is to persevere in difficulty and walk in faith. Main Scripture Passage: Hebrews 10:26-39
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